Tampa Bay pickleball enthusiasts will soon have more indoor courts to choose from as a growing pickleball club franchise has inked a deal to expand to the Sunshine City.

St. Pete residents Kevin and Lisa Goettel have signed on to bring Dill Dinkers, a Columbia, Maryland-based chain of pickleball clubs, to Pinellas County.

Founded in 2022 by pickleball enthusiasts Will and Denise Richards (no, not that Denise Richards), Dill Dinkers was born from the founders’ frustration with weather-related disruptions, long wait times, and mixed-use facilities that were not ideal for pickleball play.

The local husband-and-wife team plan to open at least 10 Dill Dinkers pickleball clubs throughout the county, spanning from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs.

Although no locations in Pinellas County have been haven't secured yet, the Goettels are targeting St. Pete for their first facility.

Dill Dinkers currently has five company-owned locations in Maryland and Virginia which each contain between five to 19 courts.

The club offers a membership program; however, non-members can also reserve a court, albeit not as far in advance and for twice the price as members.

Members also have free use of an automatic ball machine and discounts on leagues, lessons, tournaments, and the pro shop.

Although pricing for memberships varies by location, an individual membership typically costs between $330 to $475 annually and a family (up to five members) costs around $940 to $1,350 annually.

There are also monthly memberships and couples memberships available.

The cost to reserve a court also varies by location and runs anywhere from $6.25 to $9 per hour for members and $12.50 to $18 per hour for non-members.

If you need to perfect your game, Dill Dinkers offers private lessons for kids, individual adults, doubles partners, and groups of up to 16 people.

Remarking on his decision to become a Dill Dinkers franchisee, Kevin said, “After discovering pickleball three years ago, we fell in love with the sport and its vibrant community.”

Kevin has an extensive background in law enforcement also professional experience in real estate development and management while Lisa has more than 35 years of experience in the human resources industry.

“The sense of camaraderie and joy we experienced on the court was truly inspiring,” Kevin said. “This motivated us to bring Dill Dinkers to Pinellas County, as we envisioned creating a welcoming space where players of all ages and skill levels can come together, share their passion for the game, and forge lasting friendships.”

“We were particularly impressed by Dill Dinkers’ vision and commitment to fostering an inclusive environment, ensuring that everyone feels valued and supported as they improve their skills and enjoy the sport,” Kevin continued.

Each club offers industry-leading paddles, nets, and other high-quality products through its national brand partnership with pickleball equipment brand JOOLA.

Dill Dinkers also has national partnerships with pickleball professionals Collin Johns and Martina Kochli.

The Goettels, who have also been named Dill Dinkers’ regional developers for Pinellas County, are seeking local franchise partners for each upcoming location. Ideal franchisees will be passionate about pickleball, embrace Dill Dinkers' vision, and be dedicated to fostering a vibrant community atmosphere, according to the release.

Although the Goettels will bring the first Dill Dinkers facilities in Pinellas County, another franchisee plans to open more locations along the Gulf Coast of Florida, including in Sarasota and Bradenton.

Since launching its nationwide franchise program last September, the company has signed agreements with franchisees in Texas, Washington D.C., North Carolina, Connecticut, South Carolina, Arizona, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, and Pennsylvania for over 399 committed locations.

By the end of the year, Dill Dinkers expects to have at least 30 opened locations nationwide and more than 500 in the development pipeline.

“As a former Dominos multi-unit franchisee, it was crucial for us to build a strong network of support ahead of our franchising launch, and now with 22 regional developers on board, we are thrilled to welcome experienced operators like Kevin and Lisa who are just as passionate about spreading the joy of pickleball,” Co-founder and CEO Will Richards said in the release.

“We look forward to seeing how the team extends our name in St. Petersburg and how other entrepreneurs can benefit from a premier indoor pickleball offering and a strong network of support,” continued Will.

Follow Dill Dinkers on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on the latest facility openings.