Dill Dinkers
A brand-new state-of-the-art indoor pickleball court located at 320 E. Main St. in Crowley, already has a wait list although it hasn’t opened its doors yet.
Dill Dinkers, a family-friendly pickleball club company with over 300 locales nationwide, is anticipating throngs of pickleball enthusiasts, and novices alike, to take advantage of this new over 21,000 square foot facility, once open.
Fans of this sport will enjoy eight fenced-in courts, a pro shop, ball machine, and event space that can pack up to 20 people inside. There’s also a new pickleball court reservation system, that can accommodate both leagues and small groups.
The Crowley location, which is one of the biggest in the Lone Star State, is being overseen by Dill Dinker’s regional developer Justin Goehring, who as of a few years ago had never played this now popular sport.
Dill Dinker’s regional developer Justin Goehring.
“I'm from Pennsylvania, and they had it at the gym, and I just was like, ‘okay, that's just for old people, whatever. I'm not there yet,’” Goehring says.
However, after his gym was bought out and torn down, Goehring says he had to find another place to do his exercise routine. Thus began his journey of thinking outside of the box about his fitness options.
“We all moved on and one of the trainers that used to work at our former gym opened up a boutique team training facility,” he says. “So, one Saturday he threw out a pickleball net in the parking lot. And one of my friends there, we call her the queen of pickleball, asked if I wanted to play.”
Still not convinced that this sport was really in his wheelhouse, Goehring says he declined to play. But his reservations wouldn’t last given his experience with peer pressure in the collegiate sports realm.
“I picked up a paddle and within about 10 minutes of her teaching me the rules and everything, I mean, I was hooked,” he says.
With his former athletic instincts awakened, before he knew it, Goehring was chasing the perfect pickleball game.
The rules for this sport aren’t necessarily complicated. Pickleball itself is played either in doubles or singles, with doubles being the most common form of play. However, between the serve, the two-bounce rule, faults, and the no-volley zone, pickleball is probably better explained on an actual pickleball court.
What can be explained on paper is the sense of camaraderie and community this sport provides for those who play it. For example, soon after Goehring and his group started playing pickleball, it became an all-encompassing topic of conversation.
“I noticed we had our own pickleball text thread to keep track of the days that we don’t work out,” Goehring says. “We are off of our phones and interacting like we used to. I really think this is an added bonus to this sport.”
Dill Dinkers itself was founded by Will and Denise Richards in Columbia, Maryland circa 2022. The founders wanted to create an indoor spot where pickleball can be played year-round and enjoyed by players of all ages and skill levels. The company would launch its nationwide franchise program a year later in September of 2023.
Dill Dinkers
It’s this very franchise Goehring and his business partner, Brock Holden, are in the process of opening in Crowley. The structure is already there, as well as many of the amenities the other Dill Dinkers locations provide players. The only caveats preventing this business from opening are a few finishing touches and a City of Crowley inspection approval. Goehring says he estimates the Dill Dinkers’ Crowley locale to be open by mid-November.
Once open, Dill Dinkers will provide workshops and lessons for players, even going as far as to give a trial week at no cost for those on the fence about pickleball. Clinics and lessons typically run about two hours. There are also opportunities to play with pickleball pros in small groups of three. Open play, which takes place on an open court for all ages, costs $10.50 per person, with monthly membership fees coming at $59 or $400 for the entire year.
“Pickleball comes back into interactions. It comes back to making a new circle of friends who are expanding upon your already established circle of friends,” Goehring says. “The socialization aspect of this is just something that cannot be overlooked now.”
