The Worse Thing About Pickleball is Darn Fine

by George Brewer

There you are one morning in your kitchen wondering what you're gonna do today. You glance down at the newspaper and you see a story about golf and you say to yourself, "I think I'll go golfing today." Never mind that you have never played golf in your life. What can be so difficult about learning how to play?

You call one of the golf courses listed in the phone book and ask if it would be O.K. for you to sign up and play today. The nice man on the phone says, "come on over." So you get all "gussied up" and head on over to the golf field. It doesn't matter that you don't have any clubs, balls or cart because the nice man behind the counter will rent you all the stuff you need to get out there and play.

Just as the nice man with his BIG ole smile hands you back your credit card, you casually mention to him that you've never played golf before."That's right" you tell him, "but I'm a fast learner." Your money is quickly refunded and you are encouraged to come back after you take some lessons, read the rules and learn how to play. Confused, you walk out the door wondering what the "toot" just happened to you.

Back home you are just getting over what just happened to you when you see those nice folks on TV talking about tennis and you see how much fun all those "gussied up" people seem to be having. "Sugar" you say to yourself, "I can do that. I'll give them a call and see if it's OK for me to come over." You give them a call and they say, "Come on over." So, you get all "gussied up" again and off you go.

When you arrive, there are some nice gussied up people sitting around, and they invite you to join them, so you follow them out to the courts. One of them suggests that you should bring your tennis racket with you, and when you tell them you don't have one they suggest you go to the tennis shop and rent one. Moments later, just as the clerk has finished writing up your ticket and entered your credit card number in the system, you casually share with him that you've never played tennis in your life, but you assure him you are a quick learner.

Those nice folks that asked you to play with them overhear the conversation, and suddenly the whole tribe of them is gone. Someone suggests that you go home, read the rules, buy your own balls and racket, practice and then come back when you know how to play.

You fell "double dipped" and rejection is about to set in when you hear on the radio that the Recreation Department is offering Pickleball lessons today. You decide to take a chance, and after trading in your "gussied up" clothes for something comfortable, you walk over to the
Pickleball courts and peek thru the fence to see if the natives are friendly.

There's a bunch of people standing around visiting with each other and having fellowship. They're introducing themselves to each other, shaking hands and smiling at each other, so you decide to venture in and casually walk around acting like you know what you're doing. Someone approaches you and hands you a paddle. You reach for your credit card but you're told, "Pickle ball is free. The Club furnishes the paddles and balls and there is never a charge." Already you like these people and since they are so nice you decide to confess that you have never played Pickleball in your life. You squint your eyes and grit your teeth ready to be drummed off the courts. The instructor says, "Good, that means you don't have any bad habits and you're just the kind of person we're looking for."

"So far', you say to yourself, ' the worse thing about Pickleball is damn fine."

C U on D Courts.....George Brewer