Aiken Pickleball News

Thursday, September 9th - Sunday, September 12th, 2021

Odell Weeks Recreation Center

1700 Whiskey Road, Aiken, South Carolina

For tournament information, click here.

Schedule for tournament play as follows

 

There will be Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Doubles in the following skill level / age brackets:

3.0 (19+, 50+, 60+, 70+)

3.5 (19+, 50+, 60+, 70+)

4.0 (19+, 50+, 60+, 70+)

4.5 (19+, 50+, 60+, 70+)

5.0 (19+, 50+)

This is a double elimination tournament.  In the event that insufficient teams are registered in a category, those matches may default to a round robin competition format.

The tournament fee is $45 and also includes a tournament shirt, draw string bag, and an Onix ball.

The tournament ball is the orange Onix Fuse ball and therefore, solid orange apparel is not permitted.

Lunch will not be provided.  However, there are 20+ restaurants within a mile of the tournament.

COVID-19:  CDC and the City of Aiken COVID-19 policies in effect at the time of the tournament will be followed and enforced.  As the tournament draws near, updates on these policies will be posted at PickleballTournaments.com

Event Dates

* Practice — Thursday afternoon, September 9

* Women’s Doubles 3.0 (60+,70+), 3.5 (60+,70+) — Friday, September 10

* Men’s Doubles 3.0 (60+,70+), 3.5 (60+,70+) — Friday, September 10

* Mixed Doubles all brackets – Saturday, September 11

* Women’s Doubles 3.0 (19+,50+), 3.5 (19+,50+), and all brackets 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 — Sunday, September 12

* Men’s Doubles 3.0 (19+,50+), 3.5 (19+,50+), and all brackets 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 — Sunday, September 12

Contacts

Registration: Nelson Spitnale or Ben Lacy,  Registration@AikenPickleball.com

Instructions for registering:

1. Go to https://www.pickleballtournaments.com/pbt_main.pl

2. In upper right corner click on “Login”, then Player Login.

3. If you do not have an account click on “Create Account”, fill in the blanks and click on “Search”, if you do have an account, enter Login and password and click on “Signin”.

4. On Player Account page, click on 'Register for a Tournament or Update Tournament Registration”.

5. In Search for a Tournament “Keyword”, enter “Palmetto”, click on “Search”.

6. You may click on “View Details” or click on green “Register”.

7. Scroll down, and read the sentence preceding the green “Register for Tournament” button, check the check box on the left, then click on “Register for Tournament”.

8. The next page will list the event(s) you are eligible to play based on your gender, age and skill level. Click on the green “Register” button for an event you want to play. Scroll down.

9. If you know your partner, enter his/her information and then click on “Enter” or scroll down and click on “Continue without a partner”. If you identify a partner, they must still register, sign waiver and pay for themselves.

10. You may now “Register” for additional events and complete partner information for each event..

11. Your shirt size will automatically populate from your profile, but to make sure it is correct or to change it, click on “Edit”.

12. Keep scrolling down for volunteer opportunities and the Liability Waiver and Comments, then to sign the Liability Waiver enter your “Last Name” and then enter any comments you may have.

13. Click on green “Save waiver and Registration” button.

14. Click on green “Pay Online” button.

15. Click on green “Paypal” button. Login to Paypal if you have an account, if you don't have an account there will be a link allowwing you to pay by credit card. 

16. Signout.

 

The June New Playeres Clinic at Odell Weeks will be held on Saturday, June 12th.  Signup and pay at the front desk. Schedule is as follows:  

0900-0915 - Check-in; 

0915-0930 - Court setup; 

0930-1030 - New Players Clinic; 

1045-1215 - Practice Play Session.

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.   Clinic will be held on Court #1, Gym #2, at Odell Weeks. Balls and paddles provided.  Maximum 8 players.  Cost is $15 per person.  Call the front desk at 803 642-7631 to reserve a slot.

