Pickleball Has Arrived at Hōkūala, Kauaʻi
March 25, 2024
The new Courts at Hōkūala, with tennis and pickleball courts, are open for Owners and Timbers Kaua‘i guests.
Tennis’ casual cousin has become a recreational activity for players of all ages and abilities in the last few years. Although Pickleball has been around since the 60s, it’s recently gained notoriety across the country. As a fun mix of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, it’s low-impact and easy to pick up for exercise and social fun.
The Origin of the Game
Pickleball was invented by three fathers in need of entertaining their bored children in 1965. Joel Pritchard, Barney McCallum, and Bill Bell only had badminton equipment with a missing shuttlecock, so they improvised and began experimenting on their badminton court with what was available – ping pong paddles, a lowered badminton net, and initially, a wiffle ball.
The name is often credited to the family dog, Pickles, but was indeed named by Pritchard’s wife, who said, “it reminded me of the Pickle Boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats.”
The game quickly grew and the rules, equipment, and popularity have evolved over the years.
How Do You Play?
Pickleball can be played in teams or as singles on a court similar to, but smaller than, a tennis court. Pickleball uses square paddles, typically with a polymer core and a hard, plastic ball. The back-and-forth point system is similar to tennis, but the official rules by USA Pickleball can be found here.
The sport has trended older in the past but is now an all-ages sport. According to the USA Pickleball Association, in 2021, the majority of players were 55 and older. Now, the fastest-growing segment of pickleball players are under 24.
The Courts at Hōkūala
Hōkūala offers two tennis and three pickleball courts at our brand-new facility. With limited access at this time, only Owners and guests at Timbers Kaua‘i are allowed to utilize the Courts and our complimentary equipment from the Toybox.
Owners have priority, self-service reservation access to the Courts. If you’re a Timbers Kaua‘i guest, please speak with your concierge to reserve a time and date for play.
Please reach out to our concierge with any questions or if you are in need of assistance!
