HPC – Glow Play

Hi HPC Members!

I hope everyone is enjoying these cooler evenings with some great community pickleball. Our next big event will be upon us soon – Glow Play Pickleball on October 19th. Make sure to save the date and sign up at 

www.pickleball-huntsville.com/register_glow_in_the_dark.php.

It was a big success last year and we’re looking to repeat the success this year as well. — PLEASE SEE THE FLYER ON THE REGISTRATION PAGE FOR DETAILS.

Lastly, let’s all give a big thanks to SportsMed for supporting us. They have generously covered the facility costs allowing us to focus membership funds on enhancing the experience for our members. 

I’m just an email away. 

Ryan

Holiday Social and Club Tournament

HPC Holiday Social and Club Tournament

Where: Sandra Moon Pickleball Courts
When: December 3rd, 9 am – Noon

The Holiday season is fast approaching – time to get Holly & Jolly on the courts!  Join us for our final HPC social of the year on Saturday, December 3, at the Sandra Moon outdoor courts, 9 am-Noon.  We will share treats, fun times, and a festive, random draw, club tournament designed for all skill levels.  Per the flyer, come in your jolliest spirit and merriest attire to increase your tourney score. Note that volunteering to help also gets you extra tourney points. 

We will be collecting donations for the North Alabama Food Bank to spread good cheer in our community.   Use the link below to sign up for the social/tourney and to volunteer by November 29.  All members are welcome for the social, but tourney participants will be limited to the first 88 to sign up.  (We are aware that this is the same day as the SEC Football Championship, but that’s not until 3PM CT – we promise to be finished well ahead of kickoff.)  Let’s get ready to be the merriest picklers on the moon!

Sign up here:

https://www.pickleball-huntsville.com/events/holiday_social_2022.php

Let’s Play!

Judy Hayes

Glow in the Dark Pickleball Event

Let’s Glow!
Glow in the Dark Pickleball Event

When:  October 27th
Location:  Trinity United Methodist Church Gym, 607 Airport Rd, Huntsville

All HPC members are invited to our first Glow in the Dark Pickleball event.  See the attached flyer for details.  There will be free food and indoor play on 3 neon decorated courts.  PLEASE REGISTER @ THE LINK BELOW BY OCT. 20, so we know how much food to provide.

https://www.pickleball-huntsville.com/register_glow_in_the_dark.php

The gym may get crowded, so please refrain from bringing gym bags or bulky items.  Just bring your paddle – we will even have neon tape you can use for decorating it!  Make sure your name is on your paddle to make it easier to ID in the paddle pile.

If you’d like to help setup the courts or decorate the gym earlier on the day of the event, please volunteer by contacting Sandy Greene at sandy.greene@pickleball-huntsville.com

Let’s Glow Play!

Festival on the Moon Sunday Delay Start

Festival on the Moon Delay start time for Sunday:  Noon

We will be there at 10:30 am setting up and drying off courts when the rain stops.  If you want to help us with this, please bring towels and blowers.

The Festival will begin at Noon with Penny Lamb’s workshop: Strength & Conditioning Training for Pickleball. Bring a towel or mat for stretching if you have one available. This workshop will be held indoors in the check-in building.

The schedule will continue with the 4.0 Round Robin staring at 1 or soon after depending on court conditions. The rest of the schedule will be adjusted as needed and schedule changes will be announced at the Festival.  We will try to get in a few of the skill challenges as we can.

Our last round of prize drawings will be held towards the end of the day, so there is still time to buy chance to win tickets and enter to win some fabulous prizes.  Come check them out in the check-in building.  Don’t let the Festival close before you purchase your FOM t-shirt, magnet, pin, and postcard. You can find these for sale in the check-in building. All proceeds from all purchases go to the Breast Cancer Patient Assistance Fund. We also have a donation box in the check-in building. 

We have had a great Festival so far and thank all of you for your support!  Come join us today at Noon – 5 pm for the last day of fundraising and fun!  

Let’s play and give back!

Judy

Festival on the Moon News

The weather forecast for the Festival on the Moon is sunshine and warm temperatures!  You can still register for the event held on April 29 – May 1.  Keep in mind that the registration for the Round Robin portion of the Festival is closed now, but registration is open to attend and enjoy all other court festivities held that day. Families and spectators are welcome! Anyone can participate in the Chance to Win drawings, buy festival t-shirts, pin or magnets, play lawn games, and watch the court contests. Registration is required to play on the Moon courts or to participate in the skill contests. 

