Lakewood Ranch’s Pickleball Club: The sudden closure of The Pickleball Club on Sarasota Center Boulevard in late 2024 left many Lakewood Ranch players searching for new courts. The facility, which opened in May 2023, shut down due to financial struggles, disappointing its members and leaving a gap in the local pickleball scene.
High Costs and Member Reactions
The Pickleball Club featured 12 championship-grade indoor courts and luxurious amenities, but its business model, including a $1,000 initiation fee and $100 monthly dues, proved challenging.
Member Bob Haskin said he and his wife spent around $5,000 in a year before leaving, noting that “not too many people can afford to pay that for pickleball.”
Players Seek Alternatives
With the facility closed, players are turning to outdoor courts at Lakewood Ranch Park and Sarasota’s Pompano Park. However, some, like Pam Williams, prefer indoor play. “It’s a totally different situation when you play outside,” she said, citing surface consistency and weather conditions.
“You don’t have that consistency outside.” – (Williams)
Future Indoor Options
Manatee County’s new Premier Sports North Campus will feature 24 pickleball courts, including 14 covered courts, but it won’t open until late summer or early fall 2026. Until then, Lakewood Ranch’s pickleball community continues to adjust, hoping for new indoor options sooner.
News in Brief: Lakewood Ranch’s Pickleball Club
The Pickleball Club in Lakewood Ranch closed in late 2024 due to financial issues. Members, frustrated by rising costs, now rely on outdoor courts. A new sports facility with covered courts is planned for 2026, but players are still searching for indoor options in the meantime.
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