Pickleball News

Largest pickleball tournament is coming to Rockwall with coverage on TV

USA Pickleball Association/Facebook

A pickleball tournament is coming to town that will draw some of the biggest names in the field, as well as coverage on TV.

It's the Selkirk Texas Open, a professional and amateur pickleball tournament hosted by the Carvana PPA Tour that'll feature more than 1,500 registered athletes and welcome thousands of spectators and fans.

The tournament takes place at the Oasis Pickleball Club in Rockwall, at 5757 State Hwy 205, on June 1-4 from 10 am-6 pm. The 2023 event marks the fourth year PPA Tour returns to Rockwall.

The Selkirk Texas Open is positioned not only as the largest PPA Tour event in the history of pickleball, but also the largest pickleball tournament ever held in Texas. Much large.

This event is the first time that the PPA Tour has partnered with USA Pickleball, pickleball’s governing body, on a Golden Ticket Event.

Golden Tickets provide entry to the USA Pickleball National Championships, the crown jewel of pickleball competition, which will take place in Texas November 4-12, 2023 and host nearly 5,000 registered players.

Texas is practically Pickleball Central; it's home to more professional players than any other state, including Ben Johns, Riley Newman, Collin Johns, Lea Jansen, Vivienne David, Julian Arnold, Lauren Stratman, Dekel Bar, DJ Young, Zane Navratil, Lina Padegimaite, and Thomas Wilson.

Some of those players including world’s top male and female pros, including Ben Johns (Men’s No. 1), and Anna Leigh Waters (Women’s No. 1), Riley Newman (Men’s No. 2), and Anna Bright (Women’s No. 2), will be competing in this event.

They'll face off against pros from Russia, Slovakia, France, Germany, Israel, Mexico, and Canada. This pickleball thing has gone international.

They'll be competing for a total of $238,314 in prize money.

Aside from the massive influx of pickleball players and the sheer pickleball momentum, the tournament will also be covered on ESPN and CBS Sports. Major big deal. Also an opportunity to get yourself on TV even if it would only be a tiny speck in the audience sea.

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Putting into Plano

New Plano restaurant Sip'Stroke tees up golf with chef-driven fare

Saffron salmon skewers, one of the featured seafood offerings on Chef Madan Oli’s menu at Sip’Stroke.

Photo courtesy of Sip'Stroke.

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It's tee time for a new restaurant featuring a private Full Swing golf simulator and an indoor putt-putt course in Plano: Called Sip’Stroke, the new "eatertainment" spot is opening Saturday, August 1 at 5969 Dallas Pkwy.

The concept comes from Kushal Raj Bastakoti, a cityscape artist and interior designer from Nepal who moved to Dallas in 2013 to attend the University of North Texas. Bastakoti also owns Skyline Lounge in downtown Dallas, which opened earlier this year, and is a franchisee of the Asian beverage and dessert chain Feng Cha Café.

He says he chose the location due to the rapid growth of businesses and residences in the nearby Legacy area.

“At Sip’Stroke we created a space that is entirely unique — it feels like you're on a 9-hole golf course, but paired with exceptional dining,” he says.

Although built around golf, the restaurant is also chef-driven. Bastakoti recruited chef Madan Oli, who launched his culinary career in Copenhagen, where he developed a focus on high-quality ingredients, thoughtful preparation, and presentation.

“My goal is to bring people together through modern American cuisine with bold flavors and global inspiration,” says Oli. “Every dish is crafted with care, balance, and a true passion for hospitality.”

$Sip\u2019Stroke$ At Sip’Stroke, you can catch the game, play a round of putt-putt, and enjoy a high-end meal.Photo courtesy of Sip'Stroke.

Oli designed a menu featuring shared boards, fresh seafood, premium steaks, elevated bar staples, and desserts. Highlights include prime ribeye frites, saffron salmon, maple leaf duck breast, Cabernet-braised short ribs, Wagyu sliders, and a selection of tacos and wings, with prices ranging from $20 to $35.

The full bar serves classic and signature cocktails, along with shots, wine, beer, and zero-proof drinks.

The venue includes a private golf simulator that accommodates up to eight guests, a custom nine-hole mini-golf course integrated into the dining room, seating for 60 indoors, and an additional 15 seats on the patio.

While Sip’Stroke has been operating with limited hours during a soft opening over the past several days, regular business hours begin Saturday, August 1, from 12 noon to 12 midnight daily. A grand opening celebration is planned for late August.

A second Sip’Stroke location is also in the works next to Skyline Lounge at 2012 Commerce St. in downtown Dallas and is expected to open before the end of the year. The owners say restoring the historic 100-year-old building has taken longer than anticipated.

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