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50 | OHCC LIVING | OCTOBER 2023 | Ever wonder how pickleball came to be at OHCC? Here's Herb's Livsey's account: In 2008, Joan and Lou Gross rented a home on Galicia Way, across from Gerry and Herb Livsey. Joan heard that the Livseys played paddle tennis, a very prominent sport at OHCC at the time. Joan and Lou knocked on their door, introduced themselves, and asked if they'd like to learn a new game. Quick answer? YES! e Grosses had four paddles, so off they went to the HOA courts, used chalk to draw the kitchen/NVZ lines on the paddle tennis court, and the first-ever game of pickleball at OHCC was played that day in Fall 2008. Pickleball at the outset was not well accepted. Some accused us of "graffiti-ing" the paddle tennis courts. Fortunately, Racquet Club president Glen Goglia was sympathetic to our desire to add another sport to the Club's portfolio. He suggested we spray paint the lines using washable paint and even supplied the paint for us to use. As it turned out, that particular paint was only formulated to wash off grass, not off a court surface! Big oops! Meanwhile, the Recreation Department only allowed us to paint one inch wide lines which did not meet official sport standards. Joan and Lou went to the HOA Board multiple times to discuss how home values would improve by bringing pickleball to the community and we continued to play whenever we could get access to the HOA courts. Paul and Ana Yoshida and Frank and Lynn Dowling joined in and by summer's end, four couples were playing pickleball. When we were able to get nets for the sport, Paul Yoshida engineered a way to have both paddle tennis and pickleball nets attached to the poles so that there was an easy transition for net height going from one sport to another – the dual net system still used at the HOA courts today. Ellen Baur, then Master Board president, ultimately allowed us to go to regulation two inch lines so we would have an official pickleball court. Some prominent paddle tennis players were enraged that pickleball was taking hold. One player was so disturbed by what was happening with the courts, she quit the Racquet Club entirely. Nonetheless, by 2010, pickleball was finally established. How far we have come! Looking forward: • Game Day returns on Sun., Oct. 1 • Mixed Doubles Pickleball Tournament on urs., Oct. 19 • Annual Meeting & Election on urs., Nov. 6 Racquet Club 2023 Pickleball Dinking Champs are (from le) 1st Place - Fred Fieri & David Stein, 2nd Place - Jerry Abshier and Leslie Freedle-Boren. Joan and Lou Gross launched OHCC pickleball 15 years ago. She continues to play daily at advanced drop-in. Club President Bob James (L) introduces Recreation Director Chris Bessey (R) to toss first beanbag in Racquet Club's month-long Wednesday aernoon cornhole competition.