Flo Van Volkom
On November 7 the Robson Ranch Pickleball Club welcomed 29 new recruits to the start of our free pickleball lessons. Dave Wong introduced the newbies to the sport while Steve Arthur helped 16 returnees brush off the cobwebs from summer. Free pickleball lessons are offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:00-11:30 a.m. Beginners are always welcome, and no advance registration is required. Come on down and join in the fun.
For more advanced players, clinics are offered at various times depending upon player ratings. Wayne Champagne is conducting drills for players rated 3.0 and below on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. Larry Kraus will be holding drills for 3.5 and above on Tuesdays 12:30-3:00 p.m. For the latest schedules of lessons, clinics, intercommunity and social play, please see the schedules posted at the courts as times are subject to change.
Have a few lessons under your belt? Come join the newly formed Robson Pickleball League comprised of five participating communities of PebbleCreek (Goodyear), SaddleBrooke, Sun Lakes, SaddleBrooke Ranch and Robson Ranch. This is open to players rated 2.5 and up. The emphasis will be on maximum participation from each club, meaning that from month to month we would like to see as many different players competing as possible. The goal will not be to put our very best players on the court again and again in order to score as many points as possible. We are awarding points for winning games, but we want it to be a fun, social time more than anything else. If you are interested please sign up at the courts. Players are needed especially at the 2.5 rating. League play is once a month on Saturday.
Recent Tournament Winners
We would like to offer congratulations to some of our very own members who have recently won medals in outside tournaments. A big congratulations goes out to our own Artie Wachter who brought home two medals from the USAPA Nationals VIII tournament at Palm Creek in Casa Grande in November. Artie, who partnered with Norm Davis, captured the Silver medal in the Men’s Doubles (80+) division. He then partnered with Bev Schalin to win the Bronze medal in the Mixed Doubles (80+) division.
At the Sun City Shootout Wayne Champagne and Bob Buck brought home the Silver in 3.5 Men’s Doubles (60+) and Doris Betuel and Bernie Bruner scored the Bronze in 4.0 Women’s Doubles (60+).
And the club had a great showing by our members at the Arizona Senior Olympics in El Mirage, AZ.
Men’s Doubles 3.5 Gold to Wayne Champagne who partnered with Larry Miller
Men’s Doubles 4.0 Bronze to Dave Wong and Jeff Hamrlik
Women’s Singles (Age 60-64) Silver to Doris Betuel
Women’s Doubles (Age 60-69) Silver to Doris Betuel who partnered with Bernie Bruner