Committee approves Sun City Pickleball Club grant to underwrite tournament branding

The Hardeeville Committee on Tourism & Events on Nov. 8 approved a grant request from the Sun City Pickleball Club to help pay for branded shirts, prize panels and participant giveaways for the club's annual tournament.

Rick Wright, president of the Sun City Pickleball Club, told the committee the tournament has grown from about 80 players in its early years to roughly 400 this year, and that returning competitors help spread Hardeeville's name. "We're asking for the grant money to pay for the shirts, the bottles that we give out, the panels we award as prizes," Wright said.

The committee recorded a motion recommending approval, a second and a voice vote in favor. The minutes show the recommendation carried by voice vote; no roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.

Wright described logistics and demand: the club has added more courts and expects further expansion, saying 12 additional courts are planned and that registration for the next tournament filled quickly. He gave the tournament dates as April 4-6 and said organizers aim to provide branded tote bags and a logo paddle for first-place winners. Committee members asked logistical questions during discussion and complimented the event's local economic impact, noting players often stay at nearby hotels and dine locally.

The committee did not attach additional conditions to the recommendation as recorded in the transcript. Wright said he would provide final samples of shirts, bags and awards in his final report to the committee.

Committee action on the grant was described in the meeting as a recommendation to approve, seconded and approved by voice vote.