By:
Joe De Luna, Director of Tennis
Pickleball is one of — if not the — fastest growing sport in the United States with a 600% increase in participation over the last five years. More than 3.5 million people play the game nationally. This has been reflected in the growth and level of participation here at The Tennis and Pickleball Club at Cordillera Ranch, and in response, new courts are currently being constructed to accommodate our growing membership.
This popular game is a combination of badminton, tennis and ping pong. Pickleball is played with paddles, larger than ping pong paddles (usually made from wood, composite or graphite), and a wiffleball. The court dimensions are the same as a badminton court. Many times, you hit the ball while facing the net like in ping pong and the movements and strategies are very similar to tennis.
Site work and construction of the new courts are underway at the Tennis and Pickleball Club and when complete, Cordillera Ranch will have six dedicated pickleball courts with LED lighting. This is a great amenity for the Clubs and will be home to over 75 pickleball-playing members. This will also be a unique facility in the San Antonio area for private clubs.
The Cordillera Ranch Pickleball group of “core” players meets three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings. The group usually consists of 10-20 players a day. From this group of “core” players, other groups have formed on alternate days and times, usually with four to eight players. These are typically slightly less experienced players, couples, kids, families or seniors. So, based on these numbers, we are seeing an average of 45-75 players weekly at various times.
The new courts will be used in a variety of ways for pickleball social play, leagues, social events, clinics, lessons and tournaments. Hosting other private clubs at our new pickleball courts will be a great way to showcase the Ranch and meet new pickleball players from around the area in a fun and competitive atmosphere.
The pickleball courts can also be used to enhance our Junior Tennis Program as the smaller courts and nets are ideal for kids 4-10 years old. Additionally, they can be used to expand summer camps and other kids’ camp programming throughout the year.
Upgrading the pickleball facility will be a great way for members to meet and socialize, and it will create a path for new members to plug into Cordillera Ranch’s awesome culture. Pickleball is here to stay and The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch are ready for the future growth of this sport for men and women of all ages and levels. We should “relish” pickleball and be happy that we are no longer in a “pickle” when it comes to our courts. I look forward to seeing you at our new pickleball facility later this year.
So, Keep Calm and Pickle On.
Joe De Luna is the Director of Tennis at The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch. He can be reached at jdeluna@cordilleraranch.com or 830.336.4660.