Schedule of events: 

Friday, April 29

  • 5:00-8:00 pm Registration open, main courts open play, hospitality tent open, music
  • 7:00 pm Announcements followed by Skill contest – Serve to the Spot (all on main courts)

Saturday, April 30

  • 7:30 am Registration opens
  • 8:00 am-8:00 pm Open play, hospitality tent open, music, vendor booths open
  • 8:00-10:30 am Opening ceremony prior to start of Skill Round Robin – levels up to 2.0 and 2.5 (temporary courts)
  • 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Breast Center available at their table for information and first aid
  • 9:30 am NesinFit Sportstalk (hospitality tent)
  • 10:00 am Official Welcome Ceremony by Huntsville Parks and Recreation, The Breast Center of Huntsville Hospital, and Huntsville Pickleball Club (hospitality tent)
  • 10:00 am-4:00 pm NesinFit available for screenings at their table
  • 10:30 am-1:00 pm 3.0 Skill round robin (temporary courts)
  • 12:30 pm Drawing for first set of raffle items, including opportunity to play in celebrity round robin (hospitality tent)
  • 1:00 Breast Health Center Intro to Celebrity Round Robin (temporary courts)
  • 1:30-4:00 pm Celebrity Round Robin (temporary courts – spectators may bring chairs)
  • 4:00 pm NesinFit Sportstalk (hospitality tent)
  • 4:00-5:00 pm Skill contest – Dinks for Two, Volley Ball (temporary courts)
  • 5:00-7:30 pm 3.5 Skill round robin (temporary courts)
  • 7:30 pm Drawing for second set of raffle items (hospitality tent)

Sunday, May 1

  • 7:30 am Registration opens
  • 8:00 am-5:00 pm Open play, hospitality tent open, music, vendor booths open
  • 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Breast Center available at their table for information and first aid
  • 10:00 am-2:00 pm NesinFit available for screenings at their table
  • 10:00 am-10:30 am Strength & Conditioning Training for Pickleball – Penny Lamb Bring a towel or mat for stretching, if you have one available.
  • 10:30 – 11:15 am Skill Contest – Serve to the Spot (temporary courts)
  • 11:15 am – 12:00 pm Skill Contest – Pop Top (temporary courts)
  • 1:00 NesinFit Sportstalk (hospitality tent)
  • 1:00-3:30 pm 4.0 + Skill round robin (temporary courts)
  • 3:30 pm Drawing for third set of raffle items (hospitality tent)
  • 5:00 pm Festival closes

Chance to Win drawings

If you registered by April 15th, you will receivefive complimentary tickets in your goody bag. Additional tickets may be purchased 5/$10 or 20/$20. Remember that this is a fund raiser for the Huntsville Hospital Breast Cancer Patient Assistance Fund, so we are selling these tickets as part of our fund-raising efforts.  All proceeds will go to this fund. We will accept cash, credit, or check.

Fill out your tickets and drop one or more of your tickets in the associated prize bucket for a chance to win the great prizes listed below. You do not have to be present to win, but your tickets must be dropped in prize buckets to be drawn for a particular prize.

  • Four (4) Rocket City Trash Pandas ticket vouchers. Redeemable for Tuesday/Thursday games in 2022, subject to availability. Must be redeemed at the ticket office 24 hours in advance of your selected game. (Approximate value $80)
  • Lunch for 4 with astronaut Jan Davis at Rocket City Tavern (priceless!)
  • Gift voucher for Rx sport goggles. Clinic for Vision, Drs. Rich and Kate McCurdy (Retail value $383)
  • 5 packages of Two (2) tickets to a Rocket City Trash Pandas game in 2022, includes parking fee. Almost all dates are available to choose from. Season ticket holder seats, first row above home team dugout on the first base line, pitcher’s mound straight ahead. Each package includes a signed baseball from one of the Trash Pandas players. ($60 value per package)
  • Tennessee Titans autographed photo of Kevin Byard
  • Head Pickleball Paddle
  • Engage Poach Infinity EX Paddle, value $164.99
  • Paddleteck Paddle and bag, value $100
  • Gearbox Paddle
  • Juice Plus Post Workout Shake Mix
  • Nesin foam roller in a carry bag
  • “Theragun” and a NesinFIT 4-visit health & wellness package
  • 3 – Anytime Fitness 90 day passes
  • Gift basket/certificate from Neomode Hair Salon, value $125 
  • Gift certificate – one-hour facial DanTerra, Madison, value $99
  • Three gift bags from The Olive Branch
  • Top Spin Tennis Gift Card – ($50 value)
  • Gift cards from Bacchus Restaurant ($100, $60, $45, $45)
  • 4 different pickleball t-shirts (value $30 each)
  • Opportunity to play with a Celebrity in our Celebrity Round Robin on Saturday

