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Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports nationwide and is gaining popularity in Southeast Texas.
Beaumont CVB photo

Growing up in Southeast Texas, Betty Crenshaw always had a spirit for sports. She played tennis in high school and developed a love for soccer in college while involved with intramurals.

But as Crenshaw got older, that athleticism began to allude her. By the time she reached her 50s, the tennis courts and soccer fields had become a bit too big. Still, she wanted to keep the competitive juices flowing.

"I was looking for something that anyone could play," Crenshaw said.

It wasn't long before Crenshaw found pickleball, like millions of others have in the past few years. It's the fastest growing sport in America, and it's not just for the older generation, either.

More than 36.5 million people played pickleball from August 2021 to August 2022, according to a report released in January by the Association of Pickleball Professionals. A previous study had pegged the sport at 5 million players in 2021.

The craze has now reached Southeast Texas, with courts popping up all over the region in the last few years. If you're looking for a game, chances are it won't be hard to find, said local pickleball coach Kelly Anne Herr.

"Southeast Texas has a great pickleball community, and it’s growing,” Herr said. “We’re really excited about that.”

Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, Washington. Three dads – Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum – whose kids were bored with their usual summertime activities, are credited for creating the game.

The sport combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It can be played indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court and with a slightly modified tennis net.

A paddle, a plastic ball with holes and a net are the only equipment necessary. The game can be played with one or two players on each side of the net.

Herr teaches all sorts of skill levels while helping grow pickleball in Southeast Texas. She hosts beginner and intermediate classes, along with pick-up games each week at the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center.

Herr's Facebook group, "SETX Pickleballers," has 630 members.

“I’ve had people come out that have never played a racquet sport before and they pick it right up," Herr said. "One thing about pickleball is that it’s easy to learn.”

Those looking to try pickleball have plenty of places to do so throughout Southeast Texas. In Beaumont, parks and recreation director Jimmy Neale said pickleball courts have been the top desire for residents since the sport picked up speed in recent years.

Neale said with the low cost and high interest in pickleball, he wouldn't be surprised if high schools started offering the sport in the near future.

"It's amazing how much this game has grown over the last few years," Neale said. "It's something I get asked about all the time."

Rogers Park in Beaumont has a court, and Neale is pushing for one to be added at Central Park. Port Arthur residents can play at the YMCA of Southeast Texas. Even the Golden Nugget Resort and Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana recently announced pickleball courts were in the works.

However, the region's biggest pickleball development came in 2021 when the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center added 8 courts to its offerings. The municipal tennis center hosts plenty of tennis tournaments on an annual basis, and now hopes to be a destination cite for pickleball tournaments, too.

“We have had the opportunity to host community tournaments as well as United States Tennis Association tournaments," Tennis Facility Manager Russell Grogan said. "With the addition of eight pickleball courts, both indoor and outdoor, we are excited to accommodate those players as well.”

Herr plans local tournaments throughout the year. The next such event will be the Good Friday Pickleball Mixer on April 7 at the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center. Entry is $20 per person. Participants can sign at on the "SETX Pickleballers" Facebook page.

MFaye@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/mattGfaye