History

How We Began

Santa Maria Pickleball Club keeps growing, attracting a wide range of dedicated players from newbies to advanced. The club launched in 2015 when former presidents Steve Nelson and Terry Armas began talks with the city. That resulted in establishment of “home” courts at Atkinson Park in 2018, where we held two Autumn Classic tournaments in September of 2018 and 2019. The events drew players from around the Central Coast and Ventura County, putting us firmly on the map as a center for the growing sport of pickleball.

In summer of 2019, SMPC began talks with the city’s Recreation & Parks Department to build six permanent courts, with the agreement that the club also would raise funds for the project. The six courts at Hagerman Sports Complex opened quietly (due to Covid) on Jan. 11, 2021, and we reached our fund-raising goal of $30,000 in May 2021.

The Hagerman courts now are a major pickleball destination between Santa Barbara and Morro Bay. On some days, the club attracts more than 50 players drawing not only locally, but also from Lompoc, the Santa Ynez Valley and Nipomo. We have an annual membership of more than 80—from beginners to advanced--and word of our success keeps spreading.

With the racks full of paddles and players asking, “When will we get more courts?" we hope the answer will be “Soon!”