Port Orange pickleball brawl over rules leaves couple charged, banned for life

An argument over rules at a country club pickleball court in Port Orange escalates into a chaotic brawl involving as many as 20 players on February 15, 2026. Club staff and bystanders reported players pushing and shoving near the courts before one player was struck in the face with a paddle.

A 65-year-old man is accused of swinging his paddle and hitting another player in the face, an act that resulted in felony battery charges for him and his wife. The couple now faces legal exposure while the incident remains under investigation by local authorities.

The melee began during a rules dispute on the club’s courts and quickly drew more players from nearby games, swelling the confrontation to roughly 20 people. Witnesses described confusion and several players attempting to separate those involved as the incident unfolded on the facility’s courts.

Following the confrontation, the country club imposed a lifetime ban on the couple, removing them from the club’s property and its pickleball facilities. Club officials told members the ban is effective immediately while the club reviews its safety and conduct policies for court use.

Local law enforcement and the county prosecutor have moved forward with felony battery charges against the 65-year-old man and his wife; the charges stem from the alleged physical assault with a paddle. No additional details about arrests or arraignment dates have been released publicly as of February 15, 2026.

This confrontation underscores the stakes when rule disputes escalate on crowded courts in club settings. Players at the Port Orange facility are already asking club management for clearer enforcement and for steps to prevent another incident that drew nearly two dozen people into a violent altercation.