BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Get your paddle and a pickleball because the game continues to be a craze across the U.S., even here in Green Country.
This craze started in 2020 and continues to grow. According to USA Pickleball, there are almost 14 million players in the U.S.
It's grown over 50% from 2022 to 2023.
But why?
2 News went to Ace Pickleball Club in Broken Arrow. The club opened in December, and its owners told us they see around 300 people play on its 18 courts every day.
Including a fierce group of players who talked to 2 News.
Pam, Deon, Marci, and Becky are proud grandmas. They met on the pickleball court.
Related>>> City of Tulsa announces improvements project for sports courts, playgrounds.
They said anyone of any age can play, and it’s not all about winning that makes them love the sport.
“I’ve met a lot of wonderful people. We created a group of us that have been playing every Thursday night for the last year and a half. We now meet once a month for dinners. You get to meet more and more people here. It’s a great outreach program to me,” Deon Fourcade, a pickleball player at Ace, said.
The four women said the community has been built from playing the game.
Becky Rogers has been playing for two years. When she retired, she told us that not having any fun, active things to do was difficult for her until she found the sport.
“I had to go out and find stuff, so pickleball has been a new community for me.”
According to the Greater Tulsa Pickleball Club, there are almost 8,000 members on their Facebook.
The ambassador of Tulsa for U.S. Pickleball told 2 News there are most likely thousands more who play in Green Country.
Ace, courts, and commons in south Tulsa, are just two clubs that opened recently.
There are over 40 public courts to play as well in Tulsa.
In June 2024, the City of Tulsa announced the improvements of 32 pickleball courts.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere --
- Download our free app for Apple, Android and Kindle devices.
- Sign up for daily newsletters emailed to you
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram
- SUBSCRIBE on YouTube
