Pickleball Club of Grey Highlands

Grey Highlands, Ontario

Time for Renewal, Feasting & Fun!

Report from the Board Room – AGM

Happy to report that the Annual General Meeting is done and dusted. No members were injured at the event and a new Board of Directors was installed for 2025. The AGM came to order at 7:01 pm and adjourned at 7:55 pm, Monday, November 18^th. Fifteen fine people, members-in-good-standing (all seated), gathered at the Flesherton Library. In addition to cookies, squares and hot cider they were treated to a colourful slide show and a quick review of the past year; who did what, when, where, why and how much it all cost. Here is your Board of Directors for 2025:

Karen Alton – President
Reid Dennison – Vice President
Paul de van der Schueren – Treasurer
Nancy D’Amico – Executive Secretary
Doug Alton – Director of Facilities
Bryden Jones – Director of Youth Programs
Lorna Rintamaki – Membership Director
Kate McIntyre – Social Director
Janet Pounder – Director Interclub Relations
Karen Alton – Adult Programs, Clinics, Tourneys
Sponsorships/Fundraising – by committee

*We are still desperately seeking someone with some social media flair, capable of posting timely, accurate, entertaining items on our Instagram and Facebook pages. Please reply to pickleballgreyhighlands@gmail.com if you think you could take on this challenging but fun opportunity.

Renewal – Not just about the money

As we approach the end of the year and the weather reminds us to get out our winter gear, we must remind you to renew your membership in the Pickleball Club before December 31^st. Now would be the perfect time, in fact, so you don’t forget amid the hurly-burly of the festive season!

Of course, if you joined after September 1^st this year or have already renewed your membership to the end of 2025, thank you very much!

The annual fee for adult membership is $40, which includes membership in Pickleball Canada and Pickleball Ontario. New this year, ten dollars of each membership will go directly into our Outdoor Court Building Fund.

The annual fee for Youth membership is $30, including membership in Pickleball Canada and Pickleball Ontario. Eight dollars of each Youth membership will go to our Outdoor Court Building Fund.

It is easy to renew, just go to our website, Pickleball Club of Grey Highlands, and click on the Renew/Join button near the top of the screen, follow the prompts and get out your credit card.

Make no mistake, we want you back! As our numbers grow and we continue to press the local Council to approve our proposal for a dedicated, outdoor, municipal pickleball facility, every member counts. Please check out the pictures on our website under “Quest for Outdoor Courts” to see what’s proposed.

Currently we have 141 members in the Club, of which 23 are Youth members. 67 are male, 74 are female, and the average age is roughly 53 years-of-age.

Indoors at the Gyms

Members of PGH are eligible to sign-up for Indoor play on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Friday evenings.

The Monday recreational adult Play program is at Macphail Memorial Elementary School in Flesherton and runs from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. All levels of play will be welcome.

The seasonal cost is $35 flat rate. The season runs every Monday throughout the school year (with the exception of school holidays) until the end of May. Please register and pay on the website and check in on TeamReach.

The Tuesday recreational adult Play program is also at Macphail in Flesherton and runs from 6:30 to 9:30pm. All levels of play are welcome.

The seasonal cost is the same as Mondays, $35. It will run every Tuesday throughout the school year (with the exception of school holidays) until the end of May. Please register and pay on the website and check in on TeamReach.

The Wednesday night program follows our Youth Rally Club at Macphail Memorial Elementary School, beginning at 7:30pm and goes to 9:30pm. This is for advanced players only.

The cost, as with the other programs, is $35 flat rate, for the entire school year. Please register and pay on our website and check in on TeamReach.

The popular Friday Ladder-format program is at Grey Highlands Secondary School in Flesherton. It will run from 6:00 to 10 pm with two or three sessions within that time period depending on how many players sign-up. The official start date was Friday October 11. Sign up on TeamReach. The second session will start in January.

The seasonal cost is $35 flat rate. The season will run the entire school year (with the exception of school holidays) until the end of May.

