Week 499-501 - Is Bigger Better? - 03-20-2016

Is Bigger Better?

We usually spend a few months each winter in Casa Grande, Arizona, at Palm Creek Golf and RV Resort. They have the world's largest Pickleball Complex.

We sampled Pickleball in 2006 in Arkansas, but the teachers didn't do it justice. We didn't consider it. In February 2008 at Jojoba Hills RV Resort we played again learning from 80 and 90 year-old trainers. Then in March of 2009 we came to Palm Creek. At the time they had 12 Pickleball courts and maybe 200 members in their PB club. Here we took classes, learned skills and strategy that made us Pickleball addicts.

For three years we played 11 PB tournaments per year and become referees. In 2012 Ellen's knee was too damaged (not just from Pickleball) and we stopped all Pickleball play. Ellen has now had a full knee replacement and is once again enjoying the sport. We are not yet playing tournaments but love to volunteer as referees.

The annual Palm Creek "Duel in the Desert" PB tournament is in March and this year we traveled to Casa Grande to ref. Our ten day trip from Hemet to Arizona started with a visit to cousin Bob and Barb's in Avondale (near Phoenix). 1) We parked the MotherShip in front of their neighbor's house. 2) Ellen and Bob inspect the citrus at Aunt Betty Lynn's house (now for sale in the Del Webb Sun City community.)

We have twice played in the Grand Canyon Games Pickleball Tournament at Sun City's Marinette Center. Courts were a combination of PB courts and temporary nets on the tennis courts. Since then they leveled all the tennis courts and replaced them with 4 outdoor and 8 indoor courts. The indoor courts are "open air" covered and lighted. This unique sport center allows play even during the hot summer mornings.

Leaving Avondale, we headed to Palm Creek Golf and RV Resort; the main complex pool and spa shown here.

Now on to the Duel. This Pickleball Complex has 32 courts and 800 club members! Is bigger better? You can decide as we detail the tremendous effort needed to put on the 519-player "Duel in the Desert". The even larger 800+ player USAPA Nationals event was last November. We did not make it to the Nationals but know the effort for 500+ players is not much less than that for 800.

First, the complex. This photo shows a few of the 32 courts. To run an efficient tournament you need months of preparation. A sound system was installed so that anyone on any court could hear announcements of the players and referees for the upcoming matches. On the right side of the walkway you can see about 6 courts, and 14 more stretch to the North. 12 more are on the left side of the walkway including 4 sunken courts for viewing medal matches. The white tents shelter the Command Central and vendors.

Below left are Lance and Bob. Bob, this year's tournament director, sits in the middle of his staff of dozens: Registration teams, Tournament teams, Referee teams and volunteers for all duties. We have met many long-time tournament players who stopped playing because of long wait times for their next match. Bob and this staff kept the courts full and moving as fast as possible. In 2012 Pete started an event at 8:00am and finished under the lights about 7:00pm. That tournament had a couple hundred players. In this 519-player tournament events started at 8:00am and all finished in early afternoon. Great job by Bob and his 300 volunteers!

1) Our friend Barb signs up for her event. 2) Tom and Jeanne are the Head Referees and have been for years. Many tournaments lack enough qualified referees. Not so here. Tom and Jeanne recruit and train referees. They had 120 referees for these 26 events with 30 refs on the courts at one time. They carefully match up referees with each new match that is announced.

1) You must be a member of the USA Pickleball Association to play in a sanctioned tournament like this one. 1) Rosemary awaits to greet those interested in Palm Creek and/or USAPA memberships. 2) Referee volunteers come to Command Central to get their court assignments.

Tournament hosts take care of their players. Dozens of water jugs were stationed around the complex. You can't keep the water cold by just grabbing ice from the clubhouse; an ice freezer was brought in on a trailer.

1) Tournaments brackets and results are posted all day long. Volunteers quickly update the bracket board so winners and losers know who they will play next. 2) This 60" monitor photo was shot from 100 feet away though the netting. It continuously shows the current and upcoming matches to help the spectators and on-deck players find their courts.

1) Health of seniors playing sports is always of top concern. Players can call for a one 15-minute medical time-out in a match. The Medic Staff on duty was large enough that any call could be responded to in less than 60 seconds. 2) The walkway message board showed the current temperature and a reminder to hydrate. Temps were high during this event with a second day 91 degree temp in the shade!. 3) Free and healthy fruit and snacks are available to all players and volunteers.

At many of our 33 PB tournaments that we played, there were portable relief stations. While they had a few here, they also have this brand new beautiful facility right at the courts. 2) This second photo has nothing to do with the tournament. You might think this 2006 Monaco Diplomat is ours, but it is not. This motorhome sits a few feet from the courts on a temporary site set up for visiting tournament players.

With the months-long preparations done, we are almost ready to start the play. 1) Two warm-up courts were available daily. This is luxury only possible with such a large facility. 2) Referees, like this guy are ready; let's get started!

1) Every day started with the US and Canadian national anthem sung by the Palm Creek choir of a dozen singers. 2) The Photo / Metals tent is the hopeful destination of all players.

This is the 4-court Medals arena where hundreds of fans can view four matches at once. A innovation by this club are "line judge" teams. There were 11 teams of 4 judges, each ready to call the out balls during a match. Prior to this, the medal referee would ask or beg for line judges. Here, the judges were in place when the referee got to the court. What a blessing! No doubt this concept will spread around the world!

A dozen or more vendors brought their wares to the event. Several Pickleball paddle vendors had dozens of brands of paddles for sale.

Or you could purchase Pickleball apparel and jewelry.

Hungry? Head on over to the permanent cook house and get your burgers, chicken, burritos, salads, brats and drinks.

And finally maybe you drove your car to the tournament. Then you saw how many players live and travel in their RVs. If you're thinking about getting a motorhome, you need only walk 20 feet from the courts to find your new home. Scooter not for sale.

Is bigger better? Months of preparation; 519 players; 120 referees; 44 line judges; a dozen medics; registration, tournament and referee staff and a director for a total of 300 volunteers. 26 different events all completed during daylight. Bigger may not be better in all cases, but this tournament was delightful, well run and as fun as a county fair. We like it. Congratulations to the Palm Creek Pickleball Club for an outstanding job.

Love, Pete, Ellen and Mandy

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." 1 Corinthians 9:24