KINGMAN, Ariz. – Close to two‑thirds of the nearly 200 members of the Kingman Pickleball Club were on the courts at Centennial Park on August 8 to celebrate National Pickleball Day, marking another milestone for a sport that continues to surge in popularity across Mohave County.
Club member Stacey Henry said the draw of pickleball goes well beyond the game itself. “I think the reason most people fall in love with pickleball is not just the fun of the game, but the social part of it. We’ve all become really, really good friends.”
The Kingman Pickleball Club has grown steadily over the last five years, with daily activity on the east‑end courts at Centennial Park. Henry said the club’s schedule is designed to keep players engaged at all skill levels.
“We have open play seven days a week, which means all the members can come during different times. The times get posted on the Playtime Scheduler. Sometimes we have what we call round robins, and they’re kind of like tournament play. Those are really fun because it’s competitive.”
For many, the sport becomes a quick habit. Member Audrey Pike laughed as she described her introduction.
“My friend and I were approached by a pickleballer and he let us try the paddle. We found out that it’s fun, so we started learning and knowing the people, and then we became obsessed with it. We wanted to play every day.”
One of the club’s original members, Doug Fiscus, said the sport’s appeal spans generations but offers particular benefits for older adults.
“It’s particularly good because you’re moving all the time. You keep your joints going all the time and your mind is going all the time, so it’s great for older people.”
National Pickleball Day itself is a relatively new celebration. Established in 2021 by instructor Deirdre Morris, the day encourages clubs nationwide to host open play, clinics, and community events. Kingman’s turnout reflected that spirit, with players rotating through games from early morning into the afternoon.
The sport’s unusual name also came up during the celebration. Despite the popular myth, pickleball was not named after a dog. The term comes from rowing: a “pickle boat” is a crew made up of leftover rowers. In 1965, on Bainbridge Island, Washington, Joan Pritchard borrowed the term to describe the new backyard game her husband Joel helped invent — a sport stitched together from elements of badminton, ping pong, and tennis.
For more information, the Kingman Pickleball Club can be reached online at k-pic.org.