The Youth Rally Club, for girls and boys 10 – 14, started Wednesday, September 25^th at 6pm, Macphail Memorial Elementary School. There is no additional charge for youth Club members under 18 to play indoors at the school. New members always welcome. Annual Youth membership is $30, and runs from now until December 31, 2025.

How to register for Adult Indoor Events

Go to the website for Pickleball Club of Grey Highlands
Login (with your Pickleball Canada password - top left corner of screen)
Click on Pickleball Club of Grey Highlands
Click on the black EVENTS button
Click on the green REGISTER button
Enter your name
Select Division Adult
Select Category Monday drop-in or Friday ladder
Optional, add another night by clicking “Add another division”, repeat step 8
Click on “Proceed to next step”
Enter your credit card info
Click on “Confirm registration”

Sweet Deal for New Members – starting September 1^st, first-time members will get the benefits of membership for the rest of 2024 plus all of 2025. Returning Club members, of course, are encouraged to renew their membership prior to the end of the year.

Be an Angel – just a reminder that the Club (PGH) has a special membership category “Supporting Member,” for pickleball angels who wish to encourage our local Club efforts but don’t intend to play. $20 flat rate does not include membership in Pickleball Canada or Pickleball Ontario, but does include Socials, meaningful and sometimes amusing Updates, and our sincere appreciation.

Website Highlights:

We are always polishing and buffing the front page of our website with breaking news and timely updates. The News feed especially is a gold mine of fun. Not just Stormin’ Norm’s colourful commentary and Ladder lore, but fresh content (maybe) from our newest Directors, Cookie and Kate. Can't wait for the next installment!

Make it fun! Do what you love. Love what you do!

News

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Fun in the Boardroom

The Club's Annual General Meeting will be in the Flesherton Library on Monday, November 18 at 7 pm. After a brief review of the past year and some thoughts about the year to come, the Board of Directors (a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 10), will be voted on. All members are welcome to attend and share in this festive, fun event.
November 18th, 2024
OMG, Shot of the Night!

Thankfully, play in Box 1 resembled more traditional pickleball after last week's night of a thousand bangs and drives. In the second game of the rotation, during match point, Digger sent a drive down the middle past Rex at the net. Partner Stormy ran back and lunged to his right with his arm fully extended to hit a low, dropping shot back, narrowly missing Rex in the process. Phew! The ball dipped over the net and Buck used his soft hands to tap a dink back the other way. Anticipating this, Stormy rushed up as Buck delivered his well-executed dink. Just before the ball could strike the floor for a winner, Stormy dove headfirst toward the sinking ball, and slid across the court to make a miraculous return. Always ready to pounce, however, Digger sent a volley back at Rex who was left to fend off the attack alone. His return to Digger was good, but not good enough, as the opportunist's next shot found the open court for the match winner.
October 18th, 2024
Opening Night: Unleashed!

The guys at the top of the ladder had a hard time moving from the amazing outdoor courts at Club 32 to the indoor confines at the high school. As a result it was BANG, BANG, BANG and a little side of BANG. With all four players having a hard time seeing the ball, the best approach (apparently), was to just drive the ball all night long. Sometimes, it just feels good to unleash.
October 11th, 2024
Youth Rally Club

Back by popular demand, the youth program is starting again at Macphail Memorial Elementary School Wednesday September 25th. Recommended for girls and boys 10 to 14. This is an evening program from 6 to 7:30 pm. Join the Club and youth play at no extra cost. Youth membership is $30 annually. Dynamic, fun activity for energetic youngsters.
September 19th, 2024
No Guts: No Glory

It is September and the outdoor season is on the backstretch. "Glory Daze" mixed doubles tournament will take place Saturday, September 21. It is now posted on TeamReach, your Club phone app. This is the final Club tournament of the outdoor season. Pick your partner and signup. Don't miss out! No guts, no glory. No fun either.
September 9th, 2024
Social - Dog Days of Summer

