Are you looking forward to your vacation to beautiful St. Augustine in northeast Florida, where you can experience sun, sand, surf, a stunning St. Augustine beachfront rental, and some awesome pickleball?
Popular in Hawaii, Texas, and Virginia, and big cities such as Seattle and Omaha, pickleball has been catching on in many other areas, including St. Augustine. It’s estimated that there are over 10,000 pickleball players in the state, so if you love the outdoors and playing tennis or ping pong (to which pickleball is related), then you’ll want to add this game to your list of things to do St. Augustine, FL.
So, if you’re ready for some St. Augustine pickleball, let’s take a closer look at what the game is as well as where to play pickleball in St. Augustine, FL.
What is Pickleball?
Take the best of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, put it on a court the size of a doubles badminton court, and toss in small paddles and small plastic balls with holes, and you have pickleball.
Essentially, you use the paddles to volley the small plastic ball over the net. It’s allowed to bounce only once on each side before being returned. The ball is served in an overhand arc, much like tennis. The served ball must land in the opposite court diagonally from where it was served. One serve attempt per server is allowed.
Points are scored when a “fault” happens, which is when the ball touches any part of the non-volley zone when served, gets hit out of bounds, makes contact with the net, or is volleyed from the non-volley zone or before it bounces once
The winner of a pickleball game is the first to score 11 points (win by two). Pickleball can be played as singles or doubles.
Ron Parker Park
You’ll find six new lighted pickleball courts ready for action at Ron Parker Park, a public park named after Deputy Marshall Ronald Parker, who was slain in the line of duty at the age of 27 in 1975.
Courts can be reserved and paid for online. Non-residents pay $13/hour non-lighted and $18/hour lighted. The park is located at 607 Old Beach Road.
Treaty Park
Treaty Park on Wildwood Drive offers open play pickleball Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday mornings 8:30 a.m. – noon and Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
This 47-acre park is home to eight pickleball courts in addition to paddle tennis, basketball, racquetball, and bocce ball courts. Treaty Park pickleball courts can also be reserved online. The same rates apply as those at Ron Parker Park.
Plan Your Visit
With all but one of these parks situated in St. Augustine, you can count on being close to St. Augustine beach house rentals and St. Augustine condo rentals, so you’ll never have far to go when you’re up for a game. Rentals feature two- to three-bedroom condos that sleep up to six, with balconies to enjoy the spectacular views, fully stocked kitchens, washer/dryer, heated pools, private beach walkway, and so much more.
Murabella Amenity Center
Tennis and pickleball courts at Murabella Amenity Center on East Politano Avenue open 30 minutes after sunrise and close 30 minutes after sunset daily. There are two pickleball courts at this location.
Signups are not required. Use of courts and other amenities are “at your own risk.”
Hammock Community Center
Approximately 26 miles southeast of St. Augustine, Hammock Community Center in Palm Coast, FL, offers pickleball courts to residents and non-residents. There’s also volleyball and basketball courts, a horseshoe pit, a playground, a beach, and pavilions. The park is open from dawn until 11 p.m. Monday – Sunday.
