Carlsbad now has a 12-court pickleball facility open to anyone who wants to walk in and play, no paid membership required.
Pickleball Republic Carlsbad South held its grand opening Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at 2045 Corte Del Nogal, near Palomar Airport Road and El Camino Real. The event featured U.S. National Pickleball Team exhibition matches, a ribbon cutting, more than 20 vendors and free open play for all skill levels starting at noon.
The facility has 10 indoor courts and two outdoor courts available seven days a week. It's open to everyone. Co-founders Shawn Walker and Andy Slipka built it so anyone can walk in and play: a free basic membership lets anyone book court time, with optional paid tiers offering perks like priority scheduling and discounts.
"We want this place to be a country club for everyone," Walker told The Coast News. "Everyone has access here."
Walker, a Carlsbad native who attended Kelly Elementary, Valley Junior High and Carlsbad High School, founded The Pickleball Club of Carlsbad in 2020 with his wife, Rufina Walker, inside the former Sears warehouse at The Shoppes at Carlsbad. That six-court operation drew roughly 80 new players per week. Structural issues at the Shoppes location prompted the move to a larger, purpose-built space, according to The Coast News.
Slipka and his wife, Tiffany, discovered pickleball on vacation and took their first class at Walker's original club. The two families partnered on Pickleball Republic and plan to expand to three to five locations across the region.
The facility offers leveled classes, skills-and-drills sessions, leagues, tournaments and drop-in play. Weekly intro classes are among the most popular offerings, Walker said.
Beyond the courts, a dedicated mahjong gaming and social space called Mahjong Republic operates inside the same building, accessible through the main lobby.
Carlsbad's pickleball boom
Pickleball Republic isn't the only new indoor facility arriving this month. The Picklr, a Utah-based franchise locally owned by Neil Capin and Chris Foote, plans to open a 36,300-square-foot club at 5830 El Camino Real in late August, The Coast News reported. That location will feature 10 indoor courts, including one championship-sized court, plus a pro shop and instructional programs.
On the public side, parks superintendent Roger Havlak told the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club at its Aug. 10 meeting that four additional outdoor courts should be completed at Calavera Hills Community Park within six months, with four more planned elsewhere in the city. Carlsbad currently has six public outdoor courts at Poinsettia Community Park.
How to get involved
Pickleball Republic Carlsbad South is open seven days a week at 2045 Corte Del Nogal, Carlsbad, CA 92011. Registration and basic membership are free at PickleballRepublic.com or by calling (760) 893-0019.
Coming up: The Picklr plans to open its 10-court Carlsbad club at 5830 El Camino Real in late August, and four new public courts at Calavera Hills Community Park are expected within six months.
