MURRAY – When the weather cooperates, players of all ages and skill levels congregate at the five new Pickleball courts in Murray’s city park. Pickleball folks also get together at the local Senior Citizen Center weekday afternoons, except Wednesdays, to play on the indoor court in the gym of that facility. Various churches in Calloway County have courts too and, when they are available, it is likely there is a game going on.
What is happening in Murray is part of a national craze for a paddle sport that weaves together aspects of tennis, badminton, ping-pong, and pool. Young and old – and every stage in between – enjoy the mix of socializing and health benefits, seasoned with the spirit of cheerful competition.
Before it got to Murray, Pickleball popularity started spreading across the country from the Pacific Northwest, where it was invented in 1965. Public and private courts continue to sprout like wildflowers, although some naysayers might view the sport more like a bothersome weed.
When plans for construction of courts in Murray were announced, there was some discussion about the location being a burden to nearby neighbors. Some feared increased traffic. Others remarked that sounds associated with the sport – an irregular series of tic-toc-pops – would unsettle domestic tranquility.
Decriers quieted down when the location of the new courts was moved to another section of the park, off Arcadia Drive and in sight of the local cemetery. As far as I know, there have been no disturbances of the peace so far.
Tim Thurmond, President of Murray Pickleball Association, is already looking ahead to adding five more courts to the complex. The vision also includes a center pavilion to connect the existing courts with five more, in a pleasing symmetrical design.
Recounting the saga of the sport’s popularity in Murray, Thurmond explained that a group of dedicated local Pickleballers was looking for more places to play besides downtown’s First Baptist Church.
“We carpooled to Paris and Calvert City,” he said. “We travelled to wherever we could play.”
When someone suggested finding a focus on bringing more opportunities to the Murray community, the Murray Pickleball Association was formed. Papers were filed designating MPA as a 501c3 organization. From there, fundraising ensued – voila! – The Rudolph Pickleball Complex became part of the park landscape.
To illustrate the level of support already garnered by MPA, Thurmond reported current membership at 200 and growing. He credited the work of scores of volunteers who manage finances, tournaments, maintenance, clinics, and other crucial areas, all for the love of the game.
“Loneliness is a pandemic,” Thurmond remarked, adding that Pickleball can be a remedy. “The basic fundamental of the sport is fun.”
Paddle-mania has struck the Murray Calloway Senior Citizens Center too. According to Executive Director Dacia Barber, it began four years ago when the Center created an outdoor space for Pickleball.
“When we did our gym renovations,” she explained, “we were able to provide enough room to bring Pickleball indoors.”
Every weekday afternoon except Wednesdays, seniors gather in the Center’s gym for Pickleball. Four at a time take the court, and players are rotated throughout the afternoon so everyone has a chance to play.
As they wait on the sidelines, seniors observe and cheer the good shots, even when they veer out of bounds. Effort is recognized and encouraged as casual conversations bounce between the finer points of the game and news of travel plans, grandkids, health reports, and good-natured ribbing.
A half-hour class for beginners is every Friday morning at 8 a.m. Participants start learning the rules and hitting the ball as they discover that a game seemingly easy on the surface is not exactly a piece of cake.
Whether they hone their skills at the public courts or the Senior Center, players expressed a range of opinions about the game. On a recent weekday in the park, some Murray State University students shared their sentiments.
John Wood liked the variety of people to play with. “I’m 22,” he said, “and I discovered that an older person can beat me. Pickleball is a good workout.”
Dylan Jennings got started because of friends like John. “I came out here and enjoyed playing,” he explained, “so I keep coming back.”
From Ballard County, Matthew McGlenon played in high school and also competed in track and the long jump. Although he discovered Pickleball about a month ago, he likes the sport and said he looked forward to playing more.
On a recent Saturday morning, Baylor Dalton was fired up for Pickleball. Armed with a paddle and a ball, he was an avid spectator as his parents, Cody Dalton and Hannah Dalton, took on a team of two college-age competitors.
At a mere eighteen months, Baylor was no wobbly-legged toddler but a boy on a mission. He retrieved balls gone astray and cheered winning shots, eager to get in the game.
According to MPA’s Tim Thurmond, the Daltons are not the only family enjoying the benefits of Pickleball. When the weather is dry and temperate, the local courts are busy with players of varying ages. Light-hearted jibes, whoops of joy, and grunts of exertion syncopate with the thwack of ball hitting paddle.
With no sore losers and no gloating winners, fans are just doing their best to have fun and get the ball over the net. A retiree and former tennis player who frequents the Pickleball courts at the Senior Center and at the First Methodist Church provided this succinct description of the sport: “It’s addicting,” Beryl Barber said.
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