July 11, 2025
- Shireen Kolarik
- Jul 10
- 10 min read
Welcome New Members!
Marcia McCarthy
Michael McCarthy
75+ Organized Play
The QCPC 75+ group has been a successful addition to the organized play. The group expanded from once per week to twice on Mondays at 7:00 am and Tuesdays at 7:00 pm.
The club has agreed to temporarily expand the group to 70+ until the winter visitors return. If interested, you can register for the 70+ organized play on the QCPC website under the Events List.
No Shows
Please be courteous to others and always cancel court reservations and registrations for events you can’t attend. Cancellations should be made as soon as possible but can be made as late as the day of the reservation, if necessary. Cancelling your reservation or event registration allows others to play. Cancel court reservations and event registrations by going to “My Reservations” or “My Events” in CourtReserve. You do NOT need to give a reason for the cancellation.
The QCPC does have penalties in place for Repeated “No Shows”. See QCPC Policy & Procedures, p. 8. Members who fail to promptly delete their court reservations when they no longer intend to use them may be sanctioned. Please don’t let it get to that.
Special Board Meeting
POA Guest Policy
July 29th, 3PM
Crystal Ballroom #1
New POA “Outside Guest” Policy
By now you’ve probably heard that the “outside guest” policy for QC pickleball courts is changing. “Outside guests” are invited players who live outside of QC who are not Robson Preferred Guests or house guests of QC residents. The forthcoming changes were initiated by the QCPOA and General Manager. QCPC is required to modify its policies to match them. QCPC did not request any change to the existing practice.
What Is the POA Outside Guest Policy?
Simply put, the POA prohibits outside guests on QC courts. (This is consistent with the POA rules for athletic use of the Anza and Canyon Club facilities.) However, the POA indicated it is willing to consider exceptions for some QCPC activities. If pre-approved by the POA, the club can schedule specific club events or activities at which outside guests will be allowed.
What Does This Change?
It eliminates playing with outside guests (usually from area communities) in QC private play. POA Board members were clear that exceptions to the general rule would not be considered for routine private play. This will obviously disappoint club members with local pickleball friends. Members who want to continue playing with area friends may be able to play on their friends’ home courts or at the Quail Creek-Veterans Municipal Park on Old Nogales Highway.
The change also means that QCPC must consider which, if any, club-authorized activities it should ask the POA Board to allow invited outside guests. Such proposals need to be submitted to the POA Board in time for them to review prior to their September meeting.
What Is Not Changed by the POA Guest Policy?
The change does not affect in-house guests of QC residents. Under POA rules, in-house guests may use QC facilities if they register and obtain guest passes from Member Services. Residents may play pickleball with in-house guests.
The new POA guest policy does not apply to Preferred Guests. They are treated as in-house guests since they are registered with the POA by the sales office.
The new guest policy does not affect private play solely among members.
Existing Scheduled Play activities (e.g., Organized Play round robins, Open Play, QCPC leagues) and Player Development activities are not affected by the POA policy since outside guests are not eligible for them.
What Types of Pickleball Activities Could Potentially Be Approved by the POA Board for Outside Guests?
Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL) play
Scheduled inter-community competitions
Tournaments open to the public
Other activities with sufficient need and benefit
o The Parkinson's player group
o Higher skill-level groups when there are demonstrably insufficient QC players to support members’ needs for round robins and practice with others of similar skill
o Other??
The burden will be on the club to convince the POA that the proposed activity is reasonably necessary and appropriate. QCPC will have to obtain POA approval annually.
What’s Next?
The QCPC Board will hold a special Board meeting on July 29th at 3 PM in Crystal Ballroom #1 to discuss provisional changes, potential exceptions (activities with outside guests) to propose to the POA, procedures, and other ramifications related to the POA guest policy.
Any member with suggestions for club activities to be proposed to the POA should email Vice President Frank Baker (frank1010baker@gmail.com) and me (djmungo@hotmail.com) as soon as possible and no later than July 28th with the following information:
Member’s name
A description of the proposed activity and eligibility for participation
An estimate of the number of members who would benefit from the proposed activity
An explanation of the need for the activity or other reasons why the POA should approve the activity
The estimated number of courts and frequency of the activity
Other considerations
Suggestions submitted by email will be shared with all QCPC Board members. Other comments are welcome.
