Pickleball picking up in Flandreau

Cynthia and David Sheppard started playing pickleball 12 years ago after a trip to Robson Ranch in Denton, Texas. They learned the game while there, invested in some of their own paddles and looked forward to continuing to play once they returned home.
It was nowhere to be found.
We finally secured a community center gym in Sioux Falls, and the beginnings of the SF Pickleball Club arose with about 40 players, Sheppard said.
Today pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country, and our pickleball club has over 800 members.
The two, she said, talked so much about the game that some of our friends wanted to learn it, too. After an article in the Enterprise, they invited some friends three years ago to join them for lessons and to play at the armory in Flandreau.
About 10 showed up that day.
Three years later, there are now at least 25 on their morning play list and the group meets two days a week, Monday and Thursday, from 8:30 to 11 a.m.
Three courts are usually busy.
Its fun, said 76-year-old Florence Evans, who is among those who have now been routinely playing twice a week for the past three years.
Its good companionship, good laughter,
Marnie Hansen from Dell Rapids makes the drive up to play during the day as well.
I didnt know any of these guys so Ive met a lot of new people, Hansen said.
And its proof that it doesnt matter how old you are, you can still play very well.
Not everyone who wants to play, however, can make the daytime matches. So Dale Tjarks, a longtime athlete and local resident, thought hed see who might want to join him for pickleball on Monday evenings.
His list of interested parties, established late last fall, continues to grow.
Most have never played before but Tjarks said that a popular comment from players is that it gets them off the couch and moving.
They all seem to be having fun! That is most important to me, said Tjarks.
Pickleball, for those unfamiliar with the sport, is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong using a paddle and plastic ball with holes, according to sportsimports.com.
It is a game that is appropriate for players of all ages and skill levels. Rules for pickleball are simple, making it a great introductory sport. It can also be quite the challenging, fast-paced, and competitive game when people become more experienced at playing.
New players need not be intimidated.
And sincerely, the rules and the play are similar to ping-pong if youve ever played, its just on a bigger table (court).
New players need not be intimidated. Youve just got to be willing to get up off the couch, lace up those sneakers, and give it a try.
A sense of humor might be a good thing to ensure you bring along.
Pickleball has been a big part of our retirement years, said David Sheppard.
It is a great way to exercise, both body and mind, and the biggest plus is all the new friends you make on the court.