OPINION | The Return of the Court: Why Tennis, Pickleball & Country Clubs Have Stolen the Social Scene

You may have noticed: everyone’s craving a country club state of mind. Across the hospitality world, there’s a racket renaissance underway, a rise in racquet culture that’s redefining how we socialize. Pickleball is everywhere and tennis is back (and better dressed than ever). Member clubs are booming. And fashion is leaning into pleats, polos, and courtside nostalgia.

This isn’t just a trend, it’s a shift. A movement toward movement and a new gathering philosophy rooted in play, ease, and wellness with a heavy dose of old-school charm. There was a time when socializing meant sitting: cocktail in one hand, canapé in the other, conversation neatly organized by place cards and bar tabs. But something’s changing in the way we travel and in how we want to gather. It’s a return to activity, learning a new skill, and best of all, a return to play. We’re craving more than dinner and drinks. We’re craving something to do.

Because of this, our editors were inspired to do an entire collection on it. Not because these sports are trendy, but because they remind us of how we used to gather outside, together. This monthsVenue Report Sports Club Collection is a love letter to the charm and rhythm of the old days. Below, you’ll find articles with links to the best racquet-ready resorts to go with friends and inspiration for hosting your own country club–style dinner party. 

 

 

Rackets Over Rosé (Or… Both). Aesthetics of a Bygone Era with a Modern Twist (The Country Club, Reimagined)

Let’s start with the stats: In Australia, the Northern Beaches Pickleball Association is welcoming 100 new members per month - yes, per month. In the UK, David Lloyd Leisure’s profits just jumped 33%, thanks in large part to its expanding padel and pickleball offerings. And stateside? From Texas to the Hamptons, luxury clubs are racing to convert tennis courts into pickleball-ready grounds.

But this isn’t just a trend. It’s a temperature check. 

People are tired of gatherings being relegated to dinner and drinks, time and time again. They want to gather over a new activity. In 2025, the most compelling hospitality experiences don’t just offer beautiful rooms and spritz menus, they invite you to move, play and lean into joy with both feet on the court. Gone are the days of stuffy exclusivity and stiff dress codes, today’s country clubs are softer. It’s not about the old prestige, it’s about creating places where people want to spend time — not because they’re supposed to for social status reasons, but because in a digital age it feels good to truly connect again. 

 

 

Why the Shift Feels So Good

At its core, this movement isn’t just about sport, it’s about community. We’re looking for connection that goes deeper than a dinner reservation. We want shared rhythm and memories that don’t require a selfie to stick. We want to feel like part of something again that gives us an outlet beyond consumption. In that way, the new country club isn’t about elite access. It’s about intentional gathering, with wellness as the undercurrent and with play as the glue. 

This revival isn’t simply about pickleball; it’s about a longing for a slower, more intentional way of gathering. We’re romanticizing the country club of the past, the one filled with rattan furniture, striped umbrellas, mid-century tennis skirts, and lawn games played in the golden light of late afternoon, without a cell phone in sight.

After all, it’s nearly impossible to play a proper game of tennis or croquet while holding a phone. These sports demand our full attention, pulling us out of our screens and back into presence, reminding us what it feels like to focus on the people standing right in front of us.

And even the fashion world is listening:

• Lacoste’s Fall-Winter 2024 runway paid homage to its racquet roots at Roland-Garros, with graphic lines, crisp collars, and a nod to court heritage.
• Staud’s capsule pickleball collection sold out almost instantly — proving that matching visors and skirts never really went out of style, they just needed new context.
• Brands like Tory Sport, Lacoste, Sporty & Rich, and Prince are turning courtwear into everydaywear.

 

Phogography: Jose Villa / Styling: Venue Report

Let’s Rally: Where to Host Your Own Racket Renaissance 

The new trend isn't about a social scene, it's inspired by feeling. We are realizing we don’t need more noise, we need more connection, barefoot bocce, belly laughs and rally partners turned into real (offline) friendships. 

Looking for more courtside content? Your'e Cordially Invited to the Venue Report Sports Club Collection:

• Tennis Is Back—and It’s the Group Trip Idea of the Year: 53 Resorts with Style, Serves, and Poolside Scenes ->
• Match Point, Perfect Party: How a Designer Turned a Tennis Court Into This Year’s Coolest Dinner Table -> 
• Pickleball and Poolside Cocktails: Host a Courtside Bash (or Group Vacation!) at The Iconic Greenbrier ->
• Game, Set, Match: Over a Decade Ago on a Tennis Court, We Served the First Look at the Venue Report->
• Racketeering: The Sporty-Chic Travel Trend Perfect for Weddings, Birthdays, and Friend Trips ->