THE MONTEREY BAY AREA'S PICKLEBALL PLAYLAND
MONTEREY COUNTY
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
SAN BENITO COUNTY
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FULL WRITEUPS AND REVIEWS: EVERY CITY. EVERY VENUE. EVERY COURT. EVERY GAME.
GUIDE TO COURTS AND (ALL OF THE) PLACES TO PLAY IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
BROMMER STREET PARK
1451 30th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
4 Permanent Courts, 4 Painted Courts (Bring Your Own Net)
Organized Play: Monday/Friday 9:00AM-12:00PM (Social Play 9:00-10:00AM, Skill-Level Play 10:00AM-Noon)
Free New Player Introduction (by Santa Cruz Pickleball Club) Monday/Friday 11:30AM
4 Permanent Courts (With Lights), 4 Painted Courts (Bring Your Own Net)
Open Play: 8:30 AM-Dark
Because of its central location and 4 permanent nets, Brommer Street County Park, or “Brommer” to local pickleball players, has emerged as the epicenter of the sport in Santa Cruz County. Each day of the week, you’ll find players of all skill levels at Brommer, practicing their dinks and drops and having a dang good time doing it. The town’s quintessensial pickleball hotspot, Brommer gets hopping in the mornings and fills up in the late afternoons (around 3PM). When the Santa Cruz Pickleball Club does its thing on Mondays and Fridays from 9AM to Noon, things reach a whole new level of insanity. All 8 potential courts are in a flurry of non-stop use and a crowd of 40+ strong wait eagerly on the wings for their chance to enter the Brommer arena and play a game. Besides Skypark, Brommer Street County Park is really one of the only places to go for drop-ins and pick-up games - if you don’t have a gang to play with (it happens!). It’s also one of the only places around with permanent, high-quality nets. A little over 5 years ago, the County of Santa Cruz unveiled the domicile’s first ever pickleball courts - at Brommer. There was a fancy little ribbon ceremony to celebrate, and politicians joined pickleballers (a bunch from the Santa Cruz Pickleball Club) in a day of merriment and jubilation. Finally!! “We heard from residents that this fast-growing sport was something they wanted as part of the recreation options in Santa Cruz County,” said Supervisor John Leopold. The tireless efforts of pickleball advocates and die-hards paid off and now we all have a place to play that we can be proud of. With the sport getting so popular, and Brommer being the go-to destination for a lot of folks, sometimes the permanent courts get filled. So be prepared to rotate in, or better yet, bring a net (for a backup).
SERGEANT DERBY PARK
508 Woodland Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
6 Painted Courts (2 County-Provided Portable Nets)
Amenities: Bathroom (Porta-Potty), Water Fountain, Parking on Street (San Jose Ave.)
Scheduled Play: SC Pickleball Club Play Wednesday/Sunday - Social Play 9:00-10:00AM. Skill-Level Play 10:00AM-Noon
Open Play Thursday 5:00PM-7:00 PM. Bring own Balls and Nets (2 Nets On-Site)
SC Pickleball Club New Player Intro - 11:00AM
Looking for the perfect spot to dink or bang in Santa Cruz County? Well, you've reached the right place. We've oh-so-happily created the definitive guide to playing pickleball here in Surf City. Below, locals and visitors alike can read about ALL the court options out there in detail - including organized and casual play. Local pickleball courts - especially (the permanent ones) at Brommer Street Park and Sergeant Derby Park - are (sadly or happily?) getting quite crowded these days. So it's important to know where to go, have backup plans, and understand all the details and nuances of a particular pickleball environment. Join the Santa Cruz Pickleball Club at one of its many weekly sessions, show up by your lonesome and hope for the best, or grab some balls and buds and go play a pickup game. There is pickleball - at all skill levels - to be had out there. Now, you know where to go.
