Golden Gate Pickleball May 2025 Newsletter
- tslesnick
- May 16
- 7 min read
Updated: May 16
Welcome to the Golden Gate Pickleball Newsletter. Within its digital pages, you will find information about upcoming events, results of past events, and a little bit of entertainment.
GGP's mission is to facilitate the growth of pickleball in the San Francisco Bay Area. We offer organized recreational and competitive play for the enjoyment, health, and social engagement of all players in a collegial and sportsman-like environment. We are also working to expand facilities and programs to meet the growing needs of our pickleball community.
Got a spare pickleball facility lying around? We’ll take it! GGP would be thrilled to accept the ultimate gift that keeps on giving. No facility? No problem—any donation, big or small, helps keep the game going and the community growing! You may donate here:
NEWS
SPRING SHOWDOWN
Congratulations to All
Thank you to every player, partner, volunteer, and supporter who helped make the Showdown such a memorable event. You’ve made the Foundation proud!
— The Golden Gate Pickleball Foundation Team
Special Shout-Out to PB5Star!
Huge thanks to PB5Star for providing some excellent prizes for our tournament winners! Your support helped make the Spring Showdown even more memorable.
Check out their website at: Expertly Engineered Pickleball Footwear& Apparel | PB5star
And speaking of memorable...
Check out Jonas modeling his new PB5Star socks!
Who’s That Behind the Lens?
Snapping winners, diving volleys, and candid smiles—Gab was everywhere this weekend, capturing the heart and hustle of the Spring Showdown.
From baseline bombs to podium moments (yes, even that one where you look amazing), Gab made it all look epic. The action shots are already in the works—get ready to relive the highlights!
You can reach Gab directly at gab@gabbaisas.com. You can also see more of her work on her website, GAB BAISAS PHOTOGRAPHY | SportsPhotographer.
Board Featured Highlights
Debbie You ran a tight ship all weekend—keeping matches on schedule, players on court, and everything running like clockwork.
Her organization was nothing short of extraordinary.Thank you, Debbie, for being the steady hand behind the scenes!
Suzy Safdie, GGPF board member and raffle-table mastermind, teamed up with Mayumi Honda to win Gold in the 3.5 Women’s Doubles (60+)—just minutes after finishing her volunteer shift. Multitasking at its finest!
Founder Finds Gold!
Freddie Nadarisay,the visionary behind GGP, didn’t just organize—he dominated. Stepping onto the court for men’s singles, Freddie proved he’s still got the fire, finesse, and footwork to take it all the way.
Result? Gold medal. Top of the podium. No questions asked.
GGPF Members Take Home the Gold (and Silver, and Bronze!) at the Spring Showdown
The Golden Gate Pickleball Spring Showdown was a huge success—and our members made their presence known with outstanding performances across multiple divisions.
🏆Full List of GGPF Medal Winners
3.5 Women’s Doubles 60+
🥇 Suzy Safdie & Mayumi Honda
🥉 Rebecca Winterer & Lynn Kobtake
4.0 Women’s Doubles 50+
🥈 Nikki George & Denise Mendoza
3.5 Men’s Singles 60+
🥇 Freddie Nadarisay
3.5 Mixed Doubles 50–59
🥈 Freddie Nadarisay & Nancy Ong
3.5 Men’s Singles
🥉 David Underhill
4.0 Men’s Doubles 18–34
🥉 David Underhill & Bryan Le
Senior Open Men’s Doubles
🥈 Jonas Satuito & Jules Maltz
3.0 Men’s Doubles 35–49
🥈 Jasper Kirsch & Boris Nemcheunk
4.0 Mixed Doubles 35-49
🥇Lisa Shaw & Ed Chan
4.0 Mixed Doubles 50+
🥇 Quy Le & Jen Vu
3.5 Mixed Doubles 35–49
🥈 Anna Poisson & Harish Guntaka
3.5 Men’s Doubles 35–49
🥇 Ed Center &Vincent Tu
Want to relive the moment or see who took the top spots?
Click below to see some great photos.
Cookies & Gold? Yes, Please.
Special thanks to Clyde Lawler for supplying his signature cookies (and not eating them all himself). He also took Gold alongside partner John Jatlof. Clyde—we hope you’ll join GGPF. We need more men like you!
WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK
Help us make future events even better!
Please take 2–3 minutes to complete our short tournament survey. Your feedback matters.
IN OTHER NEWS
Joola highlighted GGP in their monthly blog!
Joola featured Golden Gate Pickleball’s work with schools in their blog! This is a great opportunity to highlight the impact we’re making in the community.
NEXT UP!
Save the Date: Money Ball Is Coming!