David Mungo, QCPC President
Frank Baker, QCPC Vice-President
DUPR Tuesdays at Quail Creek Pickleball Club
The Quail Creek Pickleball DUPR Club now has 57 members from zero in May and is growing daily!
To facilitate the growth of this new rating option, we have kicked off DUPR Tuesdays, where we host round robins across 4 courts with players rated 2.5 to 3.5. Some games will be played with partners at your level, and some games will be played with a balanced mix of players at higher or lower levels until we have enough players at each level.
Sign up for a free DUPR account and join the Quail Creek Pickleball Club in DUPR today. Sign up for DUPR Tuesday in the events section of CourtReserve.
What is DUPR?
DUPR stands for Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating. It’s a widely used rating system that assesses a player’s skill level based on match results, making it a dynamic, evolving rating system. DUPR aims to provide an accurate and consistent way to rate players.
Instead of testing for a rating, DUPR uses your match results and the relative strength of your partner and opponents to assign ratings. You will receive a rating after your first few matches, but the system will assign you a low confidence in your ratings until you get enough matches in the system. Your DUPR rating will change up or down after every time you play and submit scores.
DUPR is widely considered to be the most accurate rating system in pickleball. DUPR is modeled after the NTRP system used by the United States Tennis Association and the ELO system used in chess. DUPR is the official rating system for the PPA, MLP, and UPA pickleball tours and is currently used by more than 7,000 clubs across 158 countries.
The DUPR rating system rates players on a scale similar to other rating scales-
2.000-2.999 - Novice
3.000-3.999 - Intermediate
4.000-4.999 - Advanced
5.000-8.000 - Professional
Ben Johns is a 7.339, and Anna Leigh Waters is 6.636 in DUPR.
For more information and instructions on how to get a DUPR account and rating, how to join the QCPC Pickleball Club in DUPR, and how to link your DUPR rating to CourtReserve, click here. The instructions are also under the Resources tab on CourtReserve.
Celebrating the 4th on the 5th
Quail Creek Pickleball enthusiasts enjoyed a fun and patriotic mixed round robin social on July 5. Returning play to the upper courts was very successful and provided more interaction and camaraderie. Outgoing Social Chair Roxanne Housley introduced her committee and incoming Social Chair Barb Ware introduced members of her committee.
Players were treated to a complimentary breakfast of egg, cheese, bacon and sausage burritos, salsa and fruit salad. Social Committee members met at Roxanne’s house on July 4 to cook and assemble 100 burritos. Breakfast was served at the Lower Ramada. Several players won prizes and President Dave Mungo was on hand to thank all the Social volunteers.
The next planned mixed round robin social will be held in the fall – stay tuned.
“Q-TIPS”
From Gary Quantz, your PPR & USA Certified Instructor for 2.0 (must pass our free beginner’s classes or have instructor approval, 2.5, 3.0 & 3.5 level students).
Hope everyone’s summer is going well. My wife and I are currently staying up in Show Low, AZ (thanks Jim & Karen!). We are hanging out at the Torreon community and enjoying their amenities, appreciating the cooler weather, and also I’m playing some pickup pickleball to keep the “rust” off. I then head up to Seattle to hang with kids and grandkids before my return back to Quail Creek in mid September.
Season #5 (can you believe it?) of teaching pickleball classes will start in October. My final approved 2025/2026 schedule should be posted by the end of August/early September.
Regardless of where I play, what state I’m in, or what age group is involved, I’m amazed at the overall friendliness and comradery I experience from pickleball players. This is why the sport is so POPULAR! Over the years of my play and travel, I also have noticed several similar playing styles and categories that many players fall into. My observations are a bit “tongue and cheek” regarding the different playing categories but thought I would share my opinions with you for fun. What category do you find yourself in?
