A grand opening party will be held on September 20 to introduce members and guests to what the club says is the nation’s fastest-growing sport. Two Har-Tru tennis courts at the club were used to create smaller courts for the game described as “a combination of ping-pong, tennis and badminton.”

 

Chambersburg Country Club, Scotland, Pa., is in the process of resurfacing two Har-Tru tennis courts to convert them to four pickleball courts and one hard-surface tennis court, the club reports. The club will retain two other Har-Tru courts.

When the new courts open on September 20 with a grand opening party for members and guests, the club will be the first in Franklin County, Pa. to introduce the game of outdoor pickleball, which it says is the nation’s fastest-growing sport. The Villages in Florida has over 90 pickleball courts, it was noted, and Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina has six.

Pickleball has been described as “a combination of ping-pong, tennis and badminton,” with rules that are similar to a simpler version of tennis. Named after the family dog, “Pickles,” of the game’s family dog, pickleball is played with solid paddles, similar to large ping-pong paddles, that are made of wood or fiberglass. The balls are similar to wiffleballs, but made of heavier and more rigid material.

A pickleball court covers an area 20 feet wide by 44 long, with a net 34 inches high in the middle.  The size of the courts allows for young players of all ages and skill levels to participate. The rules of the game establish a “non-volley zone” seven feet from the net, which helps to equalize play and reduce overpowering shots.

“This game is a terrific expansion of services for the membership.” says Jim Baird, a Chambersburg CC Board member and avid pickleball player. “It is such an easy game to play and to learn. The court is much smaller than tennis, so those who can no longer play tennis [because of limited mobility] can pick up this game with ease. It’s a great game for all ages that grandparents and children can play and enjoy.”

Chambersburg Country Club, founded in 1921, also features a golf course that has hosted three U.S. Open qualifiers, most recently in 2010 and 2013, in addition to dining and swimming facilities.