BOARD
President – Jim Warder
Vice President – Wendy Warder
Secretary – Bill Dempsey
Treasurer – Sid Jacobs
Members-at-Large – 
Beth Kersey
Liz Kaminsky
Mike Mitchell
Dawn Siebold
Sep Khamench

Membership Info →
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HISTORY OF CRESSWIND PICKLEBALL

In 2013, Clay Myers and Georgia Myatt moved from the Villages to Cresswind and discovered that only three men were playing Pickleball on what is known today as PB1. These individuals were Bert Emma, Gerry Wharton, and Dave Galshack. They played singles matches, no doubles.
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Shortly thereafter, Clay and Georgia began giving instructions on the fundamentals of doubles Pickleball. Sheran Connolly jumped in and assisted in giving instructions to the ladies.

The game became so popular that the badminton court was turned into a playable pickleball area. The badminton court was where pickleball courts 7A & 7B stand today.

As the Pickleball phenomenon grew at Cresswind, discussions held with the Tennis Club board and the Homeowner’s Advisory Committee resulted in courts 4, 5, and 6 being striped for multi-use.

In 2014, a second Pickleball court was added where the badminton court was located. Both courts used temporary nets and were facing east and west. Nine courts were now available for play.

Pickleball was officially designated a club in 2016 with Jack Hollfelder as president and by the end of that year had over 140 members. During that first year a fundraiser generated enough revenue to light courts 7a & 7b as well as striping tennis courts 1, 2 & 3 for multi-use. We now have 15 Pickleball courts; 8 of which are lighted – making Cresswind at Lake Lanier one of the best and largest pickleball facilities in Georgia. During Gary Crawford’s tenure as president in 2017, courts 7a & 7b were significantly upgraded, first-class benches were added while the number of leagues and tournaments increased.

One unique aspect of our Pickleball Club is its commitment to new players. We have instituted training clinics that have been very successful in getting new players comfortable with the game. They learn the fundamentals of this great sport and meet fellow novices to play with. One recent training clinics had 40 participants!!

As of 2025 the Cresswind Pickleball Club has become one of the most vibrant and active clubs in the community with over 300 members. 

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HISTORY OF PICKLEBALL

The game started during the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, at the home of former State Representative Joel Pritchard who, in 1972, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and eventually went on to become Lieutenant Governor of Washington. He and two of his friends, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, returned from golf and found their families bored one Saturday afternoon. They attempted to set up badminton, but no one could find the shuttlecock. They improvised with a Wiffle ball, lowered the badminton net, and fabricated paddles of plywood from a nearby shed.

Although some sources claim that the name “Pickleball” was derived from that of the Pritchard's family dog, Pickles, the name actually came from the term “pickle boat,” referring to the last boat to return with its catch. According to Joan Pritchard, Joel Pritchard's wife, the name came “after I said it reminded me of the Pickle Boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats. Somehow the idea the name came from our dog Pickles was attached to the naming of the game, but Pickles wasn't on the scene for two more years. The dog was named from the game.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickleball