Pickles and Play - Garner

I was visiting from out of town and Pickles and Play in Garner is just ok. The facility is new but is definitely no frills and underwhelming compared to other clubs I’ve played. The borders around the courts are fabric net and you are not able to attach bags. There are a few tables but bags and water bottles are scattered everywhere. The courts are very close together and without barriers between to keep balls from flying all over the place. The person checking us in grunted when we came in so they were definitely not very friendly or helpful. People were using the paddle rack but when a court came open, it was a free for all and the rack placement didn’t matter. I was there for an open play and left halfway through due to frustration in the facility and how it was run. I think the membership price is expensive for what you get. My home club membership is $19 per month and is a very nice facility with a lounge and locker room. I will be heading back to my home court and will not return.

Just wanted to take a minute to give much deserved props to the Pickles & Play facility in Garner, NC, and specifically, one of the pros, Pam Gilbert. I signed up for and attended the Intro to Pickleball course with her on a Wednesday afternoon. I had no idea what to expect. I had never even picked up a racquet. It turned out to be the best hour-long lesson that I have ever taken (for any sport) and it also was the first one (for any sport) that I didn't have to pay for because it was a free class offered by the facility. I kind of expected a verbal discussion of the game, maybe some demo strokes, and then a hard sell to pitch the facility. Instead, what I got was an hour of actual play and practice with professional tips throughout. We not only talked about rules and scoring but also etiquette and what it means to be a good sport in Pickleball instead of merely a proficient player. We closed out the hour by playing actual pickle ball points and truly seeing how the rules could come into play in a real match and how to keep score in some challenging situations. There were only a handful of people in the class but she was excellent with everyone from youngest to oldest and athletic to non-athletic. Everyone got a workout and everyone was exposed to their first bit of "real" pickleball. I suppose that one of her strategies is to let the game kind of sell itself, which it does, but it was truly beneficial to be learning the game from someone that has passion for the game, skill at the game, a sense of humor, and lots and lots of patience. By the end of the hour, not only was I sweating but I knew better than to call the thing you hit the ball with a "racquet" (GASP!). So, if you are looking to try pickleball in an environment where the instructor will not lose patience and where you will not be intimidated then this is your place. I guess you could say that Pam is the Real "Dill." (Just couldn't resist). With regards to the facility, it was extremely clean and everyone was very welcoming and friendly. This is a great addition to Garner. They have constructed plenty of leagues and open-play times for all skill levels as well as social events for meeting other pickle ballers so that you don't even have to worry if you don't have friends to bring along. (At least not as far as your pickleball playing opportunities). And, If you do have friends, you can reserve courts, play inside in a safe, clean environment, and not have to worry about sitting on hard bleachers for hours waiting for others to finish. To sum, great class and great facility.

Great facility. 7 courts with plenty of room. Open plays bring out a lot of competitive players in the area or you can book a court.

Pickles and Play in Garner is hands-down one of the best indoor pickleball facilities around. The court surfaces are excellent, and the wall color is thoughtfully chosen—it makes tracking the ball so much easier. The owners and training staff go above and beyond to connect personally with players, creating a warm, community-focused environment. Whether you're playing casually or training seriously, this place has it all. Highly recommend!

Overall this is a good facility, but unfortunately I didn’t have a great experience during a singles tournament here. Court 7 is a pretty dangerous court to play singles on- the walls are way too close to the baseline. I rammed my toe into the wall going after a ball during my 3rd game and still dealing with quite a bit of pain. I won my first 3 games and ended up losing my last two after the injury. I doubt anything can be done now that it’s already built but I hope they refrain from using this court in future singles tournaments. The other courts were fine