Meet Chip’s Pickleball Club in Eagan, Minnesota, where the introduction comes with a beat. If you’ve ever thought your usual foursome takes pickleball a little too seriously, wait until you meet the club with its own rap video.
The song might get your attention, but there’s a good story behind the place: one birthday party, a major career change, and an owner who wanted to bring his favorite activities under one roof.
Here’s why it belongs on your pickleball radar.
1. Your club has a group chat. This one has a music video.
Chip’s collaborated with production company Bloom Creativ on a pickleball music video, taking the club introduction a little further than a welcome email. The rap even earned a mention in FOX 9’s coverage of the club’s opening.
Take a listen
Watch the Chip’s pickleball rap on YouTube. Credit to Chip’s Pickleball Club and collaborating production company Bloom Creativ.
Send it to your usual foursome. Then see which friend starts campaigning for your own entrance music at open play.
2. One birthday party turned into a very different career plan
According to owner Jack Eickhof, he tried pickleball for the first time at his friend Tyler’s birthday party at Lucky Shots in March 2023. By the time he was reflecting on the game in the parking lot, the idea for his own club had taken hold.
Over the next three months, he sold his real estate media company and rental properties, then pursued financing to open Chip’s.
Most of us leave our first game thinking we should buy a paddle. Jack apparently had a much longer shopping list.
And if you’re wondering why a guy named Jack opened a club called Chip’s, the name has its own story. Eickhof describes Chip as the kind of person who cares about their community, enjoys being around others, and makes time to stay active and relax. The club was built for people who aspire to be a little more like Chip.
3. There are 12 courts to back up the enthusiasm
The music video might be the conversation starter, but 12 indoor pickleball courts give you a reason to bring your paddle. Chip’s official website describes dedicated courts with tournament-sized playing margins and chain-link barriers between them.
That leaves your competitive colleague free to blame the paddle, the ball, or the lighting after a missed return. The Minnesota weather may be a tougher argument.
You can reserve a court with friends or sign up individually for an open-play session. The club also offers leagues and clinics, including an introduction for beginners. Check Chip’s playing options for current sessions and reservations.
4. The postgame conversation can last a while
The club’s café and bar offer somewhere to catch up after playing, and food and drinks can also be enjoyed courtside.
Photo: Chip’s Pickleball Club (official website)
Every group has someone who needs to walk you through the final point again. At least here you can get something to drink before the replay begins.
There’s also a sauna, cold plunge, showers, and space for stretching and strength exercises. If your ideal outing involves a little pickleball and a little recovery time, check the sauna and cold-plunge booking options separately when planning your visit.
Photo: Chip’s Pickleball Club (official website)
5. You don’t have to join to check it out
Chip’s is open to the public, with no membership required. Memberships are available for additional benefits, but you can visit without making that commitment.
Find it: 980 Discovery Road, Eagan, Minnesota 55121. Use the official booking options to choose open play, reserve a court, or plan a sauna and cold-plunge visit. Check the details for the activity you’re booking rather than assuming one reservation covers everything.
Bring your paddle, bring the friend who first sent you the rap, and leave time to hang out after the game. You can work on your verse on the drive home.
For another place with a story beyond the courts, take a look at Ballers, the Philadelphia pickleball hangout inside a historic power plant.
Keep exploring: credit to the original sources
This feature draws on the sources below. Follow the links for the music video, local coverage, owner’s story, and visitor information.
Watch the rap → Chip’s music video on YouTube — The video linked by production collaborator Bloom Creativ.
Meet the production collaborator → Bloom Creativ’s project write-up — Its work with Chip’s on the music video and other club content.
See the local coverage → FOX 9’s report — Coverage of the club’s opening and its official rap video.
Read the origin story → Jack Eickhof’s account — His first game, career change, and the meaning behind the Chip’s name.
Explore the club → Chip’s official website — Courts, amenities, location, and public access.
Plan your visit → Chip’s activity and booking overview — Open play, court reservations, clinics, and wellness options.