Players Praise Patch Reef Pickleball

Since its opening in October, Patch Reef Park's covered pickleball complex has become like a second home for avid pickler Sherise Ralston.

“I love that we have a little picnic area, so I bring snacks,” Ralston said. “We'll stay two or three hours, my friends and I. We play and we snack and we socialize. This is our meeting point now. Instead of a bar, we come here.”

Ralston learned before most that the newly renamed Patch Reef Paddle and Racquet club offered something special. She was one of the first players ever to serve and smash on the new courts.

“I came to the ribbon cutting ceremony and I come everyday,” she said. “It's like my place to have zen and peace. It's beautiful - and it's covered.” 

Ralston isn't alone in her assessment.

Petra Berry didn't play pickleball at Patch Reef often when the park only offered outdoor courts.

Now she's playing at Patch Reef as many as five times per week.

“I really like it, honestly,” Berry said. “There's enough courts for all of us. There are no cliques. Open play, everybody plays with everyone. Nobody's left out. Other courts are different.”

More than 10,000 players took to the covered courts during the first three weeks following their opening.

The facility leaves players impressed.

“It's hard to believe that it's a public facility,” said Marlon Maia, Racket Sport Supervisor II at Patch Reef. “I know the District was going for the 'Wow!' factor, and it's there. It's definitely great to see. And it looks amazing. From the landscaping, to the courts, to the lighting, everything came out great.”

On a recent Thursday evening, all 18 covered courts were in use for open play, with players swiftly rotating through their matches, limiting down time. While open play draws the most traffic, players are also reserving courts at a growing rate.

Members can reserve courts two days in advance. Non-members have one day. Courts can be reserved for times not already scheduled for open play or another program.

The current demand for the covered courts combined with the rebuild of the outdoor courts prompted Patch Reef officials to limit clinics or the scheduling of tournaments other than their current Saturday Ladder, Monday's Pickleball Power Hour and the Boca Raton Police Foundation's Pickle for Police professional tournament scheduled for Jan. 16-17 until they develop a better feel for demand.

Players expected that the covered the courts would have two obvious advantages over regular outdoor courts: rain wouldn't halt play and the South Florida sun wouldn't take such a toll on players' bodies.

Players are also discovering a third, not-so-obvious, benefit that makes for better pickleball play. 

“It really protects from the wind a lot,” Diana Singkornrat said. 

Overall, reviews seem to mimic that of veteran player Doug Plean.

“The facility is amazing,” he said. “The courts are playing great. The lighting is good. Nice to have fresh air. I think the park did a great job.”