SURF CITY'S BIGGEST, MOST-POPULAR PICKLEBALL HOT-SPOTS
First, we'll cover, describe and spill the proverbial beans about the County's most happening and hopping pickleball hot-spots. These are the local joints that are packed with picklers most days of the week - during either Club play or drop-in/casual competition. And these are the places you should definitely check out to get a true flavor of Surf City's unique and vibrant pickleball community. Whether you're a seasoned 4.5-rated vet, a pickleball newbie/neophyte, or a passionate player visiting the area and scrambling to find some folks to bang with, these are the places to start with - to find the court, game, and fun that your little pickle-balling-heart desires. As the popularity of pickleball continues its mind-boggling ascension into the stratosphere, some of the pickle-places listed below can get quite slammed at times- and permanent courts gobbled up fast. So bringing, or investing in, your own, portable net - as a backup plan - is always a good idea. It's not uncommon to see 70+ pickleball-fanatics show up (and cram the courts) to play on Club days (at places like Brommer Street Park). But as they say, good things come to those who (have to) wait.
BROMMER STREET PARK SERGEANT DERBY PARK SKYPARK
4 Permanent Courts (With Lights), 4 Painted Courts (Bring Your Own Net)
Organized Play: 9-Noon Saturdays ($4 Drop-In Fee). Beginner to Advanced.
Open Play: 8:00AM to 9:00 Monday -Sunday
Facilities: Bathroom (Porta-Potty) and Parking (Lot) Onsite
Want to play some pickleball at night, under the lights? Then you have GOT to head to Scotts Valley and the pickleball courts at Skypark. Scotts Valley Parks and Recreation added (blue) pickleball lines to Skypark’s always popular and well-used tennis courts in 2015. And soon after, the local org added four permanent pickleball courts for local Valley players to enjoy. You can safely say that pickleball has caught fire in the “bridge” community between the Sea and Silicon Valley. The biggest draw to pickleball-in’ at Skypark are the super-strong lights surrounding the well-maintained courts. They allow for play at all times of the day, and evening. The courts at Skypark get busy in the morning, but truly come alive in the late-afternoon - when weary folks come home from work and need to expend some pent-up energy. There are a core group of players who show up almost religiously and are welcome to those visiting from outside the area, newer players, and those seeking pick-up games. If the permanent courts are filled to capacity, you can still play some ball if you bring your own net. Skypark has become the recreational hub for many Scotts Valley residents and in addition to being a fab place to play pickleball, it boasts a pretty sweet skatepark, 2 playgrounds, 2 dog parks, basketball and bocce courts, a pump track, BBQ pits, and a soccer field. The community gathering spot, constructed on an old converted air-strip (hence the name) is tucked behind rows of newish townhomes and a nearby mall containing shops, a theater, and a grocery store. Definitely worth the visit.
SKYPARK (Tennis and Pickleball Courts)
912 Coast Range Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95006
Derby Park is sort of a little-hidden-gem here, in Surf City. Brommer Park gets most of the attention, and has the cache in the local pickle-balling community. But Derby, on the County's Westside is a great place to play. There are no permanent nets to use here, but the County of Santa Cruz has graciously provided players with two easy-to-move and set up portable nets (on-site). The Santa Cruz Pickleball Club takes over the Park's 6 pickleball courts every Wedensday and Sunday mornings - from 9:00AM to Noon. Around 50 players show up each week to battle it out in open and skill-level competition. One thing that puts Derby above its Eastside counterpart (Brommer) is that the wait times are less. And - as pickleball becomes big and more people join the SCPC this is a good thing, and a reason to take the trip and visit Derby Park's courts. When the Club isn't organizing play, Derby still gets its fair share of action. It's a popular environment for organized groups and foursomes to throw down, and you be able to join in, and find pick-up games during hot times in the morning and after-work (evening). If you're just getting into pickleball and don't know where to go or where to start, show up to a Club day at 11:00AM - you'll be able to borrow a paddle and smack the ball around while learning the basic of the game from a knowledgeable teacher.. Parking at the Park can be a little problematic - there is no designated parking lot - and it's recommended that you park on San Jose Avenue to access the courts (Google Maps will get you there). There are drinking fountains and bathrooms if you feel the need, and a beautiful park setting to take the dog for a walk, your kids to skate, or your buddies to practice their disc golf (another great sport by the way). If traffic is bad, or you live on the Westside and can't make it to Capitola's Brommer Park, Derby Park is the way to go.
