Charity Pickleball tournament to be held on Folly Beach Nov. 5-6
by Jenny Peterson | Current Staff Writer
The country’s fastest-growing sport has arrived on Folly Beach.
Pickleball—a mix between tennis, ping pong and badminton—first came to Folly during the pandemic when a group of restless residents regularly gathered to play a socially-distanced game and soon arranged for the city to paint Pickleball court lines on existing tennis courts.
It started as a group of four people and participation doubled each month.
Today, about two dozen men and women of all ages meet four times a week, twice a day at the Pirates Cove playground courts at 510 E. Erie to “dink” it out on the court.
Playing is only half the appeal of Pickleball; the other half is the camaraderie that comes from playing a recreational sport each week and players’ genuine interest in spreading the Pickleball love to others.
Everyone is welcome on the Pickleball court, whether you’ve held a paddle before or not. There are plenty of paddles to borrow.
“Visitors often show up and join right in,” said Folly Beach player Jeff Irvan. “One of the great things about Pickleball is rotating partners which gives you an opportunity to meet everyone. You overlay that kind of sport with the eclectic mix of people that Folly attracts, and you have a recipe for fun.”
Indeed, saying “this is my first game,” will get you lots of coaches and advice, even from the other team.
Even if you get “pickled”—meaning your team scores zero points in a whole game while the other team gets to 11 points to officially win—it’s not mortifying, it’s a funny memory.
“It is amazing to get beat by a 70-year-old grandma. It is very humbling,” said Pickleball player and Folly Beach Council Member Billy Grooms. “Then there is the 14-year-old home schooled kid that plays so good, he schools everyone else on the court. He has street cred among the ‘tribe.’
The mass appeal of Pickleball is the easy-to-understand rules that are similar to tennis and ping pong: teams play on either side of a net set at 36 inches high (lower than tennis or badminton) with a paddle and wiffle-type ball and hit the ball back and forth within designated lines.
There’s one bounce allowed before it needs to be hit back to the opponent and a lively “volley” game at the net—called “dinking”—often results in well-meaning jeers and inside jokes to one another.
The paddle, rather than a racquet, allows for greater control over the ball and a shorter court lets players of all ages comfortably rush the net for spurts of cardio for a deceivingly vigorous workout.
History Of The Sport
While Pickleball exploded in popularity the past several years, it was actually created in 1965 as a backyard game by Joel Pritchard, a congressman from Washington State and Bill Bell, a businessman at Pritchard’s home in Bainbridge Island, Washington.
“The property had an old badminton court, so Pritchard and Bell looked for some badminton equipment and could not find a full set of rackets. They improvised and started playing with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball,” according to the official USA Pickleball site.
It is said that Pickleball was named for Pritchard’s dog, Pickle, who routinely ran off with the ball.
Over the next 50 years, the sport steadily grew in popularity as it spread from Washington and permanent courts were set up at community centers and gymnasiums. The pandemic saw the biggest spike in participants with membership in the USA Pickleball Association reaching to 53,000 members in 2021, a 43% increase from 2020 and the largest single growth year to date.
Pickleball now has a Major League team and tournaments have been on an EPSN+ broadcast.
Across the country—and on Folly Beach—all ages participate from all walks of life.
“There are 60, 70, 80-year-old players and all ages who are doctors, nurses, teachers, veterans, preachers, coaches, businessmen, bartenders, first responders, flight attendants, surfers, tennis players, grandmas and skateboarders playing the game of pickleball, making them feel younger and stronger,” Grooms said. Even Folly Mayor Tim Goodwin gets in on the fun.
Pickleball Tournament Comes to Folly
Folly will hold a charity Pickleball tournament on Saturday, Nov. 5 and Sunday Nov. 6 at Pirate’s Cove Playground.
The Exchange Club and The Wynne Foundation are teaming up to help fund a local veteran scholarship by hosting “The Volley on Folly” Charity Pickleball FUN-Raiser.
Play is open to everyone, even those who have never been in a tournament. Lots of fun is scheduled with silliness, games, auctions and raffles and even a costume contest.
The charitable registration fee is $35 for each player for men or women play on Saturday or mixed doubles on Sunday. Participants can play both for $50. Event T-shirts are available for $15. Register by using the QR code with a smartphone.
Surrounding the tournament, a pre-party is set for Chico Feo on Friday, Nov. 4, a post-party is planned for Low Life on Saturday, Nov. 5 and Post Party at Planet Follywood on Sunday November 6th.
Throughout the year, Pickleball open play on Folly Beach is held Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. and Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 2 p.m. Members of the group set up the nets and bring enough paddles for everyone.
Don’t miss the Folly Beach Pickleball nicknames that include Slappy, Smacky, Deli Man (“he slices”), LuLu, Boo Boo, Betty Boop, The Burn, Tommy Two Tone, T- Error, Cosmo and Spider Monkey.
“It is a tribe of good, honest fun-loving Folly people who love good health, a happy life and a friendly smile to see on a regular basis,” Grooms said.
“The Volley on Folly” charity Pickleball FUN-Raiser hosted by The Exchange Club and The Wynne Foundation will be held Saturday, Nov. 5 and Sunday Nov. 6 at Pirate’s Cove Playground, 510 E. Erie Ave. $35 for each player for men or women play on Saturday or mixed doubles on Sunday. All levels welcome Participants can play both for $50. To register: Scan the QR code below with a smartphone.
