Building Palmera The Right Way

Inside Palmera

Published on

February 2, 2026

A candid CEO update on Palmera’s early lessons, hard decisions, and the disciplined path toward breaking ground.

Geoff Bourgeois

CEO

From Exploration to Execution

This message clarifies three things:

Why Palmera exists.

What the first fourteen months taught us—often the hard way.

Why 2026 is the year we stop exploring and start building, deliberately and on our terms.

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The First 14 Months: Real R&D, Earned Insights

The first fourteen months of Palmera were exploratory by design. This was research and development in the truest sense—learning early and directly where reality diverged from theory.

We marketed early to establish relationships and build a network. We tested assumptions. We pivoted more than once.

We began with three co-founders and an initial plan to build within Rancho Santana. One co-founder later stepped away, and more recently we made a deliberate strategic decision not to pursue an on‑property build inside the resort.

These were not failures. They clarified ownership, control, risk, and long‑term upside.

We are grateful to Rancho Santana’s leadership for engaging seriously with the vision. The process was thoughtful and well‑intended on both sides. Ultimately, however, a “private club within a private club” proved too integrated to meet either party’s long‑term objectives.

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Where We Are Now: Land, Control, and Scale

We are currently deep in due diligence on land that allows us to scale meaningfully over time, with room for:

30+ pickleball courts

8+ padel courts

Parking, café, locker rooms, co working, and a true family friendly environment

Due diligence is nearing completion. This stage always carries risk—facts can change, sellers can change posture, and deals can die. I will not move forward without a clean green light. This project must meet our risk profile, operational standards, and cultural ethos.

If this site does not proceed, we will acquire a different one. We are not forcing outcomes.

If it does proceed, as it currently appears it will, we will still need to secure the required government certificates and permits prior to construction. That places a potential groundbreaking in Q3 2026. This is foundational infrastructure, and it must be done correctly the first time.

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How We’re Thinking About This

We are completing the final phase of R&D and market intelligence before deploying capital into a pickleball sports facility we will own and operate. This work is disciplined and intentional. Returns follow foundations, so we are building something that scales and sets a new standard.

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Phase I: The Initial Build

Phase I is deliberately focused and credible. It is designed as the foundation for a much larger, multiphase build.

Offerings:

PalmeraSports.life
A subscription based precision coaching system for players who care how they move, how they strike the ball, and how long their bodies hold up—paired with unlimited club access.

Twelve (12) premium pickleball courts, each with:
- Individual fencing
- Minimum 6 feet of sideline clearance and 12 feet behind baselines
- Volleyer-eye optimization
- Post-tension concrete foundations with pro-grade surfacing

Some courts will be covered. One will be a championship court.

This enables us to:

Become a focal point for national and Central American regional tournaments.

Offer serious coaching, ladders, and athlete development pathways.

Position ourselves for Asia–LATAM training camps and sponsor backed events as air travel infrastructure evolves.

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Who Phase I Is For

Phase I is designed for:

Nicaragua’s rapidly growing pickleball community (now 200+ active players, up from ~30 in 2021, with minimal infrastructure).

High-intent pickleball travelers.

Pros and semi-pros seeking elite athletic retreats, coaching income, and visibility.

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What Happens Next

The next substantive update will come when there is something concrete to share.

In the meantime, Jeremy and I are focused on training, competing, coaching, and producing content for Palmera’s forthcoming coaching subscription. We release monthly episodes of our docuseries documenting this work. Jeremy has recently become a social media partner with RPM, as well as an ambassador for Bodhi Performance and Pilla Eyewear.

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