Bobby Riggs in a pickle as noise citation, concerns ramp up
The popular pickleball club has been forced to reduce the number of courts by 15 as noise concerns from a developer and neighbors reach City Hall
ENCINITAS — Arguably the region’s premier pickleball destination is fighting for its life after an upswell of noise complaints against the Bobby Riggs Racket and Paddle Club.
A developer, along with residents, have lodged complaints with the city and the club has now reduced the number of courts open during business hours after receiving a noise citation from the city several days ago. SanDiegoVille first reported on how the club is in jeopardy of remaining in business.
According to an email from Steve Dawson, who owns the club with his wife Jennifer, the city placed restrictions on the clubs and called those “frustrating” and said the city is “focusing its pressure” on a positive community. He said courts 1-6 and 9 will remain open while 15 other courts have been removed from play.
One source, who asked to remain anonymous, said a developer bought the neighboring Shadow Mountain Community Church and plans to redevelop the property into condominiums. However, Dawson has engaged his members with an email campaign to draw support for the popular club.
Requests for comment were left with the Dawsons but not returned by deadline. Steve Dawson is at a pickleball tournament in Florida and a representative of the club declined to comment on Monday.
SanDiegoVille reported a massive swell of pickleballers and others are expected to attend Wednesday’s City Council meeting on behalf of the club to voice their support.
“I definitely have my work cut out for me,” Dawson wrote in one email. “Several times in my life I have had what seemed like career-ending experiences only to come out even better. I can cover courts and make them indoor, I can mandate quiet paddles, I have alternative ways to do open play.”
The club pivoted to all pickleball several years ago amid the massive explosion of the sport across the region and country. Other cities have been pressured to build more courts, or repurpose tennis courts, to satisfy the demand.
Bobby Riggs is the second-largest pickleball facility in North County with the Pickleball Training Center in Poway sporting 36 courts. The Vista Tennis Club repurposed several tennis courts into 10 pickleball courts in 2023, while there’s also a mix of private and public courts throughout the region. Mountain View Park in Escondido has 12 courts, while Brengle Terrace Park in Escondido added four more courts for a total of 12 as the city moved the courts away from Thibodo Park due to noise concerns from residents.
Bobby Riggs, though, has been a staple in Encinitas for decades, but opted to move to pickleball several years ago to capitalize on the movement. The facility has been a regional and national draw for pickleball players, along with offering the services of pros, tournaments, open play and more.
Ehlers said he was notified on Thursday and city offices were closed on Friday and Monday due to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, so he and other staff will begin discussions today. Regardless, he said the facility was issued a noise citation.
Ehlers said he’s received 25 emails from residents regarding the situation. He said the issue comes down to noise, parking and the use permit.
Ehlers said in addition to the noise citation, there is a complaint regarding the use permit, which was first issued in 1975 before Encinitas was incorporated and well before the Dawsons’ ownership. Ehlers said there may have been an update to the use permit years ago, but it was before the pickleball era at the club. He said staff will update him if there has been any changes to the use permit.
The mayor also said the noise code for the zoning is 50 decibels, although questions remain as to how it was measured, among others. He said the code had not been updated since the 50-decibel level was passed decades ago.
“The belief is it allowed seven tennis courts, and there has not been a citation on this,” Ehlers added. “My understanding is Steve (Dawson) and staff have been working on this in getting a resolution to it and how to update it.”
Ehlers said while the Dawsons and city are working on a solution, the Dawsons want to make sure they don’t invest in a noise solution only to run up against a “brick wall” with the use permit. For example, Ehlers said the club won’t invest thousands of dollars to bring in sound barriers, quiet paddles or other solutions only to be denied the use permit.
He said all roadblocks create avenues for continued success, but in the meantime, Dawson will meet with the staff and work out a new schedule to accommodate most players. He said he’s had “no sleep at all” while at the tournament, said he would have a plan this week.
Dawson said the courts currently being used are a temporary hold on operations until a better plan is constructed and one to accommodate coaches, open play and private reservations.
“Beginning Wednesday, courts will be assigned to players by management to make it fair to all influencers, all teaching pros, all players seeking a reservation, and all players in open play,” Dawson’s email reads. “If you have a reservation for a court after Tuesday, it may be cancelled even if it is for courts 1-6, or 9. An announcement will go out on Tuesday explaining how reservations will be managed going forward. We are hopeful that this situation will be resolved soon.”
The source said “influencers” refers to more competitive players who pay to reserve several courts with others and not a social media or more traditional “influencer.”
Regardless, many residents and businesses nearby are tired of the constant noise and behavior from some players throughout the day. Many have complained about players parking on and off site, although the club did have an agreement with Venture Church, two lots to the west, for additional parking.
“I live and drive by Bobby Riggs daily, it is a bane on the neighborhood,” one resident said on social media. “The parking, the players, the traffic, the noise … all disrespectful and entitled. It went from having six tennis courts and infrastructure to support 20-25 people, (to) about 30 parking spots, to pulling 80-100 people squeezed in at all hours in the middle of a neighborhood. I hope the city limits them back to their original zoning.”
Another resident who lives in the neighborhood and posted to social media said the club was a nice place for about 40 years but the transition from tennis to pickleball went sideways. The lack of parking within four blocks, “white-haired Boomers” yelling profanities all “f---king day, plus fights on the courts and in the streets.
“I don’t blame the club, but the clientele was unreal,” the resident said. “Really disappointed in my town here.”
The source said neighbors south of the courts used to blast music at players due to the noise. The music was before the complete transition to pickleball when tennis courts were lined for pickleball, the source said, but did continue for some time.
Encinitas, though, is not the first to deal with noise concerns with pickleball courts as Carlsbad and Vista, to name a few, have their own challenges. Neighbors of Poinsettia Community Park in Carlsbad have lodged complaints due to the noise, although the city mitigated some of the noise with sound barriers inside the courts.
Vista addressed noise concerns at Thibodo Park last year and its four pickleball courts. The City Council voted to move the four courts from Thibodo to Brengle Terrace Park and repurposed the pickleball courts back to use for tennis.
As for pickleball players, some of those challenges and obstacles regarding noise appear to have another solution.
The Picklr, a corporate franchise, is coming to Vista in June, according to the company’s website. The indoor facility will reside at 940 S. Santa Fe Ave. and features nine courts, outdoor surfacing, ball machine, pro shop, private event arena, league and tournament play and more.
Follow North County Pipeline on Facebook, Instagram, X and Reddit. Send story ideas and tips to ncpipeline760@gmail.com.