62 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | SEPTEMBER 2017 |
Pickleball Club
As this article is written, Sun Lakes is in the midst of a re-
surfacing project for the pickleball courts and our members have
been creative in working around the closure while work proceeds. At
the beginning of August, a hardy contingent of club players trekked
up to Big Bear for a morning's play at Erwin Ranch. The large San
Bernardino County facility features ten re-striped tennis courts that
are used by a great group of regulars. They were most gracious in
hosting our club and offered stiff competition. Thanks to Debbie
Pritchett for organizing the event and finding a great place for lunch
in The Village!
In recent months we have been highlighting the ways senior
communities are embracing Pickleball and how tennis and pickle
are becoming more and more in partnership. One of our members
brought an excellent video to our attention that features Chris
Thomas, USAPA ambassador for the Palm Desert area. The video
shows how Chris has gained the cooperation of club pros and boards
of directors in advancing pickleball in the Coachella Valley. You may
know some of the folks in the film. Check it out at https://youtu.be/
Y2a1BK4wBCM.
Sun Lakes own Ralph Rabago is a Professor of Kinesiology at
Crafton Hills College and an avid pickle player and coach. Many of
us have enjoyed watching Ralph put on some great clinics and now
he has informed us that Crafton will be offering a course "Pickleball
I-IV." The class runs 12 weeks and begins Sept. 18. The fee is nominal:
$75 (an additional $30 is required for a parking pass.) The class will
be held on Monday and Wednesday, 8 to 9:50 am through Dec. 6.
Ralph says this is an opportunity for players of any skill level to learn
more and improve their game. If you want more information, email
Ralph at rrabago@craftonhills.edu.
Our club hours are Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 8 to 10am.
Other play is available here at Sun Lakes and in neighboring venues
on weekday mornings and evenings. If you want to schedule an
informal lesson or practice session, just call our officers: Royce
Newman at 769-1103 or Nick Caputo at 255-7841. See you on the
courts!
