The Scottsdale, Ariz. property will add a pair of two-tone green pickleball courts, as well as a waiting and seating area. The Desert Highlands Racquet Club already boasts 13 tennis courts featuring all three Grand Slam surfaces—grass, clay and hard. In June, the club will begin a $2.45 million project that includes a new gastropub and a completely renovated kitchen.
Desert Highlands in Scottsdale, Ariz. will unveil two pickleball courts in June, giving members and residents a venue to play the country’s fastest growing sport.
A mix between badminton, tennis and table tennis, pickleball saw an average annual growth rate of 9.7 percent for all players from 2015-2018. The sport is especially popular with individuals 55 and older due to the quick learning curve and low-impact nature of the game. Of the 3.3 million people nationally that play, 64 percent of core participants fall within this age demographic.
Built by Scottsdale-based Custom Courts, Inc., each two-tone green pickleball court at Desert Highlands is regulation size (20 feet wide and 44 feet long). A six-foot fence will outline the pickleball courts, and positioned between the courts will be a four-foot fence to keep pickleballs from flying into the opposite court. Also, a small gate in the middle will allow for easy access from court to court. A waiting and seating area will be located next to the entry gate, and the Desert Highlands Racquet Club’s locker rooms and amenities will be easily accessible from the courts.
“Pickleball has quickly grown to be a very popular activity in our area, and we wanted to provide our members dedicated courts to enjoy the sport,” says Monty Becton, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer at Desert Highlands. “We are excited about the tournaments and other fun events our residents will enjoy at these courts.”
Desert Highlands also welcomes two professionals to its Racquet Sports team—Tatum Prudhomme as Head Tennis Professional and Brandon Hearn as the Racquet Sports Professional.
Certified by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), Prudhomme joins Desert Highlands from the Village at Camelback, where she served as tennis concierge and teaching professional. Prudhomme was an all-Western Athletic Conference singles and doubles player at Grand Canyon University and was a graduate assistant coach for GCU’s women’s tennis team. She also spent four summers in Germany teaching at a tennis camp in the German language and played in her first Women’s Tennis Association professional event at 15 years old.
A professional pickleball player, Hearn joins Desert Highlands from Moon Valley Country Club, where he was an Assistant to the Tennis Director and a pickleball professional. Certified by the USPTA and International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association, Hearn is skilled in private and group tennis and pickleball lessons. He also was the team captain of the University of Arizona men’s tennis team.
“Both Tatum and Brandon were selected after an exhaustive search, and we are thrilled they will be part of our Racquet Sports team,” says Eric Anderson, Director of Tennis. “Both are very qualified to suit our members’ needs both on and off the courts and will greatly enhance the Racquet Club experience.”
The Desert Highlands’ Racquet Club has 13 tennis courts featuring all three Grand Slam surfaces—grass, clay and hard. The Racquet Club also annually hosts the USTA Southwest Grass Court Classic. Noted ATP player Nick Kyrgios considers Desert Highlands’ grass courts “better than Wimby [Wimbledon].”
In June, Desert Highlands will begin a $2.45 million project that includes a new gastropub inside the clubhouse named after Jack Nicklaus and a completely renovated kitchen. A completion date for these clubhouse enhancements is set for mid-October.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Desert Highlands offered a pantry for its members and residents, where they can buy essentials (paper items, disinfectant, bread, milk, cheese, deli, proteins, beverages, etc.) from the club without leaving the confines of the community. The club carefully packaged the items and can either have the groceries delivered or in front of the clubhouse for pick-up.
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