In The Kitchen
Mix and Match: Pickleball Mixers at Sunriver Resort
Located just minutes from Bend, Oregon, Sunriver Resort spans over 3,300 acres in the Pacific Northwest. Its unique wilderness setting offers a variety of recreational activities from golf, kayaking, horseback riding, and more. In August of 2023, ten outdoor Pickleball courts were added, and eight more indoor courts followed a month later. Director of Sales and Marketing Lindsay Borkowski says, “In the past, pickleball at the resort was played on temporary courts, and there was organized play just two afternoons a week.” At the time, members of the fitness center had access to the courts, but now players can opt for the new pickleball membership offered by the resort.
Bloomington Pickleball Club Expands Pickleball Reach Through Civic Engagement
Determined to expand pickleball throughout their community, Bloomington Pickleball Club (BPC), based out of Ellettsville, Indiana, has committed itself to intentional and regular engagement with their local resources to maximize their impact on the area. Civic engagement itself is viewed as “pivotal for BPC as it aligns with [their] core values of promoting health, fitness, and social connectivity through pickleball,” says Dave Martin, Chair of the Board and a Co-Founder of BPC. Martin leads an excellent team of passionate and active board members, along with a dedicated club membership, to cultivate deep relationships within the community and execute their goals. While everyone involved with the club is responsible for the club’s civic engagement efforts to an extent, the BPC maintains a Partnership and Outreach Committee that is specifically tasked with “collaborat[ing] closely with local organizations, businesses, and government entities to maximize the impact of [their] initiatives.” Through their multi-pronged approach, BPC strives to introduce the sport to a wider audience in addition to fostering a greater sense of belonging within the community. BPC seeks to establish pickleball as an integral tenant of the local lifestyle and embolden participation from all walks of life.
Successful Tennis Club Converts to Pickleball : Santa Monica Pickleball Center
The Santa Monica Pickleball Center initially started as a robust tennis business. In October 2022, the facility began experimenting with a hybrid approach to incorporate the fast-growing sport of pickleball. Then in December of that same year, the business took over the retail property next to the Pro Shop, multiplying it five times over. Expanding their Pro Shop inventory was extremely successful and encouraged the team to move more towards pickleball. Owner Jon Neeter, says, “transitioning completely to pickleball was a tough decision for us. We had many great tennis clients that we wanted to accommodate as much as possible. At a certain point the numbers were just undeniable.” Fortunately, the facility attained the opportunity to rent courts hourly from the city of Santa Monica, which allowed them to keep a significant portion of their tennis programming going.
Indy Pickleball Club Intentional Goal Setting Leads to Massive Pickleball Spread
As a non-profit pickleball club whose goal is to promote the game in their community and create opportunities for play through leagues, tournaments, and recreational play, Indy Pickleball Club has found intentional goal-setting to be a vital tool in the success of their club. Working to grow the sport in Central Indiana, Indy Pickleball Club’s primary “objective is not to make big money but to get pickleball spread” throughout the area, says Lisa Farley, President of Indy Pickleball Club. With a clear vision for the mission of the club, the board members were able to lay out concrete and tangible goals for Indy Pickleball Club to help drive progress toward their ultimate aim.
The Drop Pickleball Club: Success Starts With Quality Coaches
Located in Tacoma, Washington, The Drop Pickleball Club has quickly found success in helping their members become well trained. The new establishment knew from the very beginning that it was imperative to bring on experienced coaches to kickstart their program. Kristen Sexton from The Drop, says, “we started putting thought into our coaches very early on in our process. We were fortunate enough to have a legend of the game in our area.” Brian Ashworth, a pickleball pro with a decade of playing and teaching experience, was approached early on by Sexton and her staff. “…[Brian] got to watch us struggle to actually bring our club to life, and he was ready to roll on day one.” Since then, The Drop Pickleball Club has taken on one other coach, Jim Bouchard, who came to them as well.
How Sure Shot Increases Pro Shop Sales with This One Tactic
Despite having only opened in September 2023, the team at Sure Shot Pickleball is eager to expand their potential revenue streams and find ways to better serve their members. Located just outside of Chicago in Naperville, Illinois, Sure Shot began offering gift cards to their indoor facility just about a month after their opening. Their facility includes 27,000 sq. ft. of space consisting of 11 dedicated pickleball courts with outdoor surfaces. The facility also features state-of-the-art lighting, ventilation, and fans to ensure year-round comfort for players. Mark Murman, one of the four co-founders of Sure Shot, notes that their goal was to “create a really nice community and pub feel” throughout the club, offering a lounge area at the front of the space in addition to an event room and maintaining a liquor license to serve alcoholic beverages to guests.