about pickleball travelers club
Rooted in Hospitality & Service. Built on a Lifetime of Athletics & Travel.
At Pickleball Travelers Club, our approach to active travel is shaped by owner and founder Randall Wood. Above all, Randall loves to have fun, play, and enjoy life—a philosophy that infuses every trip we host.
Randall brings together 25 years of fine hospitality experience—including 10 years of private restaurant management—10 years of military service as a UH-60 Blackhawk Crew Chief in the Army National Guard, and a lifelong passion for sport and global culture. That dedication to attentive service and love for travel was first sparked while working as a server on the San Antonio Riverwalk while in college, welcoming visitors from all over the world and hearing their stories.
That passion naturally paired with a deep athletic background—starting on the court with Junior High and High School Varsity Tennis, picking up Racquetball during his college years, expanding into 15 years as a dedicated runner, marathoner, and trail hiker (highlighted by trekking the 4-day Inca Trail in Peru), and ultimately leading into pickleball.
Over 10 years of playing and competing in pickleball, that athletic foundation culminated in earning accolades as a medalist at USA Pickleball Nationals, the U.S. Open, and major regional tournaments.
Certified Instruction & Operational Leadership
Backing up that tournament success is Randall’s 8 years of dedicated coaching and facility management. Starting with private lessons, group sessions, and targeted clinics, his hands-on experience expanded into high-level facility leadership:
Certified IPTPA Level Instructor (International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association)
Certified PPR Coach (Professional Pickleball Registry)
3 Years as Director of Pickleball Operations, managing a major indoor facility featuring 15 courts.
Pickleball Instructor at Dripping Springs Racquet Club, teaching at a multi-sport facility offering pickleball, padel, and tennis courts.
Clinic Leader & Traveling Pro, conducting specialized clinics across Texas and internationally.
Future Padel Certification: Actively expanding formal coaching credentials to include Padel to complement our multi-sport venue offerings.
We combine genuine hospitality, disciplined attention to detail, practical competitive strategy, and proven instruction into targeted, hands-on coaching—giving you the ideal vacation setting to relax, explore, play, and level up your game.
Structured Instruction & Like-Skill Pairing
To ensure every player gets maximum value out of their time on the court, our program features structured, progressive coaching tailored specifically from beginners to 3.5 skill levels.
We purposefully organize both our group instruction and Open Play sessions by like-skill levels, ensuring balanced, competitive games, supportive group dynamics, and instruction that meets you exactly where you are in your pickleball journey.
Built for Every Style of Traveler & Community
Pickleball is uniquely famous for bringing together friendly, supportive, and social people from all walks of life. Our trips and accommodations are thoughtfully structured to serve everyone:
For Group Getaways: Ideal for local play groups, club friends, and teams who want to travel, stay, learn, and play together under one roof or at the same destination.
For Solo Travelers & Roommates: Enjoy expanded solo travel opportunities and flexible roommate-matching options that eliminate single supplement fees while connecting you with welcoming new friends from around the world.
For Couples (Players & Non-Players Alike): Perfect for getaways where one partner plays and the other doesn't! Non-playing spouses can relax with local eco-excursions, guided sightseeing, and world-class spa treatments where offered, or choose to pick up a brand-new sport—with beginner-friendly instruction across Pickleball, Padel, Tennis, and Golf depending on facility offerings.
What Sets the New Pickleball Travelers Club Apart
We are constantly evolving to give our members better access, more choices, and higher value. Here is how our revamped platform sets a new standard for sports travel:
21-Point Quality Control & Venue Evaluation: To ensure every getaway meets our high standards, we apply a comprehensive 21-point Quality Control evaluation to evaluate court playability, facility amenities, local coaching, lodging comfort, and overall guest logistics—giving you total peace of mind with every trip.
Tiers from Budget-Friendly to Luxury: Travel should be accessible on your terms. We offer tiered packages ranging from value-focused, budget-friendly options to premium luxury resort experiences—allowing you to customize your getaway to fit your ideal style and budget.
Modernized Payment Platform & Flexibility: We have upgraded our checkout experience for ultimate convenience and savings. Enjoy smooth, secure transactions using options like PayPal (including Buy Now, Pay Later) to spread payments out over time, as well as direct Bank Transfers that save you money on transaction fees while instantly securing your spot on the courts.
Curated Accommodations—From Intimate Retreats to Full-Service Resorts: We remain true to our roots by continuing to offer our signature, high-touch retreats in private gated communities and beachfront properties. Simultaneously, we are expanding to include premier resort destinations that offer enhanced amenities, dining, and effortless convenience.
Expanded Sporting Venues: While pickleball remains at our core, we partner with destination facilities featuring dedicated pickleball play, with select locations also offering access to Padel, Tennis, or Golf—making our trip portfolio ideal for multi-sport athletes, solos, and couples with varied interests.
Seamless Options for Solo Travelers & Roommates: We actively cater to independent travelers by providing expanded solo registration opportunities alongside curated roommate-matching options—helping you save money, avoid unnecessary single-supplement fees, and travel on your terms.
Deeper Discounts & Premium Value: Through direct strategic partnerships with resort destinations, private athletic clubs, and event management teams, we negotiate exclusive rates on accommodations, court time, and green fees, passing those substantial savings directly to our members.
10+ New Global Destinations for 2027: Building on our popular retreats in Costa Rica and Mexico, we are expanding our calendar to include over a dozen new domestic and international destinations in 2027—including dedicated Fall and Winter excursions—alongside VIP access to iconic international sporting events like the Tennis Grand Slams.
A Note on Our Digital Experience:
We are currently upgrading our platform to better serve our growing global community. Our goal and intention is to have our full, newly redesigned website up and running by the end of August.
-Randall Wood