September 4, 2026
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clinics

The Pickle Lodge Ensures Member Satisfaction with Court Time Availability

Amy Busse16 mins

With over 1,700 paying members and thousands of drop-in members, The Pickle Lodge in Cincinnati, Ohio, has found a successful formula for keeping its 17 indoor courts full and their membership steady. 

Player Experience Coordinator Ethan Shutte says keeping members happy is key to their success. 

“We make sure the members have what they need and put them first by catering to them as much as possible,” he says. 

Since its soft opening in June of 2023, The Pickle Lodge has used the Court Reserve booking system that allows all players to select their own court time. Ethan says the system is easy to use and every player is encouraged to download the app in order to book through their phone. Players who don’t want to use the app can also book online through the website. The app allows players to book open play, round-robins, clinics, leagues and lessons. Ethan says he hasn’t heard any complaints from members about the app that proves it’s working as it should.

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The Kitchen Spreads Through Utah With Streamlined Business Model

Joseph Peshek07 mins

The Kitchen is a Utah-based pickleball franchise quickly spreading through the state. Their facility designs are smaller and more intimate, but their impact on the Utah pickleball scene has been significant. The owners of the Kitchen save loads of their time and energy by installing small, self-running facilities that require little to no employee maintenance. Efficient, low-maintenance facilities are the key to the Kitchen’s unique business model.

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The Jan/Feb 2025 Issue Is Here!

Riley Watkins03 mins

At Preston Playhouse, their approach to hosting has set a new standard, drawing players, sponsors, and excitement that keeps their club busy. Meanwhile, Epic Pickleball shares their secrets to hiring great employees, outlining five key attributes that ensure a team is not just skilled but also aligned with a club’s culture and long-term vision.

Branding plays a critical role in a club’s identity, and The Pickleball Factory is a prime example of how strong brand presence fosters loyalty and engagement within a community. Similarly, The Pickle Bar is stepping into their players’ needs by taking an opportunistic approach to retail. 

Beyond business strategies, we’re also looking at how location and facility size impact player experience. Santa Lucia Preserve, with its breathtaking natural setting, is drawing players who crave both competition and connection with the outdoors. Back towards the middle of the country, The Grove is proving that even a two-court facility can become a thriving hub for pickleball by focusing on community-first initiatives.

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Pickleball Warehouse in Pittsburgh Prides Itself on an Open Play Model Every Day

Amy Busse06 mins

The newly opened Pickleball Warehouse in Pittsburgh is based on the idea of the fun, spontaneity and fellowship of open play. Since July 2024, Pickleball Warehouse has been Pittsburgh’s largest indoor pickleball facility with two private courts and 17 courts dedicated to open play.

Husband and wife Bryan Wigginton and Alexa Gervasi saw a gap in the pickleball market with a lack of indoor playing space. With that observation, the idea for Pickleball Warehouse started to form. Nearly six months into the open play business model they are having a great time and their players seem to feel the same way.

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How Bobby Riggs Club Hosts Profitable Private Events

Emma Jane010 mins

As a pickleball club looking to diversify your streams of income, opening yourself up to hosting private events at your club can be a beneficial strategy to bringing new people through your doors and increasing your bottom line. The possibilities are truly endless in terms of what kind of events you can host within your facility, especially considering the growing popularity of the sport among all generations. 

A premier pickleball facility located in Encinitas, California, Bobby Riggs Racquet and Paddle Club seeks to provide top-notch pickleball programming for players of all skill levels. As a public club, they are intent on creating an approachable environment for anyone looking for a pickleball home and enjoy introducing people to the sport through various private events hosted at the facility. They have chosen to host private events as a way to “offer a unique and exclusive experience for individuals, groups, and organizations” in the community, says Callan Dawson, owner of Bobby Riggs Racquet and Paddle Club.

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USSP Spreads Love of Pickleball Through New Ambassador Program

Joseph Peshek08 mins

US Senior Pickleball is a nationwide, nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading the love of pickleball to seniors all around the country. USSP hosts tournaments and confers memberships like a typical pickleball club, but it breaks away from this conventional mold by not having a centralized facility. Karen Parish, the Director of Events, says, “We’re not a traditional club in that we don’t have one set location.” The USSP is a nationwide community held together by its array of tournaments and team of ambassadors. 

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