If you haven’t picked up a paddle yet, you’re in increasingly rare company. Pickleball has spent the last several years becoming the fastest-growing sport in the country, and the numbers back it up — over 24 million Americans played in 2025 alone, a 22.8% jump from the year before. At this point it’s less a trend and more just part of the sporting landscape, and Joplin is no exception.
The question for local players isn’t really whether to try pickleball. It’s where to play it.
A Setting That Makes the Game Better
There’s a meaningful difference between squeezing onto a repurposed court somewhere and playing in an environment that’s actually set up for a good experience. Twin Hills has pickleball available as part of its tennis facility, and the setting — well-maintained courts, a proper check-in process, and the full backdrop of the club grounds — makes for a noticeably better afternoon than most alternatives in the area.
Court times are reserved by calling the Pro Shop at (417) 624-1611, in one-hour increments up to seven days in advance. Courts are open from 7 AM to 8 PM, so there’s plenty of flexibility whether you want a morning match, a midday session, or something after work. Just check in at the Pro Shop before you play, and if you’re bringing someone along, the guest fee is $10 per person as long as they’re accompanied by an active member.
The Social Side of It
Part of what makes pickleball so easy to get into is how naturally social it is. The court is compact, the rallies are quick, and the game works well with players of mixed skill levels — which means you don’t need a highly competitive group to have a great time. It’s easy to show up, play a few games, and leave feeling like you actually did something worthwhile with your afternoon.
Playing at Twin Hills adds to that. After a match, the 19th Hole is right there for lunch or dinner, or Jolly Boys Tavern on weekends if you want to keep things going. A court reservation has a way of turning into a full afternoon without much planning involved.
Fall Is a Great Time to Start
October is about as good as it gets for outdoor court sports in Southwest Missouri. The humidity is gone, temperatures are comfortable enough to play hard, and the grounds at Twin Hills look the part this time of year. If pickleball has been on your radar and you’ve been waiting for the right moment, this is it.
To book a court, call the Pro Shop at (417) 624-1611. And if you’re not yet a member and want to see everything Twin Hills has to offer, visit twinhillsgolf.net/membership or give us a call at (417) 623-4112.