Elite Pickleball Club

I’m in Houston for the holiday. Been trying to find a good pickleball spot around town. I’m staying near Sugar land. Tried some courts around that area. Elite is way better for me. It has a lot of players. Community is good! If you’re an advanced player, it’s easier to find a good match here. I don’t mind driving 30mins just to play here. Good games as always.

Parking is HORRID! But I did have a great time. When I said horrid, I mean that from the depths of my soul and I feel like I’ve hardly seen a review that has mentioned it, so I will. The parking lot was huge and completely packed. People circled it like vultures, stalking those who were leaving to see if we could snatch their space. There streets were lined with cars to catch the immense overflow from the parking lot. I recommend arriving no less than 20 minutes before you need to be there. I was also told by staff that this is how it is every single night. Now for the facility itself, it’s def some serious pickles in that place. I’ve gone to cutesy pickle places where it was more chilled vibes: this one is def not one of those. But being around such great athletes encouraged me to be better, even though I was simply there for the beginners class. The class was FREE, which I loved. You cannot cancel online within 24 hours. The class fills up quick, it seems like there’s often a waitlist, and you can only take it once. You get the basic rules of pickleball and then you have essentially the rest of the time to play. It’s fun! But guidance when the actual playing is taking place would have been nice, but again, it’s FREE. So I was grateful. They also supply you with a paddle for the beginners class so no need to stress order off Amazon. Keep in mind that there’s 2 buildings: Elite 8 and Elite 16. 9/10, you’re going to 8. The other seems more for comp and the real deal professionals. Now— will I come back? Maybe, if I’m with a group of people and we book a court. I likely wouldn’t come back for open play due to the fact that I suck and will likely embarrass myself. But! If you are wanting an intro course or you are serious about pickle, def visit. Just remember to arrive super early.

We had an amazing time playing pickleball! 🏓✨ The place is super nice, clean, and well-organized perfect for having fun with friends, family, or even work colleagues (which was my case). We laughed a lot, enjoyed the game, and will definitely be coming back. I totally recommend it if you’re looking for a fun and active way to unwind! 💫 🏓

It's in the name "Elite". It means that the facilities are top notch: the courts are great and there are no pillars in the way which is a common issue for indoor facilities but many places are like this. What really makes this place truly elite? Come to any of the open play sessions, especially the ones that are not fully booked and are thus not managed. Here you will realize that this place truly is elitist. Paddles are not usually stacked up and games are organized amongst regulars, keeping a tight knit group of people that monopolize the courts and play amongst each other. If you're new to the group, good luck finding an opening to play. This is especially true if you are not an advanced player. There is also no sense of community. No one talks to each other during the down time but then they will be quick to admonish your style of play. It's a highly competitive environment which seems to be counterintuitive to the culture of pickleball. Perhaps this place caters to highly competitive, retired tennis players. The open play experience here is very different to other locations in Houston where a collegial environment prevails. Also, because of the lack of insulation on the outside walls, this place is extremely noisy.

Big shout out to Coach Garrett Peterson! I have been taking lessons with him for almost a year and he is the best! Garrett has taken me and my women’s pickleball partner to the next level. His lessons have also helped me improve my game in other divisions too. He is encouraging and easily sees areas for improvement, and then explains how to correct those areas. Thank you Garrett!