By Kristi Lynn
LocalSportsJournal.com
Time doesn’t stand still.
The clock keeps on ticking, we get older and we become less mobile. Our youth fades away as we look into the mirror. We can either let time stop us or we can fight back.
How about picking up a paddle and playing pickleball?
More than 3 million people in the United States have been bitten by the pickleball bug. It’s a friendly, social sport that combines tennis, badminton and ping pong. It’s played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. Best of all, the game can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels and the cost is quite minimal.
And, the sport is less demanding and taxing on the body. That means it’s more accessible to people with physical limitations. Plus, there are no age limitations.
Spring Lake resident Alice Dodgeson, 86, has been playing pickleball since 2011. She’s not sitting on the couch knitting or playing card games. She’s making new friends while staying mobile and healthy playing the games she loves.
When asked why she chose pickleball, her response was quick and precise, “why not?” she said with a smile.
Alice has never been accused of “just sitting around.” Her life has been one of adventure and challenges. She’s hiked the Grand Canyon seven times, rafted the whitewaters five times and jumped out of an airplane at 13,000 feet.
A true daredevil, she also has parasailed off a mountain in Montana.
“I have nothing left on my bucket list,” she said.
And now it’s time to play some pickleball. Her love of the game began in 2011 after reading an article in the Grand Haven Tribune. There was a man teaching a “strange sport” in the parking lot at the Loutit Library.
“It made me think this is something I’d like to learn,” Alice said. While observing the demonstration, she saw eight people lined up side by side taking turns hitting a small ball one after another. She wasn’t sold on the sport until days later when she was at Lakeshore Middle School in Grand Haven and saw some people playing pickleball on a nearby court.
She asked them if they would teach her how to play. On that day, a new pickler was born.
The sport has taken Dodgeson to Utah, California, Washington, Florida and Arizona for tournaments. In a national seniors tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., she won the gold medal 2 years in a row in mixed doubles. In the Huntsman Tournament in St. George, Utah, she won a silver medal in mixed doubles and a gold in women’s doubles. Both tournaments she was able to play in the 85 and up age group.
Although tennis remains popular, pickleball is rapidly growing. It was founded in 1965, but really didn’t take off until the 2000s. Pickleball courts can be found at area parks and recreation areas as well as churches that host pickup games. For those looking for a more organized outfit, there’s the Lakeshore Pickleball Club in Grand Haven.
The Amway Grand Hotel recently converted rooftop tennis courts into pickleball courts. Those courts opened in 2022 and overlook downtown Grand Rapids.
Norton Shores residents Dr. Nick and Nancy Dreliozis both enjoyed playing tennis. Two years ago, however, it was time to try something new.
“I was a tennis player for 20 years and I wanted to try something else,” said Dr. Nick. “The courts got bigger and I got older.”
The couple said they have found many benefits to the game, starting with mobility.
Both agreed the social aspect is really different than tennis in that there is very little talking in tennis. Pickleball does include laughing, talking, maybe a bit of teasing and certainly conversations with the opponent on the smaller court.
Topping the social aspect of the game is the simple startup costs. You can find a paddle for as little as $30.
“You just need a paddle and ball,” Dr. Nick said. “The cost can go up to $200. It’s not a big commitment.”
“It’s nice because you can play a game any time, with quick pickup games, and no scheduling is necessary,” Nancy said. The couple plays once or twice a week. Their grown children also are picklers.
“They’ve picked up the game,” said Dr. Nick, a local chiropractor who knows the benefits of the game on the body. “I recommend the sport to both young and old. It’s a great way to stay healthy and mobile.”
Both Dodgeson and the Dreliozis family believe the physical benefits are quickly noticeable. Dodgeson has gone from having osteoporosis to normal bone density since picking up a paddle. Her injuries also have come with a much quicker recovery time.
Carrie Rogers, president of the Lakeshore Pickleball Club, which calls Mulligan’s Hollow its home, said it’s a great place to start a healthy journey.
“It’s been such a positive thing for my husband and myself,” Rogers said. “I just want to share it with others.”
And, Rogers has noticed the average age of players was once about 55 and the influx of younger players has dropped the average to about 35.
The club is host to 450 active members who pay $25 a year in dues. The club is a non-profit and monies are returned to the pickleball communities in the form of resurfacing courts, paddles, balls and and other needs.
The courts are open from mid-May through August. Clinics also are being taught once a month at the Tri-Cities YMCA. The sport also is being taught in area schools and recreation programs.
“It’s a very active sport, yet very social,” Rogers said. “People have recognized the value of having fun playing and being social. It’s all inclusive, welcoming and very healthy.
“It’s therapy.”
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