Lake Conroe Pickleball Friends Welcomes New Members

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the nation. In the Conroe and Woodlands areas, there are multiple venues to play the popular sport. One of the local groups helping to promote the sport is the Lake Conroe Pickleball Friends group, which plays at April Sound, Walden, and the Conroe Recreation Center.

Developed by a congressman and businessman in Washington state to help keep their families occupied over a long weekend, the sport became one that can be played by all abilities and ages. Pickleball is played on a smaller court, similar to a badminton court. The game uses a paddle and wiffle ball and can be played by 2 or 4 players.

The USAPA is pickleball's governing body in the United States. To promote the game across the country, the USAPA enlists the help of Ambassadors to encourage learning, set up learn to play clinics, and develop new pickleball venues and players. Lake Conroe Pickleball currently has two Pickleball Ambassadors in their ranks, Ernie Ortiz and Teena Sandberg. April Sound Tennis and Fitness, Walden, Bentwater, and the Conroe Recreation Center all have pickleball programs. The Conroe Recreation Center has play during the day with a drop in fee of $7.50. April Sound and Walden have specific times set aside for pickleball play. If you currently have a pickleball program and are not listed, please email teenasandberg@gmail.com to be included in the list of facilities offering the program.

April Sound Tennis and Fitness will be offering a free clinic for beginners at the end of March. Participants do not need to be a member for clinic participation. More information on the program and times for play can be found on the Lake Conroe Pickleball Friends facebook page or by emailing marilyn.koenig@clubcorp.com.