Malaysia's Pickleball Summit 2025: Community, Growth, and Lessons for the Future

Over the weekend, Malaysia's vibrant pickleball community came together at the KL Pickleball Summit 2025 organised by Courtsite at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC). 

The atmosphere was electric, filled with excitement, curiosity, and a shared passion for building something bigger than ever before. 

From candid conversations to bold predictions, the weekend offered a deep dive into the future of pickleball in Malaysia.

Image via Instagram 

Graced by the presence of YAM Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin Tuanku Muhriz , YB Hannah Yeoh, Minister of Youth and Sports, Ms. Gan Pai Li, Group Chief Consumer Banking Officer of Alliance Bank and Dato Sheah Kok Fah, Director of Courtsite - the ceremony marked the start of a thrilling tournament.

Panel 1: Strategic Growth - Ecosystems Over Infrastructure

The first panel set the tone perfectly. As Luis Aloma of ReClub aptly put it, "Support the clubs, and the clubs will support you," a powerful reminder that resonated throughout the session. But his insight didn’t stop there. 

He cautioned, “You’ll end up with a bunch of courts that are barely used after 8 months,” highlighting the risk of building without long-term vision.

Main Themes:

• Community as the Foundation: Clubs are not just venues; they are social ecosystems that define the heartbeat of the sport.
• Strategic Early Partnerships: Zann Lee, Managing Director of Skechers Southeast Asia, shared, "We recognized the fast-paced growth of pickleball and made a strategic move to enter early not just riding momentum but shaping culture." She elaborated on how Skechers is developing ambassadors and fun-first programming to shift perceptions that pickleball is only for seniors.
• Importance of Differentiation: Adam Calver, GM of KLGCC, noted, "We offer premium experiences that integrate lifestyle with sport. Differentiation lies in both service quality and how we connect with our members."
• The Warning: Daniel Yilkowitz of Ascaro warned, "Courts without energy are like malls without foot traffic. Big, empty, and echoey." His metaphor drove home the importance of crafting not just a facility, but a compelling vibe.

A clear takeaway emerged: courts must evolve into culture hubs, spaces that do more than host games. Brands that win will treat every square foot as a storytelling opportunity.

Panel 2: The Realities of Court Ownership - Passion vs Practicality

The second panel offered a refreshingly candid look behind the scenes. Founders shared hard-earned lessons with admirable honesty and vulnerability.

Main Themes:

• From Passion Project to Business Reality: Justin from Chelsea Pickleball reflected, "We thought our passion would cover up our mistakes. It didn’t. In fact, it made us blind to them." Operational discipline and market understanding proved critical.
• Top Mistakes Learned the Hard Way:
  • Poor Court Design: Nick from NS Pickle confessed, "We underestimated the importance of spacing, we had to completely refurbish our courts after realizing players hated the layout." His team later turned to Reddit communities for feedback.
  • Misjudged Demand: Lucas from Hyperground noted, "We built courts and assumed people would come. We forgot to build a reason for them to stay."
  • Underinvestment in Experience: Joey from Pickleboo emphasized, "Players are looking for community, not just courts. Amenities, vibe, service, everything matters."

• Emerging Market Trends: Facilities that neglect the community aspect are already seeing significant drops in bookings.
• Cautionary Insights: Ken from Grand Rally offered a pointed observation: “You can’t outbuild a reputation problem. Malaysia is hitting a saturation point. Only the clubs that innovate and build loyalty will survive.”

These founders revealed a harsh truth: a strong launch doesn’t matter if your vibe doesn’t last. Survival will belong to those who build destinations, not just facilities.

Panel 3: Club Identity and Community - The Soul of the Sport

The final panel left a lasting impression, highlighting that identity is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Main Themes:

• Clear Identity is Non-Negotiable: Luis Saloma emphasized, "Know who you serve. Are you the social hub? The competitive arena? Pick your lane and own it. If you try to be everything, you end up being nothing."
• Clubs Must Drive the Culture: Adam Calvert explained, "We don't force communities together, we create spaces for them to thrive separately but under the same roof." He added that true stickiness comes from lifestyle integration: "Members don’t just want tournaments; they want birthday parties, wellness events, wine nights."
• Technology as an Accelerator: Dylan Damsma from Baseline shared, "A club that doesn’t track its players is like a teacher with no report cards." His platform helps clubs understand player life cycles from discovery to loyalty while organizing leagues and tracking skill development.
• Key Business Advice: "Invest in players' journeys, not just facilities," Dylan emphasized. "Players stay loyal to clubs that invest in their personal growth."

These insights emphasized that longevity in pickleball isn’t about capacity, it’s about consistency. Clubs that build belonging will always be full.

Malaysia's Pickleball Future: Community First

The summit wrapped up with an overwhelming sense of optimism and urgency. Across all three panels, the message was unified:

• Building more courts isn't enough. Malaysia's pickleball boom will depend on building stronger, authentic, and sustainable communities.
• Growth must be intentional, anchored by quality, differentiated offerings, and visionary leadership.
• The next stage of development will reward those who invest in holistic, player-centered experiences.

Malaysia is poised to become a leading force in Southeast Asia's pickleball revolution, but only if growth is driven by heart, vision, and community spirit.

Pickle361 is thankful to have been invited as a media representative and be given this networking opportunity with such profound members of the community.