Tournament Time At Patch Reef

Casey Diamond had a couple reasons to smile as he exited Patch Reef Park's new covered pickleball complex on a mid-January Friday evening.

He'd just won the Pickle For Police professional tournament, and he did so at a venue he loved.

“First time with this venue - a really nice venue they just built,” Diamond said. “This feels really good.”

Produced by the Boca Raton Police Foundation, Pickle for Police served as the first professional tournament played at the three-month old complex.

“Players raved about the courts,” BRPF Executive Director Bob Tucker said. “We were very happy to host the first tournament of its kind at this beautiful facility.”

The tournament featured five of the Association of Pickleball Players Top-20 ranked competitors, including No. 11 Diamond.

Pickle For Police concluded the following day with the tandem from the Boca Raton Fire Department winning the Corporate/First Responders Cup amateur tournament.

More tournaments are coming to Patch Reef.

The Boca Open makes its first appearance at the covered pickleball complex on Feb. 26-March 1. It features an open bracket in which players can win money and prizes. There are also junior divisions and senior brackets.

On the opening night former world No. 1 tennis player Ivan Lendl and other pickleball pros will hold an exhibition benefiting the Adaptive Sports Program, which serves youths and adults living with physical disabilities.

Register at PickleballTournaments.com.

On March 14-15 the complex will be the venue for the fifth annual World Pickleball Open. Entrants receive a T-shirt and are guaranteed at least three matches.

To enter the tournament, players are encouraged to do so at WorldPickleballOpen.com.