Read it first. Then decide.

Hey — Stephen here, and this is the first-ever DMV Pickleball Report: the region's courts, events, and player intel in one email. Fair warning, it took me a few weeks to press send on this — the community kept handing me things to build instead. Mondays from here on. Here's everything that's happened, and the one date you need circled.

Circle August 8: Pickle 4 Pali

Aya Rasheed runs the Pickle 4 Pali charity tournament essentially single-handedly — second year in a row — and it lands Saturday, Aug 8–9 on Greenbriar Park's brand-new courts in Fairfax. All profits go to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund. There's a bracket for everyone, including Co-Ed Beginners, and last year's field of 55 deserves to be doubled.

Register: dmvpickle.org/events — $45 one event, $55 for two.

Same day, twenty minutes away: The Fairfax Open (Paddles for Promise, a student-run nonprofit) runs charity mixed doubles at Worldgate in Herndon, benefiting Shelter House Fairfax. Two great causes sharing a Saturday. Pick your cause, bring your paddle.

The DMV's first Ambassador

The register now has an Ambassador program, and the first title belongs to Barbara Tyrrell — Prince William County Ambassador, a former USA Pickleball Ambassador whose park write-ups (Veterans Memorial, Ferlazzo) now live permanently on their court pages. She also published Lisa Marie's wonderful story of the Braemar Outdoor Pickleball group — four women at a beginner lesson in 2023, 135+ members today. Read it on Braemar Park's page.

More county credits: Emer Daly (MoCo Pickleball) caught the Rockville court counts that led to all 14 City of Rockville parks joining the register with the city's live schedule calendars — and Dee Berkholtz's legendary MoCo indoor drop-in schedule is now searchable on all 21 venue pages, credited.

Want your county covered like Barbara covers Prince William? Ambassadors are locals who know their courts and keep their county's records sharp — your write-ups live on the court pages, credited by name, permanently. No account, no quota. Just reply to this email with your county and I'll set you up.

New: The Demand Ledger

Counties invest where demand is documented, not just requested. The register's new Demand Ledger puts a one-tap "Count me in — I'd play here" button on courts that deserve better. First up: Dean Park in Manassas — the only purpose-built pickleball facility north of Richmond, sitting unfinished and underused. It takes ten seconds, and every stamp goes on the record.

On the calendar

• Wed Aug 5 — FREE Intro to Pickleball · Ferlazzo, Woodbridge (true beginners, loaner paddles) · also: Women's Money Ball 3.5–3.99 · Life Time Centreville
• Sat Aug 8 — Pickle 4 Pali (Greenbriar) · The Fairfax Open (Herndon) · WPC Beginner Round Robin (Ferlazzo, 8am)
• Wed Aug 12 & Sat Aug 22 — WPC DUPR Builder round robins
• Sat Aug 29 — DC DPR Challenge & Senior Games (registration closes Aug 22) · Dinks 4 Dunks with Maryland WBB at UMD (register by Aug 21)

All details + registration: dmvpickle.org/events

Also: the Woodbridge Pickleball Club has board self-nominations open — the club that got Veterans, Ferlazzo, and Hellwig their courts needs its next stewards: WoodbridgePickleballClub@gmail.com

From Dill's Pickle Jar

If you've filed a court report, you've met Dill — the register's resident pickle, who waits patiently on every unreported court. He also keeps a jar of true pickleball facts. This week's pull:

Pickleball was born on a badminton court with the net dropped to 36 inches, ping-pong paddles, and a perforated plastic ball — because nobody could find the shuttlecock.

Forwarded this by a friend? Get your own Monday Report → dmvpickle.org (signup box is right on the homepage). Then forward it to your pickleball group chat — that's how the register grows.

Know a court we're missing? Add it — or rate a court in pickles at DMVPickle.org 🥒

— Stephen, keeper of the register