Group wants to bring Pickleball to Brigham City

In this Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 photo, David Bone competes in a game of pickleball at Sun City West senior community in Surprise, Ariz. A hybrid of tennis, badminton and table tennis, pickleball is played on a court a quarter the size of a tennis court, with hard rackets and a variety of whiffle ball. The USAPA estimates now there are 100,000 to 150,000 pickleball players in the United States, and pickleball associations have started up in places like India and China. (AP Photo/Matt York)

<span class=”s1″><strong>BRIGHAM CITY–</strong> St. George has 63 pickleball courts and a move is underway to construct playing courts in Brigham City to accommodate the more than 100 players in that Box Elder County community.</span>

<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>“It is believed to be the fastest growing senior sport in America and it is catching on here,” said Brigham City Recreation Director Kirsty Law.</span>

<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>During a December 20, 2012 meeting of the Brigham City Council Kyle Klein and Scott Clayson requested a portion of Brigham City’s Pioneer Park be set aside to build a court complex. </span>

<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>“It is a court sport like tennis, but smaller,” said Klein. “It’s almost a combination of what ping pong and tennis would be. One of the beauties of the sport is its simplicity, there are only three main rules.”</span>

<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>He said the court is about a third of the size of a tennis court which makes it appealing to seniors.</span>

<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>“It is played with a wiffle ball and an oversized ping pong paddle and a tennis net, so the ball moves quite slowly compared to a game of tennis or racquetball. Almost anybody can learn the game within 10 to 15 minutes and be playing it.”</span>

<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>Klein said a recent tournament in northern Utah drew 110 participants from four states and seven different counties in Utah.</span>

<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>“It is definitely a workout, more than you might think, given the size of the court.”</span>

<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>Klein said the history of the sport dates back to the early-1960s and originated in the state of Washington.</span>

<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>“Two families were on vacation and they had a ball they used for their dog to throw around and play catch. Well, they took the ball from the dog and started hitting it with paddles out on a tennis court. That’s how it started.</span>

<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>“Their dog’s name was Pickles, thus the name of the game.”</span>

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