Pickleball is all the rage. You might say it’s a pretty big dill. It’s been around since the mid-60s, but numerous online sources report that the sport has grown by over 150% over the last three years. Major League Pickleball was founded in 2021. Schools are incorporating the game into physical education classes. Picklemalls and Pickleplexes are popping up everywhere around the world to offer dedicated indoor courts for the beloved sport.
And yet, the lack of pickleball playing opportunities along the north shore area is quite jarring.
“There is not one indoor dedicated pickleball court between the Canadian border and Minneapolis,” Melissa Grover, member of the Duluth Area Pickleball Association, told me. The Association’s mailing list reaches hundreds of pickleball enthusiasts who struggle to find places to play throughout the long Minnesota winter.
“We’re frustrated,” Susie Lannon, pickleball enthusiast, said. “But we’re hopeful.”
Susie reached out to the Northshore Journal to report the dill-ema in the hopes of drumming up ideas to solve the lack of places to play. She became hooked on the game when she was unable to find racquetball players to play with.
Such is the pickleball community that Susie was welcomed immediately into the fold. It’s a common occurrence that LuAnne Miltakis, the third pickleball amigo gathered to talk to me about their concerns, can verify. “It’s social,” she says of the sport. “I’ve met wonderful friends of all ages.” Melissa concurred. “You show up with your paddle, you don’t know anybody, and you’re invited in.”
Pickleball is inclusive in more ways than one.
The equipment is minimal. You need shoes, a paddle, and a ball. A pickleball is like a wiffleball, but lighter. You can find them online for around $10 for a 3 pack. My new pickleball friends have glow in the dark pickleballs. They don’t want a thing like nighttime to stop the fun. When the game was first played, a ping pong paddle was used. These days they have developed “honeycomb cores” and “carbon friction surfaces.” You can get a basic paddle starting around $30.
It transcends age. Three generations could easily be found on the court together. LuAnne laughed about playing with some friends who are 75+. “They’re just crazy good,” she said. “They’re very accurate.” On the other end of the spectrum, the young men who came to the court where I was getting a lesson were quite impressive. I was told it was only their second time playing.
Also, it’s accessible to people of all abilities. “It’s like tennis but less run-y,” said Susie. “But it’s still a fantastic cardio workout. I personally have lost weight and toned up a lot.”
My ears perked up at the “less run-y” part of Susie’s description. They had been asking me if I’d like to go play after the interview since the start of the interview. I’m out of shape and didn’t want to embarrass myself, but also was warming to the idea from the enthusiasm the three ladies exuded while we talked. I decided to try to be a cool cucumber.
I followed them to the court and, while they were setting up, I noticed it was quite a bit smaller than I thought. You can fit four pickleball courts in one tennis ball court. Playing with partners, it’s a lot less ground to cover. The net is also a little shorter, making it slightly easier to lob it over to the other side.
Melissa let me use one of her very expensive paddles. Thank goodness, I needed all the edge I could get. We began to volley back and forth; rules being explained as the ladies took it easy on me and encouraged me every time I hit and even when I missed the ball. They said I was pretty good. I think they were just being kind. I was, however, having a blast.
“I don’t know anyone who’s ever tried pickleball and not loved it,” Melissa Grover had told me before the game. I played for maybe fifteen minutes. And I can’t stop thinking about it.
It’s easy to see how one can become so dedicated to pickleball. “Dedicated is too small of a word,” Susie said. “We’re crazy.”
So now I’m wondering, like Susie and her friends, what kind of pickleball opportunities could be created if all the local pickleball lovers put their heads together. “Maybe there’s a pole building out there,” Susie shrugged. “Or a county owned building.”
There’s also an opportunity for investment. Indoor courts charge an average of $7 an hour and there is little worry that they wouldn’t fill up quickly. Melissa mentioned how great it would be to have a venue set up like the Duluth Curling Club. A restaurant, drinks, courts, equipment to use/rent, tournaments, lessons… the pickle possibilities abound.
I really like the idea of a pickle palace. I would totally buy a t-shirt that said “Pickle Palace.”
What ideas do you have? Susie Lannon would like to hear from you! You can reach her at susielannon@gmail.com.
Thank you, Susie, Melissa, and LuAnne for the fun evening and free pickleball lesson!
Feel free to reach out to me at sarahwritesnsj@yahoo.com with any news we should news about!
