It’s a sport that’s been around since 1965, when three dads in the Pacific Northwest came up with the game as a way to entertain their families.
Flash forward a half century or so and pickleball has been recognized as the fastest-growing sport in the nation for the fifth consecutive year. According to an August 2023 study by the Association of Pickleball Professionals, 48.3 million U.S. adults (19% of the adult population) played at least one game in the last 12 months.
Stories vary, but the dominant tale is the “pickle” came from a wife of one of the founders and refers to a crewing term which labels the weaker team as the “pickle boat.”
Cincinnati Pickleball Club is the fastest growing club of its kind in the Midwest. Their website will direct you to local parks, schools, rec centers and private clubs where you can play for free, or a fee. cincinnatipickleball.com
One of our community’s crowning jewels is Sawyer Point, a venue with 24 courts, LED lighting and seating for spectators. All skill levels welcome.
Other locations include:
The Pickle Lodge in West Chester. 17 indoor courts, a restaurant, bar and event space, it’s the second largest pickleball complex in the country. thepicklelodge.com
ACES Pickleball + Kitchen in Norwood. 5 indoor and 6 outdoor courts, a restaurant, bar, dog park, seating plaza with firepits, and weekly entertainment. acespickleball.com
Fifty West Brewing Company in Mariemont and soon in Mason/ Deerfield Township: 6 combined outdoor courts. Hosts leagues and tournaments. Serves burgers, beers, fries, shakes and more. Offers court and equipment rentals.
“We opened our courts three years ago,” says Bobby Slattery, founder of 50 West. “Back then, it was just one night a week, primarily with women aged between 40 and 60. Today leagues are sold out every night of the week, featuring both men and women of all ages.”
“It’s been thrilling to witness the sport explode in such a short time period.” – Bobby Slattery
Article originally appeared in February 2024