Parking 

The Korn Ferry Tour Golf tournament is using the main parking area that we normally use for the pickleball courts.  Do not enter and park in the parking directly off of Bailey Cove Rd.  Enter instead on Blevins Gap Road.  Turn at the light at the intersection of Bailey Cove Rd and Blevins Gap Rd as if you were going to the library and then turn right on either the 1st or 2nd entrances.  Park in spaces around the library, around the tennis courts (these have been newly painted by the City for us), or in the grass areas around the field (do not park on the fields).  There is plenty of parking in these areas. We will have signs to direct you. 

Festival on the Moon Update

We are excited about the interest in the upcoming Festival on the Moon benefit event to be held on April 29th – May 1st.  Much work is going into creating a fun community event to raise money for The Breast Cancer Patient Assitance Fund.  As more details emerge, I will keep the Club updated. You can share this link with your friends on social media:  https://www.facebook.com/events/2027113890810783/?ref=newsfeed

Below are some details about the event – more will be coming!

During this festive event there will be entertainment/music Saturday and Sunday afternoon and lawn games on the grounds.  You can bring your own food, but there will be a Hospitality tent for snacks and beverages open during festival hours, and the Library Bistro will be open for some food service. We will have pickleball vendors on the grounds. Open Play is on the main Sandra Moon Courts all 3 days; Beginner (first courts) to advanced (far courts). Put your paddle in the paddle stand at the court you want to play in. Court monitors will help with rotation. Health and wellness seminars will be held Saturday and Sunday, including one by The Breast Center. A Celebrity round robin will be played onSaturday, 1-4 pm.  There will be a silent auction for the opportunity to play with a celebrity.  Spectators are welcome to cheer on their favorite teams.  Round robins on Saturday and Sunday are divided into skill levels- 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0+.   These will be held on the tennis courts (striped for PB and portable nets will be used). The round robins are random draw; play with different partners against changing opponents with a 20-minute time limit for each of the 7 rounds being played (total 2 hours 20 minutes max play time).  Points scored will be kept for each individual player.  The top three players will be awarded prizes.  Maximum number in each skill level division is 32 players.

Bring blankets, outdoor chairs, umbrellas or pop ups for shade. No alcoholic beverages, please. You must be registered to participate in any or all events at the Sandra Moon Courts during this Festival. See the tentative schedule below:

Friday (check-in anytime)

5:00-8:00 pm               Open play, hospitality tent open
6:00 pm                       Skill contest – partner dink, partner volley

Saturday (check-in anytime)

8:00 am – 8:00 pm       Open play, hospitality tent open, entertainment/music, vendor booths
8:00-10:30 am             up to 2.0 Skill round robin
10:30 am -1:00 pm       2.5 Skill round robin
12:30 pm                     Drawing for first set of raffle items, including celebrity round robin
1:00-4:00 pm               Celebrity Round Robin
4:00-5:00 pm               Skill contest – serve to a target
5:00-7:30 pm               3.0 Skill round robin
7:30 pm                       Drawing for second set of raffle items

Sunday (check-in anytime)

8:00 am-5:00 pm         Open play, hospitality tent open, entertainment/music, vendor booths open
9:00 – 10:00 am           Skill contest – to be determined
10:30 am-1:00 pm        3.5 Skill round robin
1:00-3:30 pm               4.0 + Skill round robin
3:30 pm                       Drawing for third set of raffle items
5:00 pm                       Festival closes

We hope to see you there!

Judy 

Registration is open for the Pickleball on the Moon Festival

Click Here for details and to register for the event.

Huntsville Pickleball Club, in partnership with The Breast Cancer Patient Assistance Fund (Huntsville Hospital Foundation) and Huntsville Parks and Recreation, is hosting a fundraising festival – Pickleball on the Moon. The event will be held at the Sandra Moon Community Complex, 7901 Bailey Cove Road, Huntsville, AL 35802.

