The Sun City Pickleball Club earned 29 top-three finishes, including seven gold medals, while it hosted the Super Senior Pickleball Association Tournament.

A field of 465 athletes age 60 and older competed in men’s, women’s and mixed doubles, and men’s and women’s singles at the 20-court Marinette Recreation Center complex in Sun City, at 9860 W. Union Hills Drive. The event is sanctioned by USA Pickleball, the national governing body, based in Surprise.

Claiming gold medals for the Sun City club in doubles were Jane Powell and Dan Haberman in the 60-65 age group mixed (3.5 skill level); Linda Hermann and Jan Hodgson in 70-75 women’s (3.0); Malcolm Derr and Jeff Stone in 70-75 men’s (5.0); and Terry Adams and Mark Tamblyn in 70-75 men’s (4.0). Singles winners were Ms. Powell in women’s 65-69 (3.5); Ms. Hodgson in women’s 70-75 (3.0); and Roland Lefebvre in men’s 70-75 (3.0).

Three major tournaments are sponsored each season by the Sun City Pickleball Club, which was chartered in 2003 and has approximately 525 members. The next event is the Spring Slam, already with 455 entrants, Friday through Sunday, March 8-10 at the Marinette courts. The tournament is free and open to the public.

A 2018 report by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, indicated pickleball has 3.1 million players in the United States, an increase of 12 percent over the previous year, according to the Sun City Pickleball Club. SFIA is the premier trade association for top brands, manufacturers, retailers and marketers in the U.S. sporting goods and fitness industry.

As of January 2018, USA Pickleball had 30,803 members. Since 2013, membership has increased 650 percent.The sport has been around since 1965, originating in Bainbridge Island, Washington, near Seattle. It has elements of tennis, table tennis, badminton and racquetball.

IF YOU GO

What: Sun City Pickleball Club Spring Slam

When: March 8-10

Where: Marinette Recreation Center complex, 9860 W. Union Hills Drive

More Information: suncitypickleballclub.org