1. How did you get into Pickleball??
I started playing 2 years ago. I used to go cycling at Bishan Park and a friend asked me to join in a game with uncles and aunties in the middle of the park. I started playing with them and slowly got better and then started playing at CCs. I took a break and resumed playing last August. Now, I play every week on Sundays, usually from 10-12pm at Mountbatten CC. Sometimes on Sunday evenings as well. I also play at Warren on Tuesdays with another nice bunch. You can say I play all around SG. I once played 13 hours on a Sunday at 7 different venue.! I was that crazy! That’s how I formed my Reclub group ‘ice Queen’.
2. What inspired you to organize your own Pickleball competition? What makes it unique compared to say, other competitions on Reclub?
The first competition I took part in was held at Mountbatten CC. My mentor and I took part and we came in first! A year later, I decided to host my own competition. It was held at Expo in early January 2026 as part of my birthday celebrations. I invited all my friends. We played at Expo. Each one paid $50. Winners got Luzz paddles. It was a good laugh. To me, it was practice for hosting competitions. I then decided to host a second competition, the Crimson All-Male Fixed Doubles, on 1st March at SG Expo again.
1. How did you get into Pickleball??
I started playing 2 years ago. I used to go cycling at Bishan Park and a friend asked me to join in a game with uncles and aunties in the middle of the park. I started playing with them and slowly got better and then started playing at CCs. I took a break and resumed playing last August. Now, I play every week on Sundays, usually from 10-12pm at Mountbatten CC. Sometimes on Sunday evenings as well. I also play at Warren on Tuesdays with another nice bunch. You can say I play all around SG. I once played 13 hours on a Sunday at 7 different venue.! I was that crazy! That’s how I formed my Reclub group ‘ice Queen’.
2. What inspired you to organize your own Pickleball competition? What makes it unique compared to say, other competitions on Reclub?
The first competition I took part in was held at Mountbatten CC. My mentor and I took part and we came in first! A year later, I decided to host my own competition. It was held at Expo in early January 2026 as part of my birthday celebrations. I invited all my friends. We played at Expo. Each one paid $50. Winners got Luzz paddles. It was a good laugh. To me, it was practice for hosting competitions. I then decided to host a second competition, the Crimson All-Male Fixed Doubles, on 1st March at SG Expo again.
3. How did you work out your entry fees VS what the participants are getting i.e. goodie bag, player welfare, prizes etc?
I didn’t quite do my maths properly on this and, in fact, had to fork out quite a bit of my own money to cover the costs of the competition.
4. What challenges have you faced in organizing this event?
The challenges were all on competition day itself. I wanted to book all Pro Courts but ended with some Pro Courts and some Executive Courts. I wanted everyone to do 2-4 minutes of warm up before the start of play but some people took as much as 15 minutes to warm up and everyone who got on court after did the same and soon time ran out (I should have policed it better).
I wanted to book two more courts to finish the competition but couldn’t get them (even though the other courts were empty) and we had to stop abruptly. We had to resume the competition on Monday, 2 March, at Mt Faber but some of the players didn’t show (injured, they said). We ended up with default winners. The winners got $300 cash plus a trophy. Second prize was $200 and third prize, $100. I gave those who turned up small tokens of appreciation as well.
I know it could have been run much better, smoother. Like I wanted to have t-shirts but couldn’t do it in time. My friend was supposed to help get drinks but didn’t buy in time etc guess it all added up and people were unhappy. I refunded the players who were still in the competition when the Sunday matches were halted but not those who had been knocked out by then. I tried to do what I could.
5. What would Success look like to you?
I will organise another competition again, maybe in April or after April with all the learnings. Maybe organise a higher DUPR competition. Let’s see. I might even host a competition back home in the Philippines. One bad competition shouldn’t define me. I hope the people can see that I genuinely care about Pickleball and the community and want to do a good job if they give me another chance.
6. Do you see such localised competitions as a long-term, sustainable Biz idea?
There are many competitions and let me get mine right first and then let’s talk about the business side of things.
7. What have you learnt from the troubles in your competition?
1. Spell out all details so you can manage expectations. Like about cancellations, refund policy, prizes (some people wanted additional prizes?) and any other discrepancies.
2. Have partners/people to help you (must not be afraid to ask for help).
3. Have a male figure to help establish authority and order. It helps.
4. Work as a team not alone so you can have valuable feedback from one another.
5. Establish rapport with the participants and make the whole competition (and game) harmonious and keep to tight timelines so you don’t overrun ⏱️
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