Growing Pickleball Demand Brings Changes to Goleta’s Only Indoor Facility

GOLETA, Calif. — Growing interest in pickleball is bringing changes to Goleta’s only indoor facility.

The former Picklr at the Fairview Shopping Center is now The Grove Pickleball after its owners moved away from the national franchise and began operating independently.

Owner Ted Guggenheim felt the franchise model did not fit the local community.

“We just didn’t feel that the franchise model was working well for our community,” Guggenheim said. “Goleta and Santa Barbara County are such unique places and trying to bring a cookie cutter more membership based model just didn’t feel right.”

The change gives the owners more control over how the club operates and opens up more options for people who do not want a traditional membership.

Player Jeff Farmer welcomed the shift.

“My wife’s an example who joined in the beginning, but it didn’t really work for her as much,” Farmer said. “Now with these new programs being offered, she’s like, that works for me.”

The club plans to offer more flexibility for people who may only want to play occasionally.

“We really want to cater more to the occasional player who wants to come once a week or for just open plays, maybe even late at night,” Guggenheim said.

The courts will remain at the Fairview Shopping Center in Goleta.

For local players, the new model could make getting on the court a whole lot easier.