As one of the fastest growing trends, pickleball also has found its audience here in Holland. It’s one of the more popular go-to extracurriculars, and here we have more than six locations that offer free use of courts. With summer on the come up, it might be time to dig the paddle out from underneath the winter shovels (or perhaps purchase one) and step out onto the court. 

If you’ve dusted the rust off your pickleball skills and are ready to show them off, this April, the Tulip Time City Open—a four-day tournament that brings together players from multiple divisions across the region—will open up the chance to compete on the court. 

What is Pickleball?

The sport requires three things: a paddle, a court, and swift, yet low-impact arm reflexes. The last part might just be why it’s popular with the older crowd (and kudos to them for getting out there). 

It’s almost like if you combined tennis, badminton, and ping-pong into one game—less intense than tennis and assuredly larger in scale than ping-pong. So just imagine a blown-up version of ping-pong, with a similar intensity, but perhaps more competitive. 

Played on a small court with a single net, all you need is one paddle and a plastic perforated ball. Its popular mode of play is in doubles, but it can be played in singles as well.  

The Tulip Time Craze is Approaching

The season of the tulip is drawing near—and with it comes one of the more recently anticipated events: The Tulip City Open, hosted by Gateway Mission. Proceeds will support men, women, and children in need across West Michigan, furthering its God-called mission to serve as a “gateway to a whole new life for hurting people” in the broader area.

The tournament will take place at MVP Sports, a premier indoor court facility on Waverly Road in Holland. 

This year the event will run across four days, from April 30th to May 3rd. Each day will host a different division: 

Thursday, April 30th: Men’s and Women’s Gender Doubles (Ages 60+)

Friday, May 1st: Men’s and Women’s Singles

Saturday, May 2nd: Men’s and Women’s Gender Doubles (Ages 59 and Below) 

Sunday, May 3rd: Mixed Doubles 

Each team, or single, will compete in the appropriate division for a piece of the $4,000 in prize money. 

Want to Play? 

The event has a strict cap of 350 total players between all divisions. The previous two years' spots filled up fast, as they sold out at roughly 300 players. So, make sure to sign up as soon as possible! The opportunity to register will close April 27th at 12:00 pm. There is also a $60 registration fee.  

For more information on the event, as well as a link to registration, please visit the website here. 

_{Photo: courtesy of Gateway Missions}