Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch: The Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch has reopened after closing six months ago. It now runs under new owner Scott Hermann, who appointed Matt Lund as Chief Executive Officer. The soft opening began on June 1, 2025, as the team works toward rebuilding membership and regaining community trust.
Matt Lund, who moved to the area in December after a long career with the YMCA in Wisconsin, was originally hired by the former owner. However, the club shut down two weeks after he started. Now, he is back and leading the business with a new plan for success.
A Fresh Start After Sudden Closure
Matt Lund was surprised when the club suddenly closed. “All of a sudden, boom, nothing’s there. No more paycheck, no more job. I was like, ‘I think there’s a bigger plan going here, and we just need to be patient and see what happens,’” he said.
Six months later, Scott Hermann bought the facility and brought Lund back as CEO. “Scott (Hermann) has been fantastic and he’s put as much trust in me as I put in him that we’re going to work together and do this right,” Lund said.
Lund, his wife Stephanie, and their four children—Adalynn, Christian, Payton, and McKaelynn—live in Lakewood Ranch and play pickleball together, making the job a perfect fit for him.
Fast Work, Clear Plans, and Growing Membership
Matt Lund and Scott Hermann quickly prepared the club to reopen. “We put in about probably three to six months of work within three weeks,” Lund said. “It was a lot of work, a lot of time, but it was something that we wanted to do, and so we made it happen.”
The club now has 200 members and is aiming for 450 to keep the business running smoothly. Membership costs range from $80 to $525 per month, plus a one-time joining fee. Details are available at PickleballClubLWR.com.
“We wanted to be fully transparent about what is included,” Lund said.
He believes good service and a welcoming space are key to success. “It comes down to customer service — giving adequate space, and understanding that you’re dealing with multiple types of individuals who have different needs,” he said.
Learning from the Past and Looking Ahead
Lund said the old version of the club failed due to high prices and constant changes. “It was just charge, charge, charge, charge,” he said. “By the time you’re done as a member, you’re going, what benefits do I have beyond the fact that I’m paying a lot of money for it?”
He also pointed to the cost of the building, which was more than $11 million. “It should have been $8-9 million,” Lund said.
While other pickleball courts are being built in Manatee County, he believes The Pickleball Club stands out due to its air-conditioned indoor facility and added features.
“You’re not having to deal with wind, the humidity, the heat and the rain,” Lund said.
He also commented on the new complex being built at Premier Sports Campus. “They have several covered courts, steel frame structure, but they have no sides. You’re still affected by the weather, it just kind of keeps the sun and rain off of you,” he said. “I’m actually looking forward to that outdoor one myself, because it sounds like it’s going to be a beautiful complex between the pickleball courts and the aquatic center.”
Focus on Community and Healthy Living
The Pickleball Club currently has three full-time and five part-time staff members. Matt Lund said they all take on different roles and plan to grow the team as memberships rise.
“As we continue to build on what we’re doing here, the community is going to benefit,” he said. “We have a heavy focus on not just the pickleball community, but the senior community, the youth community, the development of a healthy lifestyle and that social responsibility aspect,” Lund said.
News in Brief: Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch
The Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch has reopened under new owner Scott Hermann with Matt Lund as CEO. The club launched with 200 members and aims for 450. With a focus on service, health, and social connection, the club offers a climate-controlled space and plans to grow with the community.
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