"Big Sky Country" is not traditionally known as big table tennis country. Dr. Terry Hankins (pictured), a physician who hangs his hat in Havre, Montana, aims to change that. Hankins, a lifelong ponger from California, fell in love with Montana's natural beauty as a child when he and his family drove through Glacier National Park. "I thought that was the most incredible, beautiful place I had ever seen," recalled Hankins. "So if I could get close to Glacier I thought it would be a good place to start over." After medical school, he found a job not too far from his childhood crush, three hours east in Havre. While the town of less than 10,000 may be the "crown jewel of the Hi-Line" (e.g. the Canada-adjacent upper Midwest), it was hardly a mecca for table tennis. Hankins found that the nearest competition was at least 200 miles away. In order to save time, gas and his sanity, he took matters into his own hands and started his own club. In a commercial building known as The Atrium, players of all backgrounds are welcome to come play every Saturday from 2:00-5:00 p.m. The good news includes the free admission, high quality paddles and Donic Waldner Classic 25 tables available to all. Tragically, toddlers, tots, tykes and tweens need not apply. "My goal is to have pretty much adults, 13 years and older, playing," said Hankins. "It's not for kids to play. These are expensive, professional tables, so it's more of a serious ping pong club." As a doctor, Hankins is of course concerned about public health during the age of COVID-19. He points out that players are automatically separated by at least nine feet, courtesy of the regulation-sized tables. Nonetheless, strict pandemic protocols will be enforced. "I made a rule for the club that you wear a mask when you are just observing," explained Hankins, "but when they get to the table they can take it off." So the next time you have some spare time, make a beeline for the Hi-Line and call Dr. Hankins for a good time. First, though, just make sure you are a responsible member of society and not an unmasked child.

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