Mark your calendars—on Saturday, July 19, 2025, GGP will be hosting a Mixed Money Ball at the Alameda Hub. It’s going to be a fun, competitive day with cash on the line. More details coming your way in the next few weeks!
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
Help Us Improve Morning Programming!
We’ve been running a variety of morning programs at Louis Sutter, and our Drill & Play sessions have been especially popular.
To help us shape future offerings and better meet your needs, we’d really appreciate it if you could take a moment to fill out our short survey.
Thanks for being part of the GGP community—we value your input!
Click below to take the survey
Morning Play
Golden Gate Pickleball – DUPR Pilot Program Extended Through May
We’re continuing our DUPR pilot program with morning play and score recording.
Schedule:
Monday: Levels 2.75–3.25
Wednesday: Levels 3.25–3.75
Please register for your appropriate level. All participants must have a DUPR account.
Join here:GoldenGate Pickleball Club on DUPR
Coaching:
Jonas Satuito will be on the courts from 8:00–9:00 AM to coach and advise.
Help support GGP's free programs by joining: GGPMembership
Sign up for Drill & Play
Beginner Clinic
New to Pickleball? Interested in Classes?
We’re planning beginner classes at Louis Sutter,starting at 7:00 AM. If you’re interested, sign up—even if you don’t know your level yet (just leave it blank).
Please include the days of the week you're available. Session will only run with a minimum of 4 participants.
If there’s enough interest, we’ll post the Session on PlayTimeScheduler and send an email with the link.
Please sign-up if interested below.
Women’s Drill and Play
GGP offers a free all-female Drill and Play on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2:00. The skill level is 2.75-3.25, and Lisa Shaw leads the sessions. We are doing round robins, with strategic lessons as we go.
WEEKEND PLAY
Giving back to the community is what GGP is all about.
Join us for Coffee Klatch—a casual gathering at Louis Sutter with donuts, coffee, and snacks—on the last Saturday of every month. It’s our way of saying thanks and staying connected with the amazing GGP community.
Come for the treats, stay for the company.
Be there or be square!
Paddle Tales
Ageism Is Alive and Well on the Pickleball Court
by Tanya Slesnick
I never expected to feel invisible. I never thought people would talk over me, or around me, or make assumptions about my abilities based on my age. That happened to other people—older people.
But in the past few years, since I started playing pickleball, I’ve realized just how persistent—and subtle—ageism really is. And how easily it slips into spaces that are supposed to be inclusive, active, and fun.
I remember my mom describing what it felt like to be dismissed. People would rush past her on the street, sometimes gently pushing her aside, as if she were an obstacle rather than a person. At doctor appointments, they’d talk to me instead of her. When she responded to emails from her care providers, they’d reply with instructions to “please read the email”—the one she had just responded to.
Her mind was sharp until the end, but her age made her invisible to many. I saw it. I sympathized. But I never thought it would happen to me.
Then came pickleball.
Pickleball is famously inclusive, a sport where 20-some things and 70-some things can compete on the same court. It’s social, accessible, and growing fast. But it’s also become a microcosm of the assumptions and biases older adults deal with every day. I’ve been told, with a smile, “It’s okay—you just can’t move that fast at your age.”
Let’s be clear: I couldn’t move that fast at any age. I have built a proud, lifelong resistance to running. Jogging was never in my DNA, and I’ve always believed that if I’m running, you should be too—because something is probably chasing us.
The trouble is, people hear your age and immediately draw conclusions. When I mention my older sister, who moves like a gazelle on Red Bull, the reaction is always the same: “Oh, she must be much younger than you!” No. She’s older than I am. She’s just quick. Genetics, grit, good knees—none of it fits the stereotype, so people assume she must be younger.
And then there’s the mental math. Literally. If there’s a score dispute, it’s somehow always my memory that’s in question. Never mind that I know where I started and that we’re clearly standing on the wrong side for the score being called. I’m the one who must be confused—because I’m older. And, presumably, addled.
Ageism isn’t always loud or cruel. Often, it’s the soft condescension, the subtle disbelief that you might know what you’re doing,or still be capable, or—heaven forbid—be better than someone younger.
Pickleball is supposed to be a community sport. And in many ways, it is. But if we want to preserve that spirit, we have to call out the stereotypes that show up along with the serves and volleys. That means not assuming older players are slow, forgetful, or outmatched. That means looking beyond the laugh lines and noticing the skill, strategy, and yes—sometimes surprising speed.
So if you’re playing with someone a few decades older than you, don’t patronize them. Pay attention. They may just hit a drop shot you weren’t ready for—or call the score more accurately than you.
We're not here to be underestimated. We're here to play. And sometimes? We're here to win.
If you like what GGP is doing for pickleball and community, you may donate here: