The pickleball courts at Montclair are busy on most days of the week, but on the first weekend in May brought a record number of players to the courts.
“We had 235. Last year, we had 176,” according to Anne Rheins, who heads the event.
With no more court space, organizers added a Thursday night to accommodate players.
Pickleball is a rapidly-growing sport, Rheins said.
Enjoyed by all ages and ability levels, pickleball has now reached the professional arena with the likes of Tom Brady and LeBron James buying pickleball teams, Rheins said.
At Montclair, the competition can get heated, but not to that level.
Montclair’s pickleball memberships have peaked at 550 with a waiting list of 75 people, she said. The one thing that Rheins feels stands out at Montclair is the sense of community.
“People have great relationships,” she said.
The group also has volunteer hosts who help newcomers learn the game and facilitate play at the courts.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the publisher of Augusta Good News. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
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Pickleball storm is coming. I need to jump in on this. Looks like a lot of fun.