Just when you thought Montana was known for its vast ranchlands, spectacular mountain ranges, and crystal-clear lakes and streams, along comes the craze of Pickleball to add to our recreational assets under the Big Sky.
Right here in the Treasure State and throughout America, over 48 million Americans reported playing Pickleball at least once last year. It’s so popular that Pickleball has been America’s fastest-growing sport for five years in a row!
With beautiful fall weather in the forecast, it’s a perfect time to continue to enjoy the great outdoors before the snow flies. Whether you have never picked up a racquet or have joined the craze, Montana has courts in every corner to test the talent and tenacity of Pickleheads at every level.
Here are the highlights of the top Pickleball courts in Montana. Depending on the location, there are courts indoors and out. Check out our top picks below for the details. To see a complete list, visit Pickleheads.com.
Top Pickleball Courts in Montana
Montana Athletic Club
(11 Courts)
850 Holt Drive
Big Fork, Montana
Two Rivers
(10 Courts)
218 Sportsman Lane
Big Fork, Montana
Lillis Park Pickleball Courts
(6 Courts)
898 Parkview Drive
Billings, Montana
Billings YMCA
(6 Courts)
402 North 32nd Street
Billings, Montana
Bogert Park
(7 Courts)
325 South Church
Bozeman, Montana
Stodden Park
(4 Courts)
3105 South Utah
Butte, Montana
Father Sheehan
Holiday Park Drive
Butte, Montana
Peak Racquet Club
(10 Courts)
4990 Buckhouse Lane
Missoula, Montana
Playfair Park
(8 Courts)
3001 Bancroft
Missoula, Montana
Barney Park
(4 Courts)
1901 Cleveland
Helena, Montana
Jaycee Park
(6 Courts)
225 23rd Street
Great Falls, Montana
Pickleball 406
(5 Courts)
Kyle Lane 140
Hamilton, Montana
History of Pickleball
Before we end our Blog for this month, we thought you might enjoy this brief story posted on USAPickleball.org’s website …
After playing golf one Saturday during the summer, Joel Pritchard, a congressman from Washington State, and Bill Bell, a successful businessman, returned to Pritchard’s home on Bainbridge Island, WA (near Seattle) to find their families sitting around with nothing to do. ‘
The property had an old badminton court, so Pritchard and Bell looked for some badminton equipment and could not find a full set of rackets. They improvised and started playing with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball.
At first, they placed the net at a badminton height of 60 inches and volleyed the ball over the net. As the weekend progressed, the players found that the ball bounced well on the asphalt surface, and soon the net was lowered to 36 inches.
The following weekend, Barney McCallum was introduced to the game at Pritchard’s home. Soon, the three men created rules, relying heavily on badminton. They kept in mind the original purpose, which was to provide a game that the whole family could play together.
On behalf of the entire Hollinger Real Estate family in Big Fork, Montana, we encourage you to gather your family and friends to get out for some fun in the sun this fall.
