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Welcome to

the Lakeshore

Pickleball Club

Join Our Club
Volunteers Needed: Sept/Oct Youth Instruction

We are a nonprofit organization devoted to America’s fastest-growing sport. Specifically, we promote a healthy lifestyle by promoting the sport of Pickleball in West Michigan. We achieve this by utilizing safe environments to play and multiple opportunities to learn and improve our game.

The purpose of our club is to provide you with current and relevant information about our various programs and local area venues. Seasons change and so do the venues and various programs. Whether you are local or a guest, you are welcome to join us as we gather new friends, laugh a little, improve our cardio, and just enjoy the sport that is sweeping our nation.  ​

Consider joining us on our Pickleball journey!

What is Pickleball?

It is a fun, social, and friendly sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It is played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes as double or singles. The rules are simple and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players. The beauty of pickleball is that it can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels.

Pickleball fun facts:

  • Pickleball was invented in 1965 just outside Seattle on Bainbridge Island by three dads – Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum – who decided to create some summertime fun for their kids.
  • Despite the name, pickleball has nothing to do with actual pickles. Some claim that the name “pickleball” came from Pritchard’s cocker spaniel, whose name was Pickles. However, that family dog made his debut two years after they invented the sport, and got his name from the game.
  • Pickleball is almost equally as popular among men and women, with 53% of players being male and 47% being female.
  • More than 3 million players play pickleball in the United States and that number has been growing by more than 10 percent each year over the past decade.

There are some great benefits to joining our club!

Membership dues help us grow the sport of pickleball, encouraging all ages to enjoy the many benefits of pickleball play. Remember, most of us started at a beginner level.

Our club organizes and manages our Lakeshore Tournaments, Ladder Leagues, New Player Night, and various Pickleball Clinics throughout the year. We also provide communication on our website for clinics, coaching and other tournaments in nearby communities.

Our club encourages and welcomes new players to our community. We have offered instruction for children, school groups, and adults.

At our local facility, Mulligan’s Hollow, we provide access to club-owned paddles for new players to borrow.

We invite various pickleball vendors to come and display new gear to our members. Many vendors will provide education, answer questions, and let players test their paddles. In addition to improving play, several of our members have enjoyed getting discounts on these new paddles.

Our LPC Board connects and works with surrounding organizations to advocate for new courts, places to play, and fundraising events.

We meet with the City of Grand Haven, Spring Lake Township and Grand Haven Township to collaborate and build a stronger partnership for our tri-cities area.

By being a member you will have access to our club's website members-only content for up to date information about schedules and places to play, clinics, local tournaments, and current events. Members also have access to our Member Directory, Photo Gallery, Bulletin Board, and are included in all club communications.

Our board continues to update and post guidelines regarding court play time/usage, sportsmanship and court etiquette, to ensure a welcoming and fun pickleball community.

Club members get a discount for purchases at Pickleball Central

If you’re ready to jump on the courts and connect with our local community of pickleball players, sign up today!

Join Our Club

Board of Directors, 2024-25

President – John Gabalis
Vice President – Chip Gilbertson
Treasurer – Shelly Finkhouse
Secretary – Debra Smith- Andersen

Members At Large
Angelo Marasco
Randy Dicks
Sam Ventocilla