By JONATHAN SNYDER
Local pickleball is available in Ossian, with MyPickleFix having it’s grand opening Friday and Saturday.
MyPickleFix owner Bob Meyer opened the facility, located at 1645 Hillcrest Dr. in Ossian, because of his desire for a flexible and affordable alternative to other facilities. Meyer wants to foster a community of local players through pickleball, a sport that is growing nationally.
“I was trying to figure out, ‘What is the best way to be able to afford pickleball indoors?’” Meyer said. “Right now, the only indoor facilities are churches and the YMCA, and they tell you when to play. And it’s open court, so it’s whoever shows up at that time. I wanted to develop a venue that would be affordable and that would allow people to play on their schedule and play with the people they want to play with and in their small town.”
Through pickleball, Meyer has found a group of close friends who now pray and support each other through hard times. Meyer wants others to find that same community within the groups they play with. During opening weekend, Meyer had extra paddles and balls available for people who wanted to try the game out.
“This is a community,” Meyer said. “It’s more than just a sport. It is a community of people who care about each other.”
Players can download the MyPickleFix app on their phone and reserve court times on the app. Courts can be reserved from 5 a.m. until midnight Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, the courts will open at 1 p.m. until midnight. Open court times are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m., with that hour on Tuesdays being reserved for male players and Thursdays reserved for female players.
Players will need a membership to use the courts. Membership options are available at $50 per year or $5 per month. Members can invite other players directly from the app and cover the fee for friends if they choose. After the membership fee, the starting rates for reserving the courts are about $3 per person for every one hour session. A one-hour session for eight players, the maximum amount, would cost $24. The rates rise to $36 for an eight player session on the weekends. Players must also bring their own paddles and balls.
Meyer’s facility will not be staffed, instead using technology to automatically turn the lights on the court on and off. Security cameras and an entry code system to enter the building will allow Meyer to keep the building secure. No food, non-water drinks, chairs, wheels or tables will be allowed in the facility.
The strict rules are set to keep the court in as pristine a condition as possible. The court surface is made out of five layers of rubber laid down and covered with paint. The surface has more cushioning than wood, carpet or concrete floors, leaving a lower chance of injury. While susceptible to stains, regular scrubbing to clean spills could leads to the court losing it’s traction, making for a slippery surface.
The indoor courts make for a year-round accessible facility away from the elements. A curtain separates the two courts in the facility, which should minimize the amount of time spent chasing mis-hit balls. Pickleball instructional classes will also be available for all ages, and tournaments will be held periodically.
Meyer stated that if the Ossian location succeeds, another facility could be opening in Bluffton. A promotion allows new members that sign up before Sep. 15 to have $25 added to their account to cover any future court reservations.
jonathan@news-banner.com
