The year was 1965. After Washington Congressman Joel Pritchard spent a Saturday playing golf with businessman Bill Bell, the two gentlemen returned to Pritchard’s home, where their families sat around doing nothing.

The property had an old badminton court, which inspired Pritchard and Bell to search for badminton equipment. When they couldn’t find the proper equipment, they improvised and played with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball.

After a few games, trial and error, and a weekend of improvising, the players introduced Barney McCallum to the game. Before long, the three men created rules, and a new game was born. The new game allowed the entire family to play together.

But what inspired the name? According to a rumor, the game’s name came from the Pritchard family dog, Pickles, who used to chase the ball around as the humans played.

The first permanent pickleball court was constructed in 1967 in the backyard of Pritchard’s friend and neighbor’s house. Five years later, a corporation formed to protect the creation of Pickleball.

By February 2023, USA Pickleball membership numbers reached the 70,000 mark and skyrocketed to 8.9 million players over the age of six a few months later. National Pickleball Championships are part of this fast-growing sport.

On Saturday, December 16, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. teams of men, women, and mixed double pairs competed in a friendly Pickleball Tournament competition at the Gilpin County Community Center.

Proceeds from the event went to the center’s Youth Sports Program, one of many activities available at the GCCC. Other activities include softball leagues, aquafit clubs, yoga and fitness classes, teen programs, youth camps, and family-friendly events, to name a few.

To learn more about Pickleball, visit https://usapickleball.org/whatispickleball/history-of-the-game/.

The Gilpin County Community Center is located at 250 Norton Drive, Black Hawk. You can find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gilpincounty.org, or you can call them at 303-582-1453.