SoCal Pickleball Club Celebrates Grand Opening In Temecula

TEMECULA, CA — SoCal Pickleball Club celebrated its private ribbon-cutting and grand opening last week with over 500 Southwest Riverside County pickleball enthusiasts dropping in to see what the club is all about. Guests and new members of all skill levels tested the paddles and tried their hand at playing America's favorite game.

The indoor pickleball club, located at 41735 Winchester Road in Temecula, is the brainchild of Josh Painter and Garrett Brookman.

The pair - both local realtors and longtime friends- hashed their business plan while waiting for winter rains to stop, they told Patch.

“There was so much rain this winter,” Painter said. During the winter months, pickleball players spent time in line and waited for the courts to dry and space to play. Often, they couldn’t play at all.

“We would wait for three hours to play for just 30 minutes,” Brookman said. While waiting, the dream of SoCal Pickleball Club was born.

It was all timing, according to Painter. First, in finding the right place to launch their dream. Next, organizing the space to maximize the courts and incorporate the social aspects of the game.

Already, nearly 1,000 people have signed up to learn more and join the club’s membership. Others have signed up for the first tournament, scheduled for this coming weekend.

Painter and Brookman knew they had something special with the club, and now the rest of Temecula knows it, too.

“We wanted people to come, hang out, watch others play, and really get into the community aspect of the game,” Brookman said. “That’s happening.”

Though the city does have free pickleball courts to use, those can be rife with issues for many players. Namely, sharing space nearby tennis players. Though that has never been a problem for Painter, he is familiar with issues in San Diego.

“Pickleball players and tennis players don’t always mix,” Painter said. “Often, it’s because you’re trying to play on courts not designed for the sport. To play real pickleball like the pros, you need specialized courts and nets.”

Those courts and nets took months of work, grinding and layering the specialized court with grip to keep pickleball players on their toes. The nets are also considered top-notch in the industry.

They worked with professionals to construct a space for pickleball enthusiasts to gather indoors and play on professionally rated courts designed for players of all skill levels, Painter said.

Inside the 10,000-square-foot facility, there are four championship-sized courts, specialized nets, a pro shop that offers numerous types of paddles and balls for sale and trial, and more.

Building the club took about a year, start to finish, according to Painter. Their new online scheduling software helps organize team and individual play and even schedule time for tournaments and black-light games.

Upon arrival, guests are greeted with vibrant blue courts, bright overhead lighting, and air conditioning. There is plenty of space to sit and watch others or store your gear while you play. Food and drinks are available to purchase.

Guests can either bring their own paddles and balls or rent them. Members have the opportunity to try a variety of paddles before they make a purchase at no extra charge. They have some of the best equipment on the market, according to the owners.

If you haven't played the game, Pickleball is a paddle sport that, over the last 50-plus years. Around 3 million enthusiasts across the country play the game that even has an international following. Though no current plans are in place to make the game an Olympic sport for 2024, there is a possibility that players may compete for the gold in Los Angeles in 2028, according to the Desert Sun. Read more about the origins of the game here.

"The space is going to see so much attention," Andrea Gonzales, spokeswoman for the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, said. “Having a pickleball club has been ‘a big ask’ for residents of the city, and now with SoCal Pickleball Club, that has been answered.”

Have you signed up to play yet? Let us know what you think when you go!