Six spectacular backyard pickleball courts from Texas , New York , California , South Carolina and Wisconsin . Meet the owners who took the leap and are living — and loving — the ultimate pickleball lifestyle .
To view more beautiful backyard courts , visit pickleballmagazine . com .
Residential pickleball courts have become a symbol of modern living . Having your own private court increases the enjoyment and frequency of play , adds to your property value and is a great way to spend quality time with family and friends . No driving , online scheduling or court fees required .
Pickleball on the Prairie
The pickleball sessions at the court next to the home where Bo Palenske and his longtime partner Paula D ’ Amour live are occasionally interrupted . No stray pickleballs to pick up in this rural setting in New Glarus , Wisconsin . Play is paused to watch nearby badgers , turkeys and deer .
“ We see them in the wildflowers and prairie grass close to the court ,” Paula says .
The couple lives on 10 acres , 30 minutes south of Madison . They started playing pickleball in 2013 and loved it so much they built their court a year later .
“ We had a perfect spot to build a court ,” explains Paula , “ so we said , ‘ Why not ?’”
Bo , 68 , worked in the furniture business and Paula , 67 , is an interior designer . So , they had some ideas about what they wanted .
“ The building process was pretty flawless ,” Bo recalls . “ The excavator and the concrete contractor didn ’ t have any issues . We and a few friends painted the court , and it became a labor of love . We added some silica sand to the paint , and it came out great .”
The court surface is painted red to match their home . Paula describes the house style as “ rustic elegance .” The court surface is 64 feet long and 34 feet wide . The initial cost was $ 17,500 . Lights cost approximately $ 1,500 .
One of the most important parts of the building process is the base , according to Bo . “ We spent a lot of time watering down the gravel and compacting it before any concrete was poured . It was difficult but we were very patient , waiting two months for the concrete to cure before painting it . The excitement elevated as we got closer and closer to playing on our court .”
Bo says he ’ s a 4.0 + player and Paula is a 3.75 . They play on their court four times a week from May through October or November , depending on weather . And , they report , despite being 10 years old , it hasn ’ t had a single crack .
The couple also set up a sound system that ’ s hardwired , buried in the ground from their garage .
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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024 | MAGAZINE 29