WHAT IS THE MINIMUM SKILL LEVEL FOR OPEN PLAY

QUIZ QUESTION:  WHAT SHOULD BE THE MINIMUM SKILL LEVEL OF A FIRST TIME PLAYER IN "OPEN PLAY?"

a.  1.5

b. 2.0

c. 2.5

d. 3.0

e. all of the above should be welcomed in Open Play  

f. None of the above

QUIZ ANSWER.  F NONE OF ABOVE. THE MINIMUM SHILL LEVEL OF PLAYER  IN OPEN PLAY IS EQUAL TO THAT OF THE LOWEST RANKED PLAYERS ALREADY PARTICIPATING IN OPEN PLAY. 

MANY OF THE MORE PROGRESSIVE PRIVATE SECTOR PICKLEBALLCLUBS IN OTHER  STATES SET A 2.5 MINIMUM FOR OPEN PLAY.  AND WHEN YOU PLAY YOU PLAY ON THE COURT DESIGNATED FOR 2.5 PLAYERS. BUT THESE CLUBS DON'T SNUB THEIR ELETIST NOSE AT BEGINNERS WHO WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY. 

UNLIKE SOME CLICKISH EGOTISTICAL CLUBS WHO ONLY ALLOW A SET GROUP OF THEIR MEMBERSHIP  TO PARTICIPATE IN OPEN PLAY AND LEAGUE PLAY, AND OFFER NO OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW PLAYERS TO LEARN THE GAME,

THESE PROGRESSIVE PRIVATE SECTOR PICKLEBALL CLUBS OFFER NEW PLAYERS AN INSTRUCTIONAL PATH WAY TO JOIN THEIR OPEN PLAY VENUES.  AND  AFTER THEY HONE THEIR SKILLS THEY ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE LEAGUES, THEY ADVANCE TO PLAY ON HIGHER LEVEL DESIGNATED COURTS, UNTIL THEY CAN COMPETE IN CLUB COMPETITIONS AND TOURNAMENTS.             

SURPRISINGLY THEY DON'T CHARGE NEW PLAYERS FOR INSTRUCTION BUT THERE ARE FEES FOR OPEN PLAY.  SOME PRIVATE FRANCHISE WHO OFFER PICKLEBALL WILL CHARGE A STIFF FEE FOR A NEW PLAYER TO TAKE A BEGINNERS CLASS, TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES OF THEIR INSTRUCTOR., AND THEN CHARGE THEM A STIFF FEE TO PLAY IN OPEN PLAY. OFTEN THESE NEWBEES SIT AROUND WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO INVITE THEM TO PLAY. THEY PAY AS MUCH AS THE HIGH LEVEL PLAYERS AND PLAY LESS THAN 1/3 OF THE GAMES.  One locally franchised Racquet Club here in Maryland just started a pickleball program to cash in on the growing demand for places to play. Aside from a stiff 3 hour open play per person rate, they charge $50 for a beginners class on top of that.