SWANKY AND PRIVATE PLACES TO PLAY PICKLEBALL IN SURF CITY
Now, we'll briefly dive into the world of exclusive, private and - let's just call it swanky - pickleball in Santa Cruz County. If you've got money to burn, there are places to play. Sometimes, as the sport of pickleball continues to catch on and catch fire, it can be hard to find an open court to play on. Joining a Club - like Seascape Racquet Club or La Madrona - can ensure that you can play your favorite sport, when you want to. It's also an avenue into a private, and often times tight, pickleball community. Some clubs and private venues offer member-only perks like playing under the lights in the evening, and meet-ups, clinics, fun events, and exclusive lessons (some from top pros). If you can afford it, private pickleball clubs can be a dream come true. For the rest of us though - see you at Brommer!
SEASCAPE ATHLETIC CLUB LA MADRONA ATHLETIC CLUB
SEASCAPE ATHLETIC CLUB
1505 Seascape Blvd. Aptos, CA 95003
8 Courts ( 4 With Lights), Three Permanent Courts
"Nooners" Wednesdays 12-2:00PM. 5$ Non-Member Fee. Open to Public.
First Visit Free.
Amenities: It's a Club! Gym, Pool, Locker Rooms, Hot Tubs, Tennis Courts, Bar, Food
Drop-In Challenge Courts: Beginner/Intermediate Sundays 1-2:00PM,
Wednesdays 12-2:00PM, Fridays 12-2:00PM. Advanced Play Tuesdays
and Thursdays 4-6:30PM.
Four Beautiful, Lighted Courts (Allowing For Night Play)
Folks like to say that “you get what you pay for.” And you will pay if you want to play pickleball at the Seascape Athletic Club. Featuring 12 Championship tennis courts, a pool, hot tubs, gym, and many fitness areas, and most-recently 8 pickleball courts, the family-owned swanky Club has been serving the County’s rich and elite since opening in 1972. Seascape has always been a posh and exclusive destination for tennis. Heck, their Stadium Center Court seats over a thousand people and they even have a court made out of clay. But recently their members have begun to take to a new and dangerous game – pickleball. To adapt, Seascape has had to pivot fast. The folks on top hired a “director of pickleball” and dedicated 8 courts, four of them lighted, to the sport. Now, people aren’t joining the Seascape Club to swim or workout, they are joining to pickle! Seascape is a dang good place to pickle too. 3 of their brand new and downright impeccable courts boast ocean views, and 3 of their courts are lighted (playing pickleball at night is awesome!) The "Club" does feel like a swanky, upscale "club." There's always been a certain exclusivity associated with Seascape Athletic Club and its pickleball scene is no exception. Many of the area's most-competitive players frequent Seascape, but the environment is welcoming - and inclusive - to players of all skill levels. There are always games to had - especially on the permanent courts that boast those stunning ocean views. Put some shekels down and enjoy a few hours of pickleball followed with a nice soak in one of the Club's hot tubs. Top it off with a stiff drink with your club-mates at the nicely appointed bar. If you aren't quite ready to commit, try out Seascape Athletic Club for a few days as a guest. Members can also bring guest pickleballers on the first Friday of every month - with bumping live music and a free dinner!
LA MADRONA ATHLETIC CLUB
1897 La Madrona Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Clinics: Intermediate Mondays 5-6:00 PM ($15 Member, $20 Non)
Intermediate/Advanced Mondays 6-7:00PM ($15 Member, $20 Non)
Beginner Thursdays 11:30AM-1:00PM ($20 Member, $25 Non)
Private Lessons: $80 per Hour for Members, $90 Non-Members (By Request)
Drop-in-Play: "Pickles and Pints" Thursdays 6-8:00PM, Fridays 11:30AM-1:00PM (Free for Members). All Skill-Levels
Amenities: Club Perks - Pool, Hot Tubs, Fitness Gym, Tennis, Classes,
Another posh place to play some ball - this one located in the ultra scenic Santa Cruz Mountains. La Madrona Athletic Club has distinguished itself as one of the premier health and wellness clubs in the County. It ain't cheap, but the perks and member-benefits are many. Let's just say it, it's absolutely gorgeous. And it's the perfect swanky hangout spot for the entire family. Tennis, swimming, fitness classes, member socials - and pickleball! What could be better? Like Seascape, formerly tennis-and-aquatics-centric La Madrona has pivoted in the direction of the up-and-coming sport- bowing to member demands. Boasting 4 super-nice pickleball courts, the Club welcomes players of all skill-levels and abilities - and offers weekly socials, drop-ins, clinics and private lessons. Higher-ups at the Club even hired their very own "Head Pickleball Pro," Karen Haseldon, to add an air of solidity and professionalism to its pickle-programming. For folks who work over the hill in Silicon Valley, and for those living in the Santa Cruz Mountains, La Madrona is a popular spot to hit - and get fit - in the evenings. It's a good thing that all 4 pickleball courts on the grounds are perfectly and beautifully lit! The courts are open late, and there are games - and fun -to be had during most nights at the Club. La Madrona is a peaceful getaway removed from the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley, and Santa Cruz. There's a certain solidarity among its members, who create memories together not only in the pool and sport courts, but also at member socials and exclusive events. Guests are encouraged to try things out to see if La Madrona is a good fit for their lifestyles - and curious picklers can frequent one its clinics or private (or group) lessons. Drop a bit of coin and join a community. One that is beginning to fully embrace the sport of pickleball.
