Smith-Hazel Activity Center located at 400 Kershaw St NE, will reopen for a 2-hour walk through from 5:30-7:30 pm on Sept. 25th. Pickleball will restart on September 30th - every Monday and Wednesday - court reservations 9-1030am and 1030-12pm - three indoor courts. You will be able to reserve a court using the same Sign up Genius you use for Odell. The membership card you use to access Odell Weeks will allow you access Smith-Hazel. For non members the daily fee is $2, same as at Odell.
Aiken Pickleball News
If you need help with anything, send an email to aikenpickleball@gmail.com and someone will get back with you.
We can help you with making and editing court reservations or adding your name to the "Looking for games" list, among other things. What we cannot tell you is the access code. That is for our use only. After 8 pm Wednesday evening, the Sign-up Genius is locked down, requiring an access code while the new time slots for the following week are being added. The signupgenius is then unlocked after 8 am Thursday morning and an access code is no longer required. But if you need help with anything else send an email to info@aikenpickleball.com and one of us will get back to you.
In September
Saturday, September 21st, New Players Clinic at Odell, is full.
Saturday, September 21st, Clinics with Harve, sign up at front desk.
Skinny Singles Social, Friday evening September 27th, Starts at 4pm. No sign up required.
Saturday, September 28th, New Players Clinic at Gregg Park is full.
In October
Saturday, October 5th, New Players Clinic at Odell Weeks. Sign up at front desk.
On the horizon
Toys for Tots and Golden Harvest open scramble.
Once again it seems necessary to remind everyone that pickleball is just a game. It is supposed to be fun - for everyone. Throwing paddles is unacceptable. Swearing is unacceptable. Telling beginners they are not good enough to play indoors is unacceptable. Arguing over line calls is unacceptable. We are all Ambassadors for the game of pickleball - act like it.
As for line calls -
Question 15 from the Aiken Pickleball Rules Quiz is one of the most missed questions.
15. If you and your partner are unsure whether the ball is in or out, what is the call?
a. The player nearest the ball makes the call.
b. The ball is called in.
c. The ball is called out
d. The point is replayed.
Select Read more below for the correct answer.
b. The ball is called in
The next New Players Clinic at the Gregg Park Civic Center is on Saturday, September 28th. Schedule as follows:
830 - 9am - Check-in at front desk
9 - 10am - New Players Clinic Instruction
10 - 11am - Practice Play
In this sixty minute clinic you will learn everything you need to get started playing the sport of pickleball. Please wear tennis shoes and bring something to drink. Balls and paddles provided. Class limited to eight.
Players must register and pay in advance which can be done online at GreggParkonline.com . Registration is open. Cost is $10 per person. Non-members are welcome to attend but must pay a $10 daily admittance fee.
Fee also includes attendance at a two hour New Players Practice session on a following Saturday in October at Gregg Park. Non members will still be required to pay the Gregg Park $10 admittance fee.
The clinic is for people new to the game of pickleball. Sign up at the front desk to reserve a spot. Maximum of 8 players - these clinics fill up fast so don’t delay. Schedule as follows:
915am - Check-in
930am - 1030am - Instruction
1040 - 12 noon Practice Play
Clinic will include proper court position, how to keep score, how to make the transition from tennis and other racquet sports to pickleball and much more. Players should wear tennis shoes and bring something to drink. Clinic will be held indoors in Gym 2, at Odell Weeks. Balls and paddles provided.
Cost is $15 per person which includes the daily access fee. Sign up and pay at the Odell Weeks front desk to reserve your slot in advance. Maximum 8 players.
We are doing something new and different on Friday evening at Odell on September 27th
4-530pm - Skinny Singles - all six courts - all levels - no sign up required - Games to 7 - rally scoring. Court 6 - King of the Hill - winner keeps playing until defeated
530-6pm - Complimentary pizza, drinks and cookies.
6-7pm Doubles Open Play Mixed levels
7-830pm Open play court designation
For those that don't know, Skinny Singles is half court singles pickleball. Players position on the court is determined by their score. Score Old/even = Court Left/right side. Rally scoring means you score on every point regardless who is serving. Best part is you can play it all levels and it is a great way to improve. It's also fun as there is no standing around as you are hitting every other shot. As this is all new we will adjust as needed. Hope to see you all there.
API would like to invite individuals interested in leading a women's pickleball team for the Fall 2024 season. Teams will consist of 3.0, 19+ and 3.5, 19+ players.
Players have the option to represent their respective Courts/Facilities:
- Virginia Acres Park
- Eustis Park
- Cedar Creek
- Woodside
- The Reserve at Woodside
- Gem Lakes
- others, please specify.
Matches will consist of best 2 out of 3 games to 11, win by 2.
Each team will provide 4 lines, in ascending order, with a total of 12 players per team.
Match days will be on :Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Teams will be allowed to play lines before the scheduled match date, but not after.
Once the number of teams has been determined, a captains' meeting will be announce.
Season is expected to run from 10/1/2024 - 12/10/204
Please contact Mo Garcia, league director (mog01@aol.com), or Jordyn Balba, assistant league director, with any questions.
Minutes for the Leadership Team Meeting held on August 12th, have been posted. Faith Loeb announced that she is retiring from Aiken Pickleball after eight years. Faith initiated the New Players Practice that followed each New Players Clinic, giving players new to the game of pickleball more structured playing time. Linda Blake is now providing New Players Practices after the New Players Clinics at both Odell Weeks and Gregg Park. We received great feedback on the Palmetto tournament with suggestions for improving. There was a well deserved round of applause for Jay Wilson the tournament director and all the other hard working volunteers that made the tournament so successful. Click here to read the full report as a lot more items were discussed including - Feedback from Player Rep's - proposed Social in September - Update on Pacer Life - Junior tournament in October - Mo’s Youth program - Wrecking Crew - Need for Volunteers - and much much more.
Last week saw the completion of our 10th Annual Palmetto Invitational Pickleball Doubles Tournament in honor of Loretta and Mike Beckner, the founders of Aiken Pickleball. Thanks to all the hard working volunteers that made this year's event a huge success. We exceeded last year's participation by over 35% - well done everyone!