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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | AUGUST 2024 | 55 POP Tennis POP Tennis, formerly known as Paddle Tennis, is a fun, fast sport that can be enjoyed by people at all fitness levels. Though played on a smaller court with a different paddle and 20 percent deflated tennis balls, POP Tennis is otherwise scored and regulated like traditional tennis. POP Tennis is played on the courts to the left of the Main Clubhouse on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8 to 10 am (spring/summer hours). Additionally, there is a group that plays Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 3 pm and Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings from 6 to 8 pm. People are free to come and go as their schedules permit. All are welcome and there are always friendly folks to teach beginners the game! Paddles and balls are provided too. For more information or to be on a decision-making committee, please feel free to contact Carl Miller at (951) 512-3131. **All regular POP players are asked to get their $10 membership fee to Jeanne McGuire. The dues are used to plan parties, tournaments and buy balls and paddles. Hope you'll POP by! One of the great aspects of pickleball is its sociability. Play on the small court and the closeness of our eight courts lends itself to easy conversation and playful banter. In fact, this is a hallmark of the game and a primary draw for people weary of the hyper- competitiveness many have found in the sports they pursued prior to retirement. It is also a casual game. One need not line up a foursome at an appointed time of the week, whether for court space or a tee time. But pickle's rapid pace of play means that sidelines conversations tend to be limited. Games usually last about 15 minutes, more or less. We rotate waiting players in very smoothly, absent the formalities that prevail in many venues where a player must play in her/his designated rating level. We just mix it up and welcome players of all skill levels. And we rarely have much wait to get in a game. All of this is why our club's recent shindig was a welcome early summer gathering. The club officers organized a fun picnic and the members and guests came through as usual with great food, enough for all. We met on a Sunday afternoon in late June. The shade around the courts, with our usual westerly breeze, made for a comfortable time despite temps in the 90s. This was a relaxed time for members, family and guests to get better acquainted, to catch up in ways that weekly games don't allow. It was also a good reminder that our club is blessed with resourceful and thoughtful folks. EZ-ups blossomed, warming trays and ice tables materialized. Set-up and clean-up f lowed very smoothly with many helping hands. The al fresco party was just one more vivid reminder that our club has some of the best of the best in its ranks. As summer takes hold, morning play has moved up. The early- risers are starting between 7 and 7:30 am, the "mid-morning crew" has opted for 9 to 9:30 am many days. More and more players are coming out in the evenings, which, until and unless the "monsoons" drift over from Arizona, are usually balmy. Even with occasional humidity, Sun Lakers are blessed with milder weather than many in the nation. It is no surprise, then, to see the courts bustling and many new players coming out. If you're new to the game, give our club VP, Judy Luna, a call at (949) 929-2390. She will gladly welcome you. See you on the courts! Pickleball Club

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