SECOND-TIER PLACES TO PLAY PICKLEBALL IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
These aren't local "hot-spots" per se, but they do come alive during dedicated (Santa Cruz Pickleball Club) Play and during certain times of the week. They're great for organized groups to meet-up and play a few rounds of our favorite game - but not necessarily for lone wolves looking for a crew to join and a pick-up game. That's not to say that these pickle-places are bad or anything - just that they aren't the vibrant hubs of the pickleball community many players are looking for. You won't find any permanent nets .... and lights? Ha. Out of all of these venues, Willowbrook Park is probably the most widely-used. It's recently been resurfaced and revamped, and is slowly becoming a better and more-respected place to grab a game or two. The "second tier" spots listed and described here aren't exactly afterthoughts among local pickleball players - they're just not as widely sought out or frequented as the "big boys" like Brommer Park or Scotts Valley's Skpark. We, who've been in the pickleball community for a long time, see some of the names listed below as "hidden gems" - brimming with untapped potential. They're good places to meet up with a group - to play for the first time or the 100th. Bring a net, and you're practically guaranteed to not only get a court, but get the best court.
WILLOWBROOK (GUTZWILLER) COUNTY PARK HIGHLANDS COUNTY PARK MIKE FOX PARK
BOULDER CREEK (RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT)
WILLOWBROOK (GUTZWILLER) COUNTY PARK
2950 Willowbrook Lane, Aptos, CA 95003
5 Painted Courts (on Tennis Court) - Bring own Nets, Paddles, and Balls.
Open Play: 8:00AM to 8:00PM Monday-Sunday (Except Tuesdays 9:00AM -12:00PM)
Organized (Santa Cruz Pickleball Club Play): Tuesdays from 9:00AM-
12:00PM. All "Social Play" (No Skill-Levels)
Amenities/Facilities: Restrooms Onsite, Parking Available (on Willowbrook Lane)
*Free* New-Player Introduction to Pickleball: Tuesdays at 11:30AM
Willowbrook, as it’s known to most players in town, has emerged as the County's *best,* and most beloved second-tier pickleball destination. One day a week (on Tuesdays) the place gets absolutely mobbed. That's when the Santa Cruz Pickleball Club takes over the 5-painted courts, and offers organized/competitive play (with their own high-quality nets). There can often be a swait on club days - dozens of picklers congregate on the sidelines waiting for courts to open up, games to end, and a chance to play against their compatriots. On most other days of the week, the unmistakable pock-pock of a pickleball (ball) can still be heard -occasionally - around the spacious and brilliantly maintained confines of Willowbrook.Even though there are no permanent nets in place at the Park, it’s still a regular meeting place and a pretty nice environment to play some pickleball. Over the years, some folks began to complain about the courts at Willowbrook - that they, and the Park itself, were becoming a little worn down - frayed around the edges. The Santa Cruz County Department of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services responded in force and recently, launched a “reimagining” of the entire park – in honor of Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller (a 14-year veteran of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office who was killed in the line of duty). Supervisor Zach Friend stated that “The sports courts hold a special meaning to Damon and his family and it will be exciting to see families using these courts.” Pickleballers rejoiced when the rejuvenated Park and resurfaced pickleball and basketball courts finally reopened for public use in May of last year. And then applauded equally when the Park was officially named after the fallen hero – who had spent his life and grown up in the quaint and charming Willowbrook neighborhood.
