It was previously announced that the outdoor courts at Virginia Acres Park would be closed this weekend.  That has changed, however, and the outdoor courts will be open this weekend.

The minutes for the Leadership Team Meeting held on September 18th have been posted. Items discussed were an update on - the October 21 outdoor tournament and need for volunteers, monthly activities such as Drills with LBJ and the New Players Clinics and Practices, the status of our 5013C application, feedback from player reps and much more.  Go to Forums or Click here to read the full report.

The next New Players Pickleball Clinic at Odell Weeks will be  on Saturday, October 7th. The clinic is for people new to the game of pickleball.  Sign up at the front desk.  Schedule as follows:  

Click here to sign up for the tournament.  Draws are starting to fill.

There will also be a juniors tournament the same day.  Click here to register for the juniors.

Volunteers are also needed.  Click here to volunteer.

Several of you have asked who Nelson Swartzentruber was.  Nelson started playing pickleball about the time he turned seventy, eight years ago.  He enjoyed golfing, kayaking and spending time with his family. Like many of us, he became an avid pickleball player.  His greatest passion, however, was his mission work.  Throughout the years, Nelson traveled to poverty-stricken third world countries to help those in need.

Unbeknownst to most of us, Nelson had Parkinson's Disease.  A devoted member of Hillview Baptist Church, he introduced the game of pickleball to others with Parkinson's and the church supported this endeavor. Thanks to Nelson, there is now an active pickleball program for players with Parkinson's.

If anyone has any suggestions of other worthy causes for donations from future events, please let us know via email  at info@aikenpickleball.com.  Thank you 

PS:

Welcome to our site!

Welcome to the website for Aiken Pickleball, Inc.  If you are new to the game and wondering how to get started, click here for answers to frequently asked questions.  Our intent is to promote the game of pickleball and to provide competitive and social pickleball activities. Our goal is to encourage sportsmanship and camaraderie through fun and exercise by playing the exciting and addictive sport of pickleball.  

On January 18th, 2023, Aiken Pickleball took the first step in becoming a non-profit organization at the request of the City of Aiken. This resulted in Aiken Pickleball, Inc (API) being awarded the contract to host the Palmetto Invitational Pickleball Doubles Tournament in August 2023.  We also continue to manage the City's indoor pickleball programs at Odell Weeks and Smith-Hazel Recreation Center.   In addition, API manages the pickleball program at Gregg Park Civic Center in Graniteville, SC.  

Everyone that plays pickleball in the Aiken area is by default a member of Aiken Pickleball Inc.  The organization is run by volunteers and wouldn't exist without them.  Our many volunteers are the heart of our organization.

Pickleball is easy to learn and really fun to play. It can be played on a variety of levels from casual to very competitive.  The game offers players of all ages a good physical workout and the opportunity to meet a diverse group of people who share the passion that surrounds this exciting sport.

We play at the Odell Weeks and Smith-Hazel Recreation Centers, Gregg Park Civic Center, and many other venues throughout Aiken.  Odell Weeks and Gregg Park both have six indoor courts.  Smith-Hazel has three indoor courts.  Everyone is entitled to make court reservations at these facilities.   Go to the "Calendar" tab on the main menu for our current playing schedule.  In addition, we have fourteen purpose-built pickleball courts located outside at Virginia Acres Park (behind Odell Weeks).  These public lighted courts are available year round.  

Odell Weeks is located at 1700 Whiskey Rd in Aiken.  The phone # is (803) 642-7631.

Gregg Park is located at 1001 A Avenue Graniteville, SC (just 5 miles from downtown Aiken).  The phone # is 803 663-7552

Smith-Hazel is located at 400 Kershaw St NE in downtown Aiken.  The phone # is (803) 642-7634

Come join us!

AIKEN PICKLEBALL IS GRATEFUL TO THE STAFF AND EMPLOYEES AT THE CITY OF AIKEN'S PARK, RECREATION AND TOURISM DEPARTMENT, THE ODELL WEEKS  AND SMITH-HAZEL RECREATION CENTERS AND THE GREGG PARK CIVIC CENTER FOR THEIR SUPPORT TO OUR PROGRAM

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General guidelines 

In order to provide the best possible playing experience for everyone, Aiken Pickleball operates under a set of guidelines. Normally we have three types of play spread throughout the available times each day.  These include drop-in play with all levels mixing together, drop-in play with courts designated by skill level, and court reservation play.  When courts are designated by skill level, we have different schematics (weekday mornings, weekday evenings, and weekends) based on the court usage for different skill levels during those times.  These designations are periodically reviewed and adjusted.   Aiken County players will be given a FREE SKILL RATING upon request.  Click here to sign up.

All players who participate in drop-in play by skill levels need to be rated by the committee.  Visitors may play for a brief period at the level the player representatives feel is appropriate.  Players who are visiting for a longer term and who have a rating at another location should check with the player representatives at that level to determine if that rating is acceptable for our local system.

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Guidelines for reserving courts via Sign-up Genius are available at the

"Sign-ups" tab

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