Shows
CourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensPrivate Club Racquet Sports Today + Next 5 Years | VP of Racquet Sports at Invited Jonathan FralickIn this episode, Ashley chats with Jonathan Fralick, VP of Racquet Sports at Invited — one of the largest owners and operators of private clubs in the U.S.— to talk about all things pickleball, tennis, and the fast-evolving landscape of racquet sports.Jonathan shares how Invited grew from 7 pickleball courts to 400+ in four years through building and converting courts, why pickleball now takes up most of his day-to-day focus, and what he enjoys about mentoring racquet sports directors.He also encourages young pros to learn the business side of racquet sports. From understanding participation and reve...
2026-02-0906 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensHow to Build a Sustainable Pickleball & Racquet Sports Club | Devan Egan, Founder of Club MastermindIn this episode of Unscripted, Ashley sits down with Club Pickleball USA and Club Mastermind Founder Devan Egan to break down what’s actually happening in the pickleball club business.They dig into the uncomfortable truth behind recent club closures, the revenue mistakes new operators keep repeating, and the models that help thriving facilities scale sustainably. If you’re opening a pickleball facility, expanding locations, or trying to stabilize margins, this conversation is for you.This conversation is especially relevant if you’re planning a new pickleball facility, running an existing club, or evaluating how to scale without relying on ass...
2026-02-0620 min
PickleBall Daily - On this day in Pickle Ball HistoryPritchard's Vision: The Day Pickleball Became a BusinessOn February 4th in pickleball history, one standout moment traces back to the sport's early commercial spark in 1968, when Joel Pritchard officially formed Pickle Ball Incorporated, the very first company dedicated to turning backyard fun into a structured game. According to the podcast Picklebusiness hosted on Apple Podcasts, this happened in February 1968, marking a pivotal step just three years after pickleball's invention on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Pritchard, a congressman from Washington State and one of the sport's three founders alongside Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, saw the potential in the game they had improvised with ping-pong paddles, a wiffle ball...
2026-02-0404 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensITA Coaches Convention Overview | Whitney Wofford, Senior Director of External EngagementIn this episode, we sit down with Whitney Wofford, Senior Director of External Engagement at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), for an inside look at the upcoming ITA Coaches Convention in Tempe, Arizona.Whitney walks through what college coaches and programs can expect at this year’s event — from on-court training to education sessions, networking opportunities, and how the ITA supports college tennis year-round. We also touch on how CourtReserve fits into the college tennis space — helping campuses manage public play, faculty rentals, and simplified court scheduling.In this conversation, we cover:✅ What the ITA is and who it s...
2026-02-0214 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensHow Pickleball Is Changing Management Styles at Racquet Clubs | CourtReserve | Josh Kerns, IAPPFThe business of pickleball is booming — and so is the need for better club management.In this episode, CourtReserve’s Ashley Owens sits down with Josh from the International Association of Pickleball & Padel Facilities to talk about how the game has evolved from neighborhood courts to global facilities — and what’s next for the industry.They dive deep into: How pickleball transformed CourtReserve and inspired the creation of Old Coast Pickleball in St. Augustine, FL. Why IAPPF added Padel to its mission and what that means for the future of racquet sports.The real challenges facing modern club owners — people, ma...
2026-01-3024 minPickleBall Daily - On this day in Pickle Ball HistoryBirth of USAPA: Pickleball's 1984 Organizational RevolutionOn January 24 in pickleball history, nothing monumental like a world championship or rule change stands out from the official records kept by USA Pickleball, but let us dive into a truly pivotal moment that unfolded around this time of year in 1984, when the sport took a giant leap toward nationwide organization. According to the USA Pickleball history page, the United States Amateur Pickleball Association, or USAPA, was officially organized in 1984 to perpetuate the growth and advancement of pickleball on a national level, with its first rulebook published in March of that year. USA Pickleball reports that the first executive director...
