It’s a sunny Tuesday morning at Finley Community Park on the west side of Santa Rosa, and a fenced-in area on the north side of the park is practically overflowing with players ready to throw down.
A quick poll of the crowd reveals they’ve come from all over the county: Petaluma, Cloverdale, Sonoma, and beyond. Some look old enough to have AARP cards. Others look young enough to pound beers without stomach problems. Several look very young — at least one player can’t possibly be more than 10.
They’ve come to play pickleball, the fastest growing sport in America. It’s a mashup of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong that has spawned a cult-like following among those who play. It’s hard for zealots to be nonchalant about pickleball.
One might even call pickleball a phenomenon. Nationwide, participation in the sport has proliferated by more than 150% in the last three years, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). Here in Sonoma County, pickle-mania is also on the rise — a new members-only, 33-court facility is slated to open in Rohnert Park, and public and private courts continue to come online.
“It’s almost impossible to play this game and have a bad time,” says Kathy Kerst, a 76-year-old Santa Rosa resident who set up the Sonoma County Pickleball Club with her husband and has become the de facto head of the local pickleball community. “It also happens to be a great workout.”
Pickleball is also easy to learn, which may account for some of its popularity.
The game is played on a court about half the size of a tennis court; the part of the court closest to the net is called the “kitchen.”
Pickleball paddles are plastic and a little smaller than most racquetball rackets. The pickleball itself, made of hard plastic, is slightly larger than a tennis ball and has holes that slow it down in midair, much like the holes of a wiffle ball.
While it’s possible to play singles, the most popular version of the game is doubles — USA Pickleball estimates that roughly 80% of all games involve two players on each side. Because the court is so small, the action in these four-player contests can get fast and furious. Some novices can crank the ball at speeds of more than 45 mph.
Finally, and to set the record straight, pickleball has nothing to do with pickles.
The game was invented on Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1965, and Joan Pritchard, wife of one of the founders, is credited with suggesting the name because the game combined elements from other sports like how “pickle boats” in crew racing are made up of mismatched oarsmen from other teams.
Today, pickleball is played all over Sonoma County. Among public courts, the ones at Finley are by far the most popular, followed by Lucchesi Park in Petaluma, and Hiram Lewis Community Park in Windsor. Larson Park in Sonoma and Galvin Park in Santa Rosa are both in the process of converting some tennis courts into designated pickleball courts, which are targeted to be complete by the end of this year.
Private courts abound, too, and offer a totally different vibe. Most of these courts are in gated communities such as Oakmont in the Sonoma Valley, golf clubs, and fitness centers. A select few give the game a Wine Country spin.
On the Sonoma side of the Carneros region, for instance, Anaba Wines has a pickleball court in the middle of a Picpoul Blanc vineyard. The winery offers a tasting that includes one hour of pickleball, and 1-ounce pours of four different wines. The tasting takes place under a gazebo adjacent to the court. Guests often complement the experience with pizzas from the on-site wood-fired oven as well.
“There aren’t many places around here where you can play pickleball in the middle of a vineyard,” says Michelle Hogan, Anaba’s marketing and brand director. “We’re proud to say we’re one of them.”
On the Napa side of Carneros, the two pickleball courts at Carneros Resort and Spa are branded with the signature yellow of Veuve Clicquot, and are adjacent to the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar & Lounge — a pop-up bar that serves bubbles before, during, and after every match.
The resort also employs former pickleball pro Jeff Forcier, who’s on hand twice weekly to help teach the game. “Pickleball is a very social event; it’s easy to meet new people,” Forcier explains. “This property’s courts are set up so that a lot of people can gather, socialize, and play at the same time. I don’t see this at other locations [around the Bay Area].”
Looking forward, Sonoma County pickleballers are excited for the arrival of CenterLine 33 — a members-only facility with 17 indoor courts, 16 outdoor courts, a café, a spa, and a fitness center. The club is scheduled to open this fall in an old movie theater in Rohnert Park.
At 75,000 square feet indoors, it will be one of the largest pickleball facilities in Northern California.
According to Kip Zook, marketing and sales director for CenterLine 33, the project is the brainchild of Rich Coombs, a partner in the Roxy and Airport theaters in Santa Rosa, general partner in the Airport Business Center, and president of the Windsor Golf Club.
Two of the 17 indoor courts at the new facility will have stadium-style seating to accommodate up to 150 spectators apiece with an element of nostalgia built in. All the seats are repurposed from Summerfield Cinemas in Santa Rosa, which Coombs was a partner in as well.
With these courts, the facility will be equipped to host special matches and high-profile tournaments with nationally ranked players and celebrities from across the country.
“We want to become the go-to place for pickleball events in the region,” says Zook.
Member sign-ups for CenterLine 33 will start sometime shortly before they open, and Zook adds that the club had no plans to accommodate walk-ins unless they were guests of a member.
While this might seem exclusionary, Zook says any additional pickleball in Sonoma County is a good thing. “The more pickleball, the better.”