Whether you want to dust off your tennis racquet or find out what the pickleball craze is all about, there are numerous opportunities to play in the Golden Isles and both communities welcome your participation.
So, where do you play and how do you get started? Start with the Glynn County Recreation and Parks Department (GCRPD) website: glynncounty.org/618/Tennis-and-Pickleball. This is where you’ll find detailed information about location and times for the area’s public tennis and pickleball courts on St. Simons Island and in Brunswick. Please note that the dual-use courts at Kings Park on St. Simons Island have specific designated days and times for tennis and for pickleball, so please observe this schedule and plan accordingly. Other than those times, courts are generally first come, first served. Court rules and etiquette are also listed on the site. Please be courteous and do not walk or stand on the courts while others are using them.
The Jekyll Island Tennis Center is a public tennis facility featuring 13 Har-tru clay courts and a pro shop that offers racket and ball machine rental and tennis racket stringing. The Center hosts several USTA tournaments for adults and juniors and received a USTA Outstanding Facility Award in 2018. They offer membership packages, court rentals (reservations required), private instructional lessons, and tennis workshops. Details are available at jekyllisland.com/activities/tennis. Sea Island’s Retreat Tennis and Pickleball Center is available for use by members and guests and offers rentals, group clinics, drills and play analysis, and private lessons. That information is available at seaisland.com/experience/activities.
GCRPD Director Lisa Gurganus encourages everyone to get out and get active whether it’s by playing tennis, pickleball, kicking a soccer ball, or grabbing a fishing rod. There are many programs offered by GCRPD, including tennis lessons and camps, introductory classes, and pickleball clinics. A full schedule can be found at glynncounty.org/153/Recreation-and-Parks. Follow their Facebook page for updates and additional information.
SSI Pickleball welcomes residents and visitors alike to join them on the courts at Kings Park (601 Mallery St.) to play the nation’s fastest growing sport. This island organization’s stated mission is “to promote, teach, inform and insure that you have a wonderful chance to play pickleball on St. Simons Island.” Board member Bill Carmichael says even if you’ve never played before, “Pickleball is something you can pick up in just a couple hours. It’s a fun and social game. Most players out at the courts would be happy to show you what you need to know. Just drop in, stack your paddle in the rack, and wait for an open court.” For the uninitiated, stacking paddles is how pickleball players reserve a court. And because the courts at Kings Park are now the only courts available for pickleball use on St. Simons Island, you may find a dozen people or more waiting to get on a court; so be patient and enjoy the social aspect of the sport that makes it so enjoyable for many. Also keep in mind that there are dedicated pickleball courts across the causeway at Howard Coffin Park and 12 new courts at the North Glynn Recreation Complex.
Carmichael says the pickleball folks here are a friendly and welcoming group and there’s competition at every level of play. He says you’ll find more experienced or advanced players trying to get in their court time at Kings Park between 7:30-11:00 a.m. on most days (especially on the days the dual use courts are dedicated to pickleball play) or between 2:00-4:00 p.m. And don’t think that local residents are the only ones using the courts – you’ll see avid players who are just here for the weekend honing their skills by playing against different competitors and visiting families learning to pick up the game. Bill says that’s the great thing about pickleball, anyone can play. The smaller court size and shorter paddles make it easy for kids and older adults to play together recreationally. The lively conversation and laughter you’ll encounter at the pickleball courts is extended to social activities held by SSI Pickleball as well. They do more than just play pickleball! To see what the group is up to and how to join them, SSI Pickleball website has helpful resources and links to basic pickleball rules and pickleball tournaments as well as their newsletter. Check it out at ssipickleball.org.
To hook up with the local tennis community, get in touch with Golden Isles Tennis. Board member Karen Hufnagel says, “We have a mission to expand our reach and attract a broader array of players. Tennis is a fun sport that is growing, and we want as many people to enjoy it as they can.” In addition to the year-round adult leagues they offer, their tennis apprentice programs are designed for new players to learn the game. They’re hoping to offer more of these programs to select focus groups, such as men-only, teachers, etc. to provide a setting where these individuals will feel comfortable learning. Karen says they’re also working with area tennis coaches to find a way to start a Youth Tennis League and provide more local playing time for younger players. Their aim and stated vision of Golden Isles Tennis is to be the entry point into everything tennis for the local area and to provide or facilitate a variety of fun, affordable tennis activities, programs, and events accessible to everyone. Karen recommends that anyone interested in upcoming tournaments, programs, camps, fundraisers, and other events visits the Golden Isles Tennis website at goldenislestennis.com to sign up for the organization’s newsletter because they share not only information from Golden Isles Tennis, but visiting pros, nearby tournaments, etc.
The bottom line, there’s room for everyone to play! Grab a racquet or a paddle and take to the court to enjoy fun with your family or some new friends.
