We hope everyone enjoyed the holidays last week and are getting ready to celebrate the New Year this weekend.
 
As we close out 2022 and begin our busy season at the courts, we wanted to provide insight into the club’s status.  First, we are financially stable.  We have 600 members and have closed 2022-2023 membership to provide members with the best experience we can offer.  We do have a significant waitlist.  We are addressing membership inquiries with that information and also letting people know there are local public courts at Four Peaks.  As members, if you are approached about membership, please let them know it is very unlikely there will be any openings this fiscal year.
 
This is also a good time to remind everyone of the Club Rules.

• Players are not permitted to play in more than one skill level during scheduled skill level play. Verbal notice has been given to several club members and if the members don’t comply, they risk suspension and eventual ejection from the club.
• Members are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner while on the courts. This means following the rules and play schedules and being courteous to your fellow members.
• The FHPC guest policy is being monitored and we expect more guests during the season. This can be a stressful time of year with many visitors around, so we ask that everyone be courteous and patient while at the courts. Remember that guests are NOT permitted during scheduled skill level times, waivers for guests must be completed for each visit, and the member must always be present when their guests are on the courts.  The guest waivers state that the member is responsible for their guests and their behavior, following the same code of conduct expected of members. This includes no foul language, no stealing of balls, no leaving the gates open for anyone to enter, no sharing of the gate code, and no abuse of our policies. If these infractions are reported, guest privileges may be eliminated, or the responsible member could be suspended from the club. Although children are permitted to come with the family to the courts, they are not permitted to run around on the courts, on the sidelines or between the fences while family members are playing.

 
January is jam packed with events.  The schedule reflects these in a very colorful manner on the At-A-Glance version.  Please read thoroughly January 2023 At-A-Glance for dates, times.
 
Round Robins – FHPC Members Only

• Registration for Round Robins was amazing. The groups began filling very quickly. 

 

• Managers for the Intermediate and Advanced RR have reached out to their respective groups ahead of the first week of play.  The Advanced group still has openings.

 

• Beginner RR starts February 5th; the manager will be in contact in January with those registered to sign up for week 1.

 

• Information on all Round Robins here:  2023 Winter Round Robin Information

 
Tournaments – FHPC Members Only -Check in 9:30 on west courts, Play starts 10:00.

• The Intermediate Tournament will be held on Saturday Jan 21; Advanced Tournament will be held on Sunday Jan 22. The format will be partners, like last year, not individuals. Only one partner will register their team for their event and pay electronically through the website. No cash or checks will be accepted. The cost will be $20/team.  Organizers will provide more information on format after registration and before tournaments begin, based on the number of registrants.

 

• General Information here:   2023 Intermediate & Advanced Tournament Page

 

• The Beginner Tournament will be Sunday, Feb 26th (in place of the scheduled RR that week) and will be an individual registration, not partners. The cost will be $10 per person and electronic registration through our website will be the only option to participate.  Information and registration website pages will be available mid-January.

 
Special Event-Mike O’Connor Fundraiser

• There will be a special event on Sunday, January 29th, to raise funds for the Glioblastoma Foundation in the memory of our friend and fellow pickleball lover, Mike O’Connor. Maryann O’Connor is the event organizer with the FHPC allowing use of the courts from 10 AM to 12 noon. She will have a Jazzercise instructor there to help everyone warm up, a food truck from the Bachelor Barbeque and more surprises. We are asking for an “entry fee” (a minimum donation of $20), by check to the Glioblastoma Foundation or cash given to Maryann at the courts.  Anyone can participate, not only FHPC members, and you can donate as much as you’d like!
• Information here :  Special Event - Mike O'Connor

 
FHHS PTO-5K and Fun Run

• There will be a 5K and fun run organized by the PTO on Saturday, Jan 28th.  Registration, check-in, race start, and finish will be in the high school east parking lot. There will be no pickleball play permitted on the east courts on this date. The racecourse will run around the high school and there will be many runners passing the west courts, so extreme care should be taken driving and parking on the west courts.
• Please park in the Golden Eagle parking lot and walk to the courts if you plan on playing on the west courts.
• Information on this event here: FHHS PTO 5K & Fun Run

The Board wishes everyone a Happy, Healthy 2023!
See you at the courts!

Hope everyone had a nice holiday, the weather here was PERFECT!  We’re about to enter the busiest time of our year with all our events upcoming in January.
 
The December schedule remains as it was in November with the Trial Intermediate Round Robin removed from Tuesday afternoons, West.
 
With more and more members back, we wanted to refresh several court rules and reminders.