 

 

There are now eight (8) outdoor pickleball courts available for play at Virginia Acres Park located behind Odell Weeks..

 

 

A round robin is scheduled for Saturday, July 17th at Gregg Park Civic Center (an indoor facility).  This will be a mixed doubles event where you sign up with a specific partner and play one game to 11 against every other team in your division.  Each division (3.0 and below, 3.5, and 4.0 and above) is limited to a maximum of 8 teams. 

Click here to sign up

The cost is $10 per person.  Payment may be made by mailing a check made payable to Ron Nelson tot 140 Fox Trace, Aiken, SC 29803, or via Zelle to AikenPickleballbanking@gmail.com  

4.0 and up Mixed doubles - 8 Teams - 7 rounds - first to 11 win by 1

0830-0845am - Check-in and court setup

0845-0900am - Orientation and warm-up

9am - start play

3.0 and below Mixed Doubles - 8 teams - 7  rounds - first to 11 win by 1

1145am-12noon - Check-in

12-1215pm - Orientation and warm-up

12:15pm- start play

3.5 Mixed Doubles - 8 teams - 7 rounds - first to 11 win by 1

3-315pm - Check-in

315-330pm - Orientation and warm-up

3:30 pm - start play

Medals will be awarded for first, second and third place in each division. Onix Fuse balls will be provided..  Registration closes at 8:00 pm, Sunday, July 11th.  If you have any questions send them to info@AikenPickleball.com

 

 

We have added an extra court for drop-in play on Mondays at Odell - courts 1,2,3,4 dip from 9am-12pm.  In addition, there are now three courts available for court reservaitons on Mondays at Smith-Hazel  9am-12pm.

 

The City of Aiken is exploring the option of adding pickleball to their summer camps being held June-August.   What they need are volunteers to assist Mo Garcia in introducing the game of pickleball to the kids attending the weekly camps.  If you think you would be interested in helping please contact Alison Cribb at 803 642-7648.  Alison is the Recreation Program Coordinator for the  City of Aiken Parks, Recreation, Tourism.

 

 

It is still not too late for those of you that forgot to bring the paddle that you were going to donate to the social.  Just leave them at the OW front desk with a note on it For Aiken Pickleball From (your name). We could still use a couple more  Thanks.

 

Over fifty people attended the Spring Social.  Mike Dickhart won the gift certificate for the one hour lesson with Mo, and Dale Haley won the one hour session for four with "Little Mo".  After 6pm, over thirty players moved indoors to play pickleball.  Thanks to Ben Lacy for providing the entertainment and Pat and Ron for organizing the food.  And special thanks to Mo Sports for providing the door prizes.  Hope everyone had a good time.  See below for photos.

 

The minutes for the Leadership Team Meeting that was held Monday, May 3rd, 2021 at 5:30pm at Odell Weeks, have been posted. This was our first meeting without using Zoom in over a year.  Topics that were discussed included an update on drop-in play at both Odell and Gregg Park; the New Players Clinics at both facilities;  a call for volunteers to assist Mo with pickleball instruction for the kids' summer camps; and much more.  Go to Forums or click here to see the full report.

 

 

 

Drills with "Little Mo" are coming back to Gregg Park.  Starting June 11th, and every Friday evening thereafter, from 6-7 pm, until the middle of August.

Cost is $10 per person per session. Each session is limited to a maximum of eight players, minimum of three.  Payment should be made at the Gregg Park front desk.  The receipt must be given to the instructor at the time of the session.  Nonmembers are welcome to attend but they must also pay a $10 daily facility fee.  Click here to sign up.

Friday evenings at Gregg Park from 6 - 7 PM

 

June 11th        - Return of serve

June 18th        - Dinks with a purpose

June 25th         - Half volley

July 2nd        - Overhead smash

July 9th        - 3rd shot drop

July 16th        - Drive topspin volley

July 23rd        - King/Queen of the court

July 30th        - Drop, chip, drive

August 6th         - Lobs

August 13th     - Specialty shots

 

 

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