Northern Stars Pickleball Club

Our first Annual General Meeting (AGM) is just around the corner, and we'd love as many members as possible to be involved.

📧 Check your inbox! Your RSVP and Proxy Form have now been emailed to all members.

Whether you've been part of the club since day one or have only recently joined, this is your opportunity to:
🥳 Celebrate everything we've achieved together.
💬 Learn about the exciting plans for the year ahead.
🙋 Ask questions and have your say on the future of our club.

Please RSVP as soon as possible. An early response helps the committee with planning and ensures we can meet the quorum required to conduct the AGM.

👉 Not sure if you'll be available? That's okay! We'd still appreciate you submitting your RSVP now. If your plans change, you can simply update your response closer to the meeting.

If you can't attend, don't forget you can also nominate a proxy so your membership can still be represented and the meeting can go ahead as planned.

This is our first AGM, so we'd love to see as many Northern Stars members involved as possible as we celebrate an incredible first year and look ahead to an exciting future.

❤️🤍🩶

The second half of 2026 is packed with some fantastic pickleball tournaments across South Australia!

Whether you're chasing a podium finish, looking to test your game, or thinking about entering your very first tournament, there's an event for you. If you've never competed before, we'd encourage you to give it a go—you'll probably have more fun than you expect! The atmosphere is welcoming, you'll meet plenty of new people, and you'll play lots of pickleball.

🏅 Sanctioned tournaments are a great option if you're looking to compete in officially recognised events and test yourself against players from across the country.

🤝 Unsanctioned tournaments offer the same exciting atmosphere and great competition, often with a little more flexibility, and are perfect for players wanting to challenge themselves and enjoy a fantastic day or weekend of pickleball.

📍 Pickleball Community Cup – Gawler (Unsanctioned)
📅 31 July – 2 August
📍 Gawler & District Tennis Association
💲 From $60
📝 Registrations close 23rd July
🔗 Register via Lader Sport

📍 Pickleball Cup (Unsanctioned)
📅 29–30 August
📍 Playford Tennis Centre
💲 From $50
📝 Registrations close 24th August
🔗 Register via PickleballTournaments.com

📍 Pickleball South Australia Doubles Challenge 2026 (Sanctioned)
📅 9–11 October
📍 SouthWest Suns Pickleball Club, Trott Park
💲 From $70
📝 Registrations close 25th September
🔗 Register via PickleballTournaments.com

📍 The Grand Paddle (Club Teams Event)
📅 8 November
📍 SouthWest Suns Pickleball Club, Trott Park
💲 **Free**
📝 Expressions of Interest close 31st July
🔗 Register through your local club

📍 PPA Tour Australia – PPA 125 Adelaide (Sanctioned)
📅 11–13 December
📍 Playford Tennis Centre
💲 TBC
📝 Registration details coming soon.

💬 Not sure which tournament is right for you, or have questions about entering your first event? Send us a message or DM—we're always happy to help and point you in the right direction.

🏓 Junior Pickleball is back at Walkerville for Term 3! 🏓

Looking for a fun, active way to keep the kids moving after school? Our Junior Pickleball Program returns with two exciting 3-week blocks, giving families the flexibility to join one block or continue the fun by enrolling in both!

📅 Block 1
• Wednesday 29 July
• Wednesday 5 August
• Wednesday 12 August

📅 Block 2
• Wednesday 2 September
• Wednesday 9 September
• Wednesday 16 September

🕓 4 pm – 5:30 pm

Whether your child is picking up a paddle for the first time or already loves the game, these sessions are designed to build confidence, develop skills, make new friends and, most importantly, have fun!

✅ Suitable for beginners and developing players
✅ Join one 3-week block or both
✅ A great way to stay active in a welcoming, supportive environment

Places are limited, so be sure to register early in OpenSports or DM us if you have any questions!

🚨 Session Update – The Lights Community & Sports Centre 🚨

Just a friendly notice that there will be no pickleball sessions at The Lights Community & Sports Centre on Wednesday 8th or Thursday 9th of July due to the venue being unavailable.

We know many of you look forward to these sessions each week, and we appreciate your understanding while the centre is unavailable.

We've secured a Thursday alternative session (commencing 12.30pm at Ingle Farm) for those that are available. Otherwise we'll be back on court as usual from the following week and can't wait to see everyone then!

Thanks for your understanding and continued support of the Northern Stars Pickleball Club! ⭐

FUN FACT FRIDAY 🏓: Why is the Non-Volley Zone (aka Kitchen) 7-feet deep? 🤔

The official answer is that the founders wanted to prevent players from camping at the net and smashing every ball, helping create the strategic d**k game that makes pickleball so unique today.

But there's also a popular piece of pickleball folklore...

