56 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} pickleball and tennis courts. For those who would prefer to play in an indoor space, you can use San Mateo High School Gym’s dropin pickleball courts for a small fee. CLUBS, CLINICS AND COMMUNITY While many players learn by simply showing up at a public court, lessons can be a helpful way to master the basics quickly. The Half Moon Bay Pickleball Academy offers both private and group lessons, and various clubs on the Peninsula can also provide new players with a supportive community and source of guidance when getting started. Located at Mitchell Park, the Palo Alto Pickleball Club offers beginner sessions, round-robin tournaments and clinics for players of all skill and exGO CLUBBING It’s hard to say what pickleball enthusiasts like best, the game or the active community that plays it. Check out these Peninsula clubs for tournaments, tips and support for beginners. + Burlingame - burlingamepickleball.org + Foster City - fostercitypickleballclub.org + Mountain View - mvpickle.org + Palo Alto - paloaltopickleballclub.org play ball pickleheads.com perience levels. The Foster City Pickleball Club also hosts tournaments, as well as intro sessions for new players at the Foster City Pickleball Courts. For those looking to jump in and start playing, the Mountain View Pickleball Club holds open play at Rengstorff Park daily from 9AM to 9PM, and the Burlingame Pickleball Group has drop-in pickleball courts at Washington, Ray and Laguna parks. Nervous about showing up alone and not having anyone who will play with you? Don’t be. One of the biggest draws of pickleball is the social aspect. Players can just show up at a court and easily find a game to join at their level. “Pickleball is welcoming and inclusive, very social, and it brings a community together,” says Monica. “Our club’s motto is: ‘Arrive as a stranger and leave as a friend.’”
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