Donk, donk, tap donk, tap donk. The sound of pickleball is recognizable to even the casual observer, and the donk sound is becoming more common throughout the Grand Strand as the sport grows nationwide and regionally.
Sports and Industry Fitness Association reports pickleball has been the fastest growing sport in the nation each year since 2021, and that growth is evident in the Myrtle Beach area. Courts are being built in North Myrtle Beach and are planned in Myrtle Beach, and existing facilities are popular across the region. The paddle sport on a miniature court is popular with an aging demographic, but young people are picking up the sport, too.
Henry Patterson and Matt Vogel are 19-year-old, randomly paired roommates at Coastal Carolina University. The two quickly realized they both like the sport, and now they play together weekly. They say it’s a social sport, as they often meet new people when they head to the courts.
“It was a little weird playing with random people at first, but we find people to play with and it’s been fun,” Patterson said. “So we come down every Saturday, play with random people. We met two dudes today that were pretty nice and played like four, five games with them. We usually come out just to meet people and play with people.”
Pickleball is social. It’s also accessible. Played on a small court with a hollow plastic ball, the sport is not as physically taxing as other paddle sports like tennis and racquetball. And it has become popular among retirees on the Grand Strand. Steve Megill has been playing for 25 years. Now, at 76, Megill says he plays five times a week since he’s retired. The game being easy to pick up and cheap to start are a couple reasons for the sport’s growing popularity, Megill said.
“It’s an inexpensive sport. That’s why it’s so successful,” Megill said. “You can come out here and play for nothing. Where else can you get exercise and meet a bunch of nice people and it doesn’t cost anything? You can buy a paddle on Amazon for 15, 20 dollars. Everybody has shoes. It’s perfect.”
More courts are on the way in the Myrtle Beach area. At Myrtle Beach’s first city council meeting of the year, city leaders signed a letter of intent which could lead to the development of “The PicklePort,” an 18-court facility planned next to Whispering Pines Golf Course.
“The opening of The PicklePort will be a shining moment for the Grand Strand. Resident pickleball enthusiasts, as well as the multitude of visitors to Myrtle Beach, will be able to easily access and reserve available indoor and outdoor courts nearly every day of the year,” managing partner of The PicklePort Dwight Hunsicker said in a press release. “Having a venue such as The PicklePort will help satisfy the demand for court access given the sport’s popularity across generations.”
North Myrtle Beach is spending money on bringing more courts to the J. Bryan Floyd Community Center. The city’s latest budget had $5.6 million set aside for Central Park improvements and the addition of 15 pickleball courts to the community center. Parks and Recreation director Matt Gibbons said the existing courts at Central Park and J. Bryan Floyd are often full, and the sport is in high demand in the city.
“Pickleball continues to be one of the most popular programs in our City. We have a dedicated and passionate pickleball community. The staff has been working hard on the design of the new 15-court pickleball complex, which will be located off Possum Trot Rd. We look forward to breaking ground of that project soon,” Gibbons said. “In the meantime, we continue to offer indoor pickleball at our Community Center daily as well as offer various outdoor pickleball courts throughout the City.”
Lauren Jessie, spokesperson for North Myrtle Beach, said the new courts at J. Bryan Floyd are expected to open in the spring of 2026.
Source: https://www.myhorrynews.com/news/growing-exponentially-as-pickleball-flourishes-courts-sprout-in-myrtle-beach-area/article_695cd89a-d76c-11ef-b149-abe9b9316d5b.html