The 16-court pickleball complex at the resort’s award-winning Tennis andPickleball Center remains in constant use.The pickleball courts at Palmetto Dunes are all lighted for night play.

“Our pickleball growth has been incredible,” said Palmetto Dunes Director of Tennis & Pickleball JohnKerr. “Last fall, we doubled the size of our pickleball operation. It’s like, ‘if you build it they will come.’ Here at the resort we’re trying to stay as much ahead of the curve as we can in pickleball. I envisioned the sport’s growth in popularity happening, I just didn’t envision it happening this fast.”

The Pickleball Center also offers daily lessons and clinics including adult beginner & intermediate clinics, combo clinic /round robin, morning & afternoon adult round robins and private & semi-private lessons.

The Palmetto Dunes Tennis and Pickleball Center— which has been named the top tennis resort in theCarolinas by Tennis Magazine —also boasts 21 clay tennis courts including four lighted for night play and a beautifully well-stocked, 1,800-square-foot tennis &pickleball pro shop — Hilton Head Island's largest.

Ansboury is a nationally ranked tennis & pickleball player who is a Tournament of Champions Gold &Silver winner, four times medalist at the USA Pickleball Association NationalTournament including Gold in the Women’s DoublesOpen, 2018 Grand Canyon State Games Athlete of theYear in Pickleball, Gold for Women’s & Silver medal forMixed Doubles at the Texas Open and the list continues.“Sarah Ansboury is an exceptional ambassador of pickleball and we are thrilled to have her on our team at Palmetto Dunes,” said John Kerr. “She’s been one of the early pioneers for pickleball’s growth over the past four plus years.”

Kerr said he doesn’t see pickleball’s growth at Palmetto Dunes slowing down anytime soon. “We may possibly bring in some more courts down the road and we’re looking to bring in some regional pickleball tournaments to the resort,” Kerr said. “We would like to be the most popular location for tennis and pickleball in the southeast.”

ABOUT THE RESORT: Named a Top 25 World’s Best Family Resort by Travel + Leisure, Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort is a 2,000-acre resort offering world-class tennis and pickleball plus three championship golf courses. Hilton Head Outfitters is available for bike rentals, canoes, kayaks and lagoon fishing. TheMediterranean-style Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina, Hilton HeadIsland’s largest deep-water marina, located right across from Palmetto Dunes, features seven waterfront restaurants, shopping and a wide variety of charters, including nature cruises, dolphin tours, sport crabbing and fishing.