Recreation Center now offers pickleball

After he suffered a stroke in 1993, Sabre Springs resident Bob Goldstein had to give up tennis and racquetball, sports that at the age of 55 had been a major part of his life for fitness and recreation.

“I recovered quite a bit from the stroke, which paralyzed a side of my body,” said Goldstein, who is now 72. “I walk with a limp, but I can’t run, which is obviously a big part of racquetball and tennis.”

For the 15 years that followed the stroke, Goldstein didn’t pick up a racquet. Then two years ago, a sister-in-law in Arizona suggested he take a look at another sport: pickleball.

Pickleball was created in 1965 in Washington state by a congressman and a businessman looking to invent a game that everyone in their families could enjoy, according to the USA Pickleball Association’s website.

The game, which was named after a dog owned by one of the creators, is based on badminton, and uses specialized paddles and a perforated plastic ball that is similar to a Whiffle ball.

After turning to the Internet to watch the sport being played, Goldstein found out that the growing sport was being played in a community center in Encinitas. He called and was told that if he showed up, they would let him borrow a paddle and teach him the rules.

Following a quick primer, he was off and playing and now Goldstein is among a group of pickleball enthusiasts who travel throughout the county looking for venues that host the sport throughout the week.

Goldstein also approached Angel Castro, the director of the Carmel Mountain Ranch/Sabre Springs Recreation Center about becoming one of the host venues. Castro said it didn’t take much convincing for her to see the benefits of hosting pickleball at the center.

“We’re always looking for ways in which we can get seniors to come to the recreation center and take part in our activities,” Castro said. “This just fell in my lap ... it’s not too expensive to buy equipment ... and it’s a great activity.”

The sport is now also being offered to children, according to Castro, who said the simple rules make pickleball an ideal offering for the center as it tries to offer activities that people of all ages can enjoy.

For about three months, the center — located at 10152 Rancho Carmel Drive — hosts pickleball starting at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays. The center has created three courts by putting new lines in the basketball courts, and it also has paddles that it lends out to newcomers.

About 20 people, many from as far away as Carlsbad, frequent the pickleball sessions. The recreation center is the only site in the Inland Corridor to offer the sport (the closest location is in Carmel Valley). Goldstein said he would like to have more local residents, especially seniors, pick up the sport.

Pat Carrol, who coordinates pickleball tournaments throughout the county, said the sport is gaining in popularity, adding that part of its appeal is that it can be played by people of all ages and abilities.

“You can have an 18-year-old and an 80-year-old and they can play against each other,” she said.

Goldstein said he can “hold his own” while playing pickleball, but noted that win or lose, he’s just happy to be able to get back on the court.

“I don’t like to just exercise for the sake of exercising,” he said. “I like to play sports to get my exercise, but there wasn’t anything I could do before I found pickleball.”

To inquire about the sport at the local recreation center, call 858-538-8100.

For more information about the sport, visit www.usapa.org.