Does Golf Need an Answer to Pickleball?

jda · April 30

Was just in St George for the week and none of the old people were playing pickleball - courts were nearly empty. They were packed in years past with spectators and stuff. Has pickleball peaked?

Mikey_HACKilroy · April 30

All growth eventually must stabilize. Some people stop participating because the activity's amusement runs its course for them. Others continue. That's what I'd call "real growth." It's true of everything. Large percentages of growth cannot continue forever.

Back when golf was seeing huge amounts of growth, a ton of courses were built. It declined for a while, and a lot of those courses closed. Now, with the resurgence of interest, courses are so packed people are noticing and reacting. The longer that continues, the more courses that will eventually be opened (or re-opened).

Eventually, it will decline again and well.... courses will close.

That's life... Pickle Ball will be no different. Best to ignore it if you do not like it. 😄

nsxguy · April 30

As mentioned earlier, pickleball is a great game for seniors. Not too much running around and they still feel somewhat athletic and can compete and have fun.

But the injuries ? I think they were under-anticipated. Old bodies get injured much more easily,,,,,,,, and heal much more slowly, if at all.

I was a decent tennis player in my younger days. Nothing to rave about, but decent. And I was thinking about pickleball. Sounds like fun. But the injury factor ? Sheesh, who needs that ? I still have golf to make myself look silly.

Youngsters ? They'd much(?) rather play tennis.

But if pickleball picks up with the middle-aged crowd, who knows how popular it might get ?

Rigby48 · May 1

Pickleball is hot amongst young folks here in DC. Everyone I know in their 20s plays it. It is big in what we used to call the hipster crowd.

I think golf's answer to pickleball exists it is called TopGolf. Show up at on a Friday or Saturday night an count on a multi-hour wait around here and well over half the people have never been on a golf course and probably don't intend to.

On 8/14/2023 at 10:01 AM, tatertot said:

Never played a par 3 course and thought "that was fun, I'm coming back here again." Always thought "Well, that was kinda like golf, wish I was playing a real round."

This I totally disagree with. I love par 3 courses and wish there were more near me for a quick evening round. That may just be because of what I like in golf. To me everything outside of 150 yards is boring, I'd almost rather hit wedges at the practice area for two hours than play 9.

dugue4 · May 2

17 hours ago, Rigby48 said:

This I totally disagree with. I love par 3 courses and wish there were more near me for a quick evening round. That may just be because of what I like in golf. To me everything outside of 150 yards is boring, I'd almost rather hit wedges at the practice area for two hours than play 9.

I'd love to have a par 3 near me that had tees from 100-180ish and was in decent shape.