The World Padel Report 2024 indicates that there are over 30 million Padel players globally, and the number continues to rise.
If you are considering building a court at your golf club, now is an excellent opportunity to embrace this exciting growth and shape the future of the sport.
Padel has grown considerably in the UK over the last decade. In 2019, there were about 6,000 active players and 115 courts.
By November 2021, this number had surged to around 89,000 active players. More recently, Sport England’s Active Lives survey reported that
- 50,400 adults played padel at least once during the year ending November 2023,
- with 23,000 playing at least twice a month.
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has recognized the remarkable expansion of padel as a sport. Since 2018, the number of individuals registered as padel players has increased nearly 60 times, surpassing 175,000.
The first padel court in the UK was established 24 years ago. There are over 250 sports clubs, hotels, and private residences today.
These statistics underscore the growing popularity of padel in the UK.
Padel’s growing popularity can be attributed to how quickly players can achieve impressive skill levels, significantly boosting one’s leisure ego.
David Lloyd Leisure, a leading UK health and fitness club operator, reported a 33% profit increase in 2024, mainly due to the expansion of their padel and pickleball facilities.
At Gleneagles, you can embrace the joy of padel on three indoor courts, where expert coaches are ready to inspire and elevate your game.
I also found padel courts at
- La Cala Resort,
- La Reserva Club,
- South Buckingham Golf Course in Stoke Poges,
- Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort,
- Las Colinas Golf & Country Club,
- Adare Manor, etc.
Golf venues have various options for integrating padel into their offerings. These options include
- leasing space to specialized padel operators,
- managing operations independently or
- implementing hybrid models that retain certain operational elements to enhance revenue sharing.
Tom Brunner, co-founder of Padel Home, explains:
“Companies like Padel Home are transforming how sports clubs can capitalize on the booming padel trend.
We offer a comprehensive consultancy approach along with tailored solutions, including planning assistance, groundwork, court installation, and ongoing maintenance.
Our flexible leasing and hire purchase options allow clubs to avoid significant upfront costs, making padel financially sustainable and accessible.”
Padel Home is in partnership with the Spanish Padel Alba. Padel Alba is a premier manufacturer, leveraging decades of experience to design and install padel courts worldwide expertly.