• Singles play during scheduled skill level slots is not permitted; permitted during Member Open Play only
• As scheduled time slot near their end times, please do not start a new game and delay the next time slot’s players from starting their games.  Please leave the courts promptly so everyone gets the benefit of their entire scheduled time.
• The FHPC guest policy is being monitored and we expect more guests during the holiday season. This can be a stressful time of year with many visitors around, so we ask that everyone be courteous and patient while at the courts. Remember that guests are NOT permitted during scheduled skill level times, waivers for guests must be completed for each visit, and the member must always be present when their guests are on the courts.  The guest waiver states that the member is responsible for their guests and their behavior, following the same code of conduct expected of members. This includes no foul language, no stealing of balls, no leaving the gates open for anyone to enter, no sharing of the gate code, and no abuse of our policies. If these infractions are reported, guest privileges may be eliminated, or the responsible member could be suspended from the club. Although children are permitted to come with the family to the courts, they are not permitted to run around on the courts, on the sidelines or between the fences while family members are playing.
• Players are not permitted to play in more than one skill level during scheduled skill level play. Verbal notice has been given to several club members and if the members don’t comply, they risk suspension and eventual ejection from the club.
• Members of the FHPC Advisory Board will be at the courts in the coming months to introduce ourselves to members that we don’t routinely play with, say hello, and check membership status of the players on the courts. The lists we have are only members names, we are not checking or judging skill levels. If members have questions, this will be a good time to ask the board in person.

 
January Events
 
Round Robins – Members Only

The information and details for Round Robins can be found at this link:
2023 Winter Round Robin Information
Registration will open December 10.  Emails will be sent to the specific skill level members with a registration link.

Advanced RR will be on Thursday afternoons run by Chris K and Michelle W and Intermediate RR will be on Tuesday afternoons run by Terri C and Diane N. We are looking for volunteers to run the Beginner RR on Saturdays or Sundays. Please contact a board member or send a note through the website if you are interested. Others will assist with the Beginners RR, but we need a primary contact and manager.

• Members are only permitted to play at one skill level during Round Robins
• Members should sign up to play in the group where they routinely participate in skill level play.
• The cost is $10 per person via electronic registration through our website. It will be the only option to pay.

 
Tournaments – Members Only, Coed-Doubles

Website Information and Registration details will be available next week.

• The Advanced Tournament will be held on Sunday Jan 22. The format will be partners, like last year, not individuals. Only one partner will register their team for their event and pay electronically through the website. No cash or checks will be accepted. The cost will be $20/team.
• The Intermediate Tournament will be held on Saturday Jan 21. The format will be partners, like last year, not individuals. Only one partner will register their team for their event and pay electronically through the website. No cash or checks will be accepted. The cost will be $20/team.
• The Beginner Tournament will be Feb 5th and will be an individual registration, not partners. The cost will be $10 per person and electronic registration through our website will be the only option to participate.

 

• Members are only permitted to play at one skill level for Tournaments.
• Members should sign up to play in the group where they routinely participate in skill level play.

 
Clinics

The Fall Clinic schedule was filled almost immediately.  During that time a waitlist was created for both Beginners and Intermediates.  We revisited that list and filled the January Clinics.  And at that, we still have a few on the waitlist. 
 
Special Event – Mike O’Connor Fund Raiser

There will be a special event on Sunday, Jan 29th, to raise funds for the Glioblastoma Foundation in the memory of our friend and fellow pickleball lover, Mike O’Connor. Maryann O’Connor is the event organizer with the FHPC allowing use of the courts from 10 AM to 12 noon. She will have a Jazzercise instructor there to help everyone warm up, food truck from the Batchelor Pad Food Truck and more surprises. We are asking for an “entry fee” (a minimum donation of $20), by check to the Glioblastoma Foundation or cash given to Maryann at the courts.  Anyone can participate, not only FHPC members, and you can donate as much as you’d like!  Please save the date!
 
Summary of November Toy, Food and Bike Drive

• Toys for Tots- SUV full of new toys, cash donations
• Extended Hands- SUV full of non-perishable items and 6 turkeys, cash donations
• Bob’s Free Bikes- 4 bikes and extra parts, cash donations

 
This bears repeating since we are still hearing that members are not receiving all member communications:
 
All member-only related information requires a sign in on the website.  If you do not remember your password, there is a selection to request a password.  Once you receive the temporary password you can go to Manage Profile and change the password to one of your choosing.  

​We have heard from several members that they are not receiving our communications.  Please make both fhpickleball@gmail.com and admin@fountainhillspickleball@gmail.com trusted senders.   While this may be a drastic measure, consider creating an email @gmail.com as we don’t seem to have issues with that provider.  If you choose to do that, you can update your profile on the website  Member Manage Profile.
 
 
See you at the Courts!
 
The Executive Board