On a blistering Saturday morning in late April, a group of five friends stood at the edge of the hard courts at The Kallang. They had signed up on Thursday night. By then, slots were almost gone. "We were quite lucky," one of them said. "Two of us got the last spots."
Across two sessions on 25 April, the first edition of the OCBC-Great Eastern Pickleball Series drew players across age groups, skill levels, and corners of Singapore, all arriving for a sport most of them had barely tried. This series is a lead-up to the OCBC-Great Eastern Pickleball Open, and the format is designed to lower every possible barrier to entry: coaches on court, equipment provided, and sessions split by demographic so that nobody feels out of place.
"Anyone Can Pick It Up"
The morning courts were bright and hot, players spread out in pairs and small groups, braving the unrelenting heat. One older participant, 57, who had come alone, put it simply: the sport is less strenuous than badminton or tennis. Good for people his age, he said.
For the group of five friends, pickleball had started as an after-work corporate event. One of them works in banking, where organized sports activities are common. Pickleball kept showing up. "It's really popular," she said. "Especially with the older folks." But she was quick to add that the sport works for everyone, not just the fitness-inclined. "It's easier to pick up. And it's more fun to play with friends, because all your friends can join in. Girls and guys, there's no gap. Girls are able to be just as good."
Would she recommend it to someone who doesn't really play sports? "For sure. I think it's a bit similar to running. Anyone can take it up. It's just whether or not they want to start being more active."
Serving Up Some Family Bonding
The evening's Multi-Generation session is designed for exactly this: any combination of generations on the same court. Parents and kids, grandparents and grandchildren, three generations at once. As the temperatures dipped, families filled the courts. Coaches walked between courts, demonstrating swings and explaining rules to groups that included a seven-year-old and a forty-something in the same rally.
One mother had brought her two boys, aged 11 and 14. She'd found the event serendipitously, after receiving one as a gift and picking one up for the rest of the family. "I thought it might be good for them," she said, referring to her boys. "There are coaches to guide them, and the venue is great. It's really enjoyable, actually."
For her, the draw was straightforward. "It's more of a family bonding time. You play together, you sweat together, you get to see them play. It's good, rather than just shopping or eating." She also had a practical motive: less screen time. "I just want them to not spend too much time on the device. This is a good way for them to get out and be active with friends." Her boys already play football and basketball. Her husband joined in too.
At another court, two siblings (15 and 11) were rallying with their parents. Both kids are competitive sailors. The older one trains five times a week. Their mother used to play netball; their father, rugby. A very sporty household. They'd found the event online and signed up just two days before. The younger one, asked what he liked best about pickleball, didn't hesitate. "The smashing part."
Their father, catching his breath between games, agreed that the sport works well across ages. "It's not that intense," he said. "Good for beginners. Good for families."
Fewer Singapore families share a roof across three generations than they used to. More grandparents live independently now, more adult children in their own flats nearby. The Multi-Generation session is built around that reality. A Saturday evening on the court turns out to be an easy way to close that distance.
The OCBC-Great Eastern Pickleball Series is built around the idea that sport doesn't need to be competitive to be worthwhile. Each session runs the same three-part format: a short intro to basic rules and strokes, guided practice, then social games. Six instructors are assigned per session, so everyone gets as much or as little help as they need. Equipment is provided. Just show up.
Coming up next
The April edition was the first of four. Upcoming sessions run on 15–16 May, 21–22 August, and 4–5 September at The Kallang: S$10 for youth, S$15 for adults, S$28 for a multi-generation group of three.
All four editions are feeding into something bigger: the OCBC-Great Eastern Pickleball Open on 23–25 October at OCBC Arena, which is shaping up to be one of Southeast Asia's largest pickleball tournaments, with around 1,600 players expected across novice and open categories. Participants from the series get early access to tournament registration.
So there's a path, if you want one. Or you can just show up and hit some balls over th. Registration for upcoming sessions is open here. Follow @thekallang.sg for updates.
