Taylor Hartman: Queen of the Court & Community

Step inside Pickle House Robbinsville, the largest facility in the northeast, and you’re stepping into the future of pickleball. At the helm of this state-of-the-art facility stands Taylor Hartman—General Manager, Certified Pro Coach, and the ultimate ambassador for the sport. A former logistics professional turned full-time pickleball evangelist, Taylor is proving that the biggest and best career moves sometimes come with a paddle in hand.

With 19 courts, a full-service bar, a pro shop stocked with top-tier gear, and the latest in AI-driven game analysis, Pickle House Robbinsville isn’t just a place to play—it’s a destination. And Taylor? She’s the driving force behind it all. From designing the membership model to curating player experiences that blend competition and community, she’s redefining what a pickleball facility can be.

I sat down with Taylor to talk about her journey from casual COVID-era player to one of the most influential figures in Northeast pickleball. Read on for insights into how she built a career in the sport, her vision for Pickle House, and the trends shaping the future of pickleball.

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Titles/Roles

General Manager, Pickle House Robbinsville, Certified Pro Coach

Location

Robbinsville, NJ

How did you get into pickleball, what drew you to the sport?

“Some of my best friends invited me to play during COVID, we played with wooden paddles (laughs). I had a tennis background, and I wasn’t all that interested in dinking. But singles? That’s what hooked me. It felt natural and competitive, and I loved the workout.”  

What inspired your shift from being a pickleball player to building a career in the industry?

“I worked in the supply chain for 8 years. A friend of mine was working at LifeTime Princeton and they started the pickleball program. He wanted to transition it to someone, and approached me about it and coaching. And, I’m thinking to myself, I’m quitting my job. I’m going to quit my job to work at LifeTime. So, he passed the baton to me. Logistics will always be there

I came in and revamped the entire program and created a pipeline of players, no one really knew the sport. I found a passion for teaching and was doing it full time 30-40 hours a week. It was very fun, teaching the game the right way to beginners, I take a lot of pride in that. 

A year ago, March 2024, I saw the press release about the facility opening. People keep sending it to me, I kept getting signs about this place. It was crazy. I reached out and asked about a head pro position, they didn’t have one, but they did have a general manager position. I didn't know what that entails, everyone has a different definition. I pursued it. The owner Chris Vernon asked me to come see the space, I came and loved it, and they asked me to join the journey. He hires really good people—from construction to design to the marketing team and the amenities are top tier with a lot of handcrafted elements throughout the building. He has quite the vision. 

I started in July, there was nothing here, just black top and the cooler where the bar is now. I did so much research, spoke to other club owners, asked about their membership models, if they had food and beverage. People were kind to me and really intrigued by me. So, we created and built the Pickle House membership model. From the backend stuff you don't think about, your employee SOPs, everything comes through me. It was fun to source the pro shop and have convos with local and national wholesalers—we cover everything from beginner to advanced, we sourced the spectrum. We built an in-house rating system that allows players to progress faster than their DUPR. We officially opened November 1, 2024. I’m living the dream. 

We have big plans for the future. We’re restructuring the entire area when you enter into the dining area for flow, and adding refrigeration that will allow us to expand our food and beverage to health conscious drinks and smoothies. We want to become a pickleball destination and the parking-lot adjacent hotel allows us to house people for bigger events and tournaments.

We want to be a pickleball destination.” 

You balance managing a major pickleball facility with competing at a high level—how do you juggle both, and do they influence each other?

“When I agreed to take the role of Pickle House’s general manager, the owner said, take this facility and make me proud. Knowing that I’m the decision maker made me feel comfortable to make some sacrifices, like to my game. I was at the top of my game when I took this job.  I knew I would have to make sacrifices, I also knew how good this would be for my community. This is where I’m from, it’s where I grew up. I'm deeply connected to this community and if I could have a positive influence, I’d take it. How awesome to be able to offer an experience like this to my community. 

My competitive nature has shifted. I still love competing at the high level, but now I’m less of a player and more of an ambassador nurturing the next generation of pickleball. I'm so passionate about giving people access to the sport and helping them get better. This is so much bigger than the game.” 

What trends are you seeing in the pickleball community, both in terms of player growth and facility development?

“A few trends I’m paying attention to include facility development, AI & Tech, and drilling culture. 

I think the future of facilities is in full-service clubs that offer premium experiences. Think country club vibes—great food, full bars, top-tier amenities. That’s where the industry is heading. Players want real-time game analysis. At Pickle House, we have PlaySight technology on every court, which lets players track their performance and even tag highlights for instant replays. Players are realizing that drilling—not just open play—is the key to rapid improvement. The game evolves fast, and staying ahead means practicing with purpose.”

How has your experience as a high-level player shaped the way Pickle House operates and serves its members?

“It gives me an advantage because I understand the full spectrum of players—from beginners to 5.0+. I can offer guidance at any moment, and our members appreciate that. We also structure our programming to build a strong community, like scheduling 5.0 play right after lower-level games so newer players can watch and learn while they grab a beer and bite to eat. For me, it’s about building a community, building trust.”   

What advice would you give to women looking to grow their careers in pickleball, whether as players, coaches, or industry leaders?

“Just do it—Just go for it. The industry is new, and there are so many avenues to make an impact. If you feel drawn to the sport, take the leap—pickleball needs more women in leadership roles.”

What’s been the most defining moment in your pickleball journey so far?

“The defining moment for me is becoming the face of Pickle House. I never thought my role in pickleball would be on the business side, but here I am.”

What’s a misconception about pickleball you wish more people understood?

“People think it’s a gym class sport, so they don’t take it seriously and you want to talk about trends, take it a little more seriously, and take preventative measures. It can be physically challenging. Look up pickleball health stats, pickleball insurance, because they think it's so recreational no one takes preventative measures and gets hurt.

It can be physically intense, and players should take it seriously when it comes to conditioning and injury prevention.”

If pickleball had walkout songs, what would your anthem be? 

Where the Wild Things Are - Luke Combs

If you could have a women’s doubles match with any player—living or historical—who would be your dream women’s doubles partner?

“Jorja Johnson—she’s so young and energetic, intense and fun. She gets so excited when she puts the ball away. I’d love to share that with her.”

Top three things in your pickleball bag right now besides your paddle and/or shoes?

“Extra grips, a full change of clothes, and a mini training paddle.”

What’s your go-to pre-game snack or ritual?

“Coffee."

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The Female Pickleball Titans of the Northeast is a Lindsey Leigh Creative storytelling series celebrating the women who are shaping the future of the sport. 

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