2026-01-2404 minPickleBall Daily - On this day in Pickle Ball History"America's First Pickleball Court: Bob O'Brian's 1967 Game-Changer"On January 7, 1967, Bob O'Brian, a neighbor of pickleball co-founder Joel Pritchard, built the very first permanent pickleball court in his backyard on Bainbridge Island, Washington. PlayPickleball's history timeline notes this as a key milestone, just two years after Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum invented the sport in the summer of 1965 on the same island near Seattle. USA Pickleball's official history page confirms the details, explaining how the game started as a family activity on an old asphalt badminton court with a lowered net, ping-pong paddles, and a wiffle ball when the families had nothing else to do after...
2026-01-0703 minPickleBall Daily - On this day in Pickle Ball History"1984: When Pickleball Became Official"On January 2, no single standout event marks pickleball history on this exact date, but listeners, lets dive into one of the sports most pivotal turning points from early January 1984 that set the stage for its national explosion, and Ill paint the picture with all the fun details because pickleball is all about that joyful paddle-popping action. Picture this, its 1984, pickleball has been bouncing around backyards and community courts for nearly two decades since its backyard birth in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, thanks to Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum who dreamed it up with ping-pong paddles, a wiffle ball...
2026-01-0204 minPickleBall Daily - On this day in Pickle Ball HistorySky-High Serves: Pickleball's Rooftop Revolution in 1970s SeattleOn January first, nothing truly monumental marks the calendar in pickleball history, as the sport's key milestones cluster around its 1965 birth and later organizational leaps. But let us dive into a captivating slice from the sport's early days that captures its quirky spirit, drawing from detailed timelines by AllPickleball.com and PlayPickleball.com. Picture this: in 1977, a pickleball tournament unfolded high above the streets of Seattle on the rooftop of the Rainier Bank Tower, a bold event that showcased the game's growing buzz in unexpected places. AllPickleball.com reports that this rooftop clash was one of the earliest organized competitions...
2026-01-0103 min
Behind the TabWhy Great Clubs Win: Tech, Community, and Surviving the Boom CyclesPart 2 of our conversation with Ashley Owens of CourtReserve and Tim McLaughlin of GoTab zooms out from CourtReserve’s funding story into the broader racquet-sports and hospitality landscape. Ashley and Tim dig into why pickleball, padel, tennis, and multi-sport venues are exploding, and how automation is reshaping both the operator and player experience. They compare the racquet-sports surge to past boom-and-bust cycles like craft beer, share what separates thriving facilities from struggling ones, and talk candidly about the stubborn persistence of pen-and-paper operations in public parks and rec centers.The episode closes with Ashley’s outl...
2025-12-1821 minBehind the TabBuilding the Modern Club Stack: CourtReserve’s Journey and $54M Next StepIn Part 1 of our conversation with Ashley Owens, co-founder of CourtReserve, and GoTab co-founder Tim McLaughlin, we unpack how CourtReserve grew from a simple tennis court booking idea into a leading facility management platform. Ashley shares her personal origin story, why she and her husband chose to become operators themselves, and what their $54M growth investment means for product quality, integrations, and the future of racquet sports. Along the way, Adam and Tim explore broader tech trends — from rollups and “walled gardens” to the rising expectation that every venue experience should be as seamless as the apps we use daily...
2025-12-1117 min
Kitchen Talk: Pickleball EditionEpisode 72: How CourtReserve Turned a Kitchen Table Idea Into a 54M CompanyCourtReserve cofounder Ashley Owens shares the remarkable growth story behind one of the leading platforms in racquet and paddle sports. What began as an idea at a kitchen table has scaled into a company serving more than 2,000 clubs and five million players worldwide and recently secured a 54 million strategic growth investment from Mainsail Partners. Ashley opens up about building the business alongside her husband, combining complementary skill sets to create a strong team marriage, assembling the right team, and modernizing an industry still often relying on pen and paper. This conversation is packed with insight for founders, club operators...
2025-11-2628 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensCourtReserve Founder & CEO Tim Owens Speaks on Growth Without Losing Culture | Unscripted PodcastAfter nearly a decade of being proudly bootstrapped, CourtReserve is taking the next step in its journey. In this episode of Unscripted, CourtReserve Founders Tim Owens and Ashley Owens discuss the company’s new partnership with a growth investor and what it means for the future of club management software.Tim shares a transparent look into how CourtReserve is fueling growth while protecting the people-first culture that defines the brand. He also talks about the lessons learned from nearly 10 years of leading a fast-growing tech company, building community in the racquet sports industry, an...