Summertime and the livin' is easy! The "Dog Days of Summer" are here along with prime pickleball season. The August Social is nearly upon us, Wednesday August 21st. Starting at 6pm the games begin and the grill gets fired up around 8 for some delectable tube steaks (no expense spared). Nothing like a hot August night for some not too serious schmoozing on the court and off. Check out TeamReach for the finer print.
August 14th, 2024
Learn2Play

Our Learn2Play sessions at Memorial Park have gained some positive attention. Offered on weekday evenings from 6pm to 8pm, these introductions to pickleball are designed to appeal to anyone who has heard about the game and would like to get into the fun. We provide the paddles, the balls and the net. Also, some knowledgeable people to guide players safely into the game.
July 25th, 2024
Pickle Prom Promises Fun & Games

Don't miss the thrilling finale to our indoor season! Dress to impress or dress for success. Prizes for Prom King and Queen. Yes, its a popularity contest. What else would it be? Come and find out.
June 11th, 2024
Grey Highlands Council Goes Back-and-Forth Over Pickleball Courts

Read more about our recent meeting with council in Collingwood Today.
Read More
May 17th, 2024
Final Night of the Season was Action Packed

Box 1 was a war, but it was the after-play that really cut deep. In the final game of regulation play, Laurence and Jack came away with a 16-14 win over Matthew and Colin. During the extra play, however, the team of Matthew and Colin turned it up a notch . . . ok, it was Colin who turned it up to 11 with his vibrant, eye-popping new orange shoes and matching shorts. Karen said he looked like a pylon. The warning he was giving was that he’s a force to recken with. Colin and Matthew won both games.

Box 2 saw Karen honing in and targeting the line past Doug’s forehand. She delivered three pinpoint shots that scorched past Doug and landed inside the line. I knew Karen meant business, all dressed in black and ready to rain darkness down upon her opponents.

Box 3 had two spares playing, one being Paul’s son, Eric. His tall stature and long reach make for strong weapons in the game of pickleball. Tonight’s play also saw the return of Nancy, bruised finger and all. You can’t keep a good pickler down for long.

Box 4 had Heather and Nancy coming out of the gate blazing. The two showed no mercy towards Rocky and Shari. With that first game out of their systems, Rocky and Shari respectively played much better in their subsequent games, with the last game being a close 15-13 battle.

A season of fun and competitive play. The ladder saw 4 new players--Heather, Colin, Heike and Matthew—trying pickleball for the first time. Colin and Matthew rose from box 4 to be staples in box 1. The two also brought fashon to the game. Matthew with his bright neon green shoes and Colin with an array of bright and patterned shirts paired with his magenta shoes. In the final night he introduced his new orange shoes and orange shorts. Heather told me he has a new collection to showcase during the summer, don’t miss it! The fashonistas are a force on the pickleball runway and court. Heather brings an enthusiasm and effort that is unmatched. Nicknamed, Slider, she often returned shots while sliding on the ground. Can’t wait to see how that goes on the surface at Club 32. Heike was only able to play during the first half of the season, as work got in the way. My moto is life’s not work, it’s all play.
We hope to see everyone throughout the summer at the events hosted by the Club. If you haven’t been to Club 32, get out there and experience the great surface and friendly family that allows us a great place to play.

Thank you to everyone! See you on the courts soon!
May 14th, 2024
No Retreat, Baby, No Surrender!

