6 minute read
Have Paddle, Will Travel
By Laurie Wilson Freelance Travel Writer
Tennis has met its match—pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Played with a paddle and perforated ball, the game is considered a low-impact, easy-to-learn sport for all age groups.
Pickleball was founded in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum on Bainbridge Island, Washington. According to USA Pickleball, the game got its name as a nod to the “thrown-together leftover non-starters in the ‘pickle boat’ of crew races.” And as the sport grew in popularity, a controversy ensued about the family dog, Pickles (who some insisted was the name behind pickleball.) But that was discredited by Pritchard and his family, who insisted the dog came after the game debuted, and that the dog was named after the game, not the other way around.
You won’t be in a pickle if you’re looking to find a getaway with a pickleball court. Cruise lines and resorts are winning over travelers with pickleball courts and amenities. Here are some top resorts and cruises that offer pickleball courts, as well as instructors and tournaments.
Cruises
Holland America Line https:// www.hollandamerica.com/ en/us is the first exclusive and official cruise line of the Professional Pickleball Association — and there are pickleball courts on all of the ships.
Complimentary lessons are available for beginners. There are also pick up games throughout the day and tournaments. Nice: Co-branded pickleball starter kits are available in onboard retail shops and tutorial/instructional “How to Play Pickleball” videos are available and featured on all ship’s stateroom TVs.
Celebrity Cruises https://www.celebrity cruises.com also has pickleball courts on quite a few ships. The majority of Princess Cruises www. princess.com, including their Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess, Discovery Princess, also offer complimentary pickleball play daily on the top sports deck—first come, first serve.
California
The West Coast is home to many pickleball resorts, the cooperating year-round warm temps is one reason. Here are a few beauties.
Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection, Napa Valley https://aubergeresorts.com/ solage/
Wine and pickleball—what could go wrong? This sprawling resort in Calistoga just debuted two pickleball courts. The resort also recently launched its custom-made pickleball paddles designed by Recess and courtside wine service. Translation: Guests/ players can check out pickleball paddles, balls and a chic box of Drink Juliet sustainable fine wine.
Loews Coronado Bay Resort, San Diego https://www.loewshotels.com/coronado-bay-resort
Data from Google’s Year in Search released at the end of last year revealed that “pickleball courts near me” was the number one searched term in San Diego, more than any other city in the country. Loews Coronado Bay Resort was already ahead of the game, having converted its marina-facing tennis courts into six pickleball courts last spring. The courts and equipment are available complimentary for resort guests for singles and doubles play. mentioned pickleball instruction in my initial email, but wanted to let you know this can be one-on-one or group instruction, including family lessons with the resort’s littlest guests.
The courts are open seasonally from April to August, and an expert pickleball instructor is available for lessons, for one-on-one or group instruction, including family lessons with the resort’s littlest picklers.
The resort sits on a 15-acre peninsula surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and Coronado Bay—when guests aren’t on the courts, they’re taking advantage of all the water sports and beach activities. www.loewshotels.com/coronado-bay-resort
Palm Springs
La Quinta Resort & Club in Greater Palm Springs is home to eight pickleball courts. The resort offers introductory lessons from International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA) instructors, and features sunken tournament-style center courts. Lessons and clinics are available, and open play time is available for $30 per court per hour (paddles and balls not included).
Arizona
Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale www. theboulders.com Tucked in the plush Sonoran Desert foothills, blanketed with giant saguaro cacti and desert wildflowers and mind-numbing mountain vistas, there are 12 new pickleball courts with the desert backdrop—oh, look a javelina, and a roadrunner! Play at sunset and the golden glow over the ancient rock formations will compete for your attention.
Full time pickleball professional, David Rogers, offers private lessons, weekly clinics and group programs. Bonus: pickleball conditioning classes and pickleball pampering (customized deep tissue massage designed for pickleball players.) Also, pickleball cocktails like the Pickled Bloody Mary (pickle-infused vodka, Bloody Mary mix, pickle juice, tahini-rim, pickle spear) and a Pickle-Tini (Vodka/ pickle juice and a pickle spear) are a perfect way to celebrate or commiserate after a game. And, grab a Pickleball Cuban (name, pork, pickles, mustard, hoagie roll panini.
The Stay & Play Pickleball Package includes accommodations in a private Casita; a $25 food and beverage credit (per person/per night) and unlimited pickleball play. Complimentary sunscreen and lip balm are also included.
West Virginia
Tennis always made quite a racket at The Greenbrier but it recently witnessed its ratio of tennis lessons to pickleball lessons advance to 60-40 in recent years, a huge increase in pickleball since the game was first introduced at the resort a few years ago. From 2022 to 2023, court time on the pickleball courts increased more than 30 percent.
“We saw the growth of pickleball throughout the country and knew it would be something our guests would enjoy,” said Josh Beverage, fitness manager at The Greenbrier.
Because of an increase in demand, The Greenbrier installed three permanent courts last winter to take it from two courts to five total courts. The Greenbrier also offers clinics and individual lessons, family tournaments on many summertime and holiday weekends and has plans to host major pickleball events inside its 2,600-seat stadium, Center Court at Creekside in the near future.
Cape Cod
The outdoor pickleball season is short and sweet in this neck of the woods, which makes it all the more appreciated when the sun shines in summer. There are two resorts on the Cape with pickleball in their sports portfolio for pro picklers and newbies.
The Mansion at Ocean Edge, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Six new pickleball courts are ready for play at this historic Brewster resort, with certified instructors offering personalized instruction. Nice: The resort accommodates solo travelers by pairing them with other players for doubles matches, enhancing the social aspect of the sport. There are also several pools, a beach, a golf course, a spa and the resort is located on the celebrated Cape bike trail, too.
And Wequassett Resort & Golf Club https://wequassett.com in Harwich has two pickleball courts and a raised viewing terrace along with cookout spaces. Guests can take lessons with an onsite resident pro—who can also double as a partner for a game of doubles. Also, expect tournaments. The perfect way to end a session on the courts, indulge in the jacuzzi or cool off in the pool and hang in a poolside cabana with sips.
