ENCINITAS —The number of pickleball players and courts continues to rise in North County, particularly in Encinitas, which has quickly become a hotspot for professional and casual picklers alike.
Brandon Mackie, co-founder of Pickleheads, a company that covers all things pickleball, has noted this exponential growth over the past couple of years in Encinitas thanks in large part to the city’s five dedicated pickleball venues.
“In Encinitas, we count 22 dedicated pickleball courts, meaning it has permanent lines and nets,” Mackie said. “That’s 3.51 dedicated courses per 10,000 residents. The national average is around 3.03, so about 16% above average in terms of dedicated pickleball courts. Encinitas is ahead of the curve in dedicated facilities, adding to our assessment that it’s a hotspot.”
The 22 dedicated courts come from Bobby Riggs Racket and Paddle Club, but picklers can also find playing space at Magdelena Ecke YMCA, Stagecoach Community Center and Cottonwood Creek Park. At Bobby Riggs, pickleball has moved ahead of tennis in popularity.
This is not a hidden change, either. Dorcy Norton, admin of the Facebook group Encinitas Pickleball at Bobby Riggs, said she has seen a huge increase in the number of players from beginner to professional at Bobby Riggs
“I run a tournament once a month there, and the tournament will sell out within a day,” Norton said. “I can have a hundred people for three hours, and it sells out consistently. I run other tournaments around the county, but I have to say Bobby Riggs is probably the busiest and biggest.”
Norton said the club used to cater to residents in the 60-70 age range, but now it has seen people in their early 20s taking to the courts. The club is also a place where pro pickleball players have stopped to compete, including the owners, Steve and Jennifer Dawson, and their son, Callan, who play in tournaments across the country.
“We haven’t had a pro stop there this year,” Norton said. “But in the past three or four years, we did a couple of pro stops and we’re doing a pro tournament.”
But the club is not only for the pros, Norton said, it’s also for family fun and making new friends.
“Go try it, have fun, and you’ll get hooked,” Norton said. “You get to talk to a lot of people, and there’s comradery in that. You can hang out afterward and make friends, and you meet all sorts of new people. It’s just a whole community, and it’s really cool.”
Newcomers are encouraged to visit the Norton’s Facebook group to sign up for tournaments and connect with fellow players. Beginners, guests, and experienced players are all welcome to play and no reservations, partners, or even paddles are required to start playing.
