New pickleball club filling vacant Big Lots spot in Folsom

Big news for local pickleball fans: A national pickleball franchise is opening a new location in Folsom at 9522 Greenback Lane, the former site of Big Lots. The new club will be 42,000 square feet and will be home to Ace Pickleball Club. The club is expected to bring 30 jobs to the community and will offer 15 courts. The organization said it will offer members the option to pay and play when they want or pay a flat monthly membership fee. And for its grand opening, which is expected this fall, Folsom residents are being offered their first month membership for free. The location is owned and operated by local entrepreneur and pickleball enthusiast Mukti Patel, with his wife Jyoti. Originally from Zambia, Patel moved to the U.S. at 14 for his education. In 2022, he retired from a 32-year career as a certified public accountant. Although his professional career has concluded, Patel finds his favorite role to be that of a grandparent, considering it a privilege and blessing to spend time with his grandchildren, who also play pickleball. Patel's pickleball journey began by casually playing with friends at a local house. It didn't take long for him to get hooked. He dived into the game, playing regularly at a local facility. As his skills sharpened, Patel's competitive spirit took over, leading him to compete in prestigious tournaments, including the PPA Amateur Tournaments in Las Vegas and Sacramento, where he proudly earned medals. "It didn't take long for me to fall in love with pickleball," said Patel. "What I love about the game is how incredibly social and enjoyable it is. Anyone can pick it up and enjoy it. Given that weather elements such as intense heat, cold, rain and wind can negatively impact the overall experience of playing pickleball outdoors, I realized that in order to grow the sport, people needed a place where they could play year-round in a climate-controlled facility, anytime they wanted. I'm beyond excited to open this new club and offer that opportunity to the Folsom and surrounding communities." For those interested in the free first-month offer, Ace Pickleball Club said you can sign up for the email list to get notified once this offer launches. For more information on Ace Pickleball Club – Folsom, or if you're interested in employment opportunities, visit https://www.acepickleballclub.com or contact the location directly at folsomca@acepickleballclub.com.

New pickleball club coming to Folsom