The unexpected meeting place for executives that replaces golf courses

In the business world, the golf course has long been the playground where executives do business.

But when it comes to younger professionals, the stuffy country club is increasingly fading into the background and becoming an unexpected meeting place at the intersection of business and pleasure.

There is a new “meeting place” for business leaders that is quietly replacing the golf course.

Golf is a sport often associated with exclusivity, wealth and business, but times are changing.

“There’s a sport you should be doing right now to socialize and network with founders,” business coach drooski.life shared on TikTok. “It may seem slow… but all successful business people are doing this sport.”

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Instead of taking executives to the golf course, there’s a new place for team meetings: pickleball courts! Pickleball is growing in popularity across the country.

According to a 2023 report from the Association of Pickleball Professionals released exclusively to CNBC, nearly 37 million people played pickleball from August 2021 to August 2022, and those numbers continue to rise.

Easy to learn and accessible to new players, Pickleball has become the perfect alternative to golf.

Business meetings on pickleball courts are the new office trend, especially for wealthier executives.

According to Bloomberg, golf courses are “out” and pickleball courts are “in” when it comes to sports and business ventures. As the new hotspot for executives and meetings, pickleball courts are not only more accessible to non-golfers, but also more relaxed and enjoyable for people who aren’t as well-versed in “sports culture.”

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As the corporate world and stereotypes about leaders shift in a more progressive direction, it only makes sense that your corporate environment will change as well – to make room for a fairer and more enjoyable work environment for everyone.

Pickleball courts are the perfect solution for holding business meetings on a golf course. The sport is suitable for all fitness levels, it is fun and inviting, and most importantly, it is much more cost-effective for business purposes.

Pickleball is not only growing in popularity, it is also becoming a sport for the upper classes.

Although pickleball is becoming increasingly popular and is generally enjoyed by most athletes, there is some negative discussion about its actual accessibility, especially with regard to data that shows the most common demographics and communities.

Often more prevalent in areas with a wealthier demographic, pickleball originally became popular in older, healthier communities where players had more free time.

Freedom of time, money and health – especially in old age – is often inadvertently associated with wealth, meaning pickleball courts are concentrated in wealthier areas and less accessible to low-income communities.

Considering that rackets cost an average of about $100 and that there are more and more private clubs, many people are becoming increasingly dismissive of the sport.

So, while it is a perfectly suitable and accessible option given the changing business world, if we are not careful, it could easily become as exclusive as traditional golf courses and country clubs.

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Zayda Slabbekoorn is a news and entertainment writer at YourTango, focusing on health and wellbeing, social policy and human stories.