High school friends and business partners Richard Storti and Kevin O’Brien developed a love for pickleball as they grew older and grew deeply fond of the sport.
In fact, they liked it so much that they decided to turn their hobby into a business and so materialized Lil’ Rhody Pickleball, which opened last month in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
A Natural Transition
“He (O’Brien) played it more than I did because he’s a former tennis player,” Storti told Jimmy Bentley of patch.com. “It’s a natural transition on your body as you get a little older. We thought about this as a business model. Together, we collaborated to get it done.”
Storti and O’Brien have found a common bond in their shared goal of nurturing the growth of pickleball, and last month; they inaugurated Lil’ Rhody Pickleball last month, a specialized sports complex solely dedicated to the sport.
“It’s amazing to see, in just a few weeks, the community that has developed,” O’Brien marveled. “I was shocked today after realizing that almost 1,000 people have passed through the doors in just under four weeks.”
Pro-Cushion Courts
The club has not scrimped on the most important feature of any pickleball facility. It has gone all out on five full-sized indoor “Pro-Cushion courts,” constructed from five layers of rubber pellets, two coats of sand, and several layers of acrylic topcoat.
“The response from the community has been tremendous,” Storti added. “It’s great to see the investment in the court has had such a positive impact on the members’ playing experience.
“We have members that play two-to-three hours a day every day; the courts are very forgiving on the body.”
The extra cost for the Pro-Cushion surfaces certainly seems to have paid off, with the club having two websites, one of which is dedicated solely to new sign-ups!
Novices Make Up 50% Of Memberships
Approximately half of the club’s membership comprises novices to the sport. Storti and O’Brien recognize the importance of offering lessons and opportunities for these members to engage with others at their proficiency levels.
Given the influx of new players, the club hosts a “Pickleball Boot Camp,” with sessions lasting three hours and accommodating up to eight students at a time.
These courses generally occur on either Saturday or Sunday. The instructor provides comprehensive coverage of all facets of the game, including rules and scoring.
Additionally, they impart the fundamental skills involved in making shots and teach court awareness in collaboration with a partner and independently.
“Once you complete this lesson, you will have greater confidence,” Storti assured. “The game itself will be more enjoyable for you and everyone you play with in the future.”
Large Range Of Club Activities
In addition to lessons, the club extends offerings such as leagues, private court reservations, event bookings, and paddle and ball rentals.
“The people that come in the door every day are happy,” Storti remarked. “It’s infectious. You really do get some enjoyment out of these people doing their best. They work hard, they sweat it out, and laugh at their selves.”
Visit the club’s official website for further details about Lil’ Rhody Pickleball.
About The Club
The club offers two main memberships – “Premier First” and “Open Play”.
Premier First costs $49 a month. You can also reserve private courts at $30 per hour ($7.50 per person) and get a 10% discount on lessons.
This membership allows you to make bookings up to 14 days in advance.
Open Play costs $39 a month. Private court reservations are slightly more expensive at $40 per hour ($10 per person), and you do not get a discount on lessons.
The advance booking period for courts is only 10 days
Both packages carry a $79 initiation fee but give you access to all player events. They also give you 120 hours of free drop-ins, and you pay a reduced rate of $5 for 1.5 hours of peak-time drop-ins.
Opening hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.
The club is located at 6653 Post Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852.
Pickleball In Rhode Island
Ocean State Pickleball, established in 2021, has everything every aspiring pickleballer could wish for. Visit their website for more information.
East Bay Racquet Club at 70 Boyd Ave, E. Providence, RI 02914 and West Bay Racquet Club at 636 Centerville Rd, Warwick, RI 02886 provide “quality instruction and friendly competition”.
Go to their website for more details.
Places2Play.org has courts listed at:
- Kent Street Park, Barrington, RI 02806;
- Barrington Middle School Outdoor Pickleball Courts, 261 Middle Hwy Barrington, RI 02806;
- Bristol Town Common Pickleball & Tennis Courts, Corner Of Church St. & Wood St., Church Street Bristol, RI 02809;
- Rally Point Racquet Club, 15 Church Street Greenville, RI 02828;
- Hunter Park, 105 3rd Street, Van Zandt Avenue Newport, RI 02840;
- Deerfield Park, 1 Williams J Hawkins Jr. Trail, Smithfield, RI 02828.
