IN THE
CLUB
SPORTIME
PORT WASHINGTON , NEW YORK
Long Island ’ s Newest Attraction by DREW WATHEY
SPORTIME in Port Washington is Long Island ’ s newest addition to the growing pickleball scene . With a facility already in operation in nearby Roslyn , SPORTIME has plans to open roughly 200 courts in dedicated pickleball clubs in the near future .
Before SPORTIME began leasing and renovating the Port Washington property , pickleball was limited , played on tennis courts with blended lines and in very poor conditions . When SPORTIME assumed management of the site — and part of an $ 8.5 million renovation project that followed — four existing hard-surface , oversized tennis courts that were housed in a dedicated building were transformed into 12 stateof-the-art dedicated pickleball courts , creating a new facility that local pickleball enthusiasts fully embraced .
“ Our members and players have access to all our clubs , so the larger opportunity was to offer our members and guests 12 dedicated pickleball courts , all within a 15-minute radius of where they live and work . That seemed like a no-brainer to us , and it was ,” says Joe Siegel , senior managing director , SPORTIME Clubs and SPORTIME Pickleball .
Long Island has always been a hotbed for racket sports , and now the interest in pickleball is on the upswing and mirroring the growth across the country . “ The number of commercial indoor facilities is growing steadily , and with increasing density , as is the number of outdoor courts provided by municipalities ,” added Siegel . “ We are about to open a 13-court facility in Westbury , in the heart of Nassau County , to the southeast of our Port Washington location .”
The club in Port Washington and many of the other SPORTIME locations offer amazing facilities for pickleball . Features include 30- to 40-foot-high ceilings , LED reflective lighting , dedicated courts with divider fencing and padding , ample seating and social spaces , and year-round climate and humidity control .
The low-cost monthly pickleball memberships offer a variety of great benefits , including advance court time reservation privileges , discounts on programming , free monthly clinics and open-play sessions , and reciprocity at all SPORTIME clubs that offer pickleball . However , Siegel notes that “ membership is not required to play at our clubs , though most frequent players choose to be members , and all are welcome .”
SPORTIME Pickleball offers a wide variety of social , instructional , and competitive programs as well , including highly successful men ’ s and women ’ s leagues during daytime and evening hours . Levels of play range from advanced beginner to advanced , with the most popular leagues at the intermediate and advanced intermediate levels . Tournaments and special events will be held throughout the year , with a recent “ Pickleball Rocks ” party featuring a live band playing on one of the courts while more than 70 players competed on surrounding courts .
“ We have also secured Platinum Partnerships with some of the largest pickleball equipment companies in the country — Selkirk , Diadem and Joola ,” adds Siegel . “ All three companies wanted to be part of our growth and have provided tremendous support through the sponsorship of special events , by providing the latest paddles for demo and for sale in our pro shops , and by supporting our initiative to introduce the game to young children through our just-launched Junior Pickleball Academy .” •
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