About Us
Jim Ludwig
- Retired from Boston to Naples in 2012 after 32 years in the elevator industry
- Boat Captain for local sightseeing trips – then found pickleball.
- Playing pickleball since 2010
- Started working with Collier County in 2013 to build the world’s largest pickleball venue – 64 courts. This includes a $750,000 shade structure and currently a $3.5 million welcome center. Future plans for a 4,000 seat stadium court and wellness center with indoor pickleball courts.
- Started the Southern Tropics Pickleball Tournament Series in 2014 which grew to five events annually.
- Opened the Pickleball Pro Shop and Pickleball Academy in 2015
- Started Pickleball for All, a non-profit 501(c)(3) in 2015, providing equipment, support and training for organizations in need. As a result, Collier County now has pickleball as part of their PE classes. Pickleball clubs are developing because of the popularity of the sport.
- Special Olympics – Florida is currently incorporating pickleball as part of its sports curriculum and most recently the USAP is working with Special Olympics North America to support pickleball as part of their curriculum.
- Event Director for the Minto/Margaritaville US Open Pickleball Championships from 2016 the present, bringing the world’s largest pickleball tournament to “The Pickleball Capital of the World” – Naples, Florida.
- Email: jim@atlanticcitypickleballopen.com
Kyle Yates
- Kyle’s passion for pickleball began with his uncle, Mike Welter, while Kyle was in high school. As an avid tennis player his transition to pickleball was quick and effortless. In 2014 Kyle played in his first USAPA National tournament and took gold the very first day in the men’s doubles 19+.
- Two years later, he won the grand slam of men’s pro doubles by winning the U.S. Open, Tournament of Champions, and the USAPA Nationals in 2016. Since then, Kyle has won six U.S. Open pro doubles titles, two TOC pro doubles titles, and two USAPA Nationals pro doubles titles among many others. In 2018, he was named the WPF world #1 doubles player.
- 2019 proved to be a very successful year for Kyle, earning gold across the globe. His medal count includes gold in men’s and mixed doubles at the Florida GrandSlam, U.S. Open, Beer City Open, and the French Open. He also captured gold in men’s doubles at the SoCal Classic, Vail Open and Tournament of Champions. Additionally winning gold in men’s singles and mixed doubles at the Spanish Open and a mixed doubles gold at the Chicago Open as well as achieved a medal in the U.S. National Tournament in both singles and doubles.
- Kyle is a Pickleball for All Board Member since 2015.
