JANUARY A STELLAR MONTH FOR FIESTA GRANDE PLAYERS

What a great week in January for our Club!

Wednesday January 13, Les Franke won Gold at the Tucson Senior Olympics in the 4.0 Men’s Doubles Event.  He and his partner, Jim Duran from Robson Ranch, beat out 15 other teams in this event.  Congrats to both of them.

Congratulations to to Bob Holper and Neil Potter who won Silver in the 3.0 Men’s Doubles Event January 17th at  the Mission Royale Tournament For Players Who Have Never Participated In a Tournament Before.  

Mike Williams and Larry Lemelin also competed January 17th in the 3.0 Men’s Doubles Event at the Mission Royale Tournament For Players Who Have Never Participated In a Tournament Before and won Bronze. Well done guys....

Although Elaine Bernard and Lise Touzin did not medal in the 3.0 Women’s Doubles Division they did win several games against tough contenders. They made us proud!

Referees and the Tournament Director commented on how gracious our participants were and how much they appreciated the thanks they received from all of them.  

Well Done Everyone!!!

SCHEDULE AND GENERAL INFO

FIESTA GRANDE PICKLEBALL SCHEDULE

 FOR THE WEEK OF FEB 1-7

The pickleball schedule is now available for viewing on the pickleball blog site.  To view the weekly schedule please click on the WEEK  Calendar tab to view the itemized schedule for the week.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Open court play is available to everyone, whether you are a Pickleball Club Member or not.

• A skilled rating is not required.  You are responsible for supplying your own balls on open court play.
• Paddles and Balls are available for free checkout from 9 am to 4 pm in the activity office or City market.  On weekends please see the front desk staff from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday. Please be prepared and bring your driver's licence with you.
• Schedules are posted at the Courts on the Notice Boards.  
• Please ensure that you wear appropriate footwear ( non  marking soles)  No sandals or flip flops PLEASE.
• For registration in the Club, please direct inquiries to fiestagrandepickleball@gmail.com and you will be directed to the relevant people. 
• TO KEEP OUR COURTS IN GOOD CONDITION, please do not bring juices or sodas into the courts.  Do not use any type of brooms on the court surface.  The Club has a maintenance crew in charge of court cleaning.
• Please do not bring dogs in or around the courts.

Information about the Pickleball Club is posted on the Notice Boards located at the courts.   contact numbers are also posted.  

FIESTA GRANDE PICKLEBALL SEASON 2015-2016

FIESTA GRANDE has formed a PICKLEBALL CLUB voted on at the Annual Meeting  held on November 20th, 2015.

A seasonal  Membeship Fee will be charged  $20.00 USD  to cover the cost of balls and other sundry expenses for Club administration.  The Club balls will be available court side on all three courts in dispenser and will be filled prior to scheduled round robin and ladder play times and clinics.  They will be removed after the organized play. 

Members who have a rating, and have paid their dues are able to participate in Skill Level events such as Round Robins, Ladders, and Clinics.

All Round Robin Captains have now been instructed not to allow anyone into Structured play unless they have:

1) Been assigned a Skill Level

2) Have paid their $20 fee to Mary Rains

3) Are playing in the correct group for their level

*Please DO NOT attend a scheduled event for a different Skill Level, as you will not be allowed to play.*

2015-16 Season Approaches

Hi Pickleballers

As most of us prepare to head south in the coming weeks, I would think that Pickleball may have crossed your mind over the summer. For some, it may have been a large part of your summer activities!

We are already preparing some schedules for play comprised of Level play for all, including Round Robins and Ladder play. There will also be Clinics for all levels, including Introduction courses for Beginners who need to refresh their skills, to advancement clinics for those who would like to improve their game!

Those who have opted out of the Skill Level system that was introduced near the end of last season will also have opportunities to play during Open play. If you didn't get the chance to be rated, or have reconsidered the merits of the SLR system, there will be opportunities to be rated, allowing you to participate in Level Play and Clinics. If you have not been rated in either Fiesta Grande, nor have an IFP rating, you will not be able to participate in the Skill Level Clinics. This creates a level field of play for the instructors, so they will be able to maximize their lessons.

The system is used in most parks, and allows players to participate in games with others of similar skill level. Most will agree, games are more fun when the others in your group are of "same" level.
All Clinics given for specific Skill Levels will be designed to help those players improve their game in a graduated method.

We hope to schedule our first meeting in late November for those who can attend. The meeting will help decide outstanding issues from last year, as well as address future topics for the development of our Pickleball Club. Others may stay in touch by email or reading Blog postings here.
We encourage you to share your ideas with the direction of Fiesta Grande Pickleball. Please feel free to contact us through our email site fiestagrandepickleball@gmail.com.

Safe Travels

Les and Nikki

On Mar 3rd, we held our first ever Fiesta Grande Pickleball Happy Hour with great success!! Over 60 members turned out to enjoy the sunshine, drinks and companionship outside La Casa, and talked about.......you guessed it!!

We would like to thank all members who did attend, and for those who didn't....we invite them to join us next time as we plan on having them more next season. 

We would also like to give a great big Thank You to Tony Callandrillo who has tirelessly helped us with  everything including Skill Level Ratings, helping our players in clinics, helping us set up the programs we have now and will have next season, and for the two Pickleball bags he donated to our group as door prizes. 

A special Thank you to our own in-house pickle ball junkie, Eric Sandstrom, who gave so much of his time to introduce all of our Beginners to their newest addiction.

And where would we be without the support of our park Manager and biggest fan, Beth Kortsen, who was kind enough to attend the event and is forever looking after our best interests. And Thank you Annette for all you have done for the cause (also for the yummy cheese plate!!!)

Winners of the Pickleball bags were Bob Holpen...........

and Wanda Lawson, who doubles as our Beginners Round Robin captain, and Pickleball's finest Diplomat!

AND SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST, THANK YOU ENCORE, FOR YOUR FORESIGHT, AND GIVING US SOOOOO MUCH FUN THIS YEAR. 

Thanks to our Pickleball Members, for all your support and good times, and may the good times keep on rollin'........

Les and Nikki Franke

Thanks to all those who participated in the first Beginner's Round Robin event at Fiesta Grande. This will continue every Wednesday from 10:15 to 12:00 and both Men and Women are welcome. Just arrive by 10:15am and sign up at the Pickleball courts. Make sure to arrive early as only the first 15 players will be allowed to play in the Round Robin.

Here are some action shots from Jan 14th!

Thanks to all those who came out and made the first Intermediate Men's Round Robin a success!! Here are some of the action shots. We would like to remind the Men's group that this will happen every Saturday from 10:30 till 12:00, and signup will be at 10:15 at the courts just before the start of the event.