About the Tournament
Forty players will participate in the City’s first pickleball tournament. They will play in a round-robin, doubles format and each player will have the chance to play against seven others during the tournament. Player registration is closed (the tournament sold out in four hours). Mayor Rush Hill will kick off the tournament as part of his year-long effort to “Celebrate Newport Beach” by highlighting the many interesting people, places and things to do in the city.
The tournament also marks the starts of a four-month trial period (February 23- June 20) of four, temporary pickleball courts located on one of the four, existing San Joaquin Hills Tennis Courts. During the trial period, the City’s Recreation Department will gauge community interest in offering a permanent, outdoor pickleball court at this location or another in Newport Beach.
About Pickleball
Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis and it is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. The City of Newport Beach first offered pickleball as a recreation option at a July 2013 community demonstration day. During the past six months, the City has offered indoor pickleball play at the Newport Coast Community Center and has watched interest in pickleball steadily increase.