Naples Pickleball Center – Pickleball Capital of the World

Posted: 5/27/2021  |  May 27, 2021

Did you know that the world’s largest pickleball venue has 60 permanent courts and is located in the top travel destination of Naples, Florida? Yes, it’s true, with 60 beautiful courts Naples Pickleball Center is the pickleball capital of the world. This city-owned facility is the first of it’s kind and has been home to the US Open Pickleball Championships since the Open debuted in 2016.

Besides my quick share of this historic venue, I have even bigger news … Here is the official story that was published a few days ago. So exciting!

Big Changes, Big FUN coming to Naples Pickleball Center!

Businessman Bob Strommen discovered pickleball in Minnesota in 2018. Having visited  Naples, Florida since 1987, he began frequenting East Naples Community Park to  learn, play and develop his proficiency for the sport.

Strommen was hooked and soon approached then-managing partner, Jim Ludwig, to  gauge his interest in passing the torch and continuing the development of an already great facility to the next level to build on “The Pickleball Capital of the World.” The  torch was successfully passed in late 2020.

A Commitment to Embracing Life 

“I have a service-oriented passion for progress, and for doing things right,” said  Strommen. “Of course, I want to have fun at the same time!”

Strommen believes that since life is short, it is important to embrace it with passion  and fun. This attitude led to a collaborative effort with “partner Ryan Reader, to do  something significant” at two Collier County locations, expanding on the development  of a world-class pickleball facility with a comprehensive Training Academy for fun and  excellence.

“To accomplish this core objective, it became apparent for the need to surround  ourselves with nationally known, nationally recognized and well-respected  professionals with unquestionable Pickleball pedigrees and sterling reputations,” said  Strommen.

Little did he know at the time, the search and journey would result in meaningful  conversations with two such professionals, Jennifer Lucore and Alex Hamner, at the  2021 US Open Pickleball Championships. Both Lucore and Hamner are Pickleball Hall  of Fame inductees.

“I find it so interesting,” said Strommen, “that this attitude of embracing life with  passion and fun enabled me to meet two amazing, professional women who share the  same attitudes about life, professionalism, fun and excellence!”

Double the Fun