Pickleball Fever: Over 1,000 Players Head to Volusia County for Pickleball Tournament

HOLLY HILL, Florida. – In the same week as the Super Bowl, pickleball is popular in Holly Hill.

The Pickleball Professionals Association is gearing up to welcome over 1,100 players from around the country to the small town between Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach in Volusia County.

Players of all ages and abilities will fill the singles, doubles and mixed doubles courts at Picton, the premier pickleball facility.

News 6 met with Deb Christensen, director of partnerships, as they prepared to host their first professional tournament Wednesday through Sunday.

“It’s like a dream, a dream, a cucumber dream,” says Deb Christensen, director of partnerships at Pictona.

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Christensen said the facility opened in July 2020 with 24 courts. They have since expanded to 49 courts and have a 1200 seat stadium.

“We just opened Metro Health Stadium last fall,” Christensen said. “People go out, talk and get to know each other.”

Reiner and Julie Martens founded the establishment and were front row in a pickleball frenzy.

“It was just a little sleepy sport,” said Julie Martens. “People, mostly older people between 50 and 55, have been playing, but the boom he’s seen lately is phenomenal.”

Martens said most people picked up a pickleball during the pandemic and haven’t left it since.

“I think actually the pickleball pandemic was in a way a blessing in the sense that people felt very isolated, they stayed at home and then a lot of venues opened up and people came to Pictona and that was their happy place. ‘, Martens said.

The city of Holly Hill noticed the impact. City manager Joseph Forte said this week’s tournament will give the local economy an extra boost.

“We are gathering about 1,200 players, their guests and their families who come to the area,” Forte said. “They make a profit, they spend their money, they improve our community. These tournaments make Holly Hill famous.”

Crowds now come to the courts when they can, for competition and social experience.

“Now a lot of times, we’re actually full on every court,” Christensen said.

“People love to play,” said Rainer Martens. “They’re closer together than, for example, in tennis, and so the social aspect of it all keeps people coming back and that’s going to keep him growing.”

Ed Gret said he plays almost every single day now. After spending a few months in Florida, he now plans to move to the state to keep his hobby close to home.

“I pay off the house on Friday, like I’m moving here. It’s like a Mecca for Pickleball.”

Tickets for the APP Daytona Beach Open are available starting at $15. Pro play kicks off Thursday, February 9 with the men’s and women’s pro singles. Live streaming begins Saturday, February 11 on ESPN+. For more information visit the website here.

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