Despite pickleball’s relentless march towards nationwide dominance, central Kentucky has always been one of those states that lacked adequate facilities to match the demand of its enthusiasts. However, Madison County is about to unveil a facility that might ease the situation somewhat.
Shedding 30 Pounds
Braydon Turner’s sister introduced him to pickleball around a year ago. His subsequent journey with the sport not only led to him shedding 30 pounds but also sparked an entrepreneurial venture.
Having relocated to the area in July 2023, Turner was surprised by the underdeveloped pickleball scene and the number of enthusiasts who were having to commute to Lexington for play. The Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) student decided he would turn the area’s dearth of pickleballing opportunities to his advantage and open a facility of his own. And so Revolution Pickleball was born.
Read our article about one of Kentucky’s top pros here.
Business Acumen
While pursuing his studies to become a private pilot at EKU, Turner’s business acumen has been evident since his middle school days. Reflecting on his entrepreneurial spirit, Turner recounted one occasion when a “bright” idea doubled his investment.
“In middle school, at the local 4th of July fireworks show, I went and bought a big package of glow sticks and created like, you know, like a little tray to walk around at the firework event and sell these glow sticks, and I doubled my money on how much I paid for them,” Turner told Fox 56 News. “So, it just kind of started from there.”
Sense Of Camaraderie
One motivating factor behind Turner’s entrepreneurial pursuit is the sense of camaraderie that runs through pickleball. Since moving to Richmond, he has found that most of the friendships he’s made have been through the sport. To allow him to spread the word even further and more efficiently, Turner initiated the Facebook group Richmond Kentucky Pickleball, which now has over 365 members.
This sense of inclusivity sets the pickleball community apart, and Turner highlights the sport’s competitive yet sociable nature and its welcoming atmosphere.
“For some reason, the pickleball community is so inclusive, it’s so welcoming,” Turner explained. Everybody in the pickleball community, new or established, gets along with everybody else, and it’s just because of one common goal: to play pickleball.”
Expansion To Other Kentucky Communities
Turner now envisions expanding similar pickleball facilities to other Kentucky communities.
Revolution Pickleball is located within a wedding pavilion at SMK Farm in Richmond. The venue’s soft opening was on Friday, and a grand opening is planned for the coming weeks.
Braydon wrote on his Facebook page, ” Thank you to everyone that showed up to our soft opening! Our very first day was a smashing success!”
Revolution Pickleball Club will be operating its four indoor courts and three outdoor court facility inside SMK Farm LLC’s beautiful agricultural venue and wedding pavilion!
The 7,000+ sq ft site is just a few minutes off the bypass and 10 minutes from downtown Richmond at 401 Brookstown Road, Richmond, KY 40475.
Visit their website for further information.
You can read more about the pickleballing community in Kentucky by clicking here.
