Use this website link to book daily drop-in pickleball play for indoor Ottawa court open to the public. Very handy feature — thanks to Vercel for providing this service to community.

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The Search Continues for Available Pickleball Courts in Ottawa

By Doug Brenner

Finding an open pickleball court for you and three friends in the winter is like finding that perfect fishing spot where the bass, trout or pickerel are hitting everything you put on the hook. Which means, hard to find, exclusive, and rarely talked about in public when found. It really is a feeding frenzy, and we’re the fish.

Pickleball’s crazy popularity has resulted in finding open court times a difficult challenge for players starting out. Difficult during the outdoor season, nearly impossible during the winter’ indoor season, unless you register on the day, the very minute, club memberships open online for registration. Stop watch anyone?

You can find court time to book at RA Centre in off-hours; You’ll pay $30 p/hr — inc. HST. Several tiers of weekly league play available. A premium indoor experience — all levels of play.

Many area facilities offer skills and drills lesson sessions — usually 6 weeks — including OPA on a first come, first serve basis.

This directory is a good starting reference to find a local court to play on. It will continue to grow and feature user friendly information. If you know of a better listing, let me know and I’ll link it to site with proper credit. Google listed site for contact info.

All outdoor courts’ season essentially ends on Nov. 5 with nets coming down until the spring. There may be the odd exception, and nice season end weather may prolong date. Indoor Type A indoor court locations are now at a premium until May/June.

There are several ways to play pickleball for the winter. You’ll find court time seasonably hard to come by as players move indoors and fill the open vacancies from the summer months.

For a boutique experience, Altea Fitness Club will be offering pickleball on its six courts along with spa and fitness amenities. Located at 1660 Carling Rd. in Ottawa’s west end, its scheduled opening is late 2024.

Play To Win Pickleball’s Ottawa & Area Court Directory — Nov. 2024

Sign up at popular clubs requires on average a minimum of 3-4 months in advance. Yes, pickleball in Ottawa area is that popular. And fill up on the first day they open for registration on a first come, first serve basis.

If successful, check when the evaluation sessions will be held. Many leagues, i.e. OPA, require an initial player assessment to gain access to their scheduled leagues — this can be a major pain if you need to go up a tier to find competitive play. Once obtained, you can always play at a lower level, but never higher one, without a reassessment.

Facebook is a valuable resource to look for court openings on a week by week basis with some clubs, including the Ottawa Gatineau Pickleball Club posting one-off drop ins when they’re scheduled. You’ll have to confirm if non members can join in for the court fee. It’s a busy group.

The City of Ottawa holds popular drop-ins at local community centres during the week, for a small fee. Again, arrive early for a spot. Mostly locals and regulars for fun rec. style play. Just say you know (any name); you’ll fit in fine.

Major clubs and associations fill up early: RA Centre (sign up for fall takes place in June) Ottawa Pickleball Association is not accepting members at the present time. They may decide to open up new spots in the winter. Sign up on their online form to get in the queue and cross fingers.

Outdoor clubs usually open for spring registration in March and fill up early. Valley Stream Pickleball Club holds a lottery each spring for a very limited number of spots to their 400 member list. So rare, in fact, they’re known as the “Golden Ticket.”

Another option is to take non member lessons at OPA, Rally & Tap, RA Centre, City of Ottawa Community Centre, etc. This gives you access to courts at a reasonable fee, and importantly gives you information on finding court times at local courts from fellow students.

Pretty good instruction also — it’s where I teach in the winter.