Who doesn't love a good husband-wife fight? A pickleball fire-fight, that is! Ellen and Harold recently squared off against each other and produced just such a fight. Ellen was super focused that night, determined, relentless. She glared across the court at her husband Harold. This battle was years in the making. Pointing her paddle at her mate, Ellen proclaimed, "Well dear, we made a promise, we swore we'd always remember. No retreat, baby, no surrender!" The tension was thick hanging over the court like a blanket, shrinking and clinging to everyone in the gym. Play started friendly enough, a few drives here and there, the odd dink, until Ellen and Harold found themselves directly across the net from each other. Ellen delivered a hard, low volley. Harold returned it in a defensive manner. Ellen drove the ball back again but this time Harold was ready and equal to the task. Pop! Pop! Pop! The two exchanged volley after volley, each time increasing the pace. Back and forth the two hit harder and harder. Ellen was determined to drive that ball at Harold with everything she had. Pop! Pop! Pop! The exchange continued as Ellen, like a Jedi Master, calm and controlled, bombarded Harold with volley after volley, the Master testing her apprentice, neither giving in. But Harold remained steadfast. Ellen sensed an opportunity and pounced on a high volley, driving the ball down at wicked speed. Harold took a few steps back, anticipating the increased velocity of his wife's smash. With a smooth and seemingly effortless stroke, he squared off and ripped the ball down the middle, dissecting Ellen and her partner for a winner. Like soldiers in the winter's night, with a vow to defend to the end, no retreat, baby, no surrender. (We are sure going to miss Norm's commentary!)
May 12th, 2024
Good Vibrations

Really cool vibes at “Club 32” (Beaver Valley Pickleball) this past weekend as the Salneks (Robert, Margo and Brian), hosted an Open House at their home courts on Grey County Road 32. The 2-day event drew a wide assortment of pickleball aficionados. Some folks were discovering these country gems for the first time, others were excited to be back for another season of outdoor play.

On Saturday under sunny skies Bonnie and Jack arrived at the stroke of eleven, ready to test the outdoor surface. Lorna and Risto were also keen to see the facility though both were on the I.L. (not for long we hope). After that, it was a flood of arrivals; Matt, Laurence, Toba, Patti, Debbie, Karen, Janet and Anne-Marie. They all got on the courts for shortened games with Doug and Karen, Bryden and Reid, Robert, Brian and Margo. Chip, oops I mean Chris and Dale arrived a bit later from the city. Shari and Camilla with Zen in tow made an appearance from their nearby retreat. Awesome enthusiasm for this game of ours.

On Sunday, after the courts dried from a morning drizzle, around 2pm, another round of pickleball junkies descended. Notably Heather and Colin in their usual colourful duds; then Beth came with Alexa and Ashlyn to hit a few balls, followed by Brenda and Chuck, and Sherry and Rob (no time to tarry, though, something mellowing in the smoker back home). Poor Robert had to drive back to the city early but Margo continued to hold court, along with Bryden and Doug and Karen, to the final dink or volley or smash.

We continue our quest, as a Club, to share and grow the game. Huzzah!
May 6th, 2024
OMG SHOT OF THE NIGHT!

SESSION 3 LADDER PLAY

It was a night of comebacks. On a few courts, one team found themselves getting out to an early lead and running up the score, only to have the other team fight their way back to make it a battle.

OMG SHOT OF THE NIGHT

On court 1, Matthew sent a short ball cross court. Colin rushed up and Jack scrambled to his left. Just out of the reach of Jack, Colin managed to get a paddle on it and hit a lob, sending Matthew backwards. He jumped and hit a hard return down the line to the right corner. A sure winner, but wait . . . seeing that his lob wasn’t going to be deep enough, Colin rushed to the baseline to get ready for Matthew’s return. He turned on the jets and headed to the right corner, he stretched out as far as he could and hit a solid ball cross body, unfortunately Jack was standing there and took Colin’s return in the shoulder.
April 5th, 2024
Heather Brought the Heat!

Session 3 of the Friday night Ladder opened with a bang! Players were scrambling all over the court to get balls everyone thought were sure winners. They were not! Court 4 was dominated by Heather (formerly known as Slider). She brought the heat, well-rested as she was after the March Break, spent relaxing at home bingeing on Netflix.
March 22nd, 2024
One Brief Shining Moment

Robert called it March Madness when he put out the invite to play outdoors. It was an afternoon to remember and savour, 16 degrees under the sun with a gentle zephyr from the south! A pre-season gift from the pickleball gods! We were 8 and it was great.
March 13th, 2024
Death to All Balls

MARCH 1ST, IS THE FINAL NIGHT OF SESSION 2. March 8th will be open play for anyone that would like to mix things up. An event will be posted on Team Reach for sign-up.

