Spring MLP (for 2.0-3.0 Players)

Our next MLP event will be for players with DUPR levels 2.0 to 3.0 (on day of sign-up) with a combined team DUPR score of 11.5 maximum. There can be a maximum of two men per team and all female teams are welcome. We will need a minimum of four teams and a max of six. So gather your friends, create your teams, and total up your DUPR scores before you get too good! Once you have your team members and team name, send the details to Club President Linda Cerini here or via WhatsApp.

For a reminder of the format and rules, click here. Play will begin promptly at 8am, so arrive early to warm up. Refreshments will be available and included in the $30 pp entry fee (payable to Club Treasurer, Keating Vogel, via Venmo or Zelle).

Volunteer at the Redwood Empire Food Bank

Volunteer with us at the Redwood Empire Food Bank. We’ve offered to help out at the REFB warehouse at 3990 Brickway Blvd., Santa Rosa, on March 25 from 2pm to 4pm. We’ll help to sort fresh produce or staple pantry items, pack food boxes, and carry out other tasks. Text Tina Brusnahan (707-494-9881) for more info. Please please sign up on the REFB website.

Beers, bingo, and killer eats - what’s not to love! Let’s get together for $7 beers and $10 burgers at the Shady Oak Barrel House in Santa Rosa. It’s free to play! Sign up on WhatsApp.

Please join your RPCSC board members for our semi-annual membership meeting followed by a potluck lunch after pickleball this coming Sunday, Feb 23. We want to hear everybody’s ideas for our Club, together with any changes or suggestions. Topics that we’ll discuss include our current membership cap, by-law updates, and future events. So bring your fantastic ideas and a favorite dish to share!

Become a Pickleball Referee

Did you know there are only five certified pickleball referees in Northern California? You change that by attending the USA Pickleball Referee Training Workshop on Saturday February 22.

Check out all the details here.

Frank’s Coaching Corner - February Pickleball Clinic

Our next pickleball clinic will be on Thursday Feb 20 from 2pm to 4pm at the Doubletree. This clinic will focus on these questions:

• Where should I be?

• How do I get there?

• What do I do when I’m there?

The Pickleball Court is a large rectangle ( 44’ x 20’ ) divided into smaller rectangles and angles.  Your court movements and shots should reflect that! And since we always play with a partner, your movements should be a coordinated “dance”. 💃🏻

Your main goals should be to push your opponents back or off the court to make it harder for them to move or reduce their reaction time.

This clinic will have a game plan much like the last one:
1. Goals and strategy
2. Set up and Walk Through
3. Hitting % shots
4. Live action and analysis
5. Q & A
6. Let’s Play Pickleball

Remember last clinic?  Keep your knees bent and your weight down at all times!!  👍👍

This session will be suitable for intermediate players (2.5 to 3.2). Sign-up will be via Pickleheads on Feb 6, and clinics will be free, except for the court cost ($5 per person, payable to Keating). We will need either 8 or 12 players. As always, remember to play safe with protective eyewear and adequate court shoes.

Join us for our Valentine’s MLP event

MLPlay™ is an innovative gameplay format that brings men and women together on a level playing court. In the MLPlay format, team matches are composed of four games, with the first being women's doubles, then men's doubles, and the final two games consisting of mixed doubles.

Create your own team, preferably two men and two women, but it could be three women and one man, or an all-female team (“Men” must be designated at start of play).

Teams should have a combined DUPR rating of about 12 (11.7 to 12.3 max) on the day of sign-up.

If we get six teams, you can expect to be on the courts for about five to six hours, so please plan accordingly.

The cost is $25 per player, payable via Venmo or Zelle to Club Treasurer, Keating Vogel.

For more information about the MLP format, click here.

Get Ready to Run the Gauntlet! 🏓

We're turning up the fun for our Sunday morning games with a brand-new play format on the last Sunday of every month. This month, on Sunday, January 26, we’re rolling out The Gauntlet!

The Gauntlet is a fun way to bring out the most competitive (and entertaining) games. Here’s how it works:

1️⃣ We’ll start by ranking players by skill level and set up the first round of matchups.
2️⃣ Win your game? You’ll face an even tougher challenge in the next round.
3️⃣ Lose? No worries—you’ll go up against an easier opponent to keep things balanced.

