Pickleball With No Court Fees: How Courtside Works for Heights Pool Members

Pay-per-hour court rentals add up fast. A weekly game with a regular group can turn into a real monthly line item before you've bought a paddle. At Heights Pool, the courts are part of the membership: unlimited play, no court fees and no hourly rentals. The club's own pickleball page puts it flatly, "no court fees, ever," and says many members find the courts alone make the pass worth it.

Here's how Courtside works day to day, and a few ways to get more out of it.

Reserving a court

Courts are reserved through the member portal. You pick a time, and you're set. Play is limited to one-hour slots when other people are waiting, which keeps the courts moving. The limit applies when others are waiting, so if you see someone standing by with a paddle, be a good neighbor and wrap up on time.

That one-hour slot is a good design for doubles. An hour is enough time for a few games to 11, commonly played win by two, without any one group holding a court through dinner.

Lighted for evenings, open through the Off Season

The courts are fully lighted, so evening play is a normal thing here, not a special request. They also stay available through the Off Season, from September through December 13, while a lot of outdoor facilities wind down. In the cooler months you can play hard without the afternoon heat, and the pool is open through December 13.

Shaded seating sits courtside, and the pool and POOLSIDE grill and bar are steps away. You can fit a game, a swim and dinner from the grill into one visit without leaving the property.

Thursday league night

On Thursdays, the pool runs league pickleball from 5:30 to 8:30 PM, and the same night is pasta night at the grill. If you've been playing casually with friends and want a more structured game, league night is the easiest way to meet other players who like to keep score. All skill levels are welcome at Courtside, so being new is not a reason to skip it. To find out how to sign up, call (210) 824-2595 or ask the staff.

Etiquette that keeps the courts friendly

Pickleball has a few habits that make shared courts work. None of these are Heights Pool rules, just the general courtesies you'll see at most clubs:

• Call the score before every serve, so both sides agree on where the game is.
• Say "ball on" or "ball over" when a stray ball rolls onto your court, and wait to resume.
• If you're waiting for a court, stand near it so the group playing knows someone is next.
• Introduce yourself at the net. Mixed-skill doubles work better when people know each other's names.
• Return a stray ball to the next court gently, not with a drive.

What to bring

Bring a paddle, water and court shoes with good grip. If you're brand new and don't own a paddle yet, ask the staff what's available before you buy one. Sunscreen is worth it for daytime play, and a visor or cap helps with the glare when the sun is low. If you're coming from a swim, a dry shirt and dry socks keep you from sliding around in wet shoes.

It also helps to bring a second paddle, or at least a friend who has one. Pickleball is a game that gets better with more people, and extra paddles mean a new neighbor can join for a game.

Pickleball and the family schedule

It's easy to fit a game into a pool day. While the kids swim or play on the playscape, parents can take a one-hour slot and still be nearby. The Deep End party area also sits near the pickleball courts, so a birthday group can have a game going while the cake is being sorted.

One Google reviewer listed pickleball, ping pong and basketball among the alternative activities he found at the pool, and that variety helps when a family has different ages and interests on the same afternoon.

Who it's for

Courtside is for members and their guests. Every Heights Pool membership includes unlimited pickleball, from a Single Pass at $359 to a Family Pass, so you don't pay a second time to play. Guests are $10 per adult and $5 per kid, up to six per day per account.

The details on lighting, reservations and the Thursday league are on the Pickleball page. When you're ready to play, the Memberships & Passes page has current pricing, and the pool is at 250 Viesca St in Alamo Heights.