Local pickleball tournament raises $7,000 for local nonprofit organizations

The Low Country Pickleball Classic raised for local organizations $7,000, which it recently disbursed.

The Sun City Pickleball Club, the tournament’s sponsor, donated $4,000 to Hardeeville’s Jasper County Neighbors United and $3,000 to Hilton Head Island’s Operation R&R, according to club vice president and tournament director Reuben Oder.

Operation R&R is a nonprofit organization that helps arrange and sponsor vacations for service men and women and their families. Neighbors United helps low-to-moderate income families work toward buying homes.

Pickleball, which is somewhere between tennis and ping pong, is one of the fastest-growing sports in America, according to the USA Pickleball Assocation. Almost 2.5 million people play. It has become popular with Lowcountry communities and recreation centers.

There were 202 players from 17 states in this year’s tournament, which was held in April, according to Oder. The youngest participant was 22, the oldest was 84. Overall 138 medals were awarded, 35 of those to people from Sun City.

This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Local pickleball tournament raises $7,000 for local nonprofit organizations."