HIGHLANDS COUNTY PARK
8500 CA. Highway 9, Ben Lomond CA, 95005
3 Painted Courts (On a Tennis Court) - Bring Own Net, Paddles, and Balls
Open Play When Park is Open From Sunrise to Sunset. No Organized Play.
Open Play When Park is Open From Sunrise to Sunset. No Organized Play.
Facilities: Parking (Lot) and Restrooms Onsite, Picnic Areas
Highlands County Park is kind of off the beaten path, but it exists as a viable pickleball option none the less. Santa Cruz County parks purchased the property the park, and its well-worn tennis court with painted pickleball lines, site upon in 1974. The park opened as San Lorenzo Valley Park in 1977, and its name was changed to Highlands County Park (in memory of Lord and Lady Anderson). The 26-acre Park, with picnic areas, a playing field, playground, and even a skate park has become one of the County’s most sought after wedding facilities. The tennis/pickleball courts see a fair share of use too. The venue is not necessarily a great place to visit in search of a pick-up game or a random group to bang with. But it’s a fantastic destination if you have a group of friends who want to play for an afternoon beneath the towering redwoods.
MIKE FOX PARK
225 San Lorenzo Blvd. Santa Cruz CA, 95060
3 Painted Courts (On a Tennis Court) Bring Own Equipment:
Paddles, Nets, and Balls
No Organized Play. Open Play 9:00AM to Sunset Every Day
Facilities: Parking (Lot) and Restroom (Porta-Potty) Onsite
BOULDER CREEK RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT
5685 Forest Hill Drive, Boulder Creek, CA 95006 (Off of Bear Creek Road)
Mike Fox Park hugs a gentle and picturesque curve of the San Lorenzo Valley River in colorful and vibrant downtown, Santa Cruz. Before the Ken Wormhoudt Skate Park (a 15,000 square foot beast with a mix of bowls, street skating, and pipes) was built in 2016, it was hardly used or visited - save for the occasional transient. Mike Fox Park’s tennis courts showed considerable wear and tear, and its picnic area was graffiti covered, full of litter and rather sad. When the City budgeted a cool $1.3 million to build a now-legendary skatepark and rejuvenate the area, Mike Fox was transformed into what it is today – a source of pride and joy for not only skaters, but for some local pickleballers. The infusion of cash from the Santa Cruz City Council brought new life to the Park - and now Mike Fox’s 2 tennis courts (with painted pickleball lines) can be used and enjoyed by all. There are no permanent courts, but if you bring your own balls, net and crew you can play some ball in a unique and pretty setting – on the River and steps from the beach.
4 Painted Courts (On a Tennis Court) Bring Own Equipment:
Paddles, Nets, and Balls
Organized Play: Wednesdays from 3:00-6:00PM. Free to Public.
Equipment Provided
Open Play Daily (9:00AM - Sunset) For Members Only
Facilities: Parking (In Lot) and Restrooms Onsite
NEW COURT PROJECT!
8 NEW PERMANENT PICKLEBALL COURTS SLATED FOR
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY'S WESTSIDE
Mike In Boulder Creek and feel the urge to ball? Just head over to the 4 (painted courts) maintained by the District’s Parks and Rec division. Boulder Creek, in case you didn’t know, is an unincorporated area in Santa Cruz County serving the residents of ZIP code 95006 (Boulder Creek) and 95007 (Brookdale). Registered with the State of California in 1959, It’s a sleepy area located at the North end of the San Lorenzo Valley. The Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District has been proudly offering residents (children and their families) park amenities and recreational activities for decades. And when its constituents clamored for some pickleball courts of their own, it responded in a nice way.
Mike In Boulder Creek and feel the urge to ball? Just head over to the 4 (painted courts) maintained by the District’s Parks and Rec division. Boulder Creek, in case you didn’t know, is an unincorporated area in Santa Cruz County serving the residents of ZIP code 95006 (Boulder Creek) and 95007 (Brookdale). Registered with the State of California in 1959, It’s a sleepy area located at the North end of the San Lorenzo Valley. The Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District has been proudly offering residents (children and their families) park amenities and recreational activities for decades. And when its constituents clamored for some pickleball courts of their own, it responded in a nice way.