All proceeds from the festival will go to the Breast Cancer Patient Assistance Fund, benefitting breast cancer patients in our community and in all of North Alabama. This fund assists patients with house payments, utility bills, car payments, car insurance, and other essential expenses during a time when their finances are certainly strained and their ability to work is challenged. Breast cancer is one of the most expensive cancers to treat, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this festival to help raise these much needed funds to support patients in our area.

New information and reminders

Hello Pickleball Club,

I have some news and reminders for you.

There is a new ladies only pickleball group Tuesday afternoons, 1:00-3:00, at Optimist Recreation Center.  This group has been set up by the Huntsville Parks and Recreation Department and is open to all women.

Our club trainers will be teaching pickleball lessons to beginners for the next 4-6 weeks, at various times, on the Sandra Moon courts.  There will be one trainer per four beginners.  The maximum number of beginners and trainers on the court at any one time should be 10 people on 2 courts, so it should make minimal impact on your play at Sandra Moon.  These new players will be trying to improve their skills in the next weeks and months.  Let’s welcome them, be patient with them, and include them in our play.

Huntsville Pickleball Club was organized and still operates under the umbrella of the Huntsvile Senior Center.  The Senior Center would like us to view and share this video of how they are being affected by the Covid virus during this shut down.  https://youtu.be/TyyC0ypw7WI

Reminders:

     They mow Thursdays at Sandra Moon.  Don’t park near the grass then or risk a few car dings!

     Please submit all artwork you’d like us to consider for the new club logo by August 20.

I hope I haven’t forgotten anything.  Play on.  Stay healthy.

Kate Lahti

A lot of new information for Huntsville Pickleball players.

Dear Pickleball Friends,

This is going to be a long, informative email so please keep reading to the end!  It probably won’t be the last email you receive from me this week, either.  Sorry!

Here is the information I received from Mr. Ivey, the director of Huntsville Parks and Recreation.

Max Luther – the gym is about 30 days out from completion.

Berachah – the earliest opening would be October for both the gym and outside courts.

Sandra Moon Outdoors – The restrooms were vandalized and work orders have been placed to have those fixed, but there is no completion date at this time.

Because of extenuating circumstances, windscreens are still 2-3 weeks away.

Trash cans were delivered today.  Please remember to pick up after yourselves.  Water and gatorade bottles have been left behind.  Even if club members didn’t leave the trash, let’s help pick up the courts and the surrounding area.

Sandra Moon Indoors – completion for pickleball is at least one to two years out.

Hampton Cove will not open until late October and pickleball will be scheduled once opened.

The Huntsville Sports Commission is looking into scheduling pickleball tournaments in the future.

I did add a follow up question asking if there is any projection when the recreation centers will be open evenings and weekends.  I’lll update when I know.  I have not heard back about a firm date for the Senior Center opening for pickleball.

Other important information:

If you are playing indoors, PLEASE sign in legibly and also PLEASE put a check mark after your name if your age is 60+.  Our site reps must report attendance numbers to the Senior Center and your cooperation will make their jobs a bit easier.  We do not report your name but need to report numbers of regular club members (why we need to be able to actually read your name) vs visitors and numbers for those over 60.

Registration for the Alabama State Games in Dothan can be found at https://www.asffoundation.org/alabama-state-games.  If the games were to be canceled a full and immediate refund for registration will be given. Pickleball events are scheduled for Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1.

Registration is also open for the USAPA USA Atlantic South Regional Tournament in Foley, AL.  Dates are August 21-23.  Some events are already full.  You must be a USAPA member to play in this tournament.  Information can be found at https://www.pickleballtournaments.com/tournamentinfo.pl?tid=3584.

Reminder that all members of the Huntsville Pickleball club can receive a 5% discount on all items ordered from Pickleball Central.  In addition, our club will get a dollar value equal to 5% of your purchase added to our club’s Reward Account that can be used to purchase equipment for our club. To get the discount enter the following information at checkout:  Club name: Huntsville Pickleball Club.  Club discount code: CRHuntsville

FINALLY, at our board meeting on June 22 we will be discussing if and how our club could financially contribute to making the pickleball experience in Huntsville even better.  Some ideas include purchasing court dividers, bleachers or sun shades for our outdoor venues.  If you have any other ideas for us to consider, please let me know.

If you have read this to the end, may the net be your friend!

Kate Lahti