Henderson Pickleball Club Marks Second Anniversary with Charity Tournament for Chemo Buddies

HENDERSON, Ky. — 3rd Shot Pickleball opens its doors Friday for a three-day celebration marking two years since the indoor facility brought dedicated pickleball courts to the Tri-State region. The anniversary event centers on a tournament benefiting Chemo Buddies, the Evansville-based nonprofit that provides companionship and support to patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Ribbon-cutting ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. Friday, officially kicking off competition that runs through Sunday. The club, located on Henderson’s north side, features eight climate-controlled courts — a rarity in a region where most play still occurs on converted tennis courts or outdoor surfaces subject to weather.

Chemo Buddies executive director Kelsey Hite said the partnership aligns with the organization’s mission of ensuring no one faces cancer treatment alone. “Pickleball communities are inherently social — they show up for each other,” Hite said. “That’s exactly what our buddies do every day at infusion centers across the region.” The nonprofit, founded in 2011, has logged more than 15,000 volunteer hours accompanying patients at Deaconess and Ascension St. Vincent facilities.

Tournament director Mike Thompson expects 120 to 150 players across skill divisions ranging from 3.0 to 5.0+, with a separate bracket for first-time competitors. Registration remains open through Friday morning at $45 per player, which includes a guaranteed three-match minimum and access to the club’s ball machines for warm-up. Spectator admission is free.

The facility’s growth mirrors pickleball’s national trajectory. USA Pickleball reports membership surpassed 70,000 in 2023, up from 53,000 the previous year. Kentucky’s participation rate ranks in the top third nationally per capita, driven partly by indoor venues like 3rd Shot that extend the playing season through winter months.

Club co-owners Sarah and James Whitaker converted a former warehouse space in 2022 after struggling to find consistent court time at community centers. “We built what we wished existed,” Sarah Whitaker said. “Now we’re watching the same thing happen — new players walking in, finding their people, and staying.”

Proceeds from registration fees, a silent auction featuring paddles from Selkirk and Joola, and a Sunday afternoon pro exhibition will fund Chemo Buddies’ gas card program, which helped 340 patients cover transportation costs last year alone.

Play begins at 11 a.m. Friday following the ceremony, with championship matches scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m.