Local pickleball fans will be happy to know a new league is kicking off this fall.
Pickleball has been played locally for several years on an informal basis in school gyms and up at Burman University.
“Last spring, we decided we should form a Lacombe Pickleball Club. So we just got people together who had been playing and said ‘Let’s go for it’,” said Susan MacDonald, one of the Club’s organizers.
Club registration opens on Oct. 1. Club membership is online registration only.
“It’s fun, and it’s social. You meet a lot of people and that is probably one of the best things about it,” she said. “It helps to keep you active.”
The sport has seen a massive surge in popularity over the past several years as well.
“Everywhere in North America, it has just taken off.” Referring to the Red Deer club, she said last year they had 200 members, and this year that number has soared to around 800.
“So it’s really growing across Alberta as well.
“The fun thing about it also is that you can take it up at any age,” she added.
She noted that the Club also received a community grant from the City of Lacombe which will assist with facility rentals, lessons, and equipment costs.
Club play runs from Oct. 2 through to June 2024.
Sessions run on Mondays (6 to 8 p.m.) in the Burman University gym; Wednesdays (6 – 8 p.m.) at the JS McCormick School Gym and Thursdays (6 – 8 p.m.) at JS McCormick School Gym as well.
The primary season is indoors from October to June.
The Lacombe PC annual membership fee for 2023 – 2024 is $10 (as well as $5 to Pickleball Alberta and $10 to Pickleball Canada). There are also processing fees and GST where applicable.
For weekly play times, there is a drop-in fee of $2.
Meanwhile, those who would like to just try it out can sign on for beginner lessons which run Sept. 11 and 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Burman University Gym.
The fee is $20 which includes two lessons, and club membership is not required.
Advanced player clinics are also available on Sept. 25, Oct. 23, and Nov. 27. Each session runs from 6 to 8 p.m. and will be held at the Burman University gym. The fee is $20 per clinic and club membership is required.
“For both the beginner and advanced lessons we have really experienced coaches who will be coming in from Red Deer,” she said. “We’ve also got a great executive, and everyone is excited to help out with it any way that they can.”
Registration for memberships and renewals can be found at pickleballcanada.org/club/LPC or by email at info@lacombepickleball.org.
Registration and information on lessons and clinics can be found at pickleballcanada.org/club/LPC.