CATEGORY #1 – “THE FUN BUNCH”
In most reserve or drop-in play format, these participants often play for fun and exercise only. They usually travel in “packs” and mostly prefer to play with their “posse”. Many are at the age where the “blood and guts”, hard core competitive play is just not doable or preferred any longer. The biggest impact this group often experiences is positive social interaction – it’s just nice to play with FRIENDS! Be warned, some groups are so popular and have so much FUN, you might have to get on a waiting list just to participate! When I’m an “outsider” and not a “regular” within a club or community, I’ve noticed it’s VERY tough to break in and play with this group.
CATEGORY #2 – “THE CLUB PROS”
These are the higher-level players, in good physical shape, move well and are very athletic. They know this game well and regardless of age, they must play with other top-notch players in hard fought, fiercely contested matches in order to truly enjoy their pickleball experience. Sadly, many won’t play down in lower level of play. They play to WIN and their competitiveness can turn off some. Many are easily identified by their knee and wrist braces, protective glasses, and pro brand caps. They play with the newest and highest-priced equipment on the market and are often seen on the courts daily. Be forewarned; they take their game SERIOUSLY! As an “outsider”, when I get the chance to play within this group, I know they instantly “size me up” to see how good (or bad) I really am and if I can hang with them and their play. Sadly, I’m realizing it’s becoming a lot tougher for me to hang with the youngsters versus a couple years ago. However, good pickleball doubles strategy of hitting non-attackable dink and drop shots, keeping the ball in play, and being patient will usually sustain me (for a while).
CATEGORY #3 – “SOCIALITES”
If you want to know what the internal “inside scoop” is within your community or even within the club membership, this is the group to be a part of. Many pickleball topics (and some non-pickleball) are discussed, some personal, some controversial. This is NOT restricted to any gender. Both males and females have their opinions and grievances happily shared within the group. There are often breaks in play for more in-depth discussions to be shared on the bench or the covered pavilion. At times, there could be more discussions than actual pickleball play. Be careful with this group; they could be talking about YOU!
CATEGORY #4 – “THE BANGERS”
We all know this group! They haven’t yet met a ball they can’t blast. There is no soft game to speak of and if they can reach to hit the ball, they are going to smash it as hard as they can. Novice and lower intermediate players trying to play soft and controlled pickleball can struggle with this group. You fall right into their “evil” plan by constantly hitting the ball back at them hard. Their least favorite shot is ANYTHING other than a drive! Their game strategy? EVERYTHING is a drive. Often they stay back on the baseline or the very least around the transition zone so they can wind up and blast everything that comes to them. This is how I started out playing pickleball as an ex-tennis player, sticking around the baseline and hitting my beautifully executed ground strokes which often worked UNTIL I started playing against good pickleball players that set up at the NVZ and put away everything I hit at them because they were playing the game the right way.
CATEGORY #5 – “THE BASELINERS”
This is the group of players that for whatever reason, just won’t come up and play at the NVZ. If new to the game, it’s understandable. It can be SCARY to go up there and figure things out (especially if you know nothing about block and punch volleys and dinking). Playing against “BANGERS” is especially terrifying. Gaining experience in handling all the basic shots of pickleball (especially up at the kitchen) will slowly by surely help you gain confidence. However, there are those that have played this game far too long not to come up which often puts them at a huge disadvantage. By staying back, you constantly are playing only defense and being controlled by the team up at the net dictating to you how and where to hit the ball. By developing a good drop shot and/or high, slow lofting deep return, your journey to the NVZ will be faster and SAFER!
Enjoy your summer!
GRQ
What's the Largest Club Sport at the University of Arizona?
It's pickleball, of course! The U of A Pickleball Club has grown to over 260 active members in just three years. They play at the Robson (!!) Tennis Center on campus. And now the club has a competitive team that competes against other colleges and universities. It's great to see the younger generation is taking up this great sport. Maybe the U of A will someday bring home a collegiate pickleball championship. Go Cats!
DUPR Collegiate Pickleball Individual Nationals 2024
August Court Cleaning
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