Bowling clubs have traditionally been the popular choice for seniors looking for some light exercise, socialisation and potentially a couple of cheap pints.
But as a new generation starts their retirement, pickleball is rapidly rising in popularity.
Sydney’s Canterbury Leagues Club is planning to capitalise on the recent demand for the sport by converting one of their grass bowling greens in Punchbowl into eight pickleball courts.
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A spokesperson from the Canterbury Leagues Club said pickleball was a good fit and they expected it to attract a “large market” of players.
“Some of those regional areas have attracted a lot of seniors where bowls is quite popular,” the spokesperson said.
“I think adding something like pickleball for them (seniors) would be an absolute natural progression.”
Pickleball courts are also quite small, meaning people can play games in a much smaller space, making it an attractive prospect from an urban development perspective.
Tennis court is 23.7 metres long and 11 metres wide compared to a pickleball court that is 13.4 metres long and six metres wide.
“It can be played by all ages so I think that’s why it’s becoming so popular,” the spokesperson said.
“Tennis you’re going to reach an age limit on that, whereas people can keep playing (pickleball) well into your 70s, 80s.”
One of the club’s directors who is in his 80s plays pickleball, which spurred the decision to convert a bowling green as there are not many courts around Sydney.
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A Canterbury Bankstown council development application has been lodged that will see the bowling green turned into a concrete playing surface with walkways and windbreak fencing.
A City of Canterbury Bankstown spokesperson said the development application was being publicly advertised until November 7.
“Council will consider all comments and carefully assess the application against all relevant plans, policies and controls,” the spokesperson said.
Pickleball is played with a paddle and a plastic whiffle ball.
“Pickleball is both fun and challenging with a combination of long rallies and a blend of soft and rapid-fire shots where the best athlete must earn their points not purely by athleticism, power and speed, but also through the use of positioning, patience, tactics and touch,” Pickleball Australia said on its website.
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the US and there are 36.5 million pickleball players in the US according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals.
About 12,000 Australians play the sport according to Pickleball Association Australia (PPA).
The sport is now played in about 60 countries.
