The sport of Pickleball is growing at an exponential rate, and what’s even more exciting is that there are plenty of ways to get involved right in central Michigan! Keep reading to learn more on how to play Pickleball in Mt. Pleasant, and you might just become a “Picklehead” yourself.

Pickleball is social, and easy to learn, with simple rules and equipment that make it accessible for all ages and skill levels. It can be described as a mix of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. The basics of Pickleball are as follows:

1. Pickleball is most often played with 4 players; 2 players to a team (though singles is possible as well).
2. Scoring is similar to tennis, with points earned by serving and volleying the ball.
3. The first team to 11 points wins – but you must win by at least 2 points!

Pickleball is the ultimate bleisure (business mixed with leisure) activity! It works great for those traveling for work, as you can fit in a quick round or two following a meeting at one of the area’s conference hotels, or before dinner downtown with colleagues. It’s also a fun way to get competitive with family if you are visiting the Mt. Pleasant area for a weekend getaway!

Mt. Pleasant is home to two Pickleball courts, with three more courts in surrounding central Michigan areas.

• Island Park: At Island Park, located just steps away from downtown Mt. Pleasant, there are six outdoor Pickleball Courts that are free to play! Other amenities at Island Park include a skate park, a spray park, horseshoe pits, a TimberTown 2.0 playscape, shuffleboard, tennis courts, and more. If you’re looking to enjoy the sunny weather while hitting the Pickleball court, then we recommend Island Park!

Photos provided by Courtney Jerome

• Morey Courts: Morey Courts Recreation Center is one of the most popular places to play Pickleball in Mt. Pleasant. There you will find four indoor acrylic courts. A membership is required to play, or for just $10 per individual (or $25 for a family) you can get a day pass. Other amenities at Morey Courts include basketball courts, futsal, tennis courts, volleyball courts, and more – all indoors. If the whole family is looking to get some exercise in, then we recommend Morey Courts!

Photos provided by Morey Courts

“We are emerging as a premier Pickleball destination in mid-Michigan! Morey Courts has over 200 ‘Pickleballers’ in and out of our six available courts each week and will host our third Pickleball tournament this March. We are extremely enthusiastic about the funding provided to us by a grant from the Mt. Pleasant Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, to resurface our multipurpose courts and create even more opportunities to play pickleball at all levels!”

-Amy Bunting, Facility Director at Morey Courts Recreation Center

Other Pickleball courts surrounding the mid-Michigan area include Alma High School and Alma College Stone Rec Center, both in Alma, and the Brookwood Athletic Complex in Clare.

“The magic of pickleball is it’s easy to learn, but hard to master. Beginners can go out their first time, learn the game, have fun, and even win a few games. But advanced players stay challenged, and keep coming back for more. This dynamic is a big reason why pickleball continues to grow like crazy.”

-Brandon Mackie, co-founder of Pickleheads

Photo provided by Courtney Jerome

Plan your next weekend getaway to Mt. Pleasant, and while here, test out the Pickleball courts. Check out our Play page to see all of the different ways to have fun in Mt. Pleasant, and choose to stay at one of our lodging properties.

Thank you to Brandon Mackie at Pickleheads for helping the MPACVB with this blog!