Greenwich Pickleball Timeline
Help us write the Greenwich Pickleball Timeline! Do you have timeline info to share, or corrections? Email us!
Pickleball was brought to Greenwich by Betsy Underhill
Betsy Underhill, USA Pickleball Association Ambassador, Greenwich, CT
Betsy Underhill was coaching the Greenwich High School women’s varsity tennis team when Renie Blair asked her to check out this ‘new’ game. So Betsy headed up to Ridgefield for her first game of Pickleball in 2010.
It was love at first dink.
TIMELINE
2010
GHS Girls Tennis Coach Betsy Underhill plays Pickleball in Ridgefield for the first time. Four months later she becomes a USAPA Ambassador.
2010
Underhill demonstrates Pickleball to Town Officials and local organizations at the Western Greenwich Civic Center. A small group of players begin using the gym to play Pickleball.
2011
During the summer the Town opened up the platform tennis courts at Loughlin Avenue to Pickleball players.
2011
Pickleball program launches at the Greenwich YMCA and runs for several years before closing.
2013
Three Pickleball courts are lined in the Eastern Civic Center Gym in Old Greenwich by volunteers.
2014
The number of Pickleball players in Greenwich grows rapidly and in 2014 the Town started offering official Pickleball programs, including drop-in play at both Civic Centers (Eastern and Western), and continued summer play at the platform tennis courts at Loughlin Avenue.
2014
Two dedicated Pickleball Courts with permanent nets are created at Christiano Park in Chickahominy.
2015
The first of four annual Greenwich Pickleball tournaments are held at Eastern Civic Center. 24 mixed teams participate. The 2020 tournament is canceled due to COVID.
2017
YWCA Greenwich introduces Pickleball. Betsy Underhill runs the introductory night with over 60 participants on four courts in the gym. Pickleball becomes a regular offering at the YWCA, (shutting down during COVID in 2020).
2018
In fall of 2018 the Loughlin Avenue tennis courts are lined for dual use, Pickleball and Tennis - adding four official outdoor courts to the existing two at Christiano. In Spring 2019 open play programs are held on the new courts. Loughlin Ave becomes the central location for Spring, Summer and Fall town Pickleball programs.
2021
The first coed inter-club Pickleball League in the Northeast, the Fairfield-Westchester Pickleball League launches in March, 2021 - for private clubs. The League is managed by Juan Pablo Martinez Arraya, head of Racquet Sports at Greenwich Country Club. The first league ‘championships’ are held at GCC on July 31, 2021 on Har Tru.
2021
In November, one Western Middle School Tennis Court is lined for Pickleball, creating two new Pickleball courts for weekend play only. Two portable nets (on wheels) are provided by the town.
2021
In November 2021, GreenwichPickleball.com launches, to help centralize information about local pickleball courts and programs, and to help players connect.
2021
In September 2021 Pickleball is re-introduced at the YMCA, after an 8 year hiatus.
HELP!
Email us if you’ve got timeline tidbits to share!
Do you have some flavor to add or a personal story about your Pickleball experience? Do you want to write a narrative history that we can share in an article on this site?
Here are some questions to get your creative juices flowing…
Share you personal Pickleball story. What does Pickleball mean to you?
Where would you like to see Pickleball go in Greenwich? What’s the dream - ignoring town budgets and reality. A town facility with 10 courts, etc…
What are your thoughts on…
How did this game get off the ground in a town dominated by Tennis & Paddle?
What is the appeal of Pickleball in Greenwich, (age, size of court etc.)
Pickleball was created in 1965, but it seems to have really taken off in the last 5-6 years in Greenwich. Why is it growing so fast, or why did it take this long?
What do you see as the biggest hurdle to the game’s growth in Greenwich?
What are the benefits of Pickleball to a town with the demographic make up of Greenwich?
Email us to help write the history or share your story!
Pickleball News & Articles
Only Greenwich residents with a tennis/pickleball pass can purchase Pickleball guest passes in Greenwich. Here’s a step by step ‘how-to’.