Pickleball courts are beginning to crowd around Milledgeville again as GCSU students await the return of warm weather to play.
Over 36.5 million people have played pickleball in the U.S., and Milledgeville has seen the effects of the growth in the game.
Students can find courts to play on at GCSU’s Wellness and Recreational Center and other public courts. Walter B. Williams Park and Baldwin County Pickleball complex offer about 40 courts between them, giving students multiple options to play.
GCSU has seen a growth in the participation of pickleball, similar to the state of Georgia.
There are now over 3,000 pickleball courts in Georgia, compared to around 500 courts in 2021. In the past five years, participation has increased nearly 300% around the country. This makes pickleball the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.
“Pickleball has become a constant part of my friend group in the past couple of years,” said Robert Long, a senior accounting major. “I started playing my senior year of high school. It’s been cool to see a bunch of people kind of flock over to pickleball because of what it has to offer.”
GCSU has adapted to the surge in the growing sport. Pickleball is now offered as an intramural sport in singles and doubles. GCSU has created a club pickleball team that travels to other universities to take on other club teams, they practice every Wednesday evening in the spring semester.
“I would say that our club team serves as a safe space for anyone to come out and just play some pickleball,” said Clay Braswell, a senior business major. “I joined the team my sophomore year and it’s been a very stress-free environment and I have created a bunch of cool relationships too.”
For many students around campus, the pickleball courts serve as a home away from home. Unlike tennis, pickleball requires less movement, making it more accessible to people of all ages. With quick games and a smaller court size, the game is made for anyone.
“I think pickleball is the best way to get active and have fun at the same time,” said Tate Hunter, a senior management major. “You can almost guarantee that there is a group of five plus people almost every day here in the spring that want to play after class. I love it.”
For some students, it is all about winning. For other students, it is a way to socialize and provide a mental break from school. As the seasons continue to transition, pickleball courts in Milledgeville are filling up fast.
Pickleball is slowly easing itself into a part of GCSU’s culture, as it becomes a lifestyle for some.
For more information regarding the club pickleball team, please visit @gcsupickleball on Instagram. For information regarding Intramural pickleball, please visit www.gcsu.edu/recreational-sports/league-rules.