St Petersburg Shuffleboard Club – Fun Activity and Date Night Idea

Published on 03/21/23: The St Petersburg Shuffleboard Club! Anyone familiar? This is the oldest and largest shuffleboard club in the world, drawing all ages to play in downtown St Pete.

Shuffleboard Is an Iconic St Pete Activity

While Shuffleboard is an iconic St Pete activity, my suggestion initially drew a smirk from a couple buddies. That is, until they competed with us under the lights on a Friday night! Yep. Music cranked, drinking beverages, eating pizza, and…playing shuffleboard. It’s certainly an all-ages activity and becoming even more-so, thanks to the St Pete Shuffleboard Club!

With hundreds of Google reviews and a stellar 4.8/5 rating, I encourage you to make this your next date night or evening out with friends! You can also rent the club, which is something our local college alumni group did for a meet-up event! Reasonably priced and lots of fun.

Visit the Shuffleboard Club on a Friday Night!

Before I cover the Shuffleboard Club history, here’s what you need to know for your first visit.

Friday nights are your best bet for an intro to the sport. Assuming you’re not a member, the cost is $10/person and kids are free. Or opt to become an annual member to further support the club’s efforts (non profit) and enjoy unlimited play: $50/individual or $90/family per year.

Hours on Friday night are 7pm-10pm, music will be on and courts lit up like Clark Griswold’s house. It’s a beaut!  The courts and equipment are first come first serve, so I’d edge toward arriving by 7:30pm for a court in the middle of the action. You don’t need to bring anything except your $10. However, you’ll notice that many bring their own drinks and food. We usually take a small cooler. Yes, BYOB, simply no glass bottles.

Volunteers Ready to Teach You Shuffleboard

Assuming you’re new to the sport, you’ll be in good company on Friday nights! There’s a group of volunteer staff, eager to help you learn how to play! When you check in at the front, simply tell them you’re new and want the crash course on shuffleboard. They WANT to help you. They’re passionate about helping others learn the sport they love so much.

St Petersburg Shuffleboard Club History!

First, from StPeteShuffle.com: “Shuffleboard had arrived in St. Petersburg in 1923. That year, Connecticut jeweler, Phineas T. Ives, visited St. Petersburg, where shuffleboard had yet to put down roots. He had played the game on the east coast of Florida, enjoyed it, and wanted to play more. He urged the city to build courts in Mirror Lake Park, and that fall two were built, right in front of where the clubhouse stands.” […] “That first season 426 members signed the club’s roster.”

Between 1926 and 1927 the clubhouse was built. Membership grew rapidly, reaching 2,588 members in 1929. The demand for court time was so high that the city added more courts, bringing the total to 71.

By 1932, the club had 3,050 members, 71 courts and chose to restructure into the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, Inc., a 501c(7) nonprofit corporation. That same year, the National Shuffleboard Association formed, holding its first winter tournament at the club.

The Artillery Began Hosting Friday Night Shuffleboard

In 2005, a group known as The Artillery took up the game and joined forces with preservationists to host Friday night games. Initially, 35 or so members of the group would gather to play shuffleboard “in a party mood, complete with music and food. The public was invited to play for free on Friday nights (members could play any time). The growing numbers drew renewed attention to the club and led to $150,000 of repairs in 2008.”

Today the club has over 2600 members, is undergoing some renovations and Is back in growth mode! Goal is to not only continue to preserve the the club and space, but also to grow membership and continue to attract all ages.

Address: 559 Mirror Lake Dr N, St Pete

Email: [email protected]

Website: St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club (stpeteshuffle.com)

Open Hours:

Tues & Thurs 6-9pm

Friday: 7-10pm

Sunday: 9am-noon

In addition to open hours, members may play daily from 5am-midnight.

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Photo credit for historical photos: St Pete Shuffleboard Club