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Because of pandemic-related shutdowns, the Kelowna Curling Club has found itself in a financial pickle.
So CEO Jock Tyre got to thinking...
Introducing pickleball, at the curling club.
As soon as the ice melted, the club laid out ten courts, strung up some nets and invited the public to take a swing at it.
"We had our open house last weekend," said Tyre. "We had a great turnout. It was awesome to see."
The club has also rolled some turf for bocce, and there are advantages to playing indoors.
"When it rains, you can come indoors and play pickleball, when it's 35 degrees outside, you can come inside and stay cool and play pickleball," he said.
"It's a great opportunity for everyone to give pickleball a try."
The plan is to keep the kitchen at the curling club open all summer as well.
"We've got all of our food going here at the same time, so you can get food to go," said Tyre. "You can sit outside So you can sit outside, have a picnic, play some pickleball."
The courts are available for online bookings for $6 per hour per person.
Despite feeling a lot of financial pressure lately, Tyre has kept his sense of humour about it all, which may explain the name of the website.
'Itsnotanevent.com'. There you'll find White Grizzly Athletics Club.
"It's a lot like booking practice ice," explained he said. "Just book your court time and come on down, it's so inexpensive."
The Kelowna Curling Club is situated on property owned by the city but operates as a non-profit.
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