Welcome to the website for Aiken Pickleball, Inc. If you are new to the game and wondering how to get started, click here for answers to frequently asked questions. Our intent is to promote the game of pickleball and to provide competitive and social pickleball activities. Our goal is to encourage sportsmanship and camaraderie through fun and exercise by playing the exciting and addictive sport of pickleball.
On January 18th, 2023, Aiken Pickleball took the first step in becoming a non-profit organization at the request of the City of Aiken. This resulted in Aiken Pickleball, Inc (API) being awarded the contract to host the Palmetto Invitational Pickleball Doubles Tournament this August and to continue to manage the City's indoor pickleball programs at Odell Weeks and Smith-Hazel Recreation Center. You should not notice any changes with Aiken Pickleball, Inc.
As we get more organized, we are going to try to raise funds by offering memberships to Aiken Pickleball, Inc to help offset some additional costs we are incurring such as general liability insurance, legal fees, CPA fees, and a city business license. The benefits of memberships will be discounts on lessons, clinics, and drills with Little Mo, tournament registration fees, sporting clothes, and new pickleball paddles. These discounts will more than offset the annual cost of an official API membership.
Everyone that plays pickleball indoors at Odell Weeks, Smith-Hazel and/or Gregg Park and/or outside at one of the numerous outdoor courts available in the Aiken area is by default a member of Aiken Pickleball. Whether you decide to take an extra step and take advantage of discounts offered by being a paying member of Aiken Pickleball, Inc. is up to you. This also provides a way for those of you that cannot volunteer your time to contribute. Either way you can still make weekly indoor court reservations.
Nothing has changed.
The game is easy to learn and really fun to play. It can be played on a variety of levels from casual to very competitive. Pickleball offers players of all ages a good physical workout and the opportunity to meet a diverse group of people who share the passion that surrounds this exciting sport.
We play at the Odell Weeks and Smith-Hazel Recreation Centers, the Gregg Park Civic Center, and many other venues throughout Aiken. Odell Weeks and Gregg Park both have six indoor courts. Smith-Hazel has three indoor courts. Go to the "Calendar" tab on the main menu for our current playing schedule. In addition, we have eight purpose-built pickleball courts located outside behind Odell Weeks. These public lighted courts are available year round.
Odell Weeks is located at 1700 Whiskey Rd in Aiken. The phone # is 803-642-7631.
Gregg Park is located at 1001 A Avenue Graniteville, SC (just 5 miles from downtown Aiken). The phone # is 803 663-7552
Smith-Hazel is located at 400 Kershaw St NE in downtown Aiken. The phone # is 803 642-7634
Come join us!
AIKEN PICKLEBALL IS GRATEFUL TO THE STAFF AND EMPLOYEES AT THE CITY OF AIKEN'S PARK, RECREATION AND TOURISM DEPARTMENT, THE ODELL WEEKS AND SMITH-HAZEL RECREATION CENTERS AND THE GREGG PARK CIVIC CENTER FOR THEIR SUPPORT TO OUR PROGRAM
Aiken County players will be given a FREE SKILL RATING upon request. Click here to sign up.
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General guidelines
In order to provide the best possible playing experience for everyone, Aiken Pickleball operates under a set of guidelines. Normally we have three types of play spread throughout the available times each day. These include drop-in play with all levels mixing together, drop-in play with courts designated by skill level, and court reservation play. When courts are designated by skill level, we have different schematics (weekday mornings, weekday evenings, and weekends) based on the court usage for different skill levels during those times. These designations are periodically reviewed and adjusted.
All players who participate in drop-in play by skill levels need to be rated by the committee. Visitors may play for a brief period at the level the player representatives feel is appropriate. Players who are visiting for a longer term and who have a rating at another location should check with the player representatives at that level to determine if that rating is acceptable for our local system.
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Guidelines for reserving courts via Sign-up Genius are available at the "Sign-ups" tab
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