CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Editor's note: Ronald Elizondo is the director of the Al Kruse Tennis Center.
As one season ends, another one begins. However, when discussing pickleball, enthusiasts in Corpus Christi enjoy the sport year-round. The game's popularity is on the rise in the area, with a growing number of individuals joining the wave every week.
"I say since 2019-2020, I think we have about 300-400 players playing around the city. I mean, this facility is full every day," said Al Kruse Tennis Center Director Ron Elizondo.
"Al Kruse," as the center is known, is one of the largest pickleball facilities in the city. Located near Downtown, it features 10 courts. And with the sport's significant growth, Elizondo anticipates the need for more facilities.
"The sport is growing so much that we're going to need more facilities," he said. "I hate turning people away. It makes me feel bad. There's nothing I can do, so I have people call and reserve courts two or three days or a week in advance."
Terry Schade discovered pickleball during the shutdown in 2020.
"I heard about it during the pandemic," he said. "I had a heart attack in 2019 and a quadruple bypass. When the pandemic shut everything down, I needed something to do to get exercise."
Since then, he has been dedicated to the sport, appreciating its competitive nature and the opportunity to socialize.
"I think it's the competitive nature of it and then also the social aspect of it," he said. "It's a great place to meet friends. As you get older and older, it's harder and harder to find competitiveness, and this is a good way to find competition."
Just a few months ago, the Coastal Bend Pickleball Association was established to coordinate major pickleball events, aiming to attract players from out of town.
"National tournaments, state tournaments, and start leagues and work with all organizations from here all over town. Everybody has pickleball going, but no one is coordinating anything, so we're all trying to help everybody in the Coastal Bend," stated a representative of the newly formed organization.
Lessons are available at the Al Kruse Tennis Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with a fee of $3 to play.
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