With pro-quality courts, smart tech and a social vibe, Play Pickleball Club in Louisville, Kentucky, is creating a unique space for pickleball enthusiasts.
When Yash Ghiya’s dad encouraged him to pick up a paddle during the pandemic, he didn’t expect it would spark a business idea. But after fifteen months of planning, permitting and construction, Play Pickleball Club opened its doors in December 2023, bringing the city one of its first dedicated indoor pickleball facilities.
The 11-court, climate-controlled facility fills a noticeable gap in the city’s pickleball landscape, in particular on the East side of metropolitan Louisville.
“There were just not enough places to play,” said Ghiya. “The places that people were playing, you were waiting an hour, or an hour and a half, to play.”
His team, made up of three other co-founders, including his father, intentionally designed the space with player experience in mind. Beyond premium surfaces, Play Pickleball Club differentiates itself with next‐level tech. Nearly every court edge is lined with a flat‐screen TV feed for instant replay.
Courts one and nine, designated as “championship” courts, are a little larger than a standard court. Meanwhile, nine others adhere to standard dimensions but boast the same meticulous care, ensuring every match feels like prime‐time action.
The club offers serves beer, just another way they’re building community around the sport. The amenity allows people to enjoy social refreshments and encourages players to hang out after their matches.
He’s quick to point out that while the focus is on fitness and fun, the social side of pickleball is what keeps people coming back. Special events are taking shape, including glow-in-the-dark pickleball nights.
“We just did one of our first glow-in-the-dark events,” said Ghiya. “It was more like an open house, so we weren’t charging, but we had over a hundred people come through.”
He added they plan to run those events monthly.
Ghiya stressed the business is in constant iteration. He said listening to his customers and adjusting has been key to his success. Plus, businesses are paying attention. “We’re seeing more and more companies doing pickleball tournaments instead of golf outings,” he said. “They see it as more accessible and inclusive.”
For Ghiya, building Play Pickleball Club has never been about chasing trends, it’s about creating a space where the sport can truly thrive. With top-tier courts, cutting-edge tech and a community-first mindset, the club isn’t just keeping up with pickleball’s growth, it’s helping define what the future of the game looks like in Louisville and beyond.
For now, Play Pickleball Club is thriving on a simple premise: good courts, good people and a passion for the game.
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Trinity Rea
Trinity Rea is a staff writer at Peake Media, contributing to Pickleball Innovators and other industry publications. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ball State University and is currently pursuing a master’s in Emerging Media Design and Development.
