Penang’s Forest Island launches world’s first permanent open-sea pickleball court

Wong Hon Wai walked visitors onto a full-regulation pickleball court that does not sit on land at all. It is stationed offshore on a fixed platform near Pulau Jerejak, part of Penang’s new Forest Island tourism site, and it is being marketed as a sport-tourism anchor built to host exhibition matches, coaching clinics and scheduled play without the constant teardown that comes with pop-up floating setups.

Organisers showcased the court during a press conference and media familiarisation trip at Forest Island on April 7, with founder Alvin Poh Hsien Yang joined by Bagan Jermal assemblyman Chee Yeeh Keen, Penang Global Tourism chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan and Malaysian Association of Hotels, Penang chapter chairman Datuk Tony Goh. ASIA Records presented a certificate that day in Pulau Jerejak recognising Forest Island for the “First Permanent Open-Sea Pickleball Court,” specifying full-regulation dimensions and noting the court has been stationed offshore since 2026.

That “permanent” label matters, and it is not marketing fluff. A permanent open-sea court means the playing surface is fixed to an offshore platform rather than deployed as an inflatable or temporary floating court for an event window. Operationally, that shifts the problem from setup logistics to marine engineering and routine maintenance: wind management for playable ball flight, non-slip access areas for wet footwear, salt corrosion risks on metal components, and safety protocols for players and spectators. Developers have pointed to wind shielding, non-slip decking adjacent to the court, and certified flotation and access procedures as baseline adaptations.

Forest Island’s consumer model is boat-based, and the numbers tell the real story. Ticket packages listed by the operator include RM249 per adult for a catamaran package, RM168 for children ages 5 to 12 and a speed-boat option at RM186 per person, with a note that the sea-jacuzzi spa is not included. One local report quantified the hidden cost curve behind offshore scheduling: fuel per round trip exceeded RM300, monthly fuel spending reached tens of thousands of ringgit, and passenger capacity per trip was increased from 15 to 25 to offset costs without raising prices.

Poh framed the build as a repeat-visit play, not a one-and-done photo stop: “We didn’t want to build just another attraction.” He also tied the record to local identity, saying, “This achievement belongs to Penang and all Penangites.”

On the pickleball side, the timing is not accidental. Malaysia has already shown it can pull volume, with the World Pickleball Championship Asian Grand Slam previously billed at 1,500-plus athletes from 20 countries and regions and an expected economic value of over RM30 million. The sport is producing travel-worthy results across Asia too, like Vietnam’s Ly Hoang Nam beating world No. 1 Federico Staksrud 11-7, 12-10 at the Hangzhou Open before taking the final 11-4, 11-4, the kind of straight-game win that becomes harder to script when sea wind starts pushing third-shot drops off line.

Forest Island’s organisers have said they plan to pilot community tournaments and invite regional professionals for curated exhibition matches later in the season, but no named tournament has been announced yet. The next test is simple: whether “permanent” also means reliably playable, bookable and safe enough to turn a sea-crossing novelty into a repeatable slot on Southeast Asia’s competitive and tourism calendar.