The beauty of The Gauntlet? It’s super flexible! No matter how many players or courts we’ve got, we can keep the games rolling all morning long. Play as many rounds as you like—it’s all about the fun and the challenge!

So, mark your calendar, grab your paddle, and let’s see who can conquer The Gauntlet! See you on the courts! 🌟

[Sign up is via Pickleheads. Court fee of $7 per player, payable to Club Treasurer, Keating Vogel.]

Frank’s Coaching Corner Pickleball Clinic

Join us for the first in a series of pickleball clinics led by our very own coach Frank Palladino.

We’ll be hosting a clinic each month (usually on the third Thursday) at the Doubletree courts, starting on January 23 from 2pm to 4pm. Sign up will be via Pickleheads and there’ll be eight spots available. Clinics will be free except for the usual court cost, payable to Club Treasurer, Keating Vogel.

Frank has lined up a number of great coaching sessions.

For the first clinic, Frank will be focusing on his January tip of the month: ”Meet me in the Middle.”

Since the pickleball stays really low on almost every bounce, we should stay low so our eyes are closer to the ball, giving us a much better chance of meeting the pickleball in the “Middle” of the paddle. This will improve our accuracy, reduce pop-ups, improve power and reduce paddle tweaking and missed shots.

This session will be suitable for intermediate players (2.5 to 3.2).

The format will be as follows:

Serve & Return:

1. 4 players on each court.

2. Players take turns hitting serves and making cross-court returns.

3. Server stays low and gets in a low, ready position after the serve.

4. Returner stays low all the way through the contact point with the goal of meeting the ball in the middle of the paddle (sweet spot) and hitting an arcing shot within 4 feet of the baseline, cross-court back to the server.

5. The server stays low, tracks the return and catches the ball.

6. Repeat 5 times!

7. All four players SWITCH corners after the first two rounds.

Transition Area:

1. Player one starts with a groundstroke, similar to a serve, cross-court and stays in a low, athletic position.

2. Player two starts In the Transition Area, approximately 4 feet inside the baseline in a low, athletic stance.

3. Player two returns the ground stroke in the middle of the paddle with a deep, cross-court shot and makes their way to the kitchen line.

4. Player one stays low and tracks the return and catches the ball.

5. Repeat 5 times!

6. All 4 players switch positions and repeat the drill.

Kitchen Line:

1. Player one starts with a drive/ground stroke behind the baseline and stays low after impact.

2. Player two starts at the kitchen line in a slightly low stance with paddle in the “ready “ position.

3. Player two tracks the drive and makes contact in the middle of the paddle hits a deep return back at player one’s feet.

4. Player one tracks the return and catches the ball.

5. Repeat 5 times!

6. All 4 players switch.

These drills will be followed by Real Time Game Play with a focus of staying low in every position and meeting the ball in the middle.

Two games are played simultaneously in adjacent courts and Coach Frank will observe and evaluate skill execution and game play.

We will play games until all players have played with different partners.

Skills and Drills in Mexico

Come join pickleball Pro, Adam Mackinnon, for the 2nd Pickleball in Paradise “Skills & Drills” at Club Med Ixtapa, Mexico, January 12–18, 2025.

Skills & Drills pickleball instruction in the morning leaves you plenty of time for fun in the sun, exploration, or even more pickleball! Club Med Ixtapa is an all-inclusive, family resort with dedicated pickleball courts, comfortable, spacious accommodations, a variety of restaurants and many places to relax.

Pricing starts at $1,824 per person (single or double for accommodations). For more information, contact your fellow pickleball enthusiast, Alyse Cori at pickleball@travelwize.net or 707.935.WIZE (9493)

Alyse Cori,Owner
Travelwize/ Sonoma, Ca. 707-935-WIZE (9493) www.travelwize.net www.linkedin.com/in/alysecori www.virtuoso.com/advisor/alysecori Virtuoso Cruise Committee Member. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wpL2LnOsVy41PBFT8KJGWUKoIXDXM0g0/view?usp=sharing

* Adam MacKinnon is a 3-time National champion and 5.0 & Senior Pro player, who has been a full-time instructor for 7 years, certified & insured through the IFP Academy (Advanced 4.0+ level), the IPTPA (level 2 instructor) and the PPR (Pro-level).

