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SARASOTA- According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, Pickleball continues to be America’s fastest growing sport.

I’m here at the Pickleball Club of Lakewood Ranch, and ready to play on this week’s ‘Gas Up & Go.’

“There’s some people that are like in their 70’s that will whoop me,” says member Micha Pacini. 

You can often find instructors at the club teaching beginners, but the facility caters to all levels. Regardless of the weather outside, impromptu member matches inside are the norm here. Plus their Pickles Café to recharge after a game.

“It’s so social. My husband and I both play and it’s just a lot of fun!” says Pacini. 

The Pickleball Club founder and CEO Brian McCarthy says that’s why it was important to set roots in Sarasota.

“We have a lot of new people moving into the area, they’ve left some of their friends and family behind and their interested in socializing and getting to know people in their community and we wanted to create a platform or a venue in which they could do so, and a club environment is the perfect place to do so,” says McCarthy.

The Pickleball Club is expanding with 9 more facilities including Venice, Pinellas Park, Orlando and The Villages. Visit Home – The Pickleball Club to learn more.