Hunters Run Country Club in Boynton Beach has responded to the growing interest of its members in the game of pickleball. They recently had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of eight new pickleball courts in the community on March 16.
Hunters Run has created a buzz among its members for more opportunities and games with 12 pickleball courts for its over 250 active pickleball players.
Hunters Run President Michael Rappaport was joined by the director of racquet sports Mali Hall to cut the ribbon.
Dave Cordrey, who was the longtime director of tennis and racquet sports before retiring, was joined by racquet sports co-chairpersons Joel Needleman and Diane Martin-Tryhane at the event.
Larry Savvides, Hunters Run COO and general manager, also addressed the crowd during the ceremony. The club members who attended the event received Champagne and strawberries. After the ceremony, four pro pickleball athletes were also on hand as they briefly hit back and forth on the pickleball courts and answered questions from members about the game.
“It was nice to see a very large audience of our members at the grand opening,” Savvides said. “It was well attended and the spirits were high. We have one of the largest pickleball populations with more than 250 players in the community and it’s thriving and a growing sport. It’s becoming an attraction for new residents.”
Hall said she started the process for the additional pickleball courts this past October. She also credited Cordrey for his support of the project.
“It was a very exciting ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the additional eight courts and it was a pretty big crowd,” Hall said. “The expansion from four to 12 courts allows us to build the pickleball program and expand open play and accommodate more members. We have several teams who can play on our courts for interclub leagues. We have a lot of new members playing and participating in our beginner clinics and lessons.”
Hunters Run has also designed a pickleball program for players of all levels from beginner to advanced. The pickleball pool was implemented to organize games for members to play on the courts with others at a similar skill level. The members can also be rated during clinics and private lessons offered by club professionals. Hall said the pickleball pool has been successful and action-packed with participants enjoying the system as the courts have been booked.
Hunters Run resident Dave Bernstein previously helped design a software system for a tennis pool to organize games by skill level for players in the community. He also assisted with the pickleball pool, which was implemented in March.
“It’s a unique system with the function to match people who are fairly compatible and with the appropriate skill level,” Bernstein said.
Bernstein, who previously played tennis, is a pickleball enthusiast and heads to the courts in the morning on a daily basis.
“It’s extremely social and I have developed great friendships,” he said. “It’s a great sport and I get a really good workout and it’s a very friendly atmosphere. I am a fanatic and it’s a great time.”
Hunters Run residents Sue and Rich Bartow have both enjoyed success and played at a high level in pickleball tournaments.
They previously won gender-neutral championships during the spring of 2019 and 2021 in the A Flight and will be competing for another title in April. They also won a memorable semifinal match against two male players during a championship run by winning nine consecutive points to rally from behind for a 12-10 victory.
The couple also has experience playing on the stadium court during pickleball tournaments at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. They have previously won the gold in the mixed 60+ division at the 3.5 level.
Sue Bartow and Diane Martin-Tryhane also teamed up to win the gold this past year in women’s doubles at the 3.5 level.
The Bartows, who are both active with tennis and golf, started playing pickleball while on vacation in Mexico in 2011. They have played in pickleball tournaments in Florida and New York.
“It’s very popular and we can’t get enough of it,” Rich said. “It’s very social and a great way to see friends. It’s an easy sport to learn and there is more flexibility. The new courts will attract more members. It will put us on the map. We are just thrilled and it means a lot.”
In 2015, Hunters Run built four pickleball courts and started with nearly 60 participants. Hunters Run won the Palm Beach County Pickleball League Championship during its second year of interclub competition while the Monday League also earned first place in the Play It Forward Championship.
Hunters Run has previously won the 2019 South Florida Pickleball League Open Championship and the 2019 Palm Beach County Pickleball League Division 1 Championship. Hunters Run also has 18 Har-Tru tennis courts and three championship golf courses.
Savvides said it’s an exciting time to be a resident at Hunters Run.
“We have younger members joining,” he said. “We are financially strong. We have a very social calendar. It’s very active and desirable for our members year-round.”
