In early 2023, four players saw a gap: not enough courts, open play that felt intimidating, and a rulebook nobody explained. The sport was exploding—but there wasn’t a clear, welcoming way in.

We toured properties. Too many columns. Brutal rent. Low ceilings. Bad lighting. Close, but not quite.

Then the door cracked open to temporary space to something special...Palace of Fine Arts. DinkSF was born—founded by Martha Ehrenfeld, Lillian Murphy, Paul Chan, and Jon Padilla.

From day one, it was built to feel different—welcoming, encouraging, safe place for beginners. Real coaching. Real structure. Real community. Pop-ups turned into proof of concept. Trial and error turned into momentum.

Then came the spark.

A student got hooked. He had a building. Months later, DinkSF had a permanent home: The Church of Pickleballs.

Roles evolved. The mission didn’t.

Today, under the leadership of Paul Chan, Lillian Murphy, and Veronica Taisch, DinkSF is leveling up—bigger programming, stronger community, more ways to play: open play, bootcamps, clinics, ladders, socials. Three years in, the goal is still simple: A place on the court where everyone belongs!