The 3rd and final session of the season will run from March 22nd to May 10th. A new event sign-up will be posted allowing everyone a few weeks to sign-up.

Death to all balls. That was the theme of the night. We said goodbye to 3 balls, which only left us with 1 for 2 courts. Luckily, Reid had a ball so that play could continue.

SHOTS OF THE NIGHT Jack was on FIRE! It was lob after lob after lob, all hitting their mark, catching lines and causing trouble. Jack was even playing on a full stomach, which usually doesn’t go well. Not on this night, Jack came to play.

Update: Regarding the Death to All Balls:

As the death of all the pickleballs are being mourned by the Friday Ladder group, a four-some arrived by courier and were eager to start play for Wednesday night's Open Play. However, unruly weather inhibited the Wednesday night crew from gathering, so these little "Fila's" will have to wait for their debut with the March 1 Friday Ladder group... let's hope they go easy on these new balls... they're only little!
February 23rd, 2024
Snow and Ladders

Ladder play saw players making their way through the snow to play. It was cold and snowy outside but play was red hot inside. Matthew continued his climb, winning box 2 and making his way from box 4 to box 1 in a matter of a few weeks. If you remember, Colin did the same thing last session. Maybe it’s the bright, blinding shoes they both wear. Speaking of shoes, Heather sported a new pair of kicks. No, they aren’t brightly coloured but they are providing her much needed traction even if they numb her feet by the end of the night.

SHOTS OF THE NIGHT Box 1 saw a fast pace to the games. Trying to slow it down, Jack sent one of his patented lobs to the far-left corner. Bruce scrambled back as the ball landed in the court and kicked out a tad. Using his sweet one-handed tennis backhand, Bruce unleashed a world of hurt, scorching the ball back down the line past Colin. Meanwhile, in box 2, spare Helen was doing everything she could to take it to the boys. In one exchange, Helen sent a deep drive to Reid. His return was a little high. Helen drove the ball looking to send it down the middle for a winner. Instead, the ball clipped the tape and suspended for a moment before dropping on the other side close to the net. Helen raised her arms in triumph but out of nowhere, Matthew dove, sliding along the floor and just catching the ball before its second bounce. All he could do was pop the ball up, back to Helen. With her arms already raised in celebration, the ball headed toward her raised paddle. Unfortunately, she was taken by surprise with Matthew’s tremendous get and drove the ball into the net.
February 16th, 2024
Latest Ladder Play Friday Update

Friday night saw some great individual play across each of the boxes. Box 1 welcomes back Laurence, who dominated in each of his games, making drops with ease from all positions on the court. In box 2, Bruce set the bar high with his driving returns of serve. In box 3, newcomer, Matthew delivered bursts of energy, bouncing on high balls at the non-volley zone line. While in box 4, Jane showcased her athleticism, delivering hard low drives from deep in the court.

BACK-TO-BACK SHOTS OF THE NIGHT: During the first game in box 2, the team of Karen and Caroline put the pressure on Reid and Bruce. Reid serving, his team at 13, sent the ball deep to Karen. Her return was low and hard, keeping Reid deep in the court. Reid sidestepped to his left and reached back for a little extra and delivered a scorching drive down the line past Caroline. At game point, Reid served to Caroline. She sent her return down the middle, Bruce reached to his right and sent a low drive back to Caroline’s forehand. She reached out and with a soft touch tapped the ball back crosscourt toward the sideline. Reid rushed forward and gave a flick of his wrist as he struck the ball just a few inches from the ground. The wrist-action produced a heavy topspin as the ball went back crosscourt and dove hard down toward the ground just after clearing the net for the winning point.
February 9th, 2024
Ladder Play Session 2

NO PLAY ON FEB 2nd, DUE TO SCHOOL PA DAY.

