Pickleball’s big week in Naples ends

(May 1, 2016 Naples, FL, www.news-press.com)

Event director Jim Ludwig estimated 10,000-12,000 people attended the event as over 800 athletes competed. They descended on East Naples Community Park, which expanded over the last four years from four pickleball courts to 48. Co-founder Terri Graham got the idea for the U.S. Open Pickleball Championship after being introduced to the sport while working in the sporting goods business. “Every place I went, they were talking about pickleball,” she said. “Seven years ago, I was like, ‘What the heck is pickleball?’ But, it was just booming. So I just thought the sport was ready for this monster event.” Read More…