How better to celebrate the holidays than with some pickleball play then lunch at the DT. It’ll be our last brunch/lunch gathering of the year so please join us on Saturday Dec 21 at 12pm for some holiday cheer. Click on the link below to RSVP.

Swap your pickleball shoes for your hiking boots for a Saturday morning cross-training six mile hike.  We'll meet at 8:30 am at the end of Stonehedge Drive (off of Summerfield Road).  Street parking is free.

We'll start by following the fire road to get on Canyon Trail then around Lake Ilsanjo and back to our cars by way of Spring Creek Trail - a total of six miles.  Elevation from a low of 306' to a high of 800'. See map here.

Canyon Trail has a steady increase in elevation with a panoramic view at the top (on a clear day) of Santa Rosa, the Mayacamas Mountains with the Geysers and Mount Saint Helena.

Lake Ilsanjo is a man-made 26-acre lake, home to bluegill and largemouth bass.  Fishing is allowed with a valid CA fishing license.

Spring Creek Trail is shaded by alders, redwoods and bay trees that grow along the creek canyon.

Bring plenty of water and a snack.  We'll pause for a break at the picnic table by the lake.  If you are used to hiking with poles, you may want to bring them also.

Special thanks to our club member Mandy Lee for designing this route.

Join us for our monthly Club brunch after play at the DoubleTree. It’s a great way to meet other Club members and get to know fellow players off the courts. Let us know by Nov 13 if you can join.

Not playing too good on the pickleball court? Well, come dazzle us with your trivia knowledge! We’re hosting a fun-filled Trivia Party on Nov 10 from 2-5pm at Club Prez Linda Cerini's home near Occidental. It’s potluck style — bring an appetizer to share. Cost is $20 per person (payable to Club Treasurer, Keating Vogel, with cash, Venmo, or Zelle), and feel free to bring partners and friends. Don’t miss out on the laughter, trivia, and tasty treats! 🥳

MLPlay™ is an innovative gameplay format that brings men and women together on a level playing court. In the MLPlay format, team matches are composed of four games, with the first being women's doubles, then men's doubles, and the final two games consisting of mixed doubles. Join us for our second MLP format event. This time, create your own team! Preferable 2 men and 2 women, but it could be 3 women and 1 man, or another all pink team! (“Men” must be designated at start of play!). This event is now full.

Join us for a club brunch at the Doubletree Hotel after play on Sunday October 10. You can choose either a continental breakfast (coffee, pastries, fruit etc) or a cooked breakfast (coffee, bacon, eggs, waffles etc). Prices are $16 and $25 respectively plus tip and tax. Let us know by Oct 10 if you can join.

As the weather becomes more unpredictable, we’ve booked indoor courts at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond’s Marina Bay from 10am to 12pm on Sat January 4. The cost is $37.50. Please let us know if you can join. Deadline for sign-up is Sunday Dec 22.

Laugh Your Pickleball Off!™ is one-of-a-kind round-robin style event hosted by headliner comedians and pickleball pros. The event is a fun way to experience all the great things about the sport, which include being competitive and social. Participants get to play an equal number of games and everyone has an opportunity to win and laugh! Players also have a chance to win prizes by showing their champion moves during spontaneous “dink-challenges.” This is a fundraising event in support of the Autism Arts & Athletics Foundation.   More info.

Join RPCSC for our first MLP event! MLPlay™ is an innovative gameplay format that brings men and women together on a level playing court. In the MLPlay format, team matches are composed of four games, with the first two games being women’s doubles or men’s doubles, and the final two games consisting of mixed doubles. If teams are tied after the four games, an innovative singles tiebreaker known as a DreamBreaker™️ is played. This unique dynamic means that teamwork as a skill is just as critical as speed or technique on the court and a big part of the community aspect of the sport! Our goal is to have 4-6 teams for this start up event! Cost will be approximately $10.00 to cover the cost of the courts! Click below to sign up.