Welcome all of you San Carlos pickleballers!
The first two months of 2025 have been filled with events, community unity, and friendship— even during hard times. We want to dedicate this newsletter to our dear friend, Mike Gartner, a cherished member of the San Carlos Pickleball community. Mike was more than just a player; he was a passionate competitor, a dedicated volunteer, and, above all, a beloved friend. From the very beginning of our club at Mirador Courts, he was always there — helping wherever he was needed and always the first to volunteer. Whether it was painting the courts, assisting with referee training, or setting up for tournaments, Mike’s enthusiasm, kindness, and ever-present smile made him a bright light in our community.
To ensure his legacy lives on, The Amigos Cross Borders 2025 event last month was dedicated in loving memory of Mike Gartner. Additionally, the Board and Management team are working on a memorial wall at the club to honor our pickleball friends who are no longer with us but have left a significant mark in helping build this beautiful community. Thank you to those who suggested this initiative — we are going to make it happen! The first “plate” will be in honor of Mike. Words cannot express our sorrow, but we find comfort in knowing that Mike spent his final moments doing what he loved, surrounded by his pickleball “Framily” — the friends who became family. Mike, you will be missed and never forgotten. You will always be in our memories and hearts. Rest in peace, dear friend.
~ Board of Directors & Management Team
Construction Update & Donors Wall
We’re making amazing progress on our SCPB Club construction project! Thanks to the funds raised during our December fundraiser, we’ve installed shades in the middle area of the club. Now, we’re aiming to take advantage of the slower summer season to move forward with the snack and refreshment area.
But that’s not it! We have a growing list of projects we’re continuing to raise funds for, like paved parking, a sewer connection, and more… each step making our club even better for everyone.
On behalf of the Board, a huge “Thank You” to everyone who has donated, contributed, and cheered us on. Your support is what makes all of this possible!
Let’s keep building together!
Social Impact Projects
This year, our social impact project is blooming! We moved the Kids Lessons program to the Snowbird Season, making it easier for more volunteers to join and offering a comfortable environment for all. Since January, we’ve been giving lessons every Monday, welcoming 50 kids from La Manga, Ranchitos, Guaymas, and San Jose (ages 6 – 16). We also opened the program to children of our members for a minimal fee to support the program.
We’re excited to be working on donating pickleball courts at schools and community centers. We are providing nets and court paint to use on existing basketball courts. Thanks to the community’s support, we’ve increased our goal from 4 to 8 courts this season!
- 1 Court at Ranchitos Community Center (Castaway Kids)
- 2 Courts at La Manga Community Center
- 2 Courts at San Jose Public Elementary School
- 1 Court at Empalme Public Elementary School
A special thank you to all our volunteers — Karen, Jeff, Quyen, Kim, Jim, Doreen, Megan, Linda, Mike, Lavonne, Matt, Wendy, Ramon, Angelica, Bert, Tania, Robert, Mariana, Mauricio, Alexia, Darren and Mariel — and to everyone who contributed to the Chef Festival fundraiser or donated used paddles.
We also appreciate Joe James, Jim & Kim Pritchard, Linda Stuart, Jeff Weinberg, Barry Zane and Robert Stuart for their generous support in helping us donate more portable nets and improve the program.
If you are interested in supporting this program as a volunteer or if you’d like to contribute something, please WhatsApp Mariel Rivera from the Management team at: +52 622-107-0085.
Events Recap: January & February, 2025
GLP January 2025 Video recap on Facebook
Amigos Cross Borders Games 2025 Video recap on Facebook
See the full album of Amigos here
AMIGOS CROSS BORDERS WEEK 2025 in loving memory of Mike Gartner
Thank you to every single player, every person who came to support and cheer, every gold and silver sponsor for your continued support, to our amazing suppliers who worked with us at the fast pace required for a live event like this, and, of course, a big thank you to our fabulous volunteer and staff team who made it all happen. It’s all teamwork and a community effort.
We want to share a special treat by providing the full album of pictures in high quality that were taken by the marketing team throughout the season. Since January, we’ve had 2 fantastic additions to the staff team — Alexia Rivera who is now supporting us with logistics during club events, and Tomas Palacios who is now the official photographer of the club. They are both working alongside the Management team to support all the marketing strategies to promote our San Carlos Pickleball Club.
Upcoming Tournaments & Events 2025
Check out our Tournament Season ahead!
Our 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the most action-packed yet, with fantastic events just around the corner. Be sure to mark your calendars and rally your friends to join us in San Carlos for these upcoming tournaments.
