Pickleball has gained momentum and popularity in the US, and the top places to play pickleball in Port St. Lucie give locals easy access to the sport. The sport started in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by two bored gentlemen with nothing to do. They had an old badminton court but lacked the proper equipment. They decided to play on the court with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball, and pickleball was born.