Just Doo it
Do you want a Dinkeroo? You being the members of Evergreen Pickleball Club. Last year’s EPC dinking tournament was canceled due to lack of participation, but your volunteer board of directors thought that was attributable to having to play at 3rd Shot Pickleball while Marshdale was under renovation.
However, registrations are not exactly rolling in for this year’s Dinkeroo on Friday, June 27, even though this tournament format was very popular in earlier years. It is definitely one our most light-hearted and social events.
Maybe it’s the Friday instead of Saturday scheduling? Maybe you don’t like having to dink? Maybe it’s just that the registration deadline is still five days away?
If you have thoughts on the subject, please let tournament director Mick Pearce know. Or comment at the bottom of this newsletter. You can see other people’s comments by looking at the newsletter on our website instead of just reading it in your email.
Anyway, 20 people have registered so far and we need at least 32 by midnight Tuesday, June 24. Up to 48 players can be accommodated at Marshdale’s eight courts. If you are able and willing to be a scorekeeper or help in other ways, please let Mick know.
To register, select Dinkeroo from the EPC store. Registration is limited to 48 players; the $35 fee is nonrefundable. If you do not already have the required Evergreen Pickleball Club membership, click here.
Dinkeroo is a fun, friendly yet competitive tournament open to EPC members of all skill levels. Groups of eight will play a dinking round robin. Play will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with warmup time before the start. Kathy Kincannon and her team will provide excellent food. Jim Hunsaker will check you in—please report to his table by the pavilion as soon as you see him set it up. Jim Mosby will display EPC merchandise, which proved very popular at the last tournament.
Keep in mind that Dinkeroo participants often meet up to practice in advance of the tournament, or you might be able to convince random members of a foursome to play an all-dinking game.
The Rules for Dinkeroo
1. Start and scoring is the same as a regular game. Serve from outside the kitchen line to the opposite side of the opponent’s court.
2. Every ball must bounce in the kitchen before it is hit. You can go into the kitchen to hit the ball, but you must step out with both feet before stepping back into the kitchen to hit the next shot.
3. The kitchen line is in as if it were the base line. The center line is in on serves.
4. Dinkeroo is a game of pace and patience. Almost all points are made on an unforced error as opposed to a "kill" shot. Slamming or hitting your opponent with a drive, even if they’re in the kitchen, is your opponents’ point.
5. Game to 11, win by one.
At the kitchen line in the 2023 Dinkeroo
Windscreens go up at EMS
Thanks to a hard-working crew and Bud Parr, windscreens have gone up at the Evergreen Middle School courts. There is also a temporary fence between the north court and the two south courts to contain your runaway balls. To stay informed, join the EMS TeamReach, Group Code: EMS 222.
The crew on Friday, June 13: Larry Flowers demonstrates the selfie technique with, from left: Pat Theno, Marcia Larson, Bruce Flinn, Jeff Freeman, George Crego, Al Buenning, “Aloha” Jim Malone, Bud Parr. Not pictured: Dave Durand.
