When Steve and Janet Montague joined Trophy Club Country Club three years ago, they had one priority in mind: golf.
“We’re golfers through and through,” Janet said. “That’s what brought us to the club.”
For the Montagues, like many members, club life revolved around tee times, practice rounds, and spending time together on the course. But about a year ago, a family visit shifted that routine in an unexpected way.
Steve’s son, Chris, and his wife, Susan, came to stay over Thanksgiving. As the family planned how to spend their time together, they ran into a familiar challenge.
“We wanted to go to the club and do something as a group,” Janet said. “But Susan doesn’t golf, and it would have been really hard to get her up to speed enough to enjoy a round with us.”
Rather than splitting up or sitting out, they found something better: pickleball.
“We had never played before,” Janet said. “But Chris was able to get us into the game quickly enough that we could all play together and have fun right away.”
What began as a simple solution for a holiday weekend turned into something much more lasting. Now, whenever Chris and Susan come to town, pickleball is part of the plan.
“It’s become our thing,” Janet said. “It’s something all four of us can do together, and that’s not always easy to find.”
A game for everyone
Part of pickleball’s appeal lies in how quickly people can advance.
Janet, who played tennis in college, found the transition natural, but what stood out to her was how accessible the game was for everyone else.
“Even if you’ve never picked up a paddle before, you can learn enough in one session to start playing and enjoying it,” she said. “You don’t feel like you’re holding anyone back.”
That accessibility has opened the door to something many families struggle to find: an activity that works across different skill levels, interests, and comfort zones.
“It’s rare to have something where everyone can jump in and feel included,” Janet added. “Pickleball gave us that.”
For Steve, the appeal extended beyond family visits. After getting a taste of the game, he began playing more regularly and has since joined a men’s pickleball group at the club.
“It’s social, it’s active, and it’s just fun,” Janet said. “It’s not as intimidating as starting something new can sometimes feel.”
And while their current games are centered around visits with Chris and Susan, Janet is already thinking ahead.
“Hopefully one day we’ll be playing with our grandkids,” she said.
Bridging generations and skill levels
That multigenerational appeal is something Carlos Aguirre sees every day at Stonebriar Country Club.
Aguirre has spent more than 15 years with Invited and the past seven at Stonebriar, building a career that began in tennis. At just 26, he is the youngest tennis director at Invited, and his background includes collegiate play at Emporia State and time competing at a professional level.
So when he first encountered pickleball during COVID-19, he admits he had his doubts.
“Like every tennis player, I was skeptical at first,” he said.
That changed quickly.
“I went out there, played with a group, and immediately saw how welcoming and friendly it was,” Aguirre said. “It’s a completely different dynamic.”
What stood out most wasn’t just the gameplay; it was who was playing.
“Pickleball levels the playing field and bridges the gap,” he said. “I can play with friends who don’t have a tennis background, and we can still have a great match.”
That leveling effect is what makes the sport so unique within the club environment.
“You see parents, kids, and grandparents all out there together,” Aguirre said. “Age doesn’t really matter.”
In fact, he’s witnessed matchups that would be unlikely in almost any other sport.
“I’ve seen a 12-year-old beat a touring pro at our club,” he said. “That doesn’t happen in tennis.”
Why pickleball is a natural fit for club life
Pickleball’s growth hasn’t come at the expense of other sports — it’s enhanced them.
Aguirre has seen members from across the club’s traditional activity base embrace the game.
“What surprised me is how many tennis players, especially women, are adding pickleball to their week,” he said. “They might play tennis on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and now they’re playing pickleball on Fridays.”
Golfers are joining in as well, often discovering pickleball as a complement to their time on the course.
Aguirre says he sees more and more golfers come out and play pickleball after a round, or use pickleball as a way to spend time with a spouse who doesn’t golf.
That crossover is exactly what makes the sport so valuable in a club setting. It creates more opportunities for members to connect, not just within their own circles, but across different interests and experience levels.
“It brings people together in a way that’s very natural,” he said.
More than a trend
For families like the Montagues, pickleball isn’t just another activity. It’s also become a meaningful way to spend time together.
What started as a practical solution to include everyone has evolved into a shared tradition, one that doesn’t depend on experience, age, or even athletic ability.
“It’s given us something we can all do together at the club,” Janet said. “That’s really special.”
And that, ultimately, is why pickleball continues to resonate with players across generations.
