A great pickleball club is more than top-of-the-line courts; it’s the members who choose to walk through the doors every day. Seacoast Pickleball Club in York, Maine, made a conscious decision to incorporate both into its business plan and is thriving and still growing two years after opening.
Over 500 members have joined the eight-court indoor facility, which has been open since September 2023, to enjoy climate-controlled play year-round and a staff that puts players’ experience first. So much so that club owners opted for an additional entertainment area for players instead of an extra court to keep Seacoast more fun and inviting for players.
Elease Colcord, Director of Events and Marketing for Seacoast Pickleball Club, says what makes Seacoast so special is the genuine friendships formed on and off the court.
“This past weekend, I was invited to a potluck with over 40 Seacoast members in attendance, ranging in age from 25 to 85,” she says. “We have created a fantastic and generational community of players who have created friendships in and out of the club along the way.”
The club aims to create fun experiences for members beyond just booking a court, such as Friendsgiving, Halloween parties, 80’s nights and more. While hosting events is a great way to get people together, it’s the human connection established at Seacoast that truly sets them apart.
“We don’t have scanning machines or scannable cards,” Elease says. “All members check in with a staff member face-to-face so we all get to know each other.” The club goes so far as to require staff to mix in with club members and play during their shifts. Elease says she plays five to ten times a week during her shifts, making connections and friendships along the way.
Elease says during onboarding, many conversations are had and expectations set around a positive culture throughout the club. Everywhere you look, signs reiterating that message are found. To ensure all are on board, members even sign a Positive Culture Agreement that sets clear expectations for kindness, respect, and community standards at the club.
“This club is one of the cleanest I have ever seen,” she says and cites the agreement and culture as a main reason.
Furthering that inclusive feeling are the design choices made when the facility was converted from an indoor soccer space to pickleball courts. The eight fully netted courts are easily viewed from high-tops in the lounge area overlooking the space. Spectators are still able to feel like a part of the game from the lounge or courtside. The two lounges offer hosting space for birthdays, corporate events and private parties. Most recently, a bachelorette party rented the lounge and six courts. Thanks to the thoughtful space design, even those not playing were able to be a part of the fun to create a memorable experience for all.
Like most clubs, Seacoast offers round robins and tournaments, including two yearly members-only events with nearly 150 players. Unlike many clubs, Seacoast opts for member self-seeding over using DUPR ratings. To help members determine where to play, they provide information and feedback on players to help them understand what level suits them best. Elease also says if a player is looking for a DUPR rating, one of their pros will be happy to help with that as well. Another way to build camaraderie and community is through monthly teen nights offered at no cost to local youths during the school year. These fun night outs provide young people with a safe, active place to hang out while learning a new sport.
In addition to the member tournaments, Seacoast hosts four non-profit charity tournaments every year. The club makes an effort to get involved in the community, donating court time for local fundraisers and the free youth nights. As such, many charities are interested in using the facilities and Seacoast is proud to be a part of the effort.
The addition of two golf simulators brings a little something new and fun into the facility and includes something for everyone when renting the space, taking a breather between or after matches, or just waiting for friends to finish.
Seacoast is a great example of how to create a community-minded club built from the top down. Designing for community over profit has led to the club’s success, which now boasts a staff of 10 part-time and two full-time employees, and is open seven days a week. Pickleball clubs looking to retain members and build a club that members want to join can take a page from Seacoast’s positive playbook and have a great time while doing so.
