Image Up Advertising & Design

| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | NOVEMBER 2022 | 57 Table Tennis/ Ping Pong Hi, my name is Ken Hay. I was born and raised in Southern California. I was in education and coaching in the mid '70s before moving to Beaverton, Oregon in '81 where I spent the past 40 plus years, 29 of which in the logistics department for the Kroger company. I retired in 2017. After spending the past year in Grants Pass, I began to look to relocate back to my roots. At that time, I reconnected with high school mate, Darline, and the rest is history. Love the Sun Lakes vibe with all the activities available. Table tennis was always available at home or school, but had been on hold for 40 plus years. It's excellent for a senior's eye-hand coordination and cardio for all levels. Thanks to all for sharing your skills and knowledge of the game. Our group is diverse and inclusive, from ages 55 to over 90 years old, from beginners to some highly- ranked individuals quick to give out tips and rules of the game. Come on over and start having some fun; make some friends while getting immediate and long-term health benefits! For more information or to find out our schedule, contact our coordinator Gary at (805) 722-7427 or John Williams at (951) 489-9737. We are happy to answer questions and look forward to having you join us. ~ Gary Lile Members and friends enjoyed a fun evening at the south clubhouse last month. It might have been dubbed "Pizza and Play" as the organizers provided a lively gathering. Our thanks to Vicki Huisman and her team for ensuring a good time was had by all. Some of the highlights included a rolicking duet by Vicki and hubby Hank, a karaoke-style song led by vocalist Anna Selvaggi, and games that got all of us off our feet and participating. Terri Weitz made everyone forget Vanna White as she guided contestants through a pickleball- style Wheel of Fortune. So join the club for the on-court competition, but stay for the parties! Dues are a mere $10 per annum — the biggest bargain in town. It is gratifying daily to see the turnout on the courts. New players abound, reflective of growth of the game nationally. The Washington Post had a major spread in its Sept. 20 edition describing the "explosion" of pickleball. One remarkable note featured the fact that Wichita, Kansas, has hired a city staffer to oversee pickleball. He is a pickle pro and will shepherd a 20-court "Pickleplex" in which the city is investing $3 million, scheduled to debut next year. Pickleball has long been associated with senior citizens. After all, it has blossomed in resort communities such as Sun Lakes, with a concentration in Florida and California. But new data compiled by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association reveal how demographically balanced the game has become. The older cohort, 65+, is still the larger at 849,000 players. The eye-opener is that the 25-34 bracket comprises a whopping 787,000. The next-younger and older contingents aren't far behind with 35-44 tallying 610,000 and 18-24 coming in at 600,000. The tallies belie the notion that pickleball is just for the old folks. The secret of this unique game is that all these generation-spanning participants play head-to-head. There may not be another sport so friendly to cross-generation play. Late September brought Sun Lakes' annual Activities Day, which attracted a throng of people looking for their next hobby. Our club's table offered an introduction to pickle and many responded. We got sign-ups from nearly two dozen folks who are interested in a clinic to learn about the game. Our VP Judy Luna spearheads these orientations. Anyone who wasn't contacted should call her at (949) 929-2390. See you on the courts! Pickleball Club

• Cover