Marshdale courts reopen tomorrow, let’s celebrate Sunday morning
Eight beautiful new courts at Marshdale will be available for play at 8 tomorrow morning. Paddle holders are installed on the east side and there are gates on all four sides of the fenced courts. EPRD crews continue some exterior work and there are no benches yet, so bring your chairs and umbrellas.
Keep in mind that the first day of school is tomorrow at nearby Marshdale Elementary. Classes start at 8:30 a.m. and parking at Marshdale Park may be briefly impacted. Construction vehicles also remain on site.
A potluck brunch will be set up in the pavilion adjacent to the courts at 10 a.m. Sunday. Please bring a dish to share and any non-mimosa beverages you desire. The mimosas will be provided. by EPC. The winner of the guess-when-the-courts-will-open contest—a fundraiser for a covered bench at the courts—will be announced at the party. Feel free to play before, during and after the brunch.
EPC President Bob Kerr has worked closely with EPRD to represent the interests of the club and local pickleball players. He has some thoughts to share about the process, and about continued construction at the site:
I want to point out the effort that has been made by EPRD’s administrative staff and the maintenance and construction crews. You will see tomorrow the hard-working crew that is still busting their collective tails to get this project complete.
Use the original stairs to access the courts; work will still be occurring at the paved ramp entrance and on the south end of the courts. Please give the crew a wide berth and let them do their job with minimal interference. Our safety and theirs is of the utmost importance.
EPRD pushed the contractor to get their portion of this job complete by Aug. 15, the start date of Jeffco Schools. There are still tasks to accomplish and the crews on site are completing tasks as assigned. They do not know schedule and the logistics of all the steps leading to completion. Asking them such questions wastes their time. Please thank them for their dedication and hard work. They deserve it.
There are facets of the project that are yet to be completed, but will be soon. There will be logistical issues with moving around the courts and flow of play. We (EPC) as partners with EPRD will work out such issues as we spend more time on the new courts. Let’s be patient and productive in our thoughts and ideas and help make this a facility we are all proud to be part of.
Thanks to everyone in our club that spends the time and puts forth the effort to constantly improve EPC.
EPC President Bob Kerr gives Frank Kassay advice on his serve.
Bob graciously agreed to be the center of attention at the new courts this afternoon. Briefly.
Frank demonstrates the sense of urgency we all wished for while construction dragged on.
It’s tournament time (finally)
There’s no reason for delay now, so registration opens tomorrow for the Geezer Games, which had a very enthusiastic debut last year. There is room for up to 48 players. Fee is $25.
EPC members 70 and older will compete in a round-robin format on Wednesday, Aug. 28, from 8 a.m. to noon. Up to six groups of eight will be seeded by ability. A group of those 80 and older may be formed if entries allow. Next year there may be a group in their 90s, who knows?
If you’re not a club member yet, sign up here.
If you can help out with either tournament as a volunteer, let Mick Pearce, EPC tournaments director, know.
Next up, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles
The Women’s Doubles Tournament will take place Wednesday, Sept. 4, at Marshdale. Registration, for EPC members only, opens Wednesday, Aug. 21. The non-refundable registration fee is $25 per individual or $50 per team. If you would like us to match you up with a partner, we can do that.
The double-elimination format will allow the participation of 32 teams, which will be placed in brackets based on skill level. The first match is best of three games to 11. Winners move on in the bracket, while losing teams match up for one game to 15, rally scoring. The eventual winners in the lower bracket will take on the winners in the upper bracket for final bragging rights.
We are grateful to Sisters & Company for sponsoring women’s doubles again this year.
Tournament season ends with Mixed Doubles Sept. 14
Registration opens Sunday, Sept. 1, for Mixed Doubles, which generally features plenty of poaching. Some is even by design. Details are as above for Women’s Doubles.