WATERLOO — Waterloo Region is staking its claim as the pickleball capital of Ontario.
A big reason is the recent addition of six dedicated indoor pickleball courts installed at Greystone Racquet Club, which are believed to be the first of their kind in the province.
The Waterloo hub, formerly known as Northfield Racquet Club, converted one of its tennis courts so pickleball players could have their own space earlier this summer.
Club staff didn’t know if the move would be kosher with members, but it has turned out to be a dilly of an idea.
“It was a big decision,” said Greystone squash pro Jamie Hickox. “In hindsight, it’s looking to be a no-brainer.”
Tennis and squash continue to be the club’s bread and butter, but Greystone is keen to capitalize on the pickleball craze.
The sport has exploded south of the border with an estimated 3.3 million players, according to the USA Pickleball Association. Competitive players at last year’s American national championships competed for a purse of $80,000, but most people play recreationally.
The racquet sport is played with a whiffle ball on a court akin to badminton. Players can swat as singles or doubles and games go up to 11.
The game started in the Pacific Northwest in the mid-1960s and has nothing to do with pickles. The name, according to the sport’s lore, derives from the inventor’s dog, named Pickles, who would chase errant balls during the action.
The hype has taken longer to catch on in Canada but Pickleball Ontario calls it the “fastest growing sport” in the province.
“It’s such a great game for people to start,” said Hickox. “You put a kid on a tennis or squash court for the first time and you need a bit of help. The ball either bounces too much in tennis or too little in squash. But they get on the pickle and instantly they can have rallies. That’s just entrapment right there.”
Pickleball is kind on the joints but has a competitive fire, which appeals to a more mature crowd. But the fun is attracting a younger audience with the USA Pickleball Association estimating that only 20 per cent of its players are 65 or older.
“It’s very addictive and younger players from tennis and other sports are really getting into it,” said Fiona MacGregor, president of Pickleball of Waterloo Wellington Region.
Community centres and gyms have been hosting pickleball for years but it’s often an afterthought with taped lines laid down on the floor or painted lines mixed in with the boundaries for basketball, volleyball and badminton.
“Pickleball players traditionally have been squatters,” said Hickox. “All throughout Canada they’re sort of people coming in and just using an existing spot.”
By offering dedicated pickleball courts, Greystone is hoping to give players a sense of belonging.
“It’s huge for us,” said MacGregor, who is also vice-president of Pickleball Ontario.
And, so far, the community has responded. Players from Waterloo Region are flocking to the setup while some are even coming from Oakville, Orangeville and Niagara, among other places.
“We have a ton of people coming,” said Hickox. “They spend the day here. I think we made the right decision.”