In addition to two new state-of-the-art pickleball courts, the Long Grove, Ill. club introduced a new social sport membership that includes access to all racquet sports, the pool, dining and social events. “We are thrilled about the opening of our new pickleball courts and providing members and their families with another premier amenity that we know will serve as a hub for connection, wellness and fun,” says General Manager Chris Stewart.

Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove, Ill. unveiled two new state-of-the-art pickleball courts, as well as improvements to its 42,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse as part of a larger extensive club improvement project aimed at enhancing the overall member and guest experience.

The two new courts, which are now open for member and guest play, complement Royal Melbourne’s Greg Norman-designed golf course, expansive practice facility and full-service clubhouse, and add to the club’s existing racquet sports complex that currently features four Har-Tru tennis courts, a tennis pro shop that offers same-day racquet stringing, repair and customization, and a viewing deck.

USPTA Elite Professional and Director of Racquet Sports Mike Lardino and his teaching team will tap their vast experience in building one of the area’s top country club tennis programs to create a robust calendar of pickleball programming that will include clinics, camps, lessons, leagues and social events for players of all ages and skill levels.

Get Social

Also new to Royal Melbourne this year is a social sport membership that includes access to all racquet sports, the pool, dining and social events.

“We are thrilled about the opening of our new pickleball courts and providing members and their families with another premier amenity that we know will serve as a hub for connection, wellness and fun,” said Chris Stewart, General Manager at Royal Melbourne Country Club. “With these club enhancements and a new social sport membership option to help players enjoy it all, it’s a very exciting time to be a member at Royal Melbourne. We are confident that Mike and his team will do a tremendous job in making this new amenity a club favorite, and we look forward to continuing to elevate the experience for members old and new.”

The opening of the pickleball courts come as the sport is experiencing a boom in popularity. According to the 2023 Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) Topline Participation Report, pickleball earned the honor of America’s fastest-growing sport for the third year in a row. In 2022, pickleball participation almost doubled, increasing by 85.7 percent year-over-year and by an astonishing 158.6 percent over three years.

By year’s end, Royal Melbourne’s racquet sports complex will receive another upgrade by way of four new paddle tennis courts that will be heated and fully lit and a social house that will feature a bar and bistro kitchen. Both amenities are currently under construction. The social house will serve the racquet sports complex year-round, namely as a warming hut and a place for players to gather in the winter months, as well as the pool and aquatics center in the summer.

“At KemperSports, we’re committed to listening and responding to the evolving needs and preferences of our members and guests to take their experience to the next level,” said KemperSports Executive Vice President of Operations Mark Freemott. “We truly don’t believe there’s been a better time to be a member at Royal Melbourne, and we’re excited to write a new chapter in the club’s rich history with the addition of these first-class lifestyle amenities.”