A Pickleball Court in is Real Estate’s Hot New Thing

A Pickleball court (or three) can now claim to being the hottest sports amenity in high-end real estate developments today. So forget golf – go for the pickle!

A decade ago, golf was a key amenity driving residential sales, especially when it came to vacation homes, but, recently, buyers are more attracted to pickleball—a combination of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton. In fact, it’s been called America’s fastest-growing sport and in 2019 it saw a 21.3% increase in participation, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s 2021 Topline Participation Report. 

The luxury real estate brand Discovery Land Company is at the forefront of the trend and features pickleball courts in every one of its 26 properties. These include Troubadour Golf and Field Club in Nashville and El Dorado Golf and Beach Club in Cabo San Lucas. The game has been so popular that Discovery is currently doubling the number of courts in many of its locations, but the additions still won’t be enough to satisfy homeowners’ demand, according to the company’s founder Mike Meldman. “The great thing about the game is that it attracts people of all ages, and it doesn’t require skill or athleticism,” he says. “It’s easy to play but has a steep learning curve,  making it still challenging as skills improve. It’s also an excellent workout.”

Other examples of pickelball in developments abound around the United States, the Caribbean, and Mexico.