Play hard. Give back. Have a blast.
The Inaugural Manatee Classic Charity Pickleball Tournament is hitting The Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch on August 22-23, 2026, and this one is worth getting excited about. Two full days of competition at the home of the Sarasota Manatees of the All Florida Pro League, with a cause that makes every match matter a little more.
This is a tournament with a mission. Every entry fee, every shot on the Radar Gun Court, and every Hit It and Win It Court activation helps the Lund Sports Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit working to expand access to the sport for athletes across the country. Because every person deserves a chance to find their sport.
How It Works
Round Robin play, with the top teams advancing to playoffs. Two days, multiple events, all skill levels welcome.
Saturday, August 22: Event 1 Sunday, August 23: Event 2
Skill levels: 3.0 / 3.5 / 4.0 / 4.5 / 5.0 / Pro AND 40+ Age Divisions
The Venue
The Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch, Lakewood Ranch, FL
Home of the Sarasota Manatees and one of the top pickleball facilities in Southwest Florida. Premium courts, a great community, and the kind of venue that makes a tournament feel like an event.
The Cause: Lund Sports Foundation
501(c)3 Nonprofit | EIN: 41-4915703
The Lund Sports Foundation was built by a family who knows exactly what sport can do for a kid. Matt and Stephanie Lund, owners and coaches of the Sarasota Manatees, started their foundation to make sure every young athlete in Florida has the same shot their family found in pickleball.
Their daughter Adalynn, now 16, is ranked in the top 10 youth pickleball players in the world and competing professionally. It started in an empty YMCA gym during the pandemic. That is what the Foundation is fighting for. A chance. A court. A moment.
Two on-site activations raise money directly for the Foundation at every event:
Radar Gun Court: See how fast you can rip it. All proceeds benefit the Lund Sports Foundation.
Hit It and Win It Court: Every shot counts. All proceeds benefit the Lund Sports Foundation.
Learn more at lundsports.pro/foundation.
Early bird pricing on Event 1 ends August 1. Save $10 by registering early.
Both players must be registered to compete in doubles events.
What You Get
* Round Robin play with top teams advancing to playoffs
* Medals for top finishers in every event
* Radar Gun Court and Hit It and Win It Court charity activations on-site
* Competition at one of Southwest Florida's premier facilities
* A great time and a great cause, all in one weekend
Why This One
The Inaugural Manatee Classic is the kind of tournament that gives you a reason to show up beyond the competition. The Lunds built something real at Lakewood Ranch, and this event is a celebration of that community, a chance to help the next generation of athletes find their sport, and a really great weekend of pickleball.
Come play. Bring your partner. And know that every match you play makes a difference.
Register Now
Early bird pricing ends August 1. Save $10 on Event 1 by locking in your spot early.
Questions?
Contact David Tabb at Open Play: Email: david@theopenplay.com Phone: 786-303-5935
