Gary Davis
‘Pay and Play’ tennis, Summer Holiday Camps for children and new courts dedicated to the USA’s latest sports phenomenon…
It was invented in 1965 by three Dads who wanted to occupy their children: it is the USA’s fastest growing sport with 48.3 million adults having played in the last year; and seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady and basketball legend LeBron James co-own teams. So, what is the sport?
The answer is Pickleball. It mixes elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis and, on 10 July, Park Sports will be opening eight new courts at its Chiswick House venue. ‘Pickleball is ideal for all ages and abilities,’ says Racquets Manager, Gary Davis. ‘It’s not as technical as tennis –
there’s no overarm serve – the rules are simple and the court is badminton-sized, so there’s less emphasis on mobility.’
A public pay-and-play facility with no membership required, the ex-Will to Win site was re-branded as Park Sports last year. ‘Our aim is to make everyone feel welcome and create a relaxed atmosphere in which to play tennis,’ explains Gary. ‘We have five LTA-qualified coaches who run courses for juniors and adults (Beginners, Improvers and Intermediates) as well as one-to-one sessions.
‘Holiday Camps are a popular part of our tennis programme, and from 10 July to 1 Sept we’ll be running Mini Camps (ages 4-7) and Junior Camps (ages 7-16). Held over five consecutive days, the focus is on developing core skills in a fun way – they are the perfect introduction to the game.’
Anyone who wants a court at Park Sports can book seven days in advance or use an Advantage Card, which gives a 10-day booking period and discounted rates. ‘Whatever your standard, come and hit a ball with us,’ says Gary. ‘And we’ll be delighted to introduce you to Pickleball!’
SPECIAL OFFERS: Save 50% on Pickleball court bookings when you pre-register interest at parksports.co.uk. Save 10% on Summer Holiday Camps – see opposite page.
Park Sports Chiswick
Chiswick House Grounds
(A4 Entrance)
Chiswick W4 2RP
020 7224 1625
chiswick@parksports.co.uk
https://parksports.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/parksportsuk