Feature
AMBASSADORS BUILD COMMUNITY FROM COAST TO COAST
By Karen Price
RED LINE EDITORIAL
Residents of Santa Monica , California , playing at the pickleball courts . Photo by Ho Nguyen .
On any given day , you ’ re likely to find a pickleball game happening in the city of Santa Monica , California .
That ’ s thanks , at least in part , to Ho Nguyen , a USA Pickleball Ambassador whose efforts to organize play and introduce newcomers to the sport have helped build a robust community over the past several years . And while everyone — from beginners to more seasoned players looking for tournamentstyle competition — has a home at Santa Monica Pickleball , the most important thing the group does is to offer free open play where all are welcome . “ It ’ s the heart of what we do ,” Nguyen said . Santa Monica had an official city pickleball program when Nguyen first started playing back in 2019 , but it shut down during the pandemic . Once restrictions were lifted , it never restarted due to a lack of funding . Meanwhile , Nguyen was on the courts every day trying to organize open play times and welcoming beginners with an intro to the sport . So when someone suggested he apply to become a USA Pickleball Ambassador , he found it a natural fit .
USA Pickleball Ambassadors are volunteers with a love for the game and a desire to share it with others and build a community . Pickleball Hall-of-Famer Earl Hill founded the program in 2001 , and it has grown to now include more than 1,900 USA Pickleball Ambassadors . As an official ambassador , Nguyen continued to set up nets and give people opportunities to play ; he also started offering free beginner clinics every weekend .
“ Then people wanted to have leveling-up classes and clinics and wanted to have more organized play and semi-tournament competitions , round-robins and things like that ,” he said . “ Everyone started asking to form a club .”
So Nguyen made it happen . He secured 501 ( c )( 3 ) status as a nonprofit , and that allowed the club to reserve time on the city tennis courts . The program now has two beginner courts , two challenge courts and eight open play courts .
“ At any given time , our courts are very full ,” he said . “ There are advantages and disadvantages to that . You