What’s the big ‘dill’ with Pickleball?

RANDOLPH — A visitor traveling to Randolph from Oregon will be teaching locals how to play his favorite game - pickleball.

Paul Harsono and his wife, Lucy, will be tagging along as their son-in-law Scott Klemens and his family travel to Randolph to visit family - Scott’s mother, Jane Klemmens and aunt Beth Billerbeck.

When Harsono learned Randolph had pickleball courts, the idea to teach others how to play came about swiftly.

After all, the Portland man loves to play so much you may see him out on the court several times a day.

“We have these pickleball courts that nobody knows about. The city office had gotten three paddles and hadn’t even taken them out of the wrapping,” Billerbeck said.

Pickleball is a paddleball sport that combines elements of table tennis, regular tennis and badminton. Two or four players use the pickleball paddle (similar to a table tennis paddle) to hit a ball similar to a wiffelball on a court similar to tennis.

Harsono will give a free demo and instructions Tuesday, Aug. 17, with two separate class times - 9 a.m. or 7 p.m.

“There will be a demo on how to play and instructions, what the rules are, very basic,” Billerbeck said. “We’ll supply paddles and balls, you just have to show up.”

Billerbeck said she’s excited to learn right along with others about the sport.

“It’s the up and going thing around retirement communities,” she said. “You don’t have to run as much and it’s easier on the body. The paddle is closer to your hand so you don’t have to use as much hand-eye coordination.”

The City of Randolph installed pickleball courts at the city park last summer near the tennis courts with matching funds by the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District.

The City has four paddles and balls available for borrowing. Patrons can also borrow pickleball equipment at the Lied Randolph Public Library.

Harsono plans to donate some pickleball equipment to the city as well.

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