Padel and pickleball fever hits Robina with the arrival of a huge new Racquet Club
If it feels like padel and pickleball are suddenly everywhere, you’re not imagining it. The two fast-growing racquet sports have been finding plenty of new fans, and now there’s a sizeable new place on the Gold Coast to see what all the fuss is about. Racquet Club has officially opened at Robina Town Centre, bringing 13 courts dedicated to padel and pickleball, plus a bar, cafe and plenty of reasons to hang around long after the final point.
The new Racquet Club venue features seven padel courts and six pickleball courts, bringing the two rapidly growing racquet sports together in one destination. There’s also a pro shop, undercover areas, showers and private parking, with the whole concept designed to feel less like a traditional sports centre and more like somewhere you might actually want to spend an afternoon.
That distinction was important to Racquet Club founder Darren McMullen.
“We didn’t want to build just another sports centre. We wanted to build somewhere people actually want to spend their time, beyond the game,” Darren says.
“We’re bringing Padel, Pickleball, food, drinks, music and a whole lot of personality together to create something that feels more like a club than a court.”
In other words, you can come for a game and make an afternoon of it. As Darren puts it, “You can come for a hit, stay for a drink, grab some food, meet your mates and probably end up staying a lot longer than you planned.”
If you haven’t yet succumbed to the padel obsession, the sport is predominantly played in doubles on an enclosed court, combining elements of tennis and squash. The court is smaller than a traditional tennis court, the serve is underarm and, crucially, those surrounding glass walls are very much part of the game. The result is fast rallies and a sport that newcomers can get the hang of relatively quickly, with plenty of tactical depth once things get competitive.
Pickleball, meanwhile, borrows elements from tennis, badminton and table tennis. It’s played on a smaller court with a solid paddle and perforated plastic ball and, like padel, has been rapidly attracting new players.
For Darren, that ability to pick up either sport without spending months mastering the basics is a big part of their appeal.
“You can pick up a racquet or paddle and start playing almost immediately, but there’s also a lot to learn as you improve,” he says.
Subscribe for updates“That combination of accessibility and competitive depth is what makes these sports so addictive. We’ve seen people come in for their first game and quickly become regular players.”
You don’t need to arrive with three padel-obsessed friends and a finely honed backhand, either. Racquet Club is catering to everyone from complete beginners and families through to experienced players, with casual games, coaching, competitions, corporate events and social sessions all part of the plan.
The arrival also adds a new kind of experience to Robina Town Centre, extending the centre’s existing mix of shopping, dining and entertainment into social sport.
Whether you’re already deep in your padel era, curious about pickleball or simply looking for something different to do with your mates, there are now 13 new courts waiting in Robina. And with drinks and food on hand afterwards, losing suddenly doesn’t sound quite so bad.
Racquet Club officially launches at Robina Town Centre on September 1. Head here for bookings.
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