The Arrowsmith Tennis Club has explained to Qualicum Beach council why they believe the town should not paint pickleball lines on tennis courts.
Club president Greg Bach and former president Ada Sarsiat appeared as a delegation at council’s regular meeting on June 14, to express opposition to the town’s plan to include pickleball lines on the centre court of the Qualicum Beach tennis courts.
Bach provided information to help council reconsider their decision. He pointed out the club has 147 active members who play on five of the six courts at Springwood Park in Parksville, and on two of the three tennis courts in Qualicum Beach, as one court is already painted with pickleball lines.
“We have a very strong vested interest in the Qualicum Beach courts,” said Bach. “Approximately 40 of our members play there regularly. We have the courts booked during the summer time, six days a week, from 9 a.m. to noon. Generally we start at about 8:30.”
Bach added the club helps the town look after the tennis courts, keeping them clean, and works with town staff on maintenance. The club also spent $2,000 to erect windscreens on the courts.
“We believe that there should not be additional lines on the courts for several reasons,” said Bach. “One, is that we’re already very active there and we find that pickleball and tennis do not mix. And I might point out that approximately 50 of our members are active pickleball players.”
Bach said there is a history of conflict between tennis and pickleball, which he added is ironic as most of them play both sports.
“But they’re different,” said Bach. “They have different requirements. What happened in British Columbia is Pickleball BC and Tennis BC got together and formed a working group to address these conflicts and try to minimize them. One of the strongest recommendations is do not add lines to tennis courts unless there’s absolutely no other option.”
While some pickleball players say it’s just a matter of getting used to fewer lines, Bach said, it’s not that simple.
“The nets have different height requirements,” Bach explained. “So, we end up with pickleball pulling the nets lower and tennis wanting to get them higher and conflicts on use of the courts. And we end up with courts that are compromised so that you’re not playing a standard game of either tennis or pickleball. And for people who play both sports, I want to play on standard courts.”
Sarsiat, who plays both sports, indicated that the Qualicum Beach facility is designed specifically for tennis and should stay that way.
“The tennis courts, I don’t find them suitable for pickleball,” said Sarsiat. “I have tried playing there. The net is too high and you have to drag it down … try to drag it down so it is good. The lines are very confusing for players of tennis and pickleball.”
Bach and Sarsiat both pointed out that unlike pickleball, tennis players do not have other opportunities as there are no indoor courts available in Parksville Qualicum Beach. Pickleball, on top of the outdoor courts now available, has an option to be played indoors at Oceanside Place, Oceanside Elementary School, Qualicum Beach Commons, Qualicum Beach Curling Club and Qualicum Beach Civic Centre.
Sarsiat said she supports the town’s commitment to provide pickleball courts, but not at the expense of the two remaining tennis courts.
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Mayor Teunis Westbroek said council will review the situation and also consider the club’s delegation at the next council meeting.
Westbroek added they are waiting for staff to provide a report on the cost to paint pickleball lines on the tennis courts and the length of time to do the job.
“We didn’t say paint them,” said Westbroek. “We just said what would it cost?”
Westbroek added that they have made a commitment to provide a site and allotted $85,000 towards building a designated pickleball facility in town. But the Qualicum Beach Pickleball Club will need to raise about $85,000 to pay for four courts that will cost approximately $170,000 to build.
“As soon as the money is in play, we can start building these courts,” said Westbroek. “But there need to be some contribution.”
Bach indicated the club worked with the Oceanside Pickleball Club two years ago and with the City of Parksville council two years ago. The club supported the request for alternative areas for pickleball and also the creation of a permanent facility.