BIBD and Baiduri Bank brought 32 participants to a pickleball friendly at PGGMB in Bandar Seri Begawan, with 16 representatives from each bank. The gathering gave staff from competing institutions a chance to build relationships away from work through friendly competition.
Organisers highlighted teamwork and sportsmanship, while the report cited pickleball’s accessibility and social appeal as reasons for choosing it. BIBD described the event as part of its commitment to employee well-being, stakeholder engagement and a positive workplace culture.
Coachino Insight
For clubs and workplace organisers, this gathering illustrates pickleball’s role as a setting for employee activity and relationship-building across competing businesses.
Support for pickleball courts far outweighs opposition among speakers taking a position at U.S. local government meetings, according to Hamlet. The public-meeting analysis firm counted 1,152 supporters and 89 opponents in meetings across 468 cities and towns since Oct. 19, 2024, with support leading in 436.
Fresno, Riverside and Maricopa were among places with many supportive speakers, while Port St. Lucie and Tampa had more opponents. The findings offer a wider view than coverage centered on noise complaints and neighborhood disputes.
Coachino Insight
For clubs pursuing courts, the findings document strong support among meeting speakers, not a survey of residents. Local differences remain important when discussing facilities with councils.
Hunter Johnson beat Tama Shimabukuro in the PPA Tour Asia Hong Kong Slam men’s singles final, after defeating Federico Staksrud in the semifinals. Crowds packed Kai Tak Arena for an event offering $1.1 million in prize money and 1,500 World Pickleball Ranking points.
Staksrud’s quarterfinal comeback against Hong Kit Wong drew controversy: an extended equipment timeout and a 1-point penalty for inappropriate language preceded his 12-10 deciding-game win. Anna Leigh Waters won women’s doubles with Anna Bright and mixed doubles with Ben Johns.
Coachino Insight
For athletes and coaches, the Staksrud-Wong match puts equipment readiness and on-court conduct in focus: both became central issues during a closely contested deciding game.
Our analysis of today's trends: opinion, not reporting, drawn only from the verified stories above.
The U.S. court findings show strong backing among public-meeting speakers, not residents overall. For clubs seeking facilities, that distinction and local differences matter alongside the headline support.
Hong Kong Slam paired packed crowds and major prize money with a contentious quarterfinal. Equipment readiness and on-court conduct became central issues alongside competitive performance.
The Brunei bank friendly and Vientiane community tournament show pickleball serving social purposes beyond competition, connecting workplace peers and Vietnamese expatriates through exercise and shared activity.
Tournament Radar
Upcoming and in-progress events, checked against each organiser's official page.
Support for pickleball courts far outweighs opposition among speakers taking a position at U.S. local government meetings, according to Hamlet. The public-meeting analysis firm counted 1,152 supporters and 89 opponents in meetings across 468 cities and towns since Oct. 19, 2024, with support leading in 436.
Fresno, Riverside and Maricopa were among places with many supportive speakers, while Port St. Lucie and Tampa had more opponents. The findings offer a wider view than coverage centered on noise complaints and neighborhood disputes.
Coachino Insight
For clubs pursuing courts, the findings document strong support among meeting speakers, not a survey of residents. Local differences remain important when discussing facilities with councils.
Chatham’s St. Clair College Community Park has opened a new phase that includes ten dedicated pickleball courts, reported as the area’s largest outdoor facility for the sport. The expansion also adds paths, washrooms, basketball and a playground. Chatham-Kent Pickleball Club says the courts create opportunities to host tournaments, alongside the park’s wider role as a shared community space.
Coachino Insight
New courts need clear operating plans. Clubs can prepare beginner sessions, open-play schedules and tournament reservations early so everyday users benefit from the extra capacity.
USA Pickleball has added eight APP Tour stops to its Golden Ticket qualifying calendar for the 2027 National Championships. Gold medalists in eligible divisions receive priority registration, while other participants can earn points through the Tiered Point System. The sequence begins with Arizona and the Tour Championships later this year, followed by six events across the United States next year.
Coachino Insight
Coaches planning amateur tournament seasons should separate priority-registration routes from points-based eligibility and check the rules for each athlete’s division before booking travel.
Palm Springs planned a grand opening on Wednesday afternoon for its new $5.1 million pickleball complex at Demuth Park, NBC Palm Springs reports. The site has 22 courts with lighting, shade structures, seating and drinking fountains, and is part of a wider upgrade of the park, according to Mayor Naomi Soto.
The courts are open daily, 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., with one-hour reservations offered between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Funding came in part from Measure J, a sales tax approved by local voters.
Coachino Insight
Large public complexes with lights and reservations lower the cost of entry for new players. Local coaches can approach the city early about clinics and league time on the new courts.
Louisville's first PickleY'all festival opened on Friday next to the Humana APP Louisville Open at the Kentucky International Convention Center, WHAS11 reports, with courts indoors and out and free admission. The festival runs through Saturday with a pickling contest, food, live music and a Kentucky Science Center kids zone, while the pro event finishes on Sunday.
The APP's Tom Webb told the station that nearly anyone can get a rally going within minutes. Saturday's pro men's and women's doubles stream on APPTV and ESPN+.
Coachino Insight
Pairing a pro event with a free festival turns spectators into players. Clubs hosting tournaments can copy the idea with try-it courts and a short intro clinic beside the main draw.
Life Time is expanding the LT Classic into a quarterly amateur tournament series, beginning at Life Time Rancho San Clemente on October 16. Every host club runs its own prize pool, adding up to more than $20,000, with cash in every skill division and top awards of at least $2,000.
The fall swing moves to Peachtree Corners near Atlanta from October 21 to 25, then to Northbrook near Chicago and Lakeville near Minneapolis, both on November 13 to 15. The operator says it runs more than 960 permanent pickleball courts across over 195 clubs in the U.S. and Canada.
Coachino Insight
Real prize money at amateur level gives club players a reason to chase tournament experience. Coaches can treat these regional stops as targets for students ready to test themselves.
