New Rules of the Court

Pickleball Joins Lynchburg’s Tennis Legacy

By: Helen Berry

Lynchburg is a tennis town. 

Dr. Robert “Whirlwind” Johnson, who broke racial barriers in the sport in the 1950s, founded the American Tennis Association’s Junior Development Program for African American youths—mentoring legends like Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson from his home court on Pierce Street. And, today, on any given weekend when the weather is warm, you can hear the hollow pop of a tennis ball ringing across public park grounds.

But local tennis players are now sharing the spotlight (and, in some cases, the court) with a fast-growing newcomer: pickleball. With the rise of the racquet sport—which is a combination of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong—public courts have been reconfigured to accommodate both games.

And private spaces are taking note, as well.

“Pickleball has helped tennis, but it’s really its own group,” explained Drew Robinson, Director of Racquet Sports for Boonsboro Country Club. “You can pick up pickleball in one lesson and be playing reasonably well. Tennis is a much longer developmental process.”

Robinson joined the Boonsboro Country Club team as the Head Tennis Pro in 1985 and, since that time, he has seen an evolution in racquet sports and has led the country club through its own evolution. Today, that evolution includes four dedicated pickleball courts and an eye toward the future with plans for padel—a fast-growing global sport that combines elements of tennis and squash, played within enclosed acrylic walls.

But, according to Robinson, while the racquet sports Boonsboro Country Club caters to may appear similar, they really draw in their own unique set of players and, by extension, their own unique experiences.

“Tennis players are often focused on improving and playing at a high level, so when they leave the court, there’s usually a clear winner and loser,” he explained. “With pickleball, because players rotate partners, everyone tends to leave feeling like they had a win. It creates a more social, less competitive atmosphere.”

In addition to adding four pickleball courts to their already impressive line up of 8 sub-irrigated outdoor clay courts, Boonsboro Country Club has added programming for members who may want to dip their toes into pickleball. 

“All of our pros got certified in pickleball in addition to their existing tennis certifications,” Robinson explained. “Then we added programming—drop-in sessions, clinics, social events. We are having a glow in the dark pickleball night in the fall.”

And that programming complements an existing tennis program that also continues to grow.

“Our tennis program is pretty extensive—from a Pro tournament in August to USTA league play in the spring,” he said. “We have nonstop tennis programming here at Boonsboro, including cardio tennis five days a week. Our pickleball programming will continue to grow into an equally robust program.”

Lynchburg may have long been a tennis town, but today, its racquet sports story is expanding. From the legacy of Dr. Johnson’s court to the growing buzz of pickleball paddles—and soon, padel—players of all levels are finding their place on the court. And at Boonsboro Country Club, that evolution isn’t replacing tradition—it’s building on it.

“We’ve built something we’re really proud of here,” Robinson concluded. “Our racquet sports program has grown over the years, and we’re always looking for ways to keep improving and strengthening what we offer at Boonsboro.”