GLP TEAM STYLE TOURNAMENT MARCH 14 – 16
(Farewell to the Snowbird Season)
This is a team-based event. You don’t need to make your own team. The tournament Director will be making competitive teams with the players that sign up individually. In the end, all the teams will be matched to provide the ultimate competition. It’s an event for all ages and all skill sets. The teams must be divided evenly with 2 men, 2 women per team. In an emergency, to conserve the integrity of the tournament, the Tournament Director may designate a team without two women and two men if necessary. We play rally scoring. Each player is guaranteed a minimum of 8 games (4 matches).
It’s a super fun and unique team experience.
March 14 – 16
Registration fee for Members: 650 Pesos
Registration fee for Non-Members: 750 Pesos
Includes event & surprise souvenir
Location: San Carlos Pickleball Club
Promote your brand and support the club! We are still accepting tournament sponsors. If you are interested in supporting us and/or learning about the sponsorship packages, please contact Mariel Rivera at 622-107-0085 (call or WhatsApp). Thank you to the continued support of our already-confirmed sponsors for the last tournament of the snowbird season.
*Schedule: Closer to the date, the actual play times will be determined based on the weather.
Individual registration for the March GLP is now open on Court Reserve!
Improve your Game
Pickleball Lessons, Workshops & Drills Sessions
Improve your skills, technique, and strategy with instruction from our teaching pro, Kevin Duff. Click <HERE> for a summary of Kevin’s teaching credentials and experience.
Workshops: Workshops are in-depth, theme-based sessions designed to enhance a particular aspect of your game. Each workshop is two hours long and includes group discussion and custom drills. Currently available workshops include: Movement and Positioning, The Power Game, The Soft Game, Beating Bangers, Mid Court Mastery, Targeting and Stacking, Playing with Purpose, and GLP. Workshops are held every Wednesday from 1:00pm – 3:00pm. The cost for each workshop is 350 pesos/person.
Lessons: Private lessons are a great way to refine your technique, while semi-private and group lessons are useful for working on strategy with your friends.
- Private (one person): 1,200 pesos/hour
- Semi-private (two people): 800 pesos/person/hour
- Semi-private (three people): 600 pesos/person/hour
- Group (four to eight people): 500 pesos/person/hour
Drill Sessions: Playing pickleball is fun but it’s not always the best way to refine your skills. Drilling is a way to focus in on specific skills and get more repetitions than you would by playing games alone. Drill sessions are held every Friday from 11:00am – noon. Participants will be grouped according to skill level. The cost for each Drill session is 100 pesos/person.
Click <HERE> for the full menu of all instructional services offered at SCPC.
Pickle Smart Academy at SCPC by Kevin Duff: Are you ready to take your pickleball game to the next level? The Pickle Smart Academy is here to help you grow, refine, and master your pickleball skills in a cutting-edge and supportive environment. If you’re willing to make the commitment, then the Academy is ready to give you the tools, coaching, and support you need to succeed. There are no additional fees other than the requirement that you invest 5,000 pesos on instruction over the course of the season (November 1st – May 31st). Click <HERE> to read about the benefits of joining the Pickle Smart Academy.
For more information about pickleball instruction or the Pickle Smart Academy, please send a WhatsApp message to Kevin at +52 622-147-2979.
You can now rent a pickleball machine at our club!
Thanks to a recent generous donation, the Erne Pickleball Machine is available for use at San Carlos Pickleball Club
Rental rates:
*200 pesos per hour for members
*300 pesos for non-members (plus daily pass).
Take advantage of this great new feature and elevate your pickleball practice!
To operate the machine, simply download the Erne App on your phone. Please note that the machine is available during the following hours: 11:00am to 3:00pm Monday-Saturday. You can reserve the machine with Enrique at +52 622-162-6652.
Click here to download the Erne App on Android devices and click here to download it from the Apple store. And, you can download the Erne manual for tips on drills and how to operate it.
Calendar
Court Schedule and Activities
Check out our weekly Event Calendar packed with organized play, open play and social round robins at the San Carlos Pickleball Club.
Here are explanations about the organized groups and events you see in the calendar:
Walk-in events:
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Open Play – Monday to Saturday from 8:00am to 11:00am. Courts are divided into self-rated groups: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. Paddle Stacking within each group. Free to members.
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Hot Shots – Ladies Round Robin open to all skill levels. First come – first served; limited to 31 players. Free to members.