2025-11-1919 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensHow GoTab Helps Racquet Clubs Simplify Food & Bev Ops | Adam Howe, Director of Product EnablementIn this episode of Unscripted, Ashley sits down with Adam Howe, Director of Product Enablement at GoTab to explore how flexible point-of-sale technology is helping pickleball, tennis, and padel clubs simplify food & beverage operations and deliver smoother guest experiences.Adam shares his journey from managing large brewery and entertainment venues to joining GoTab, where he now helps operators unlock new ways to serve guests — from QR/mobile ordering to RFID-enabled tabs and integrations with CourtReserve for tennis, pickleball, and padel clubs.Learn how GoTab’s customizable POS system is transforming guest experiences across hospitality, breweries, and sports venues. Plus, get...
2025-11-1019 min
Racket Sports WeeklyInvestments, Innovations & a $173K Racket | EP 1Welcome to Racket Sports Weekly, your inside track on the business of tennis, pickleball, padel and beyond.This week, we dig into the top stories shaping the racket sports industry — from CourtReserve's $54M growth investment to Lucra’s new partnership bringing peer-to-peer wagering to padel, to trends in health concerns and club expansions across the U.S. We’ll break down what these moves mean for brands, clubs and players and where the momentum is headed next.
2025-10-3008 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensInside CourtReserve with Sr. Product Owner Kim Lehman: How 500+ Ideas Shape Product ReleasesEver wonder how new CourtReserve features get built — or how your ideas make it from the official Idea Board to your club’s dashboard?In this episode, Ashley Owens sits down with Kim Lehman, our elite Senior Product Owner, to take you behind the scenes of CourtReserve’s product development process — from brainstorming and prioritizing feature ideas to turning them into the tools that clubs use every day.You’ll get an inside look at how our team:✅ Sorts through 500+ feature requests on the Idea Board to find the most impactful improvements✅ Decides when to build...
2025-10-2417 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensInside the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center During the US Open with Dale EvansEver wonder what it’s like to run tennis programs when the US Open takes over your backyard? In this episode of the CourtReserve Unscripted Podcast, host Ashley Owens sits down with Dale Evans, Director of Tennis Operations at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, to talk about what really goes on behind the scenes during one of the biggest events in the sport.In this episode, you’ll hear:What it takes to balance player development and event operations during the US OpenWhy becoming a US Open ball person is more intense than you thinkHow CourtReserve is e...
2025-10-1710 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensFuture of Tennis, Pickleball & Club Leadership with Jarrett Chirico, Founder of The Directors’ ClubWhat’s driving the future of tennis, pickleball, and padel clubs? In this exclusive interview, Jarrett Chirico, Founder of The Directors’ Club and Director of Racquets at Royal Oaks Country Club, sits down with Ashely Owens from CourtReserve. This conversation offers candid insights on how racquet sports and club leadership are evolving — and what directors, pros, and GMs can learn from it.From the rise of pickleball to the 84% crossover rate between tennis and pickleball at Royal Oaks, Jarrett explains why investing in people, not just facilities, is the key to long-term success.
2025-09-1217 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensDUPR CEO Tito Machado on DUPR Ratings, Pickleball & Padel Growth, and Racquet Club StrategiesIn this episode, DUPR CEO Tito Machado explains the real challenges facing racquet sports ratings, programming, and global growth — and what every club owner, coach, director, or racquet sports enthusiast needs to know.Here’s what you’ll learn:✅ The truth behind DUPR ratings – Why inflation & deflation issues were hurting players and how they fixed it. ✅ UTR vs DUPR – Why UTR’s new scale met pushback, but DUPR built adoption by staying recognizable.✅ Programming over facilities – Why players stay loyal to communities, not just fancy courts.✅ Padel’s rapid U.S. adoption – And how it’s fueling multi-sport clubs.✅ Asia’s racquet sport boom – Ra...
