There hasn’t been a lot of pickleball in the last week or two. Savannah’s normally temperate weather has, at least temporarily, morphed into the weather we were trying to escape when we migrated south. Cold, wet and raw does not generate much enthusiasm for pickleball.
There might still be a misguided few outside the gates who believe The Landings is a retirement community, for elderly carpetbaggers escaping cold weather. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth. It seems the average age has been declining since the pandemic when scores of young families moved to The Landings. As younger members are drawn to pickleball, the competition for court time will become intense. It is clear our current fourteen courts are not enough to support the anticipated growth of the sport. Fortunately, plans are in place to add eight new courts - someday.
One recent afternoon, before arctic weather settled over Georgia, I finished playing and was about to head home when I noticed four vivacious young ladies playing on an adjacent court. I stopped and spoke with them. Branan Parsons, Proper Jenkins, Millie Odermatt and Hattie Willis, all students at Hancock Day School, are ten years old, athletic, and display all the signs of becoming future pickleball elite.
They were not the only kids at the courts that day. Four boys and a girl were playing a few courts away. Talent was on display - all nine were taking the game seriously. If they continue to play and take lessons, they might well become formidable competition in the very near future. The point is, we can expect to an increasing number of young members on the courts battling for pickleball bragging rights.
The first quarter will see a lot of activity at Franklin Creek. The winter league – as opposed to the DUPR league – begins nine weeks of competition on Tuesday, January 21st. This includes two weeks of playoff matches followed by the championship round on March 18th.
The Valentine’s Day Round Robin will be played on February 15th. The Club sponsors several round robin events throughout the year. The format is designed to give all players, regardless of experience, the opportunity to play in a fun event. While no medals are awarded, thus diminishing if not eliminating the agony of defeat, the round robins always draw an impressive crowd of contestants and spectators alike.
The Valentine’s Day Round Robin is closely followed by the always popular Landings Club Mixed Doubles Championship on February 22nd. This is the first of four pickleball club championships held during the year, including the men’s and women’s doubles championships and, for an intrepid few, the club singles championships.
Finally, the World Pickleball Tour will once again be hosted by The Landings club from February 28th through March 2nd. This is a premier event showcasing players from all over the country. Landings Club players always shine in this event so mark your calendars, grab your favorite libation at The Deck, and prepare to witness some top-notch pickleball.