Creating a racquet: Vineyards Country Club doubles its pickleball courts in response to growing demand

In response to increased member use and demand, Vineyards Country Club officials recently announced the addition of three new championship pickleball courts, for a total of six of courts within its racquet center.

The new courts, to be produced in partnership with U.S. Tennis, will be built to the specifications of the three existing courts, including gel cushioning and LED lighting for night play. The three new courts are scheduled for completion and member play in early November.

“Racquet sports are already a very popular part of club life here but throughout the pandemic, we’ve experienced a dramatic surge in the use of – and requests for – outdoor sports facilities,” said Paul Malonson, Vineyards Country Club Chief Operating Officer. “As a direct result, we are pleased to double our number of pickleball courts.”

Vineyards Country Club’s racquet center offers year-round pickleball programming including camps conducted by Engage Sports, competitive round robin-style tournaments by play level, as well as league play by level. The club regularly holds themed social events such as its Super Bowl mixer, mimosa opens, club championships, and its yearly toy drive benefiting Toys for Tots throughout the month of December.

Earlier this month, Vineyards Country Club officials also announced the addition of a 1,200 square foot outdoor circuit training facility to be located adjacent to the community’s award-winning, 15,000-square-foot Wellness Center and Spa. The new training area will offer numerous additional fitness and training options in a safe, hygienic setting suitable for member athletes of all ages.

Initial site preparation, including ground and landscaping work, for the project is scheduled to begin early this summer with full completion slated for August. According to club officials, the project will make Vineyards one of the only country clubs in Naples to feature an outdoor fitness training facility.

In response to increased member demand, Vineyards Country Club officials recently announced the addition of three new championship pickleball courts, an increase of 100%, within its racquet center.

Vineyards Country Club fitness instructors will utilize the facility to specialize in small group training, one-on-one training, outdoor yoga, and balance and circuit classes. These types of programs will be offered throughout the year, but especially focused on high season usage throughout December through May, when southwest Florida’s weather is most conducive to outdoor training. The facility will be constructed from galvanized steel anchored into the ground. The structural elements will include TRX™, or total body resistance, training equipment made with Kevlar, as well as urethane coated kettlebells and dumbbells, and vinyl-covered resistance bands, all designed to provide maximum weather proofing and outdoor usage. The floor surface of the training facility will consist of eco-friendly, recycled permanent poured-in-place elastic surfacing made from ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM). EPDM granular rubber surfaces are high-quality, weather-resistant, low maintenance and durable surfaces used in other outdoor fitness facilities and playgrounds in more than 60 countries across all continents.

Vineyards Country Club is a 1,400-acre private, non-equity master-planned golf and country club community open to both residents and non-residents for more than 30 years. The family-owned community, founded in 1988, is located just east of Interstate 75 between Pine Ridge and Vanderbilt Beach roads and includes 2,719 homes in 38 individual gated neighborhoods, a 70,000-square-foot clubhouse, and 450,000 square feet of commercial space. The award-winning Club has been enhanced through three renovations since its original construction, with no member assessments. The Club offers 36 holes of members-only championship golf; a new, 15,000 square-foot Wellness Center & Spa with technologically advanced fitness equipment, five-star spa, salt water lap pool, smoothie café, and salt room; Racquet Center with 12 Har-Tru lite tennis courts, three lite gel cushioned pickleball courts, three regulation lite bocce courts, and year-round scheduled play; formal and casual indoor and al fresco dining; banquet, reception, meeting and event facilities; and one of Naples’ most active club social calendars. For membership or residential information, call 239-353-1500, visit online at vineyardscountryclubnaples.com, or visit the community’s Administration Office, located at 400 Vineyards Blvd., Naples.