Cebu among areas with most pickleball courts in PH

Local

FROM gated subdivisions to the rural areas in the southwest, Cebu has emerged as a pickleball hotspot in the Philippines.

The island province emerged as one of the country's leading pickleball destinations, ranking fourth among Philippine provinces in the number of registered courts, based on the latest "Places to Play" directory from the Philippine Pickleball Federation (PPF).

The federation listed a total of 15 registered pickleball courts in Cebu, trailing only Rizal with 41, Leyte with 18 and Misamis Oriental with 16 among provinces outside the National Capital Region (NCR).

Cebu also leads all Visayas provinces, ahead of Leyte (18 courts) spread across several cities and municipalities, Iloilo (12), Negros Oriental (9) and Negros Occidental (7).

The registry identifies pickleball venues in Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, the City of Naga as well as those in Moalboal, Barili and Santander.

The data also highlights how the sport has expanded beyond traditional sports clubs into shopping malls, residential communities, schools and local government facilities.

Nationally, Metro Manila remains the country's largest pickleball market, with Quezon City accounting for 91 registered courts, followed by Pasig with 35.

Antipolo and Makati each have 20, while Marikina has 19.

The rapid expansion of courts reflects pickleball's growing popularity in the Philippines, signifying a global boom that has transformed the paddle sport into one of the fastest-growing recreational activities.

Often described as a hybrid of tennis, badminton and table tennis, pickleball is played with solid paddles and a perforated plastic ball on a court about one-fourth the size of a tennis court.

Its smaller playing area and relatively simple rules make it accessible to beginners, while still offering a competitive workout for experienced players.

The sport has attracted a broad demographic, from children and young professionals to retirees, because it is easier on the joints than tennis while promoting cardiovascular fitness, coordination and social interaction.

Additionally, the relatively low cost of converting badminton or tennis courts has also encouraged sports clubs, malls and private developers to add pickleball facilities as demand grows.(RBE)