Broadening The Racquets Horizon

Spotlighting Cliff Drysdale Tennis locations who are expanding their racquet sports facilities this year – just in time for summer on the courts

Polo Tennis & Fitness Club

Austin, Texas

A private membership club in Austin, Texas, Polo Tennis and Fitness Club is nearing completion of a state-of-the-art facility expansion project that will bring three dedicated pickleball courts, three new Padel courts, and a renovated two-story fitness center to the Southwest Austin location. Once complete, Polo Club will be the only facility in the greater Austin area that features all three popular racquet sports at one facility, and the first club in Austin to have three outdoor Padel courts available for play.

Polo construction team

“This news is a game-changer for our members and the Austin racquet sports community,” said Dan Carozza, Director of Racquets and Club Manager of Polo Club.

“Polo Club has already established itself as one of the premier racquet and fitness clubs in Austin,” said Scott McCulloch, Chief Operating Officer for Cliff Drysdale Tennis. “But with this new expansion, they will be in a league of their own.”

Southern Trace Country Club Aerial

Southern Trace Country Club

Shreveport, Louisiana

At the beginning of the year, Southern Trace Country Club made the switch from “Southern Trace Tennis” to “Southern Trace Racquet Sports” with the addition of four dedicated pickleball courts alongside the existing tennis facility – an upgrade which has already proven popular with members of all ages. To kick off the fresh courts, Southern Trace hosted the Pickle Blossom 2022, an opening tournament that drew members familiar with and new to the sport for a night of friendly competition on the fresh blue courts.

A driving force of the expanding racquet sports program are new racquet sports committee co-chairs, Rachel Morgan and Kyla Fulco, who noted that the addition of pickleball is a nice amenity “to enhance the member experience at Southern Trace.” Capitalizing on the momentum from the new pickleball courts, as well as the hard resurfacing of the tennis courts, Morgan and Fulco have a vision to bring a new viewing pavilion to the racquet center to serve as a gathering hotspot for members. With a burgeoning pickleball program and planned upgrades on the horizon, Southern Trace Country Club is well on track to becoming a racquet sports leader in northwest Louisiana.

Rome Downtown Racquets Center

Rome, Georgia

A satellite facility of the 57-court Rome Tennis Center at Berry College, Rome Downtown Racquets Center made a mark of their own in Spring 2022 with the addition of 16 dedicated pickleball courts. Shortly after the construction’s completion, Rome Downtown Racquets Center christened the new courts with a St. Patrick’s Day Mixer that drew over 40 participants. In keeping with their 30-acre parent facility, Rome Downtown Racquets Center has a clear mission to spread the love for racquet sports in Rome, Georgia and beyond.

Rome Pickleball Players

“Growing up in Rome, I never would have dreamed there would be a facility like this in my hometown,” said Colt Gaston, General Manager of Rome Tennis Center at Berry College and Rome Downtown Racquets Center. “From the facility expansion to adding a menu of new program offerings, we are in an incredible position to get more folks playing pickleball in Rome than ever before.”

Cimarron Hills Golf & Country Club

Georgetown, Texas

Just north of Austin in Georgetown, Texas, Cimarron Hills Golf & Country Club recognized an opportunity to develop their racquet sports program with the addition of two brand-new, lighted pickleball courts in March of this year. After a successful ribbon cutting ceremony and mixer to inaugurate the new facility, the sport has taken off at the private club. One member even organized her own beginner pickleball group with seven friends to learn the basics with Director of Racquets, Cal Loveridge.

Cimarron Hills Pickleball Players
Cimarron Ribbon cutting

Since the opening, Loveridge has formalized new pickleball programming, including Pickleball 101 beginner sessions, social play, leagues and more. Recently, the club even held a “farewell” pickleball tournament for graduating tennis seniors, ultimately highlighting the racquet sports’ dual success with members of all ages.

In addition to the new courts, Cimarron Hills also added shaded benches across all tennis courts and a new seating area. “I’m excited about the continued growth of racquet sports nationwide, and especially grateful for a club team that supports and helps grow the program here in Georgetown,” said Loveridge.

Red Ledges pickleball players

Red Ledges Club

Red Ledges, Utah

Despite a reputation as a premier four-season private Rocky Mountain golf community, Red Ledges has recently earned accolades among members for its popular tennis amenities; so much so that the Red Ledges development team has planned an extensive construction project that includes six additional tennis courts and six brand-new pickleball courts.

As one of the first high altitude programs in the Cliff Drysdale Tennis portfolio, Red Ledges has been a steady provider of private tennis lessons, group clinics and community tournaments. Over the years, however, tennis has become one of the club’s “fastest growing amenities.” Coupled with the national growth of and local demand for pickleball, the Red Ledges leadership responded with a substantial addition of courts for both sports, along with expanded programming, leagues and socials to match members’ fervent demand. With an estimated project completion of this summer, Red Ledges has embraced the racquet sports movement head-on and shows no signs of slowing down.