Pickleball: Lazy Tennis for the Whole Family
What happens when badminton, tennis and ping pong have a few too many at the recreational office party?
Once upon a badminton court in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Wash., a bored congressman got together with a businessman and they started gleefully thwacking a perforated plastic ball around.
Then, as any lawmaker does, they created some rules and named the game after a dog.
Voila! Pickleball was born.
Why? Isn’t it just lazy tennis?
If you’d like to discover pickleball for yourself, you can find plenty of fun spots in the Pensacola area where you can gleefully thwack that little perforated ball across the pickleball nets. There’s a great social media site where you can connect with the pickleball community. So, check out the Pensacola Panhandle Pickleball group on Facebook. They can update you on places to play, tournaments or even places where you can get rated and develop your skillsets.
In the meantime, here’s a listing of some local spots to thwack:
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Vickrey Resource Center
Get DirectionsThe Vickrey Center hosts Open Gym Pickleball for a $1 per person from 6-8 pm.
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Malcolm Yonge Center
Get DirectionsThe Malcolm Yonge Center has been temporarily closed for an undetermined period. When it reopens, it has three, free indoor courts. The lines are permanent, and portable nets are available. Players have access to restrooms and lights.
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Hollis T. Williams Park
Get DirectionsCome play pickleball at Hollis T. Williams Park in Pensacola! There are three outdoor courts. The lines are overlaid on a tennis court, so the net is a little taller than a normal pickleball net. The courts are free.
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Pensacola Athletic Center
Get DirectionsPensacola Athletic Center is one of the most popular places to play pickleball in Pensacola. There are four outdoor dedicated hard courts with permanent lines and nets. Players have access to food, restrooms, water, wheelchair accessibility, and lights. The rub? A PAC membership is required to play.
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Bear Levin Studer Family YMCA
Get DirectionsThe YMCA has two indoor hard courts for play by members. The lines are permanent, and portable nets are available. Reservations are available.
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Navy Federal Recreation Center
Get DirectionsNavy Federal opened a 28-acre facility in the Beulah community in northwest Pensacola as a shared connection for Navy Federal team members and the community. There are two pickleball courts, and you also can enjoy walking paths, athletic fields, a yoga lawn, fitness equipment and a pavilion. Some amenities are first come, first served, while others are available to reserve online. This inclusive center can be reached from Navy Federal’s Greater Pensacola campus and Nine Mile Road. There is plenty of on-site parking. The Recreation Center will be open 7 days a week from 6 am–9 pm.
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University of West Florida
Get DirectionsUniversity Park offers a variety of spaces for recreational activities. The space includes pickleball courts, outdoor racquetball/handball courts, a sand volleyball court and public restrooms.
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Armstrong Park
Get DirectionsArmstrong Park (as pictured at the top of this blog) boasts 3 pickleball courts. All are free to go play on. There is also one tennis court.
Happy thwacking and may your serves be as precise as your sense of humor!
