Pickleball clinic attracts newcomers and experienced players alike
MADISON — Arguably the fastest- growing sport in America, pickleball is thriving on the national, state and local scenes. Count Dublin Park among those communities for the increasingly popular sport.
Pickleball leagues, clinics and pickup games take place daily at the indoor and outdoor courts. A recent clinic on a Saturday morning lured more than a dozen people — from newcomers to savvy veterans to newcomers only too willing to help others and some in between — to one of the outdoor courts.
The group of men and women, ranging from middle age to mature, were there for the C & G Pickleball Academy run by certified instructors Chris Welch and Greg Boyett. With the latter absent, assisting alongside Welch was longtime player Heidi Crouch.
“It’s not all about winning; it’s fun,” said Crouch, echoing a familiar refrain from most players. “It’s just really grown in the last year or two. It is addictive.”
Having played pickleball for the past five years, Crouch offered some sage advice geared toward newcomers: “Keep your eye on the ball.”
Although Gail Romine is not an instructor, she is not unlike many experienced players who are eager to help others learn the nuances of the game and improve their skill level. That, in turn, enables her to get better.
“I’ve been playing a while, but you can always learn,” she said. “People come out to have a good time. If somebody needs help, I’m going to try to help them. This is what the pickleball community is supposed to be about.”
As is the case in many sessions, there were a handful of newcomers last Saturday.
“It looked fun,” said first-timer Ruth Galloway, adding, “I want to get better. I want to retire and play every day.”
“I’m new to the area,” said first-timer Chad Woods. “I was looking to meet new friends and get some exercise. This is fun. You can play people with different levels of intensity. I’ll play again.”
So too will Leslie Koch and Shannon Swensen, who came together.
“We had a lot of fun. It was a lot of information,” Koch said. “This was kind of to see if I liked it and I did.”
Added Swensen, “It’s easy to pick up and you meet some great people. I’m going to keep going.”
For Connie Hedgepeth and her husband Rodney, meeting people is not so much the goal as is having a healthy alternative they can do as a couple. A former tennis player who also plays in local softball leagues, she is coming off hip surgery and recently began participating in Welch’s sessions.
“I was going to get back into tennis, but I wanted to try pickleball first,” Connie said. “As soon as I started playing, I fell in love with it.”
“It’s real energy,” added Rodney, who attended just his second class at the clinic.
The energy required to play the sport, along with simply having something fun to do, drew Caroline Wathen to Welch’s classes about a year ago. She now plays in a league.
“I’m a stay-at-home mom with three elementary age kids and I needed something to do,” Wathen said. “(Pickleball) looked like a lot of fun and I had no idea how to play. I was a little intimidated, but once I stepped on the court everyone who already knew how to play was eager to teach. They were very welcoming.
“It’s always fun; win or lose, good days and bad days. I’ve met a whole new group of friends.”
