I love this club. I've taken a loooonnnng time to write this, thinking I should experience more…read moreactivities, but Yelp keeps reminding me every time I check in and I probably won't dabble in more activities, so let's do this!
All the staff is so nice, including the membership coordinators, the front desk check-in staff, the instructors (even those you haven't even taken a class from), the café staff, and even the cleaning ladies. I've had long conversations with the front desk, café, and janitorial staff. One Zumba instructor I play pickleball with sometimes!
My primary activity is pickleball, of course! This is the premier place to play pickleball in the greater Sacramento area. Sure, you can struggle to play on a public court or join other sports clubs with pickleball, but where do all the pros eventually gather, and where are the most local tournaments held? It's here at the Johnson Ranch Pickleball Complex (South facility) with its 24 beautiful and maintained courts.
The beauty of Johnson Ranch's pickleball is that it's not hard to find open play. It's also organized by skill level, unlike the public courts. We have a pickleball director, multiple pro instructors, and 3 pickleball event organizers putting together fun events for us: the popular Kings/Queens of the Court, women's/men's/mixed doubles events, ladders, MLP teams (I can't wait!), beginner Pickleball 101 classes free to the public, Challenge the Pros game, prize challenges, Live Ball and other drill classes, and pickleball classes and camps.
You can also reserve a pickleball court or a swim lane for free with your membership.
All our pickleball courts are lighted until 10 pm!
Gym equipment, swimming pools, hot tubs, and children's wading pools can be found here. The group exercise studio and cycling studio are also at the South facility.
Other than pickleball, these are my favorite classes:
10 AM Aqua Fit Class (M W F Sat Sun)
Dance Fusion Class (Thu 2x, Sat with instructors Lori N or Ali B)
Sometimes, I will go to Julia's 4:30 Warrior Flow Yoga class on Thursday before Dance Fusion class. I should try more classes, but they all conflict or compete against pickleball or aqua fit class.
The Aqua Fit ladies like to chit chat and celebrate birthdays monthly with a potluck after class. To celebrate, one woman sometimes brings her homing pigeons to release, and they fly home...so cool! Kathee on Mondays and Wednesdays is the instructor I interact with most. Kelly on Fridays seems to be the most popular with her water aerobics class.
The Dance Fusion instructors Lori and Ali have years of dance training in different types of dance. The rest of us in class are just trying to keep up and wishing to look as hip, coordinated, and graceful as them. We're working on the Beyonce Texas Hold Em TikTok Dance currently! We've done the Shivers line dance and Michael Jackson's Thriller dance before.
There are group classes in yoga, cardio, strength training, cycling, pilates, barre, and more. The morning group exercise devotees will often attend three classes in a row!
The food and drink menus at the South cafe are extensive. I love the $1 slushies, which are what I want on a hot day. I need to try one of the homemade cookies someday. There's also homemade banana bread.
You can hire a personal trainer or get private instruction in your sport of choice.
Johnson Ranch offers after school programs and summer programs for kids (i.e., swimming, pickleball camps), as well as child care.
You can contact a membership coordinator or sign up online for a free one week trial:
https://www.sparetimesportsclubs.com/free-one-week-membership/
During the summer, there is sometimes a free two week trial if you contact AmyH@sparetimesportsclubs.com
Last year, I won a free two week membership from spinning the prize wheel during a Friday Night Lights pickleball party.
To look for pickleball events at Johnson Ranch, sign up for a free account on the Playtimescheduler.com website. Free 5 PM beginner Pickleball 101 lessons are usually in a brown circle on the 1st and 3rd Fridays every month. The free 6-9 PM Friday Night Lights party open to the public is usually in a brown circle on the 3rd Friday.
On the last Friday of the month, you can bring in 4 free guests.
Time is precious. If you want to play and improve at pickleball quickly, this is the place to be.