The pickleball courts at Del Mar Park in Morro Bay are a popular meeting place.

Rich Raub plays pickleball there every day.

“You do it at your own pace. I’m 77, have bad knees and I’m still out here playing,” Raub said.

According to a recent report from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, there will be 13.6 million gamers in the United States by 2023.

“I’ve been retired for over 20 years. If I want, I can go somewhere in the morning,” Raub said.

“Pickleball players reliably achieve activity levels that can improve and maintain physical fitness, cardiovascular and metabolic health, and mental health,” said Dr. Calum MacRae, professor at Harvard Medical School.

“Being able to remember people’s names and places and things like that has really helped a lot,” agreed Morro Bay resident Lynda Merrill.

Some players say that interacting with other locals is another benefit of playing pickleball.

“I lost my wife about a year ago and they really helped me get through this process,” Raub said.

“We go to lunch together and do other things together after we play pickleball,” Merrill added.

Some of the local players say they are hoping to expand the existing pickleball courts at Del Mar Park.

“We need four more courts,” said Raub.

“We’re getting more and more people from the valley, especially in hot weather, and teachers in the summer – a lot of them like to come here and play here, so I think more courts would be really nice,” Merrill said.

Kirk Carmichael, director of recreation services for the city of Morro Bay, says expanding the pickleball courts is possible, but space and funding are challenges.

Until more can be built, you’ll find diehard pickleball fans like Raub at these courts every day.

“You don’t have to bring a friend, you’re already here,” Raub said.

According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, pickleball continues to be the fastest growing sport in the country.