DALLAS, TX - More and more business dealings are being conducted on pickleball courts instead of golf courses, according to a July 12 story on Bloomberg.

Writer Jo Constantz reports that "while golf courses have long been hailed as the premier venue for closing deals and wooing clients, a growing number are finding that pickleball saves them time and money - while being more inclusive and easier to play for newcomers."

It's another major victory for America's fastest-growing sport.

Constantz says that corporate bookings at pickleball clubs across the country are on the upswing, and "company events are increasing exponentially" at venues everywhere.

At Life Time in New York, for example, an estimated "10 to 20 corporate booking inquiries per week [are being made] - more than five times last year's volume."

Constantz indicates that "lawyers, bankers and realtors looking to expand their professional circles" are turning to pickleball as a go-to method.

Why?

She cites Chicago-based real estate broker Colin Hebson's rationale, noting that "a key part of the appeal is that pickleball is much less intimidating than golf for those who haven't played before."

"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," explained Hebson. "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."

That sounds about right.

Efficiency is another factor, with pickleball winning over golf in that department rather easily.

"Hebson can finish a couple of games of pickleball in under two hours, versus taking the half the day to golf," writes Constantz. "To top it off, two hours at Hebson's pickleball club cost $80, versus $600 to $700 to entertain on the golf course."

Bottom line, the ROI with respect to pickleball speaks for itself.

"Everyone involved spends more time with each other under one roof and the event time is a max of three hours instead of five," said Matthew Norman, Senior Director of Events at South Carolina-based pickleball club, Crush Yard.

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