GPC Pickleball, one of South Africa’s premier pickleball complexes, celebrated its first birthday in style with a family fun day on August 3 at the German Country Club in Paulshof.

Since opening its doors in July 2024, the courts have been buzzing with activity, from school and corporate events, to Friday night socials, and even the hosting of Africa Pickleball Day.

Read more: Pickleball SA welcomes American pro Alex Simon for coaching clinics at the German Pickleball Club

The venue has also welcomed top names in the sport, including Alex Simon, coach to tennis legend Andre Agassi, and South Africa’s own Marko Stavrou.

Founder Allon Rock shared his inspiration for hosting the celebration. “We wanted to get families and people who have played before, as well as those who have never tried the sport, to come out, get involved, and have fun.”

The day featured exhibition games, casual matches, and plenty of laughter as families and friends picked up paddles to try their hand at pickleball. A surprise highlight was when international comedian Trevor Noah was introduced as a guest player in a doubles exhibition match, delighting the crowd.

Reflecting on the past year, Rock said: “We’ve had a mixed response from Paulshof and surrounding communities, but we hope to see more support going forward. What really stood out today was seeing the mix of age groups and families getting involved, even children gave it a bash.”

He also thanked the day’s sponsors, including Jawitz Properties, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Pickleball Online, Sports Republic, and Wilson Sports, while Aquabox added to the fun, providing paddles, vouchers, bags, balls, lanyards, wine, and water prizes for participants.

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