2025-09-0525 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensPickleball Coaching Secrets: Building Winning Programs, & Growing Clubs with Suzee AndersonWhat makes a pickleball program succeed—or flop? In this interview with Suzee Anderson, we dive deep into the real strategies behind coaching, programming, and club growth. From learning why some events fail, to creating structured coaching academies, you’ll discover how to build a thriving pickleball community.What You’ll Learn in This Video:How to test, collect data, and adjust your pickleball programsWhy some events flop (like cardio pickleball) while others thriveThe importance of consistency and structured curriculum in coaching academiesHow tennis coaches can successfully transition into pickleball coachingKey steps to becoming a professional pickleball coach (certif...
2025-08-2654 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensRacquetX's Kay Bartmann on Growing Racquet Sports & Connecting Club Owners WorldwideFrom student-athlete to Director of Court Experiences & Special Events at RacquetX, Kay Bartmann has seen firsthand how the right events can connect people and grow the racquet sports industry. In this exclusive interview, Kay shares how RacquetX is uniting tennis, pickleball, padel, squash, and more — through both its flagship event and the expanding City Series Tour:In this video, you’ll learn:✅ Kay’s journey from competing in college tennis to leading event experiences at RacquetX ✅ How RacquetX is uniting tennis, pickleball, padel, squash, and more✅ The vision behind the RacquetX City Series Tour✅ Tips for new racquet or paddle busines...
2025-08-1815 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensWill Richards from Dill Dinkers: Inside the Fast Growing Pickleball FranchiseFrom opening the first indoor pickleball facility in Maryland to launching over 35 locations nationwide, the story of Dill Dinkers is a masterclass in pickleball business growth. In this exclusive interview, Co-Founder & CEO of Dill Dinkers, Will Richards, shares the proven strategies, systems, and lessons behind their explosive growth:- Building a pickleball franchise & regional developer network- Secrets to delivering world-class customer experiences- Why pickleball is still the fastest-growing sport in America- Tips for new pickleball club owners and aspiring pickleball pros- How The importance of culture, community, and facility design impact profitabilityThis is an essential listen for pickleball club...
2025-08-1406 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensRacquet Sports Coaching Gold: Jorge Capestany’s Ultimate Drill Library, Coaching Courses, & ToolsJoin Jorge Capestany — a legend in the tennis and pickleball coaching world and a true authority in racquet sports education — for an exclusive walkthrough of his platforms (TennisDrills.tv and PickleballDrillsHQ.com) transforming how clubs teach, train, and grow.Additional Links: https://tennisdrills.tv/courses/courtreserve/
2025-08-1423 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensHow DUPR Coach Katie Nimitz Is Transforming Pickleball Clubs | My Journey Pickleball x CourtReserveIn this episode, Ashley sits down with Katie Nimitz from My Journey Pickleball to explore how the DUPRCoach app and the My DUPR Coach app are reshaping the pickleball landscape for clubs, coaches, and players everywhere. Discover how pickleball clubs are using coach-assigned ratings to increase player engagement, streamline skill assessment, and grow their community — with tools that work for recreational players, country clubs, and competitive athletes alike. Whether you're a club owner, pickleball coach, or player looking to improve, this conversation is packed with insights to help you succeed in the modern pickleball ecosystem.
2025-08-1308 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensCoaching, College Tennis, and Pickleball Club Growth with Bill RiddleIn this fun and insightful episode, international tennis coach Bill Riddle sits down with Ashley to talk all things racquet sports, college athletics, and the future of the game. From building successful tennis and pickleball clubs to mentoring the next generation of racquet sports professionals, Bill shares real-world advice, humor, and heart.Topics covered in this video:- Updates from Middle Tennessee and the college tennis scene- The power of mentoring student-athletes toward careers in tennis, pickleball, and padel- Why new facilities should focus on being multi-racquet clubs- Bill’s advice for married couples playing mixed doubles - Reflections on...
