Has Pickleball Overtaken Golf as the Preferable Business Activity in Corporate America?

Traditionally, golf courses have been the go-to for business deals and client meetings.

However, Bloomberg reports that pickleball is emerging as a popular alternative, offering time and cost savings while being more inclusive and easier for beginners.

Bloomberg says several clubs across the country have reported a huge surge in corporate outings and significant increases in booking inquiries. One club claims they receive 10-20 requests per week.

Is pickleball better for networking and schmoozing with clients than golf? Let's discuss.

Pickleball is less intimidating for non-golfers

Imagine not being a golfer and being invited to spend half of if not a whole day trying to keep up with someone who golfs regularly.

It's not fun.

You're playing a sport that requires precision striking and trying to find a tiny ball among bushes, sand, trees, and water.

With pickleball, lawyers, bankers, and realtors are able to have the same conversations in a shorter amount of time doing something much less intimidating.

"If you’ve never golfed before and I invite you on the golf course because I want to network with you and do business, it’s almost impossible to be able to keep up," Chicago real estate broker Colin Hebson said.

"I can take someone onto the pickleball court who has never touched a pickleball paddle before, and I can show them how to play and they would have a good time in under 10 minutes."

Pickleball costs less and is more diverse

The report mentions that cost is another factor.

Two hours of pickleball might cost a firm $80, while a round of golf can run between $600 to $700.

As company margins thin, court reservations are rising.

If you're a company trying to diversify your client base, good luck with golf.

The demographic remains predominantly male and white, which is leading some firms to host pickleball tournaments for better employee engagement and to bring a larger mix of people out for networking.

Pickleball is less serious than golf

Bloomberg profiles a Minneapolis-based life coach, Jasna Burza, who started inviting clients to play pickleball when she noticed it helped them relax. Burza, who works with executives, lawyers, and entrepreneurs, finds it a preferable alternative to golf for many of the women she coaches.

"A lot of my women clients are like, 'I have kids, I don't have time to spend seven hours on the course,'" she said.

The shift has also transformed her relationships with golfing clients, with whom she used to walk courses with regularly.

"There are no pretensions. You see them miss a point. There’s so much vulnerability on the court," she said. "What I love is that you see adult men and women engaging in trash talk. People are competitive, but it’s not as serious as golf."

While golf will likely always have its place in business dealings, it's nice to see pickleball finding more ways to bring people – even those in suits – together.