Where to Play Pickleball in Hong Kong: Free Public Courts and How to Book

The easiest place to start is the government’s own courts. Since January 2025 the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has opened six free outdoor badminton courts across Hong Kong for pickleball. You book them on SmartPLAY up to 7 days ahead, except Bowen Road in Wan Chai, which is first come, first served. They’re badminton courts, not purpose-built pickleball courts, so it helps to know what’s at each one before you go.

Which public courts can I use for pickleball?

The LCSD’s pickleball trial scheme started on 15 January 2025, and the list of designated venues was revised from 1 April 2026. These are the current venues, with the phone numbers the LCSD gives for office hours:

Venue	Area	What’s there	Phone
Bowen Road Temporary Playground	Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island	Poles and net; no booking needed	2528 2983
Canton Road Playground (Badminton Court No.1)	Kowloon	Poles and net	2302 1279
Kwai Shing Circuit Playground	Kwai Chung, N.T.	Badminton lines only	2619 9200
Tuen Mun Park (Badminton Courts No.1 & No.2)	Tuen Mun, N.T.	Badminton lines only	2451 1144
Ma Mei Ha Playground	New Territories	Poles and net	2679 2818
Ta Kwu Ling Playground	Ping Che Road, Ta Kwu Ling, N.T.	Badminton lines only	2679 2818

Two practical points:

• None of them have pickleball lines. A regulation pickleball court is 20 × 44 feet, the same size as a doubles badminton court, so the badminton lines give you the outline. The kitchen (non-volley zone) isn’t marked, though, so bring throw-down lines if you want one.
• Opening hours aren’t published on the LCSD page. It asks players to check with each venue, so call the number above before a long trip, especially to Ta Kwu Ling or Ma Mei Ha.

How do I book on SmartPLAY?

Bookings open on a first-come, first-served basis up to 7 days in advance through the LCSD’s SmartPLAY system. The LCSD’s own example: sessions on 1 April open for booking from 26 March.

1. Create a SmartPLAY account on the website or mobile app. Everyone, including former Leisure Link users, has to register and complete identity authentication before booking. You can also do this at the Smart Self-service Stations at about 240 leisure venues.
2. Search for the venue by name (for example “Canton Road Playground”) and pick the badminton court listed for the scheme.
3. Book as soon as the slot opens. With only six courts, demand is high: the Pickleball Association of Hong Kong says people who work during the day often can’t get LCSD courts and turn to private clubs instead.

Keep the booking under your own name: SmartPLAY restricts account sharing, and breaking the conditions of use can get an account suspended.

If you’d rather not book, Bowen Road Temporary Playground needs no advance booking. Turn up and play if the court is free.

What if the public courts are full?

The six LCSD courts aren’t the only option, but they’re the only ones the government lists publicly. The Pickleball Association of Hong Kong’s secretary general, Philip Chan, told TVB in January 2026 that:

• the city has over 10,000 players, and venues are “our big challenge and opportunity”;
• the government provides more than ten outdoor and indoor courts in total;
• the association works with community halls in almost all 18 districts and with some private clubs, such as country clubs in Southern District, to open more space.

That means the best way to find regular games is often through people, not booking systems:

• Join a club or social group. The association’s community-hall and private-club partnerships are where much of the regular play happens. Ask about guest or trial sessions before committing to a membership.
• Use a directory. Pickleball Asia keeps directories of courts, players and coaches across Asia, which is useful for finding coaches and groups as well as venues.
• Watch for open days. On the LCSD’s Sport For All Day in August 2026, some private clubs opened their facilities to the public for free, including a pickleball court, so keep an eye on the announcements next year.

What should I bring?

Because the public courts are set up for badminton, bring:

• Paddles and outdoor balls. Outdoor balls have more, smaller holes and harder plastic, so they cope better with wind than indoor balls.
• A portable net or court lines if you want regulation dimensions and a marked kitchen.
• Water and shade. These are outdoor courts, and summer sessions get hot quickly.
• Your booking confirmation on SmartPLAY, in case someone else turns up for the same slot.

Is it worth booking a public court as a beginner?

Yes, if you’re going with friends who already have the gear. A free, bookable court close to home is a cheap way to learn the basics. If you’re on your own and starting from zero, a social session or a beginner class will get you playing faster, because there’ll be people to rotate with and someone to explain the scoring.

The public court list changed once already in April 2026, so check the LCSD scheme page for the latest venues before you book.