Pickleball, Mah Jongg and Community: Life’s Always Active at Possum Kingdom

A group of Possum Kingdom Lake residents have taken up Mah Jongg.  Back row, left to right:  Tammy Holley, Carri Kennerly, Mary Hill, Barbara Vinson, Patty Poulos.  Playing Mah Jongg, left to right:  Stacey Allen, Linda Hemberger, Wendy Farquhar, Della Partee

Story by Barbara Vinson | Photo by Matthew Renfro

A recent study* by Marriott Bonvoy found that nearly all U.S. travelers (96 percent) want to explore their personal hobbies while traveling. The same can be said about those living and visiting Possum Kingdom Lake.

One question that visitors ask those who live at or visit the lake frequently is, “What do you do to stay busy, especially in the winter?” but a better question might be, “How do you choose among all the activities happening at the lake?” When lake residents were asked what they like to do to stay active and involved at the lake, two clear favorites emerged: pickleball and mah jongg.

Pickleball is very popular in the United States, but mah jongg is catching up fast.  Pickleball’s growth in recent years is reflected in it being one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Like pickleball, mah jongg became very popular during and after the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine, when people had more time on their hands and yearned to socialize with others.

“Pickleball at PK started when COVID-19 was at its peak,” said Valerie Gribble, a resident of The Cliffs. “It was a fun way to stay active and foster camaraderie for friends to build a sense of belonging during a challenging time.”

Gribble and her husband, Daron Gribble, built their pickleball court because of their love for the game, and they play regularly with friends and family. “The  sport’s  inclusive  nature  helped  create  an environment where friendships have been formed and the PK community has a chance to connect together,” Valerie Gribble said. “We play consistently twice a week and occasionally add a third game day. We have players of different ages and all skill levels. It doesn’t matter; it’s all about having a good time.”

Bainbridge Island, Washington, is the epicenter of pickleball, which was invented in 1965. The story is the game was created through improvisation with a badminton net, table tennis paddles and a plastic ball. The combination of different sports, including badminton and table tennis, on an asphalt court while using wiffle balls brought to mind a “pickle boat” in rowing, which is a crew made up of the “leftovers” of other boats.

Pickleball is a racket or paddle sport in which two or four players use a smooth-faced paddle to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball over a 34-inch net until one side is not able to return the ball or commits a rule infraction. Pickleball can be played both indoors and outdoors, and there is a movement in place for it to be added as an Olympic sport.

Common pickleball injuries involve muscles, joints and tendons, and the majority of injuries occur among players aged 60 to 69.  Jamie Rogers, a resident of The Willows, said the first time she played pickleball she “broke her back” and learned not to wear street shoes to play. Rogers said she enjoys playing pickleball because it’s a great way to burn calories and have fun, and it doesn’t feel like a workout. She plays at the First Baptist Church in Graham and said she has met many great friends playing pickleball. For her, it’s a very social game. “I play pickleball and like the physical challenge, added Cathy Bender, a resident of The Cliffs. “Plus, the guys play, so it’s a fun sport you can do as a couple.”

“Exercise and movement are very important in our everyday lives, and pickleball provides physical activity,” added local resident Linda Roberts-Hemberger.  The sport also provides mental stimulation, Roberts-Hemberger said. “Playing pickleball improves memory,” she said, while noting that “pickleball is a very social game, and I have made many new friends in several communities. I play pickleball at a friend’s indoor court, the city gym in Mineral Wells and Love Street Park in Weatherford. I don’t play there very often, but it is a beautiful facility and open to the public.”

Private-residence pickleball courts are becoming very popular. Nick Rosandich of A-1 Diamondback Painting said he has painted several pickleball courts around the lake and surrounding areas. He said he recently painted one in Graford for Amanda Terry, who is building a “barndominium” and included a pickleball court in her building plans.

Pictured above, Mackenzie Green, Kylie Altum and Koby Ragle enjoying a weekend playing pickleball.  Koby Ragle and Amanda Terry, recently put in their pickleball court while building their barndominium in Graford.  

Terry said her family and friends enjoy playing pickleball, so the court will be a welcome addition to her new home where everyone can gather.

Mah jongg, meanwhile, began in China during the mid-to-late 1800s, and in the early 1920s the game was brought to the United States. In 1937, a group of players in New York created a uniform set of rules and hands for the game, which spurred the formation of the National Mah Jongg League. The NMJL introduces new hands, updates rules and issues an annual membership card for $15, and a portion of the cost of the card goes to charity.

Both “mahjong” and “mah jongg” are correct spellings for the popular Chinese tile game, but “mahjong” is the more common worldwide spelling, while “mah jongg” refers to the American version played with a yearly card and features unique rules.

“Mahjong” is a Mandarin word for “sparrow” and refers to the sound the tiles make when being shuffled.

Hollywood star Julia Roberts has described mah jongg as “creating order out of chaos based on random drawing of tiles,” while others have said the game is like gin rummy on steroids. Mah jongg is a game of skill, with a little bit of luck and some laughter mixed in.

Shirley Gentry, a Peninsula resident, said she enjoys playing mah jongg because it provides a mental challenge.  “It also gives me a reason to get out and socialize each week,” Gentry said. “When I moved here three years ago, I knew just a few ladies, and mah jongg has given me the chance to really widen my circle of friends. They are the nicest ladies, and I love them all. They’ve taken me in and included me in lots of things to keep me from being lonely.”

Pictured above, The Mah Jongg “Cheyenne Club”.  Top row, left to right:  Carri Kennerly, Deena Hebbert, Connie Collier, Stacey Allen, Patty Poulos, Sheila Carter, Della Partee, Trish Burross, Sue McCormick, Ann Laughlin, Mary Hill, Linda Hemberger, Bottom row, left to right: Kim Nussbaum, Barbara Vinson, Melissa Anderson, Cathy Bender, Katy Wallner.  Not every member was available for photo.

Studies show that mah jongg can improve players’ memory skills and keep them mentally alert, so having a good time with friends while playing is a win-win.  “You don’t need brain health supplements,” said Mary Hill, who lives in Gaines Bend. “Just a mah jongg table and some friends.”

Denise Cotter, also a Gaines Bend resident, agreed with Hill.  “No matter how old you are, it is still fun to challenge yourself with new things,” Cotter said. “Who says an old dog can’t learn new tricks? Only if you don’t try. I like the strategy component of the game. It requires some thinking, and this particular game is like learning a new language while strategizing. Because it is a little challenging, winning is even sweeter.  “What is even more important, however, than the learning aspects is the sense of community. I think we all strive for a sense of belonging in our communities, and we’re also never too old to make new friends and form meaningful relationships.”

Linda Roberts-Hemberger, who resides in The Cliffs, said mah jongg is a challenging game, and she enjoys both the beautiful tiles and the challenge of the game. She said she has made new friends playing mah jongg and enjoys time with her old friends.

“I have weekly yoga on Tuesday nights, too,” said Cathy Bender, who plays both pickleball and mah jongg. “PK is quite the social place. Yoga relaxes the mind that gets tense when playing mah jongg, and relaxes the body that gets tense when playing pickleball. It’s the icing on the cake for me.”

Based on Bender’s observation, perhaps yoga can be added to the list of things to do at the lake, too.

*The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Marriott Bonvoy from May 29 to June 2, 2025, among 1,935 U.S. adults ages 18 and older who travel.