Pickleball Courts Replace Golf Networking: Companies across the United States and other countries are quickly adding pickleball courts to their offices and communities. These courts are taking the place of golf courses as popular spots for business meetings. Many firms say pickleball is easier, cheaper, and faster for team-building and networking.
Businesses Build Pickleball Courts
Several big companies have built pickleball courts at their headquarters. TIAA opened a 92-acre campus in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2022, which has courts along with walking trails and gyms. Room & Board, a furniture retailer in Minneapolis, has an indoor court that about 350 employees use. Nassau Financial Group turned an old courtyard in Hartford, Connecticut, into a court and a small putting green for staff and tenants.
Myntra, an Indian e-commerce company, set up Bengaluru’s first corporate pickleball court in February 2025 to help young workers stay active. Real estate developers like Discovery Land Company have added pickleball courts to their luxury communities to attract buyers.
Cheaper and Easier Than Golf
For many years, business deals were often made on golf courses. But more companies are now choosing pickleball because it costs less and takes less time. Bloomberg reported that lawyers, bankers, and realtors are picking pickleball because it “allows more interaction within a shorter timeframe and at a lower cost compared to golf.”
Many companies also say pickleball is simpler for beginners. One life coach shared that her clients prefer pickleball because it only takes 30 minutes compared to golf’s long rounds. The same coach said, “a greater return on investment” comes from playing pickleball for team-building events.
Pickleball vs. Golf
Pickleball courts are much cheaper to build. It costs about $20,000 to $50,000 to make one. A nine-hole golf course costs between $3 million and $7 million, and 18 holes cost even more. Playing pickleball is also less expensive. A two-hour group game costs about $80, while one round of corporate golf can cost $600 to $700 and takes nearly a full day.
Pickleball games last only 15 to 60 minutes. They are easy for all ages and skill levels. This makes them welcoming for everyone, including women and young employees. Golf often feels hard to learn, and beginners can feel nervous.
Quick Growth and Big Demand
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States. There were almost 20 million players in 2024, which was a 45.8% increase in one year. Golf still has a bigger total of players, with about 47 million, but its growth is much slower.
Room & Board said the demand for pickleball among employees shot up when people came back to the office. Many real estate companies now use pickleball as a main way to attract clients instead of golf.
Impact and Future
Experts think more companies will keep adding pickleball courts because they save money and time. They also make it easier for employees and clients to join in. A Bloomberg report said pickleball is “cheaper, less time-consuming — and easier to play.” This change could make pickleball the top sport for business networking in the future.
News in Brief: Pickleball Courts Replace Golf Networking
Many companies are building pickleball courts to replace golf courses for business meetings. The sport is cheaper, quicker, and simpler for everyone to enjoy. Firms like TIAA, Room & Board, and Myntra have built courts for employees. Pickleball is growing fast and may soon overtake golf as the top networking game.
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