Outdoor living

Finding Your Game at Lakeside’s Pickleball Courts

Pickleball was introduced to the Lakeside area in 2016 by Carlos Castro, who was the tennis pro at the Racquet Club. Today there are at least seven public venues with a total of 28 permanent pickleball courts, plus additional courts planned or under construction. The various venues are located in Ajijic, in the Racquet Club (four miles west of Ajijic) and in Chapala. Most of the venues are within easy walking distance from the main east-west highway, the Carretera, so a car is not necessary to reach most of the venues. There is a clickable map on the home page of the LakeChapalaPickleball.com website that can provide the location and directions to each site. The Events page provides a master schedule searchable by date, court location, and type of play.

Each of the locations has its own special appeal. There are no indoor courts in the Lakeside area, but two locations have shaded or fully covered courts suitable for afternoon and early evening play. The Racquet Club has 10 courts and an open bar with snacks and beverages. Four of the courts are shaded, and the remaining six are in full sunshine. There is drop-in play several days a week at 8:30 am at a cost of 140 pesos per morning session. Players of all skill levels are welcome, with room for different skill levels to play on separate courts. The Racquet Club is accessible by city bus from Ajijic, but a car is recommended because the courts are on a steep hill several blocks north of the Carretera.

The Tepalo Pickleball Club in central Ajijic has a spacious, well-lit, fully covered court that is suitable for play at all times. The cost to play at Tepalo is only 50 pesos per person per two-hour session, and all court fees are donated to the two public schools near the court. Although the Tepalo court is only available to club members and their guests, applications for membership are welcome. Email Ralph.Bussard@gmail.com for more information.

Like Tepalo, Mel’s Club Social is also within walking distance of the center of Ajijic. Mel’s welcomes players of all skill levels, but they are particularly welcoming to novice players. Mel’s can provide loaner equipment, training classes, and supervised play with coaching. Mel’s single court is a standard size, but the serving areas at each end of the court are somewhat cramped. Mel’s has a full-service snack and beverage bar.

The Hotel Real with its six dedicated pickleball courts is the most popular venue in the area. The Hotel Real is located on the lakefront in the La Floresta neighborhood of Ajijic, about eight blocks south of the Carretera. Drop-in players are separated into two groups by skill level, with three courts assigned to each group. The cost to play is 140 pesos per morning session beginning at about 8:30. Although the Hotel Real is understandably the most popular venue, its popularity can sometimes result in long waiting times for an available court.

Very similar to the Hotel Real, the Hotel Monte Carlo in Chapala has six courts overlooking the lake. Both sites are managed by Carlos Castro’s Pickleball Chapala group and have the same fee structure. Monte Carlo is home to a group of 4.5+ players led by Karen Smith, who is one of the few expats invited to play on the Mexican National Pickleball team. Visiting 4+ players are welcome. Monte Carlo also has open play for novice and intermediate players several mornings per week.

Last but not least, the City of Chapala has recently opened four new pickleball courts at the Cristiania Tennis Center. The Tennis Center is at the northwest corner of the Cristiania City Park, which is on the east side of Chapala bordering the lake. The center is open every day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The facility caters to groups that play every week, with pricing on a per court rather than a per player basis, but they also offer Drop-in play on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Drop-in play is only 100 pesos per player per day.

Whether you’re a seasoned player or simply curious to try something new, pickleball has become one of the easiest ways to connect with others around Lake Chapala. With courts scattered from Ajijic to Chapala, a welcoming mix of skill levels, and a strong sense of camaraderie, the game offers more than exercise, it offers community. Grab a paddle, show up, and you may just find that the real joy of pickleball isn’t the score, but the people you meet along the way.

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