You probably can't play Lone Palm's new pickleball courts, but check out other options
Lonnie Brown
4 min read
Kelly Recreation Center has one of many public pickleball options across Polk. Lone Palm Golf Club just opened a glistening new 13-court facility. But it's only open to members.
Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the opening of Lone Palm Golf Course in Lakeland, founded by Publix Super Markets founder George W. Jenkins.
"Mr. George" was an avid golfer. But a few years after the clubhouse opened, a few tennis courts were added. They, along with bathrooms, were located about the distance of a par-four hole away from the course's clubhouse, closer to Memorial Boulevard than the clubhouse.
And the golf course and the tennis courts lived happily ever after.
Until one didn't.
Over several decades, the tennis courts fell into disuse; then disrepair. About two years ago, talk began about tearing out the courts, which was followed by the talk of replacing them — not with modern courts, but with courts for America's fastest-growing sport: Pickleball.
A report released this year by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association found pickleball participation in the United States more than doubled from 2021 to 2022 to nearly 9 million players. No other sport came close.
The male/female ratio of those players is 60/40, the detailed survey found. (Tennis has an estimated 23 million players, and the male/female ration is more evenly divided at about 53/47.)
The report found that from 2019 to 2022, participation in pickleball increased nearly 160%.
Tom Cove, the SFIA's CEO, said the research dispelled the "conventional wisdom" that pickleball is "a sport for older people. Our data indicates the average age of a pickleball player is 35 years of age, and the age group with the most participants is 25-34. Pickleball is friendly to all ages, as evidenced by the second largest cohorts of players being 18-24 and 65-plus [tied]. It is being played all over the country and in a myriad of facilities and courts."
Lone Palm's talk turned into action about a year ago, and last week, 13 pickleball courts, along with a clubhouse, pro shop complete with equipment and a pro, plus a snack bar, were dedicated. There are viewing stands for watching players and professional matches. The courts are also lighted for night play.
The transformation from tennis to pickleball courts at the venerable golf course is typical of what is happening across America: A deeply rooted racket sport that had its first organized club formed in1873 is giving way to another racket sport that originated in 1965 in a backyard in Bainbridge Island, Washington.
At 880 square-feet, pickleball courts are about a third the size of a tennis court. The ball is lighter, meaning less speed when compared with a tennis ball. Pickleball is easier on the knees.
"The response has been very enthusiastic," said Wayne Raath, the club's manager. The pickleball facilities are for members of Lone Palm only, he said, adding that there is an "extensive" waiting list of applicants. The facility's grand opening featured exhibition matches between world-class pickleball players.
While the new Lone Palm courts are private, there are dozens of other pickleball courts around Polk County that are open to the public. And if you don't know the rules, there are websites offering text and videos of the game.
The USA Pickleball Association is hosting the biggest pickleball tournament in its relatively brief history from Nov. 5-12 in Dallas. There will be broadcasts of play from Nov. 7 through Nov. 12 on ESPN, the Tennis Channel and pickleballtv (a channel available on YouTube.com).
For background on pickleball equipment, rules and tips, there is a 25-minute video tutorial at this link: www.tinyurl.com/PickleballTutorial.
Polk County's cities have had pickleball courts for several years — either making them by tennis-court conversions or building them. Finding where they are, or where there are other "pickleheads" available for matches, isn't difficult — even if you don't have an Internet connection.
Simply call the local parks and recreation department. Or ask at a community center or gym. Classes, sometimes free, are also available at city courts.
Using Google, just type in "pickleball courts near me" without the quotes. You won't even have to finish typing that. It's been searched for so many times that the phrase completes itself.
Pickleheads has both a webpage (www.pickleheads.com) and a mobile app (for both Android and Apple phones). "So far, we’ve profiled over 14,306 pickleball courts in 5,561 cities across the United States," the webpage noted. "And we’re adding more every day, as well as pickleball equipment reviews, detailed ‘how-to’ guides and fascinating facts about our favorite pastime. We’re also building a range of new features to get you out on the court."
Courts can be searched out in specific cities. Lakeland, for instance, will turn up courts at Kelly Recreation Center, Lake Parker and Woodlake parks, and Simpson Park Community Center.
Since 1965 to 2022, the number of pickleball courts in the United States has grown — according to the USA Pickleball Association — from one to 38,000. That's an average of 667 courts a year.
This year, the association estimates just over 1,000 will be added.
Like they said: The fastest-growing sport in America.
