ahm NPL '26 - Inside the Venues Hosting Australia's Biggest Pickleball Season

Meet the builders behind Australia's best pickleball clubs - and the courts where NPL's 2026 season comes to life.

Pickleball in Australia isn't being built by corporations. It's being built by people - people who fell for the sport, saw something missing in their city, and decided to do something about it.

The 2026 ahm NPL season brings professional pickleball to three states across seven rounds, a mid-season tournament and finals. Teams from Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales will compete from April through to August, with every match-day completely free to attend and every game streaming live on YouTube.

The venues making it happen aren't just facilities. They're visions made real by a new generation of sport builders. Here's who they are, and what they've built.

Venue 1: The Rally Pickleball - Melbourne, VIC

NPL Conference Home: Rounds 1-3

Founded by Charles Eng

Charles Eng grew up in Singapore, where stability is prized and the idea of quitting a secure job to chase a dream isn't exactly encouraged. He followed the expected path - studied accounting, became an auditor, built a steady career. On the side, he ran a custom suit business. That gave him the confidence to eventually branch out further.

Then, almost by accident, pickleball found him.

When Charles first imagined a space like The Rally, he wasn't thinking about floor plans or business models. He was picturing people. "Pickleball is the right vehicle for that," he says of building genuine community through sport.

His manager at work posed a question that shifted everything: Are you sure you want to be an auditor for the rest of your life? The advice that followed has stuck with him since:

"If you're going to fail, make sure you fail spectacularly. Don't be afraid of failure. Go all in."

In October 2025, Charles resigned from his audit career and went all in on The Rally. Opening in January 2026, it's a purpose-built pickleball club designed around one core idea - a place to gather. A place where people from anywhere can find community, purpose, and a great game.

Faith plays a central role in how Charles approaches everything he does. "My faith is important to me. It's the foundation of why I do what I do. Stepping out to do this was exciting but scary - believing in something bigger than myself is what keeps me grounded and focused on what really matters."

The space reflects that warmth throughout - right down to a planned memory wall for photos and moments, and a limited-edition Rally paddle marked with a Bible verse close to Charles's heart.

His introduction to NPL started with a casual hit at The Jar. "I had a hit and started chatting with one of the founders. That's how we got introduced. The entire team is incredible, and NPL has been a real blessing for me."

The Rally - At a Glance

• 6 dedicated pickleball courts (indoor)

• Study/work space and lounge area

• Welcoming community atmosphere designed for players of all levels

• Located in Melbourne's West

• NPL Conference home for Rounds 1-3

Venue 2: Pickleball Palace Sunshine Coast - Buderim, QLD

NPL Conference Home: Queensland Rounds

Founded by Sharon De King Carroll

Sharon De King Carroll has spent a career building relationships and growing businesses - across property, outdoor recreation, and community programs. When she built Pickleball Palace in Melbourne's north, it became something more than a venue. Within 12 months, it had already expanded to a second location: the Sunshine Coast.

The Sunshine Coast venue sits in Buderim in the heart of the Coast - a purpose-built, entirely indoor facility designed so players never have to deal with Queensland's famous heat and humidity again. Rain, hail, or shine, the courts are always on.

But Pickleball Palace isn't just about courts. From the pro shop to the dedicated functions space, and the Sportswell Revival wellness centre on-site - complete with cold/hot therapy, a hydrotherapy spa, and full-body massage chairs - it's a facility built for the whole athlete. Come for the game, stay for the recovery.

The Sunshine Coast venue represents something meaningful for Australian pickleball: the first time the NPL's professional competition has touched down on the Coast. Queensland has been playing pickleball longer than almost anywhere else in Australia, and Pickleball Palace gives that history a professional home.

"The foundation of success in pickleball lies in the power of teamwork."

Pickleball Palace Sunshine Coast - At a Glance

• 6 dedicated courts total - 4 indoor pro courts + 2 showcourts (undercover outdoor)

• Pro shop on-site

• Sportswell Revival wellness centre (cold/hot therapy, hydrotherapy spa, massage chairs)

• Functions and events space

• Open 7 days a week

• Located at Unit 2/32 Kayleigh Drive, Buderim QLD 4556

Venue 3: Racqueteer Pickleball & Padel - Homebush, NSW

NPL Conference Home: New South Wales Rounds

Founded by James Cooney & Nathan Charles

Homebush, Sydney. The spiritual home of Australian sport - the site of the 2000 Olympics, the stadium precinct, the hub of athletic history. And now, the address of Racqueteer Pickleball & Padel, a new kind of multi-sport venue built by James Cooney and Nathan Charles for a new era of racquet sport in Australia.

James and Nathan have built Racqueteer as a place where pickleball and padel share a roof, combining the two fastest-growing racquet sports in the world under one facility. The timing couldn't be better: Sydney's pickleball scene has grown dramatically, and Racqueteer launches directly into that momentum - with the NPL professional competition as a centrepiece of what the venue stands for.

Homebush provides a setting that could not be more fitting for a professional sports competition. The Sydney Olympic Park precinct brings an energy and heritage that few venues in Australia can match, and Racqueteer's scale - with more than 17 courts across both sports - makes it one of the most significant new racquet sport facilities in the country.

For NSW pickleball players and fans, this is the arrival of something long overdue: a world-class home court, and a professional league to match.

The Greenzone lights up. The courts are set. For the first time, Sydney has an NPL home.

Racqueteer Homebush - At a Glance

• 11 pickleball courts

• 6 padel courts

• Total of 17 courts across both sports

• Located at Homebush, Sydney (Sydney Olympic Park precinct)

• NSW NPL Conference home from April 2026

Come Watch. It's Free.

Every NPL match-day is free to attend. No tickets, no registration - just show up and watch Australia's best professional pickleball live.

Can't make it in person? Every single match streams live on NPL Greenzone LIVE from 1pm-6pm every Saturday, and every game is available individually on the NPL YouTube channel.

Head to nplpickleball.com.au for the full schedule, team rosters, and everything you need to get to your nearest venue.

Three states. Three venues. Eight rounds. One Finals. Australia's professional pickleball season starts now.