Pickleball – a growing trend nationwide and in Walton County

If you hadn’t heard much about the game of pickleball just a decade ago, you could probably have been forgiven. Not so anymore. It is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). SFIA reports that over the past few years, pickleball has seen a significant increase in participation. This can largely be attributed to its accessibility, low cost of the facilities and its wide appeal to young as well as older folks – even whole families.

So, if you would like to play something a little less strenuous than tennis, but like the general concept, pickleball may be more your game. It is a racket sport that combines some of the elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Players use paddles to hit a wiffle-like ball over a net.

Pickleball first began in the U.S. in 1965 when, according to Pickleball Rush, a website dedicated to all things pickleball, it was invented by Joel Pritchard, William Bell and Barney McCallum on Bainbridge Island, Washington. It has grown exponentially, and internationally, since then and is pretty well entrenched in Walton County. Interest, and the number of courts, continues to grow. There are now several locations in the county that offer facilities for playing the game.

“Pickleball has definitely grown in popularity. We have seen the  growth obviously with the citizens 50 and over who enjoy going out with a group of friends playing early in the morning,” said Jody Johnson, director of Walton County Parks and Recreation. “But the largest growth we have seen is with young adults and teenagers who are swarming the courts in the evenings with large groups. Some play competitively and others play while socializing. Either way they are all getting some form of exercise and have a safe environment to congregate.”

Walton County shared this overhead view of construction of new pickleball courts at Ayers Park.

There are already county pickleball courts at Criswell and Ayers Park with plans to add more courts to both facilities.

“We are in the process of building 12 more courts at Ayers park in Between. This park would be our largest where we could host large events and tournaments. Criswell will also have four more courts completed soon inside the Agriculture Center,” Johnson said. “These courts will be available most mornings for pickleball and then the 4H club will use the space for their programs. We will also be hosting special events in the space on weekends. The new park at the Grove will also have six pickleball courts. Grading has started on that project that should have a completion date in the fall of 2025.”

There are also permanent courts at Monroe Golf and Country Club and tape lines and portable nets at the Walton County Boys and Girls Club. It is the ability to use tape lines and portable nets that makes access to the game so affordable, according to Tom Tittle, who has been referred to by some as the ambassador of pickleball in Walton County.

“Churches can use tape and a portable net when they bring in people to play when the courts are booked,” said Tittle, who plays regularly at a club in his neighborhood. “I had been at the city and county folks for at least five years and finally got the chairman (David Thompson) interested. He made the statement that it is one of the cheapest ways to provide recreation for residents.”

Although pickleball has it roots in the U.S., it quickly began spreading around the world. In fact, Jane Scott, of Monroe, first learned about it while on vacation in Jamaica where a pickleball tournament was taking place. She returned to Monroe where she and her husband began playing at the Boys and Girls Club and Monroe Golf and Country Club. They were able to return to Jamaica the following year to participate in the tournament that had initially got their attention, even bringing home a couple of trophies.

Tittle said one of the key benefits to the came is that ladies and men can play as well as the young and the not so young.

“In fact, the best female player in the US is only 17 years old and the ladies can play equally as well as the men. The ball doesn’t go as fast as the tennis ball and the court is smaller,” Tittle said. “It is also very social. I have met so many people and play all over. (The late) Georgia Baker was introduced to it when I went to Monroe Baptist Church to talk to older folk to try and keep them active and he got very involved in it.”

Baker, along with Dee Overby, were credited with being instrumental in the formation, growth and success of pickleball in the county. In December 2022, the Monroe Pickleball Club posthumously honored them for their contribution to the sport in Walton County. The tournament held in their honor also raised $1,000 for the Boys and Girl’s Club of Walton County and the game has continued to grow locally as an avenue for fundraising.

Ken Pruitt, whose home courts are at The Cross in Loganville and is well-known in local pickleball circles, has been involved with some of the annual pickleball tournaments that raise money each year. Through the pickleball club at the Cross Church, the Crosseyed Picklers have raised between $3,000 and $4,000 a year for the past three years to benefit Alzheimer’s.

Contributed photo

“Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia that can lead to memory loss, mood changes, disorientation, and more. Although there’s currently no cure, there are actions people can do to help fund, build awareness, and support research efforts,” Pruitt said. “Our group has a very special interest in this critical issue of our time. We have two players/friends who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s! We do this in their honor, and for the sake of those like them that have patients and families struggling with the hardship.”

Pruitt said it also can be therapeutic for some of those who are struggling with the disease.

“We have a current active player with Alzheimer’s that is quoted as saying that pickleball saved his life,” Pruitt said. “And he wasn’t exaggerating. In fact, his wife said that when they go to their long-term doctor they discuss pickleball a lot, and the doctor tells them that he should continue to play.”

Pruitt said he also knows of a case where it was known to help someone deal with a drug addiction. At the invitation of a former addict, this person attended a church that had a pickleball league. He said that person now too is a former addict.

“Our little group, the Cross-Eyed Picklers, has become like family. We have a devotional every time we play and discuss each other’s lives and prayer requests, and we do other events together, like a movie or local band concerts,” Pruitt said. “Some of us went to the recent pro pickleball tournament in Peachtree Corners May 14th-19th where we saw the top professional pickleball players in the world.”

Pickleball has become a great avenue for social interactions – and not just in Walton County. There is now a restaurant in Gwinnett County that caters predominately to the pickleball crowd. The Pickle and Social recently opened in Buford with 16 indoor and outdoor courts, a restaurant and bar, a rooftop lounge and a beer garden. Some cruise ships also have pickleball courts on board for those who are regular players as well as those who may become new players during the trip. It has even been reported that in pursuit of older voters, President Joe Biden’s campaign will try to mobilize them with activities such as bingo …and pickleball.

If you think pickleball could be your new favorite sport, Walton County offers several options to try your hand at getting in on the trend.

Pickleball Courts in Walton County

• Boys and Girls Club in Monroe, 405 Community Ct, Monroe, GA 30655, For more information contact John Hopkins at 770-262-2887
• Monroe Golf and Country Club, 1212 Alcovy St., Monroe, GA 30655,
  For more information contact Dave Mcgowan at (770) 267-8424, http:// www.monroegcc.com/. Players need to be a member or the guest of a member of the County Club.
• Ayers Park in Between, 1011 Heritage Pkwy, Between, GA 30655. No reservation or membership required.
• Criswell Park in Monroe, 1190 Criswell Rd SE, Monroe – phone 770-267-7525. No membership required
• The Grove Park in Walnut Grove (Still under construction)

This story first appeared in the Spring Summer issue of Walton Living Magazine. Copies are available at the offices of The Walton Tribune.