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Sorteo Sundays – Sundays at 9:00am (be there by 8:45am). First come – first served for all skills levels, limited to 70 people. Free to members.
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Fiesta Fridays – Fridays from 6:00pm. Open Play at night; we never know how many people will join but it is free to members. We will announce it via the SCPC Community WhatsApp chat when it is organized by the club.
Events that you need to Register for in advance:
- Tactica Tuesday (skill-based Round Robin) – 6:00pm. 100 pesos for members and 150 pesos for non-members. Ask Darren to add you to the group or scan QR code.
- Pickleball Pals – Mondays and Fridays at 8:30am. Mixed round robin. Scan QR code. Free to members.
- Dinking Divas – Ladies Round Robin. 3.5 and above skill level. Scan QR code Free to members.
- AAA Pods – Organized group for players over 3.5 skill level. Ask Al Dadswell to be added to the group or scan QR code. Free to members.
- Up and Comers – New or Beginner level players. Mondays at 11:00am and Thursdays at 6:00pm. Scan QR code. Free to members.
Anytime a court isn’t reserved for scheduled play, it can be reserved for private play using Court Reserve. NOTE: For events like Workshops or Dinks & Drills, please visit Court Reserve for registration and/or pricing, or contact Kevin Duff.
Plan your week and join in on the action!
Contact Us
We have a WhatsApp business phone line for your queries
We have a business phone line designed to streamline communication and assist you promptly with any questions or inquiries related to memberships and gate codes. To get into the courts, the Pro Shop, or to purchase merchandise, please reach out to our Management team staff support, Enrique Dorame at SCPC Admin Services: WhatsApp +52 622-162-6652.
And for any further questions or concerns, please contact our Management team, Darren Thompson and Mariel Rivera.
Mariel Rivera: +52 622-107-0085. Tournament sponsorship and Social Programs.
Darren Thompson: +52 622-165-1762. Court schedules, activities and tournaments.
We are here to help and support you in any way we can.
Court Reserve:
We use Court Reserve to enhance your experience at the club. If you are not already on Court Reserve, then find courtreserve.com on your phone or computer and Sign Up. Then look for San Carlos Pickleball Club. With this system, you can easily:
- Reserve a court
- Buy your membership or daily passes
- Check out our weekly events
- Register for workshops or paid events
Pro Shop
Consignment: We are currently accepting items for sale from our members. We will display the items at the various club events in exchange for 25% of the sale value. Contact Enrique, Mariel or Darren if you have something to sell!
Purchasing merchandise directly from the official Pro Shop supports the sustainability of the Club’s operations, allowing us to pay the bills and limit increases of the membership fees.
Official Vendor Offers
We have created a registration / application form for any vendor interested in selling products at the club. This is part of our efforts to improve administration and ensure smooth operations.
If you’d like to offer your products at our events, at the club or on our communication channels, please fill out the form to register. Thank you for helping us keep things organized!
Please fill out and submit the application in this link. We will review each case and get back to you as soon as we can.
Torres del Fuerte Copper Canyon Tour official Vendor!
Departures every Wednesday & Friday: Tour includes transportation, 5 nights of lodging, Train Chepe First Class, local tours, transfers Hotel-Train-hotel and more.
Cost $1,990 USD (Per person based on double occupancy)
El Fuerte is a 6-hour drive south of San Carlos and the hotel offers free parking or private transportation (ask them for details).
Contact: Francisco Torres at: 622-109-0031 (call or WhatsApp). Mention Pickleball. If you make a reservation, please let Angie Parmely / Mariel Rivera know so that the pickleball club gets a donation from the tour vendor.
XIC SPA new official vendor!
Buy your beauty pass bracelet at the courts for 250 Pesos with Enrique and receive a 30% discount on all your experiences at XIC SPA, the best Spa in town located in San Carlos Plaza Hotel. For reservations, contact them by call or WhatsApp at: +52 622-170-2411.
Please mention the Pickleball Club when you make the reservation.
Your Health Matters
Safety reminder for all members:
If you experience any injury on the courts, please call Rescate for assistance — they provide Emergency Services for all our members.
Simply dial 911 and tell the dispatcher to Send Rescate. Your safety is our priority, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to Rescate if needed.
AED Member Training: As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance our emergency preparedness at the San Carlos Pickleball Club, we had another AED (Automated External Defibrillator) training for our members. Our recent workshop, held at the courts, was a great success. We deeply appreciate Cody Collings and Kadie LeBlanc for giving the training and making this workshop possible.
