When entrepreneur Neal Check first envisioned Paddle + Par, it wasn’t just about pickleball — it was about innovation to elevate the experience surrounding it.
Paddle + Par is an eatertainment concept in Beverly Hills, Michigan, that opened in February 2025 combining pickleball, golf simulation and food and beverage for the region.
Before opening Paddle + Par, Check owned a technology business selling full-swing golf simulators in Michigan. After selling his company, he began looking for his next project. Driving one day, he came across an old Bed Bath & Beyond location. He called the owner and said he had an idea for the space as an indoor golf facility. “He goes, ‘That would be a great idea, but the building is 50,000 square feet and I’m not breaking it up,’” recalled Check.
In search of what to do with the remaining space, Check decided on pickleball as a natural complement. “And this way I’ll have the golf simulators I want, I’ll have the food and beverage component with the bar and the restaurant, and more,” said Check.
Paddle + Par offers 11 indoor pickleball courts, five full swing golf simulator suites, two table tennis courts, and a 300-seat restaurant and bar. The club also offers special programs, availability for private events and lounge areas. “We’re experiential, we’re health and wellness, and we’re hospitality,” said Check.
From the beginning, Check was intentional with how he wanted Paddle + Par to look and operate. The club has everything to offer with music playing and TVs to give it the sports bar edge, while also maintaining the important aspects of a pickleball club with intentional acoustics and court fencing. There is also a mezzanine area which is home to the lounge and golf simulator suites, separated with an insulated wall, providing a quieter retreat for those who come to enjoy the other activities.
A fan favorite for Paddle + Par has been the on-court cameras that provide instant replay for players. “Everybody loves that,” said Check. “Being able to come in, have fun, have a great volley and then be able to go and check out the instant replay — that’s been a win, because no one else around here has that.”
In just eight months, Paddle + Par has hosted many private events, from corporate outings to trivia nights and live concerts. Its flexible design allows for multiple gatherings at once with up to 900 guests on site.
The club has faced its struggles, as well. Opening later than expected meant that the first few months overlapped with Michigan’s spring and summer, when golfers and pickleball players head outdoors.
But Check has realized this was likely a blessing. “It’s to our advantage, because we were able to figure out the hiccups … and not have chaos around here,” he said.
Paddle + Par also had to overcome the “members only” perception that comes with a club-style facility, even one that’s eatertainment. “People think you have to be a member to come here to eat and drink or to even play,” said Check.
Check emphasized that while people don’t have to have a membership to enjoy Paddle + Par, they work to balance things, so the members still get the most out of their experience as well. They make sure members have access to courts during specific times, and host special events for members only.
As more indoor pickleball centers open across the country, Check believes the future of the industry will hinge on differentiation. “It’s all the same people that are trying to capture the same market,” he said. “So, if you have competition, you have to figure out what you can do to differentiate yourself.”
His advice to operators — do your homework. “Reach out to your community, have community roundtables, talk to people to find out what they want in a perfect club and model and try to figure out what you need to be different,” said Check.
For Check, that differentiator is clear: a blend of entertainment plus community, and great attention to detail. “Try to find the things that make your customers feel like they didn’t just join the club — they joined a real community owned by people who care and are utilized by people who care,” he said.
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Jordan Meek is a staff writer for Pickleball Innovators, where she covers the rapidly evolving business of pickleball — from facility growth and technology to player experience and industry strategy. A graduate of Denison University with a degree in Journalism, she joined Peake Media in 2025 and brings a passion for storytelling and curiosity to every piece. Jordan is driven to spotlight the leaders shaping the sport and uncover insights that help operators thrive in the fastest-growing game in America.
