Wulf reservations start Nov. 4, Club 45 offers intro deal to EPC members
Doc Jim Mosby puts his paddle up for another game as T Robinson follows him off the Marshdale courts Thursday.
The windscreens will be rolled up at Marshdale Tuesday, signaling a change of pickleball seasons. We all know that doesn’t mean we want to play less, but indoor facilities in our area are somewhat (Ha!) inadequate to serve the ever-growing number of local pickleball players.
Club 45 has opened indoor pickleball courts at the tennis bubble property on the southeast corner of the Evergreen Parkway and Lewis Ridge Road intersection.
“The courts there are great and these guys have a pretty ambitious plan for continuing to improve the facilities,” EPC President Bob Kerr said. “It will give us a reasonable alternative to Wulf this winter.”
Nick Wagner, director of racquet sports and club manager for Club 45, is excited about a partnership with Evergreen Pickleball Club and has put together an exclusive offer for club members.
“From now until Nov. 30, all guest fees for EPC members will be waived. However, standard court reservation fees will still apply ($24 per four-person court per hour). Additionally, if you choose to join Club 45 before Nov. 30, you will receive a 10% discount on your membership, whether you opt for monthly payments or pay in full.
“We look forward to seeing you on the courts and are excited about the great times ahead.”
If you are not already an EPC member, join now to get the Club 45 deal and your membership will be good through the end of 2026. That is true of any membership originated or renewed since the beginning of October.
At Wulf Recreation Center, EPRD has unveiled its new pickleball reservation schedule, available on its website now. The first reservable session will be for Advanced players on Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 8:30-10 a.m.
The reservation window for that session will open exactly one week prior, at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28. The other reservable session Nov. 4 is Intermediate from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., also reservable exactly 168 hours prior.
In addition to the Advanced and Intermediate reservable and open sessions that day, there is also a beginner pickleball class from 7-8:30 a.m.
Not all pickleball sessions on Nov. 4 require reservations. There is also Advanced drop-in 10-11:30 a.m. and Intermediate drop-in 1-2:30 p.m. Note that you may participate in only one session per day, reservable or non-reservable.
The point is to reduce the crowds that have previously overwhelmed the Wulf gym during the winter season. The new schedule will not serve those that want to play all day every day, but there are other facilities for that, Club 45 for instance.
The Tuesday, Nov. 4, example is just the beginning. Bookmark the Wulf gym calendar for the rest of the schedule and consult it often for the most current information.
Overall, four hours of pickleball play per week have been added to the Wulf schedule, said Logan Bashford, EPRD’s guest experience manager. Reservable slots are designated Advanced or Intermediate, with drop-in play times designated Open, Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced.
There is no additional charge for reservations over the usual facility fee that for many is covered by their Medicare insurance plan.
Reservations are made by individuals, not foursomes, and you will not be able to see who else is signed up online due to privacy requirements of the rec district software. However, there will be a printed roster of those who have registered to play at the gym door when you arrive to play. No gym crashers allowed.
Up to 26 players can register for each reservable session. For obvious reasons, you are asked to cancel your reservation if you find you are unable to play. It is anticipated that there may be a couple of cancellations and that at most there will be eight people at a time waiting for a court.
Ladder will retain its Thursday morning time slot, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. No signup will be required with the rec district. Kathy Fasold still needs to know if you want to play, though.
You will need an EPRD Active Communities account to make reservations. Most of us already have one, but those who pay daily at the front desk may not. To sign up, or to check your account information, visit the EPRD Active Communities registration page.
It’s a good idea to do this in advance of the court reservation link going live Oct. 28. If your email is already registered but you don’t remember your password, click the Forgot your password link. If your email isn’t registered, click the Join link. If your email isn’t recognized, you don’t have an account, so make one. You’re welcome for this unrequested tutorial.
Our new EPRD buddy Logan joined the EPC board for its quarterly meeting Tuesday. He will attend our board meetings from now on, which will greatly enhance communication between EPRD and EPC. “I really look forward to being able to collaborate like this,” he said at Tuesday’s meeting.
Jerry Beth Owen mentioned that she snaps a photo when the portable toilets are in unacceptable condition and zaps it to rec district executive director Cory Vander Veen, so new avenues of communication may be welcome on all sides. All present agreed the toilets have been quite delightful lately.
Volunteers would be appreciated when an EPRD crew rolls up windscreens at Marshdale Tuesday morning at 9, Logan said. The EPRD crew then will head to the Wulf tennis courts to roll up their windscreens. Your comments about the windscreens rolling up too early may not be quite as welcome as your physical assistance.
In reference to the field house project at Buchanan Rec Center, Logan said it is not dead, just temporarily comatose. He assured us it will rise from the ashes of our hopes in the not-too-distant future. That is not a direct quote.
Pickleball gets local coverage
EPC member and local pickleball coach Corinne Jackson had lots of positive things to say about the sport in the October issue of Evergreen Living magazine.
