In two years a 91原创 pickleball club has gone from 25 to 150 players, and tripled the amount its annual charity tournament raised for a local school.

91原创 City resident Maria Roney, a member of the Douglas Park Pickleball Club (formerly the 91原创 Area Pickleball Dinkers) and one of the volunteer organizers of the Douglas Park Annual Charity Tournament, said the amount raised by the June event, $10,940, which went to the 鈥�, was roughly three times the amount they took in at the last, pre-COVID competition.

The tournament drew more than 200 players and many more spectators.

READ ALSO: 91原创 pickleball tourney attracts hundreds from across B.C.

鈥淲hen they say its the fastest-growing sport, it鈥檚 true,鈥� Roney told the 91原创 Advance Times.

Another indicator is the demand for playing time pickleball courts at Douglas park.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got a big group that plays in the morning,鈥� Roney remarked.鈥漈here are always people waiting.鈥�

According to an of the sport, Pickleball was created in 1965 on Bainbridge Island in Washington by future congressman and state lieutenant governor Joel Pritchard and two of his friends, Barney McCallum and Bill Bell.

As the story goes, the three improvised the game when they coudn鈥檛 find the shuttlecock for a badminton court, exprimenting with table tennis paddles and different types of balls, and lowering the net.

There are conflicting accounts about where the name came from, with claims it was chosen by a spouse, or after a dog, or because one of the creators enjoyed hitting the ball in a way that would put his opponent 鈥渋n a pickle.鈥�

Roney says the appeal is competing in an 鈥渁ge neutral and gender neutral鈥� sport.

鈥淚鈥檝e played against people half my age and beat them,鈥� she explained.

鈥淚鈥檝e played through COVID. It鈥檚 so much fun.鈥�

VIDEO: Pickleball players raise funds for 91原创 school

Those who want to learn more can contact the club can email: douglasparkpickleball@gmail.com or show up at the pickeball courts at Douglas Park 鈥� if they鈥檝e have had a little training first.

鈥淚f they鈥檝e never played before, it鈥檚 highly recommended that they take the pickleball courses at Timms [community centre in 91原创 City] ,鈥� recommended Roney.

An online search for 鈥淭imms pickleball course鈥� will lead prospective players to the , including the Fall 2022 pickleball classes which, as of Monday, Sept. 12, had 36 openings.

鈥淚t does fill up quite quite quickly,鈥� Roney warned.

The club, which Roney describes as an informal group of players, is planning another fundraiser for next year, and would love to hear from potential sponsors