From Beginners to Believers: A Road Scholar Staff Pickleball Adventure
When Road Scholar’s vice president of marketing, Steve, and his wife, Tricia, first picked up pickleball paddles, they had no idea it would lead them to the picturesque Glen Sutton Lodge in Québec. As relative newcomers to the sport, they chose one of Road Scholar's beginner pickleball programs to improve their game while experiencing the rich culture of Québec. "We wanted to learn in a supportive environment,” says Tricia, “and we love Québec, so this program was ideal."
Initially nervous about the program's pace, it turned out to be exactly what they needed. "We were a bit worried about holding our own," Steve says, "but once we got there, we realized we didn’t have anything to stress about. The instructors were fantastic, and we learned so much."
Top Right: Steve (in Green) next to Tricia (in Pink)
While the program centered around developing pickleball skills, the experience delivered unexpected delights beyond the court. The culinary experience at Glen Sutton Lodge stood out immediately. "The food was incredible!" Tricia recalls. "Every meal felt like a multi-course gourmet experience, and I was amazed at how they accommodated my lactose intolerance, which I didn’t expect — I had come prepared, but the care they took with dietary restrictions was above and beyond.”
With an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients, every meal was not just nutritious but a true taste of Québec. Steve readily agreed. "They had their own specialty oatmeal combinations, lots of fruit, really healthy options, and dinner was exceptional — beef bourguignon, salmon loaf,” he says.
The lodge even provided an opportunity to sign up for recipes so participants could re-create them at home. “Desserts came from a Québecois bakery,” Steve adds. “Later, at the end of our program, we went there to bring things home. It was really neat."
But it wasn’t just the food that left a lasting impression. "The lodge has been hosting Road Scholars since 1993, and it shows," says Steve, adding, “they really demonstrated their deep understanding of what makes these programs special. They brought in a local naturalist to discuss wildlife, adapted evening activities based on group interests and ensured every aspect of the stay enhanced the learning experience."
Learning from the Best
Any initial nerves about rules and serving techniques quickly dissolved under the guidance of their instructor, Venus, a passionate player from Sherbrooke, Québec. "She was extremely knowledgeable, very intense and really wanted us to learn pickleball," Steve says. The program offered individualized training, with Venus carefully matching players to challenge and improve each participant's specific skills.
A highlight came when Venus, who leads a 400-person local pickleball club, brought in experienced players to challenge the group. “By the end of the week, we had all improved so much,” says Steve, who even learned how to count in French — that’s how the games were scored — adding a fun twist to their experience.
The Road Scholar Difference
Perhaps most inspiring was the chance to learn alongside other Road Scholars. "We always meet wonderful individuals who were all so interested in learning," says Tricia. "There was one woman who had just turned 80 out there on the court every day, and everyone was quick, curious, full of life."
Both Steve and Tricia learned so much — on the court and off. “We improved a ton,” Steve says. “That was really exciting. We’re even talking about signing up for an intermediate pickleball program."
"We played this weekend with friends we started with earlier in the summer," Tricia adds, "and they were like, 'WE need to go to pickleball camp, too! You two are not the same players you were!'"
“We’ve been on several Road Scholar programs,” says Steve, “because we love learning, and these programs combine skill development with cultural immersion, foster connections and create an environment where learning flourishes naturally.”
“It’s true,” adds Tricia. “Every moment contributed to an adventure that went far beyond just improving our pickleball game.”
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