2025-08-1308 minCourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley OwensWhy Most Pickleball Clubs Struggle to Grow – The Business Side of Pickleball with David JohnsonDavid Johnson (IAPPF) joins Ashley, co-owner of CourtReserve, for an unedited conversation on the business realities of running and growing a pickleball club.In this special edition of CourtReserve Unscripted, they dive into: • Why many pickleball clubs struggle to scale • Common mistakes clubs make when managing operations and member growth • Practical strategies to improve your facility’s success • Trends shaping the pickleball industry todayThey also discuss upcoming pickleball business events you can attend this summer in Boston, Chicago, and Fort Lauderdale, as well as an exclusive, facilities-only conference and expo in Austin, Texas designed to help pickleball facilities thrive.David shar...
2025-08-1307 min
The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡[85] The Pickleball Entrepreneur. From Police Officer to Sales to Mega SuccessAshley Owen, co-founder of Court Reserve, discusses her amazing transformation from law enforcement to sales professional to pickleball industry leader in this captivating episode. Having no formal entrepreneurial experience, Ashley shares personal insights into the struggles and achievements of creating disrupting club court reservation software. Discover how Ashley's resilience, dedication, and Southern charm transformed Court Reserve from bootstrapped start-up to pandemic-fueled success. Learn about CourtReserve's innovative features, its social impact, and the role it plays in the explosive growth of the game.00:44 Introducing Ashley Owens02:09 The Birth of Court Reserve04:54 Challenges an...
2025-06-1033 min
Pickleball & Partnership: Relationship Advice for Couples Navigating Communication, Conflict, and ConnectionMarried, Motivated, and Mega: How Pickleball Became Their ThingSend us a textIn this episode of the Pickleball and Partnership Podcast, host Charlotte Jukes sits down with Sumit and Rajan, a powerhouse duo who have found both purpose and partnership through the game of pickleball. Sumit, a high-level player and coach, discusses his journey from competitive cycling to finding a new passion in pickleball, where he now runs Pickle Perfect Coaching and serves as the Program Co-ordinator and Head Coach at Mega Courts, Calgary's largest indoor pickleball facility. Rajan shares her experience of learning the game under Sumit's guidance and how th...
2025-04-2235 min
The Future of PickleballFuture of Pickleball #62 - Court Reserve Co-Founder Ashley OwensWelcome to Episode 62 of The Future of Pickleball show. In this episode, Paul Olson talks with Ashley Owens, co-founder of CourtReserve about her journey into pickleball, the evolution of CourtReserve, and the importance of technology in pickleball. Ashley also shares insights on future innovations in pickleball technology and the sport's growth and demographics.
2024-11-0124 min
Vida TennisEp. 51: Technology is Reshaping Tennis Instruction- with Ashley Owens!In this episode, host Jennifer Gelhaus interviews Ashley Owens, co-founder of Court Reserve, a tennis software company. Ashley shares how she and her husband Tim created Court Reserve to solve inefficiencies in court booking systems at their local club.
From customer-driven development to extensive customization options, Court Reserve prioritizes addressing real needs of tennis clubs and players. Ashley believes building community is key for growing tennis, offering insights on using technology to enhance the business of tennis instruction.
Get ready to hear from one of the best out there only here at Vida Tennis!
2024-05-0650 min
GoTennis! PodcastAshley Owens talks about CourtReserve which is a tennis/pickleball/racquet sports court reservation and club management systemEpisode#:3 Bobby Schindler & Shaun BoyceAshley Owens talks about CourtReserve which is a tennis/Pickelball/racquet sports court reservation and club management system. Learn more at https://courtreserve.com/Shaun Boyce USPTA: shaun@tennisforchildren.comhttps://tennisforchildren.com/ 🎾Bobby Schindler USPTA: schindlerb@comcast.nethttps://windermerecommunity.net/ 🎾Geovanna Boyce: geovy@regeovinate.comhttps://regeovinate.com/ 💪🏼🏋️This podcast is powered by GoTennis! Atlanta: Membership has its privileges 🤜🏼🎾🤛🏼🏠 https://letsgotennis.com/🫶 https://letsgotennis.com/join/https://shop.letsgotennis.com/ 👟👜💰 https://letsgotennis.com/deals/https...
2022-02-2153 min