Hilton Head Island's Palmetto Dune's New Sport Pickleball

Tennis Meets Ping Pong in Pickleball, New Sport at Hilton Head Island’s Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort

Palmetto Dunes Tennis and Pickleball 

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Named one of the world’s best getaways for families by Travel + Leisure in 2013, Palmetto Dunes has added even more family fun to its many offerings with the addition of pickleball at the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center. Described as tennis meets ping pong, the game is easy to pick up and popular with all ages.

Pickleball joined the range of activities available at the oceanfront Hilton Head resort in June and has already been a hit with families and retired individuals visiting the resort. “If this turns out to be as popular as we think it will be, we’ll soon be hosting pickleball tournaments and offering memberships and lessons in addition to our usual tennis lineup,” says John Kerr, director of tennis for Palmetto Dunes.

Played with oversized ping pong paddles and a softball-sized plastic perforated ball, the goal is to volley the ball over a net that stands 34 inches. Points are scored only by the serving team and games are normally played to 11 points, winning by at least 2. Four games can be played simultaneously on one tennis court, and Palmetto Dunes has dedicated one of its 25 tennis courts to the sport.

Palmetto Dunes Tennis and Pickleball 

To play pickleball at Palmetto Dunes, costs range from $15 for walk-ins (Noon-4 p.m.) and $20 reserved in advance. Guests staying with Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort receive two hours of free tennis court or pickleball time daily with their accommodations booking. Pickleball machines are also available for rent for practice or playing alone. Costs are $20 for a half hour or $30 for a full hour. For more information about playing pickleball at Palmetto Dunes, call the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center at 843-785-1152.

According to The USA Pickleball Association, or USAPA, there are currently 2000 locations to play pickleball around the U.S. and 400,000 players.

About Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort

Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort is a 2,000-acre resort destination located in the middle of Hilton Head Island, S.C., bounded by 3 miles of Atlantic Ocean beach on one side and a sheltered Intracoastal Waterway marina on the other. Named to the top 25 World’s Best Family Getaways by Travel + Leisure in 2013, the resort features three world-class golf courses, an award-winning tennis center, an 11-mile inland salt-water lagoon system for kayaking and fishing, and Hilton Head Outfitters for bike rentals, canoes, kayaks, fishing and much more. The Mediterranean-style Shelter Cove Harbour, Hilton Head Island’s largest deep-water marina, located right across from Palmetto Dunes, features waterfront shopping and dining and a wide variety of charters, including nature cruises, dolphin tours, sport crabbing and fishing. For information about activities or reservations, please call 877-567-6513 or visit www.palmettodunes.com.

Warmly, Carolina Mama

FTC Disclosure: I LOVE that Palmetto Dune's is offering Pickleball as their new sport! My boys love it! I am sharing because I LOVE Hilton Head Island and Palmetto Dunes! We love our time at HHI and Palmetto Dune's Oceanfront Resort whether working or on our own get away. Try it and enjoy!