Featured Story

Cutting the pickle ribbon

By Reporter Staff

Proud pickle ball players Monday cut a ribbon on the Shelter Island courts after recieving the blessing of town Recreation Director Garth Griffin. That’s Marji Cyr wielding the scissors and Jini Martens holding the ribbon on the right.
BERLEA WALZ PHOTO | Proud pickle ball players Monday cut a ribbon on the Shelter Island courts after recieving the blessing of town Recreation Director Garth Griffin. That’s Marji Cyr wielding the scissors and Jini Martens holding the ribbon on the right.

Pickle Ball has come to Shelter Island complete with a ribbon cutting on the Shelter Island tennis courts.

A group of 30 or so players have been matching up for a couple of months, but on Monday they gatherred to make it official.

Marji Cyr and Betsy Ludlow have been the guiding spirits bringing the sport here.

It’s a game for all ages and skill levels, played with a whiffle ball and short paddles. Similar to tennis, badminton and ping-pong, but truly in its own category, the name comes from the Pacific Northwest where, it’s said, the sport was invented.

Out there, “the pickle boat” is the last boat to return with its catch, and at the sport’s birth, someone  said that choosing up sides was like picking through the leftovers of the last boat.

Ms. Cyr says anyone is welcome to play, and the pickle ball matches are at the courts every Monday from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and after 5:30 p.m.

Related Content