By Jim Lavrakas

Homer Independent Press

Pickleball in Homer is alive and well. The sport invented in 1965 is a part of a U.S. rebirth in the past 10 years or so, and Homer has been a part of that craze since about 2012. A couple of stalwarts, Bill Bloom, Mike Flora and Will Files started playing in the Homer Educational and Recreational Complex  city gym and soon players numbered in the dozens.

In March 2023 a core group started the Homer Pickleball Club that now numbers 75 (Individual and Family) memberships. With three courts at the HERC gym, and four courts at the South Peninsula Athletic and Recreation Center there’s plenty of opportunity to play both recreationally and competitively.

The first tournament, the End of The Road tournament, was held at Homer High School in 2019. Then COVID shut everything down. The first Cosmic Hamlet Open (CHO) tournament was held at the HERC in 2022, co-sponsored by City of Homer Community Recreation over the Labor Day weekend; the 2023 tournament was held at the HERC and again co-sponsored by the City. In 2024 and 2025 the tournament was moved to the SPARC and was solely sponsored by the Homer Pickleball Club. 

The SPARC’s new floor, with its four Pickleball courts clearly marked, and room for spectators, has made the tournaments held there more welcoming and inclusive of varying levels of players. 

Based on post-tournament surveys, the Club learned that participants liked the tournament’s casual/fun atmosphere. In response, the Club created a Sportsmanship Award, unveiled at the first Cosmic Hamlet Senior Tournament, held in March 2025, and it carried over to the Labor Day tournament. 

During the Senior Tournament the Sportsmanship Award  was given to a team — each team member received a gift certificate from Old Sterling Outfitters. That was changed for the 2025 Labor Day CHO from a team focus to an individual focus. During both tournaments participants were encouraged to submit nominations.

The Club’s Mission Statement reads, “The mission of the Club is to facilitate the growth of the sport to individuals of all ages and skill levels in Homer and surrounding communities while encouraging sportsmanship, fellowship, fun and exercise.” The Club also advocates for the sport by bringing pickleball to the attention of the Homer City Council and City Manager. 

The Club set aside $5,000 for the new Recreation Center that is currently being discussed by the city. Recently, the Club’s board voted to donate $7,000 to the city to help refurbish the floor at the HERC to ensure it lasts until the new multipurpose Community Recreation Center is built. 

The Club has a good working relationship with both the city (HERC) and the SPARC. Annually, the Club provides balls to both venues and donated a rolling Dominator net to the SPARC in addition to sharing costs for another net, which enabled the SPARC to now have four nets.

The Club sponsors clinics by bringing in professional instructors and promotes fun events like the 2025 November Winter Social at Alice’s Champagne Palace, free Club T-shirt giveaway and in January 2026 “Neon Pickleball” under the blacklights at the SPARC.

Upcoming, the second annual Cosmic Hamlet Senior Open will be held at the SPARC from March 28 to 29.

Informal outdoor play happens at the Homer High School tennis courts where the city has a locker with a portable net. People wanting to play can call Community Recreation (907-235-6090) for the locker combination. Other outdoor play can be found at the upgraded Kachemak City playground.

Club memberships for the year are $35 for Individual, and $55 for Family. To learn more about the Club and its offerings, and to join, go to www.homerpickleballclub.org.