GENERAL VW PICKLEBALL INFORMATION

Pickleball is a well-used amenity in Verona Walk, enjoyed by a very friendly and welcoming group of players of all levels. The pickleball club has our own web page: http://www.veronawalkpickleball.com with all needed information about playing in our community, including a portal to make court reservations through CourtReserve.

 FACILITY INFORMATION

There are 2 court facilities: the original 4 courts and a 2-court facility near the playground. Equipment boxes by the courts hold extra paddles that can be borrowed while playing, a 1st aid kit, extra (used) balls, and towels to dry the benches when they are wet. 2 near-by restrooms are available: one by the basketball court and the other in the tennis gazebo (this one requires your amenity fob). There is an unrefrigerated water fountain by the 4-court facility, and refrigerated water fountains on the southwest side of the maintenance garage near the 2 courts as well as at the tennis gazebo. An ice machine is in the tennis gazebo. AED machines are located inside the bocce gazebo near the 2 courts and at the 4 courts on the outside of the court 1 fence near the trash cans.

PLAYING TIMES AND PROCEDURES

The 4-court facility is open from 7:30 am until dusk. The 2 courts have lights and are open from 7:30 am until 9 pm with the light switch located just outside and on the left of the court gate. Early morning hours (7:30-10:30 am) on all courts and 6:00-9:00 pm on the 2 lit courts are designated as "open play". There is a dry erase board at each court facility near the benches where players place their names in blocks to create foursomes and play in turn. 

During the busy season there is a “Just for Fun” VW community league for resident players on all courts during the hours of 10:30 am-12:00 noon every day but Sunday. Groups are divided by gender and rating, with a different group playing each day. Foursomes are created randomly and changed after each game. Schedules can be found on the Veronawalk pickleball club web page, in the CourtReserve calendar, and posted by the benches at each court facility. 

During the season there are recurring playing groups that reserve the courts in 1–2-hour blocks during the week. The schedule for group reservations can be found posted at the courts, on our website, or the CourtReserve app under "events". At other times, courts are open for residents and their guests to reserve a court or if a specific court is not reserved, play when they choose as walk-ons. Reservations are available through CourtReserve accessed through our website. Reservations can be made from 1 week before the date to 1 hour before the time and are restricted to 1 hour per player per day. Notify the club (Veronawalkpb@gmail.com) to be added to the CourtReserve member list. Once registered, a free CourtReserve cell phone app can be downloaded which makes access to the site and reservation creation easier.  

EQUIPMENT

For beginners, we recommend waiting to purchase a paddle, borrowing one from the equipment boxes by the courts or another player until you are sure you enjoy the game and want to continue playing. Quiet paddles are mandated for play and are widely available. Avoid very inexpensive paddles, which tend to be constructed of loud materials. Look for a "POLYMER CORE" and a “USPA APPROVED” marking on the paddle face, indicating higher quality construction. Three paddles are banned due to loudness: Onix Z5, Paddletek Anna Leigh Waters Bantam, and the ProKennex Black Ace Pro..

To help prevent injuries on the court, we strongly suggest court shoes that have firmer support than conventional sneakers. Protective eye wear is also advised. Hats or visors with a firm brim are helpful to prevent eye injuries and protect from the sun. Due to surrounding homeowner noise complaints, we are required to use quieter softer balls: Onix Pure 2 or Onix Fuse G2. Fuse G2 balls are located inside the courts in ball holders for all players to use.

If you want to purchase equipment such as paddles or court shoes there is an on-line site called Pickleball Central, www.pickleballcentral.com, 888 854-0163. Their selection is good, and we have an account with them, so if you enter our code (CRVW) when checking out, you will get a 5% discount, and another 5% is put in our club account. There is free shipping for orders of more than $69.00, and they often have sales. Their customer service representatives are very helpful, and if you buy a paddle there and don’t like it, you can return it.

A local store is Pro-Am Tennis & Pickleball, 13,000 Tamiami Trail, North Naples, 239 597-1222, (http://www.proamtennis.com). It is about 20 miles away on Tamiami Trail (Rt 41) just north of Immokalee Rd, on the right (north side) in a strip mall. The store is small with a knowledgeable staff, and they will let you borrow demo paddles free for a week to see if you like them.

The East Naples Pickleball Park has a pro shop about 5 miles away at 3500 Thomasson Dr, Naples 34112, 239 252-4414. You can try out paddles on the outdoor courts there. 

Gary Stouffer is a player advocate for the Selkirk paddle company, who manufacture excellent quiet paddles. He has several sample paddles that can be tried on our courts, and he can explain the benefits of the various models. If you order a paddle through the Selkirk web site, put in Gary’s code: ADVGSTOUFFER, and a percentage of the sale will be put into our club account. Through these paddle sales we are able to provide the free demo paddles in the equipment boxes. 

Other local stores such as Walmart and Dicks have limited equipment, but their sales personnel are not usually as knowledgeable if you need assistance, and they don't always carry quiet paddles and balls. Amazon has several paddles, many of which are inexpensive and loud, so be careful if ordering from them.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

These can be found on our web site and in the court bulletin boards. In general, court use is restricted to residents and their guests, and the courts can only be used to play the game. Appropriate dress and conduct are expected. If you drive a cart to the area, please park on the diagonal or parallel to the court fence at the 4 courts to avoid infringing on the sidewalk and avoid parking on the grass. If you ride a bike there, park it on the pavers next to the court fence, not on the sidewalk. Courts 5 and 6 are next to a parking lot where cars and carts can be parked, and a bike rack is also available there. Both court facilities have shade umbrellas which need to be closed by players after use.

CLUB RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES

Our web page has all information regarding playing the sport in Verona Walk: (http://www.veronawalkpickleball.com).

There is a "Verona Walk Pickleball Club" private page on Facebook, and you can sign up on Facebook to be added. The site includes helpful posts related to pickleball in general as well as specifically regarding playing in VW.

Our club sends emails to pickleball club members updating players about club activities. Contact us to be added to the email list (Veronawalkpb@gmail.com)

The pickleball club has periodic group get-togethers for players and their significant others on the lawn behind the town center. Allie sends out group emails when the parties are planned.

CLASSES

One of our players, Gary Stouffer, is an experienced pickleball instructor, and he and his wife Becky generously give excellent free classes for all levels of players on court 5 (the court nearest the street in the 2-court facility) during the fall and winter. The lessons include 4 players per session and are progressive.

John Irish is a professional tennis and pickleball instructor who is teaching both sports within Verona Walk. He instructs all levels of pickleball and gives private as well as group classes for a fee. Contact John to set up a time: 630 312-9846, irishjohncharles@gmail.com.