The growth of the sport of pickleball continues to take place in central Georgia. Local enthusiasts of the sport that’s open to all skills, abilities and ages are excited about what’s next in Jones County for the sport that’s described as a cross between tennis and table tennis.
Plans are in place for the older tennis courts at the Morris Bank Recreation Complex on Highway 18 to be resurfaced to be converted into six pickleball courts.
“It’s unreal. We’re very excited,” said Michelle Craddock, Jones County’s pickleball ambassador. “We’re so excited to have these new courts coming.”
Compared to tennis, more pickleball courts can be utilized in the same footprint of space used by a tennis court. The full size of a tennis court is 60x120 feet with just 20x44 feet needed for pickleball courts.
With the new courts, slated to be completed by early August, the core group of local enthusiasts will now have a place closer to home of which to easily play. Previously, the closest dedicated courts were either in Milledgeville and Macon.
“I wanted to play (pickleball) at home. I didn’t like driving all that way. Having this so close will be awesome,” Craddock said. “There are so many that go to play in Milledgeville or Macon. This’ll be great for us to get together, have some fun, fellowship and play pickleball.”
Craddock said that one hope with the new courts will be that fundraiser tournaments and events can be held while also being able to further introduce the sport to those not yet familiar with it. Last year in Macon, for example, a tournament was held that raised money for Brookdale Warming Center.
“You don’t have to have a tennis background,” Craddock said. “As long as you can go out there and hold a paddle, you can play.”
For more info on pickleball in Jones County, visit www.facebook.com/ Jones-County-Pickleball.
