Pineapple Beach Club Antigua, an adults-only, all-inclusive resort under the Elite Island Resorts collection, recently announced the addition of six new pickleball courts to its extensive list of recreational amenities.
Pickleball, originating in the 1960s as a modest backyard game, has surged in popularity, attracting nearly 9 million enthusiasts in the United States alone. For the third year in a row, as cited in the Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s 2024 SFIA’s Topline Participation Report, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, having grown 51.8 percent from 2022 to 2023, and an incredible 223.5 percent in three years.
Celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen DeGeneres, and Jennifer Aniston have become aficionados. Even athletes like LeBron James, Tom Brady, and Michael Phelps are joining in the fun, with all three investing in Major League Pickleball teams. The involvement of these high-profile individuals highlights the sport’s growing appeal and legitimacy. However, Elite Island Resorts predicted the popularity of the sport and introduced pickleball since the early aughts to their resorts in Antigua, including St. James’s Club & Villas on the southeastern coast, Hammock Cove Antigua, located on the northeast coast, and Pineapple Beach Club on Long Bay, making Antigua "the Caribbean’s capital of pickleball." And, it recently also added a pickleball court to its property in Panama, Los Establos Boutique Resort.
Set within 30 acres of lush tropical landscape, Pineapple Beach Club now offers six new courts designed by Agile Courts. The all-inclusive, adults-only resort has 180 rooms, three pools and a variety of water activities, including stand-up paddling and kayaking. The new pickleball courts enhance the resort’s appeal, making it well-suited for group retreats or individuals looking to refine their skills.
After a tournament, guests can relax with optional spa treatments, such as the Sports Massage, which helps reduce tension, increase range of motion, and provides a focused warm-up for critical joints and muscle groups. For deeper relaxation, the Warm Bamboo Fusion Massage offers a rejuvenating deep tissue treatment using warm bamboo tools to relieve muscle and tendon tightness and revitalize tired muscles.
The Verandah Antigua, a newly revamped adults-only retreat with 185 rooms, also offers four courts for pickleball enthusiasts. Hammock Cove Antigua, with 41 luxury villas, adds a luxurious twist to the sport with two exclusive courts. The 247-room St. James’s Club & Villas, Antigua, was the first property on the island to have pickleball courts and today has three of them for guests to enjoy on the southeastern coast. In addition to Antigua, Elite Island Resorts also has a pickleball court in the 17 all-suite Los Establos Boutique Resort in Panama, for intimate games under the gaze of Volcán Barú.
For more information, visit eliteislandresorts.com.
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