Play was fierce as was the battle of the shoes. Check out the photo in the photo gallery showcasing Matthew’s and Colin’s footwear. Not to be undone, Colin turned it up a notch with a stylish shirt. Earlier in the day, Jack spent hours visiting every shoe store in the Barrie area. He came home empty-footed.

SHOTS OF THE NIGHT During play in box 2, the foursome of Julie, Caroline, Helen and Paul battled every point. In one exchange, Helen and Caroline had their opponents on their heels. The game was tied at 14 and Helen and Caroline were looking for a side-out to get their serve back and try for the win.

Helen delivered overhead smash after overhead smash. Paul and Julie, on the defensive, kept getting the ball back. One such shot moved Helen to her left. In a perfect position, she hammered yet another overhead smash down the centre line. Paul, off balance and on his back foot, lounged to his left and stretched across his body on his backhand and in a last-ditch effort hit the ball just right, accurately sending it over the net and dropping it into the non-volley zone near the sideline for a winner. Up 15-14 and on the high of that great shot, Paul and Julie went on to win this back-and-forth battle 16-14.

In box 4, Heather “Slider” was earning her nickname. This was most effective during an exchange in game 3. A topspin forehand looped over the net and spun towards the sideline and padded wall. “Slider” sprung into action, dropping to the floor and gliding on her knees with her arm at full stretch. Just before the ball could hit the wall, “Slider” flicked her wrist and made enough contact with the ball to send it cross court and over the net Mezmerized by this outstanding effort, the opposing team was slow to react and hit the ball into the net. Luckily for “Slider” the padded wall cushioned her impact.
January 26th, 2024
New Friday Night Ladder Now in Session

The new session kicked off with competitive play across all four boxes. Two new players, Jane and Matthew, along with new spares, Julie and Helen, took play to a new level in their respective boxes. Jane winning her box and moving up this week.

A NEW FASHIONISTA?

In session 1, Colin set the bar high with his bright magenta shoes and equally colourful shirts. As he and I sat watching boxes 2 and 4 play, we noticed that a new player might be looking to steal Colin’s electric vibe. New comer, Matthew took to the court sporting an eye-popping pair of kicks. His neon yellow shoes left streaks of lightening with each step. Colin turned to me and proclaimed, “GAME ON!”
January 19th, 2024
The Gym at GHSS

A word about the venue: we have found the conditions at the high school have grown on us. The lines are not a clear as we would like them to be but the wood floor is more forgiving on the body, and the high ceilings make the lob a valuable stroke in game strategy. The lighting is excellent. The custodial staff is friendly and accommodating. The gym is warm and welcoming on cold winter nights. So, as in life, there are pros and cons to most situations.
Final Outdoor Social Event held September 19

Our final monthly social event was held on September 19. The Cheesy and Saucy Pickleball Social took place at Beaver Valley Pickleball. Teams were formed by drawing cards and matches proceeded under "Robin Hood" rules where the team that was behind could exercise options to "steal" points from the team that was ahead. The father-son duo of Brian and Robert came out on top at the end of the evening play, edging the Norm and Meli tandem in the championship tilt. Everyone enjoyed a feast of pizza at the end of the evening.

There were four socials held in 2023 and all were well-attended. We look forward to holding more these fun events next year.
September 20th, 2023
Presentation by PGH to Municipality of Grey Highlands

PGH presented as a delegation to council for the Municipality of Grey Highlands today. Our presentation went well, and council passed a motion to receive it and to support the initiatives of our club. Copies of the PowerPoint slides and the outline of oral remarks offered in support which comprised the presentation have been added to the Additional Documents section of this website. Take a look and let us know what you think!
July 19th, 2023
Affiliated Club Status Received

Pickleball Club of Grey Highlands has received affiliated club status with Pickleball Canada and Pickleball Ontario. Club membership registrations can now be made on line.
May 25th, 2023

Youth	$10.00
Other registrations	$20.00 per registrant