‘Sky’s the limit’ for pickleball in the CNMI

Paradise Dental Clinic team members and some patients were honored after the exhibition games on Monday evening and pose for a photo with Scott Moore, front, at the American Memorial Park courts.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Pickleball in the CNMI has been all the rage for the past year and within that span, has exploded into almost 200 Pickleball Federation of the Northern Mariana Islands members.

The sky’s truly the limit for pickleball as it approaches its third anniversary of inception by Paradise Dental Clinic owned by Dr. Nelson Krum and Donna Krum—and in less than two months invited not one—but two pickleball pro athletes to level up the CNMI’s game.

The recent pickleball pro to grace Saipan’s pickleball players with his presence and wisdom was Scott Moore who left last Tuesday. Last March, his son, Daniel, made his way here from Japan. As he lives nearby, Dr. Krum said to expect him to visit maybe on a yearly basis

Dr. Krum said after Scott held a two-day clinic and exhibition, “It has been a really special year that we had two pros join us for clinics and lessons. Daniel Moore is living in Japan and I think we can expect a yearly visit from him. Scott lives in Colorado Springs and it will be harder for him to come to Saipan, but he did tell me that he will plan to return as many times as he can.  He had a great time on Saipan!”

Pickleball of the Northern Mariana Islands Federation members pose for a photo with pickleball pro Scott Moore on Monday before their exhibition games at the American Memorial Park courts.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

“A huge thank you goes out to the pickleball board that made the event possible, but especially to Nicky Nichols who was Scott’s ambassador and tour guide for the four days Scott was here. Also, Marivic Dunlop, who is our hostess with the mostest, for all of her help with the event,” he said.

As they approach their third anniversary in June, Dr. Krum said that he is really proud of how the club has grown and how their level of play has improved.

For what’s next, he said the PFNMI board is working to find land to build dedicated pickleball courts for the people of Saipan to enjoy. “We are also involved in outreach programs to bring pickleball to the youth on our island. We are also working on outreach to Africa, Vietnam, and South Korea.”

He added, “One of Scott Moore’s predictions for the future of pickleball is that the best players in the future will come from Asia. That’s us!”

Donna Krum, for her part, said that Paradise Dental Spa brought pickleball to Saipan in June 2020 and that they have continued to financially support the growth of the club. “This is all part of Paradise Dental Spa’s commitment to community outreach, and was possible due to the financial rewards of the Pandemic Eligibility Medicaid Program,” she said. On Monday after the exhibition matches with Scott, “we honored the real people of Paradise Dental Spa, both team members and some of our loyal patients, who are the ones who really made it happen!”

Donna said she initially thought that pickleball would be really hard to explain the benefits to people and describe why it was the fastest growing sport in the country, but she was mistaken. 

“This game markets itself. I have never seen anything like it. It just reminds me of the movie ‘Field of Dreams’ where they said ‘build it and they will come,’” she said.

After Dr. Krum, who was an avid tennis player had hip surgery, wanted to play tennis again and was told by Donna’s sister Judy, to bring pickleball to Saipan. “So, in June 2020, we taped the first pickleball court on Saipan in the parking lot of our dental office, and played on Friday and Saturday mornings when the dental office was closed. There was a regular group of about six of us.”

“The rest is history! Today our club has over 175 members and is growing weekly… The mere fact that our small island was able to attract Scott Moore to come here for private lessons and group coaching is a great example of the miracles this game creates! Pickleball tourism is gaining ground, and as we acquire more courts, Saipan can become one of the destinations for this type of tourism,” she said.

Since that time, they have played pickleball in Guam, Arizona, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Honolulu, and soon in Newport Beach, California, Las Vegas, and Washington.
Their pickleball club, the Pickleball Federation of the Northern Mariana Islands, plays nightly at the American Memorial Park courts starting at 5:30pm. All ages 8 to 80 are welcome.