Pickleball takes the court at LTP Daniel Island
Wed, 10/21/2020 - 9:23am
admin
By:
Lee Wardlaw
In a testament to a popular and fast-growing sport that has taken the Lowcountry by storm, LTP Daniel Island is now offering pickleball instruction for club members, youths and guests.
The move comes after LTP Daniel Island recently hired Tommy Welch, a pickleball instructor with four years of coaching experience, for a newly created position: director of pickleball instruction.
Welch will be offering lessons, clinics, and round robin competitions starting on Oct. 27.
“Pickleball 101” will be available Oct. 27, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., with a follow-up clinic offered on Oct. 29, then continuing on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next three following weeks.
“Pickleball 102” will be offered on all of the same dates, with sessions scheduled for 9:30 - 11 a.m.
The cost is $120 for members and $130 for guests.
Round robin matches will be offered to two mixed groups of players, including the “beginner to intermediate” group and “intermediate to advanced levels” group, with lessons slated for 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.; the cost is $10 for members and $15 for guests per match.
In a separate class, children will be offered the opportunity to compete in “junior pickleball instruction,” which will also be taught by Welch.
The program, designed to introduce students to the sport of pickleball, will teach children the necessary aspects of the game, including strokes, scoring, rules, and more.
Pickleball is a fast-paced game similar to tennis, but the game offers simpler rules and a smaller playing court than tennis.
The simplified nature of the game grants its popularity to a wide-ranging age group of players.
“The biggest thing is that it’s very easy to pick up on. There’s not a lot of lateral movement,” said Robert Eppelsheimer, director of facilities.
Welch said that pickleball, which has recently picked up plenty of popularity in the Charleston area, could be especially engaging for children.