The last two weeks have been busy at the pickleball courts. For starters, there was the highly anticipated and over-subscribed annual Thanksgiving Round Robin. More than ninety enthusiastic picklers signed up for an event that offered no cutthroat competition, trophies, blood, sweat or tears. It was supposed to be good clean fun preceding the one day of the year when we all throw caloric caution to the wind without a hint of guilt. Carpe Diem.
Once again Ma Nature, mimicking the aging codger down the street who calls the police to complain about a child’s lemonade stand, had plans of her own. Plans that did not include a pre-bacchanalian calorie burn. The event, which was to last two-hours, was called on account of rain after only a half-hour of play. When it comes to Landings Club pickleball round robins, the old broad is like a recurring case of malaria. She refuses to go away and can’t be ignored.
Why? It might have something to do with the estimated 46 million turkeys that were devoured by Americans this year. In hindsight, I suppose losing a day on the courts is a small price to pay for enjoying what might well be our favorite gluttonous behavior-be-damned holiday of the year.
While the rain might have dampened enthusiasm for pickleball, it created the perfect conditions for the court sports professionals to assemble across Landings Way for their third annual Thanksgiving flag football game. The event is not advertised – I might have been the only spectator – but is well worth the price of admission. Be sure to put it on your calendars for next year.
Last Thursday night, picklers assembled for the Landings Pickleball Association’s DUPR League fall Championship. Three divisions - Premier, Challenger, and Major - vied for top billing. Each division is comprised of four teams, each with six players who are chosen by draft. At the end of the regular season, each team is ranked by record and enters the playoff round, which concludes with the top two teams vying for the gold. `
After an evening of impressive competition at all levels, the winners were crowned. The Premier Division winner was the team captained by Chris Phillips, with teammates Maddie Phillips, Johnny Moran, Greg Killeen and Paul Schmucker. The team led by Benny Eichholz won the Challenger Division. Players included Rachel Holmes, Einar Anderson playing for injured regular Bill Jacques, Jim Dwyer, Nathan Alexander and Scott Birthisel. Suzanne Curry was captain of the winning team in the Major Division. Her players included William Arnold, Monty Palmer, Spencer Wheeler, Michael Coon and Jennifer Dwyer. Congratulations to all.
The Premier Division Winners
The Challenger Division Winners
The Major Division Winners
As we are close to the end of year, it’s a good time to wish everyone at The Landings a Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah. For any number of reasons 2024 has been a momentous year. A somewhat less momentous 2025 might well be a welcome respite.