Montgomery County, known for its cultural and ethnic diversity, healthy residents and the state’s largest school system, now has something else to crow about: It’s a top spot for the fast-growing sport of pickleball.
A new report has named Bethesda as the top community for pickleball in the state. Rockville was in second place and Potomac and Olney in ninth and 10th place, respectively.
The report from TeachMe.To – a skill-sharing and “learning marketplace that connects students with skilled professionals for private lessons” – curated information from public data on local pickleball resources and TeachMe.To’s own data on pickleball lesson bookings in Maryland to determine the top 13 cities for pickleball.
According to the report, Bethesda is at “the forefront of Maryland’s pickleball surge,” boasting 30.2% of the state’s lesson bookings in 2023 and highlighting the active lifestyle of its residents.
Rockville followed with 16.3% of the bookings and Potomac and Olney, which TeachMe.To described as “emerging hotspots and hidden gems,” had 2.3% each.
Robin Riley, director of Montgomery County’s Recreation Department said in a statement that the department has seen a “surge” in interest in pickleball across all ages.
“Our pickleball lessons and leagues are among the most popular offerings the department has and include offerings for elementary and middle school students,” Riley said in the statement, noting that free, drop-in pickleball is available daily throughout the county for participants of all abilities.
According to the Montgomery Parks website, the county is actively working to increase the number of its pickleball courts and six new facilities are planned. Players can head to the parks department’s more than 30 pickleball courts or check out MoCoPickleball.com to find a local court.
The TeachMe.To report also highlighted Dill Dinkers Pickleball, which operates facilities in Rockville and North Bethesda. The company opened its 28,500-square-foot indoor facility in North Bethesda last year. This year Bethesda Magazine named Dill Dinkers as the “Best Indoor Pickleball Courts.”
Pickleball has grown in popularity in MoCo in recent years. According to Bethesda Magazine’s Ms. MoCo, taking up pickleball is one of the best ways to make new friends in the Bethesda area.