When the game was first being developed, the court dimensions were heavily influenced by badminton. The badminton short service line sits 6 feet 6 inches from the net, and some stories suggest the original non-volley area was the same depth.

According to the tale, a particularly tall player in the founders' group kept using his reach to dominate rallies at the net. To reduce the advantage of height and encourage longer, more tactical exchanges, the line was pushed back another 6 inches, creating the 7-foot kitchen we know today.

Is it true? Nobody knows for certain. There's no documented evidence that this was the specific reason for the change, so it remains part of pickleball folklore rather than official history.

What we do know is that those extra 6 inches helped create a fairer game and shaped the style of play that millions of players enjoy today.

Amazing to think that just half a foot may have helped define an entire sport! 🎾

🏆 Grand Paddle 2026 – Expressions of Interest are NOW OPEN! ⭐

Northern Stars will be taking on the 8x clubs from across South Australia in this year's Grand Paddle on Sunday 8th November, and we want YOU to be part of it!

Whether you'd love to:
🏓 Represent Northern Stars on court
📣 Cheer our team on from the sidelines
🎉 Help create an unforgettable supporter zone
⛺ Lend marquees, banners, tables or equipment
🧁 Bring the team spirit with decorations, chants or even cupcakes
..we'd love to hear from you!

📧 Members: Check your email for all the details and our Expression of Interest form.

Haven't received the email or have questions? Simply send us a DM and we'll point you in the right direction.

This isn't just about winning matches - it's about showing what Northern Stars is all about. Let's fill the venue with our colours, build an incredible atmosphere, and make this a day to remember.

⭐ Go Northern Stars! ❤️🤍🩶

🎉🏓 SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN IS ALMOST HERE! ⛳🎉

Looking for ways to keep the kids active and entertained these school holidays? We've got you covered!

🏓 FREE Junior Pickleball!
During the school holidays, all juniors under 18 can play FREE at our Sunday morning sessions when attending with an adult registered to play.

📅 Sunday Sessions 10am-12pm:
• 5th July
• 12th July
• 19th July

It's the perfect opportunity to get the family on court, have some fun, or even give pickleball a try if you're new!
* Bookings essential

⛳ PLUS… School Holiday Fun at SHANX Mini Golf!

From July 4–19th, every mini golfer has the chance to **WIN an iPad Mini!** 📱✨

How to enter:
⛳ Play a round of mini golf
🎨 Enter the colouring competition
📱 Go into the draw to WIN an iPad Mini!

👫 Bonus Tuesdays! Bring a Friend FREE every Tuesday during the promotion.

🏓 Can't make Sundays for Pickleball?
For a limited time you can join us for our Friday Night Social Pickleball at Walkerville from 6:30–8:30 pm on:
• 3rd July
• 10th July
• 17 July

Whether you're serving up aces on the pickleball court or putting your way around SHANX, there's plenty of family fun to enjoy these school holidays! 💙💛

Tag a friend or family member who needs some school holiday inspiration! 👇

A huge SHANX to our amazing sponsor Shanx Mini Golf for generously providing vouchers to the winners of our weekly Pickleball Mixer! ⛳🏓

Nothing beats great games, great people, and great prizes — and our players were absolutely stoked to take home some Shanx fun.

We’d also like to give an honorary shoutout to our unofficial sponsor arnottsbiscuits Tim Tams… consistently one of the most competitive prizes 👀🍫 Honestly timtam, if you’re reading this… our players would happily accept a chocolate sponsorship. Things are getting serious so you should probably DM us at this point.

Thanks again to Shanx Mini Golf for supporting local sport and helping us create a fun, social community for our players ❤️

🏆 CALLING ALL SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PICKLEBALLERS AGED 50+ 🏆

One of our valued partner venues, Walkerville Recreation Centre, will be hosting the Pickleball South Australia (PSA) State Qualifier for the Australian Masters Cup on Saturday, 18 July 2026!

This event is being delivered by Pickleball South Australia and is open to ALL South Australian players aged 50 and over.

By winning your age category (50+, 60+, or 70+), you'll earn the opportunity to represent South Australia interstate at the Australian Masters Cup National Finals on 29-30 August 2026.

The Australian Masters Cup has quickly become one of the country's premier events for 50+ athletes, celebrating competition, camaraderie, and the spirit of pickleball in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Whether you're a seasoned tournament player or stepping into competition for the first time, this is your chance to be part of something special.

📍 Venue: Walkerville Recreation Centre
📅 Date: Saturday, 18 July 2026
🏅 Open to all South Australian players aged 50+
👉🏻 https://pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/amc-state-qualifier-south-australia

Let's see South Australia turn out in force and showcase the incredible talent and community spirit of our Masters players!