Pickleball — Fun for the Whole Family!

These posts were written in 2017. They are our experience playing with family in West Michigan.

June 2017: Most of you know my story.  I started playing pickleball about four years ago at Woodside Bible Church in Troy, Michigan.  For the last two years, I have made Middletown, Ohio my home courts. And every winter for the last couple of years when visiting my parents, while they vacationed in Florida, I tried to get my dad to transition from tennis to pickleball… and every year he resisted. Sure, he’d humor me — and after our morning tennis session I would put a pickleball paddle in his hand and we would hit the hard, plastic, perforated ball for all of about 5 minutes… and then the next day we would do it all over again — with Dad once again preferring the tennis racket over the pickleball paddle.

Saturday Morning Phone Call in April

And then — seemingly out of nowhere — while I was talking to my Mom and Dad on one of our regular Saturday morning phone calls, they told me that they thought “the pickleball era was about to begin.” The previous week they had gone to their local senior center and played for about an hour — an hour! Both of them — Dad and Mom! And since then, they have been playing most Wednesdays and Fridays. In between on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays they go to their exercise class. And did I mention, they’re 84 years old!  Awesome!

Playing with the Newbies on the New Courts in Holland, Michigan

Last Saturday we attended a wedding in metro Detroit — and on the Wednesday prior we made a slight detour and headed to west Michigan to visit my Mom and Dad. So last week I got to play with them. They had just opened 8 new courts in Holland, Michigan (Moran Park), and me, my wife, my Mom, and my Dad played. It was tons of fun — laughter, exercise, catching up and competition. And they were good! And I loved it!

A Pickleball Family

So now most of my family plays. Mom and Dad were a couple of the last “hold-outs.” Shown below is video of me, Dad, and my brother and his wife playing at Sandy Pines (obviously, not on the new courts in Holland). Spoiler alert: The good guys win!  :) See you on the courts!

Pickleball in West Michigan in the Summer — Pure Fun!

August 2017: I never quite understood it. Ask the typical Cincinnatian where they like to vacation during the summer months and they will, more often than not, tell you Myrtle Beach, SC. They will likely cite the ocean and beaches as the primary draw. And that it is completely understandable. You see, in southwest, Ohio we have no bodies of water – aside from, perhaps, a standing puddle or two created by the most recent thunderstorm. So I completely understand the desire to get away and get to the beach for some rest and relaxation – and, of course, pickleball!

West Michigan in the Summer – Ahhhhh!

However, instead of making the 656 mile, 10 hour & 27 minute trek to Myrtle Beach, please consider the more manageable 332 mile, 5 hour-and-some-change drive to the pristine shores of Lake Michigan. Don’t get me wrong – I’m all for making the drive to Myrtle Beach during the late fall, winter or early spring. But not the summer! It’s hard to beat average June, July and August temperatures for Holland, Michigan, of 79, 83 and 82 degrees respectively. Compare that to average temperatures for Myrtle Beach during this same time period of 88, 91 and 89 degrees. For me – although I’m surely biased – it’s a no-brainer. Summer days in west Michigan are the best!

First Pickleball Stop Along the Lakeshore – Holland, Michigan

Recently, my nephew got married in west Michigan. My wife and I drove up to Holland, MI – home of the historic Big Red Lighthouse, Tulip Time Festival and the Hope College Flying Dutchmen – on Wednesday afternoon. As the typical pickleball addict who wants to maximize my picklebility, I messaged the local pickleball Facebook Group (Tulip City Pickleball Club) to see if there was open play that evening. Being a virtually brand new pickleball club (8 new courts were just installed in June) I wasn’t entirely optimistic that there would be action on the courts on such short notice. However, much to my delight, Facebook group member, John, responded stating that a group was playing that evening beginning at 5:00 PM.

Moran Park, Holland, MI

Soon after arriving in Holland, I was off to the courts to play. Although I didn’t get to the courts until shortly after 7:00 PM, I was able to play on the brand new courts at Moran Park in Holland, Michigan, for about 2 hours. The group – including John, Joni, Ethel, Lisa and others – were extremely hospitable, kind and encouraging. I had a blast. The courts – and people – were fantastic.

Second Pickleball Stop Along the Lakeshore – Grand Haven, Michigan

On Friday morning I scoured the other local Facebook group pages and opted to make the 15-minute drive up the Lake Michigan coast to beautiful Grand Haven – home to the 2.5 mile boardwalk that runs along the harbor and is lined with shops, restaurants, marinas and charter fishing boats. The Lakeshore Pickleball Club at Mulligan’s Hollow in Grand Haven is nestled literally just a stone’s throw from the boardwalk and Grand Haven State Park.

Mulligan’s Hollow, Grand Haven, MI

As I walked up to put my paddle in the rack for “next up” I heard somebody calling my name. “Todd.” “Hey, Todd!” So here I am, 350 miles from where I currently live – and probably 200 miles away from where I previously lived – and my former colleague (and boss) at Kmart Corporation is playing on the very same courts I’m visiting. What a neat and unexpected surprise. All the courts were filled that morning – with several of the players visiting from elsewhere in the country. I played several games – for about an hour – at the Lakeshore Pickleball Club. They were equally as welcoming. Thanks to Carrie and Carol for being exceptionally gracious hosts.

Other West Michigan Pickleball Clubs

There are several other clubs along the lakeshore that I didn’t get the opportunity to visit – simply because of lack of time. Perhaps when I return to West Michigan I’ll have the opportunity to play at Spring Lake, at the Belknap Courts in Grand Rapids and the Douglas Saugatuck Pickleball Club at Schultz Park in Douglas, Michigan. I can’t wait to return – but probably not until next summer – as I hear ol’ man winter is getting ready to make his return to Michigan soon.

Nancy says:
August 20, 2017 at 10:38 am Edit
Are the places you mentioned open to the public? I noticed you referred to them as “clubs” which could mean private. I’m asking because we plan on spending our summer months in western MIchigan beginning next year.

Reply
PickleballMAX says:
August 21, 2017 at 8:18 am Edit
Hi Nancy, Both are open to the public. Perhaps they encourage a nominal “fee” if you’re there over the entire summer, however. As a visitor, both Holland and Grand Haven welcomed me with open arms. If you’re on Facebook, there is an active Facebook group for both. I’m sure they can provide additional information. You’ll enjoy your summer months there. I promise! :)

Molly says:
August 20, 2017 at 8:57 am Edit
Great, informative blog post Todd! Makes me want to visit West Michigan with Bert.

Reply
PickleballMAX says:
August 20, 2017 at 9:34 am Edit
Thanks, Molly. You and Bert would love it!