The 1st Annual Bowers Harbor Pickleball Tournament will be held Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Bowers Harbor Park tennis courts. Nearly 30 Old Mission Peninsula residents and pickleball enthusiasts will be participating in the tournament, and all OMP residents are welcome to attend and cheer on the players.
The Bowers Harbor Pickleball Club was formed in July of this year and has already grown to more than 60 Old Mission Peninsula members. Organizer Gary “Cip” Cipriani says they’re working with a Peninsula Township Park Commission committee, headed by park commissioner Don Atkinson, to begin planning for their own dedicated pickleball courts at Bowers Harbor Park.
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“We are extremely excited about this,” says Cipriani, a certified pickleball instructor through the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association, adding that he hopes the club will continue to grow.
Sunday’s tournament will include a friendly four-games guaranteed minimum, based on the number of participants, and T-shirts will be available for each registered player, who’ve paid a fee to participate. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to both division winners (six medals in all).
The event also includes a potluck picnic, so bring a dish to share if you’d like to participate. The schedule includes:
- 10 a.m. – Noon – Open Practice and Park Pavilion Picnic Setup
- 11:30 a.m. – Tournament Meeting
- 11:40 a.m. – First round blind draw for first game partner
- 11:45 a.m. – Warm up time with partner
- 12:00 noon – LET THE GAMES BEGIN – 1ST MATCHES
Check out the Bowers Harbor Pickleball Club on Facebook and join in the fun. For more information, email Cipriani at [email protected] or call (231) 676-9681.
Bowers Harbor Park is located at 2750 Bowers Harbor Road, Traverse City, MI 49686, on the Old Mission Peninsula.
A NOTE FROM JANE: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers like the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, and magazines like Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So of course, I started my own newspaper. Because the Gazette is mainly reader-supported, I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks my way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the Old Mission Peninsula. Check out the donation page here. Thank you so much for your support. -jb
Nancy Davy, I’m sure Rick Vandemark will be scouting out these pickleball courts when we’re up there on vacation next summer!
Be still my heart.