From Clubs to Courts: The Rise of Social Sports in Jakarta

Social sports are gaining pace in Jakarta, hinting at a major lifestyle shift in the city.

The nightlife in Jakarta was brought to a halt when the pandemic struck. Now, five years on, the much‑anticipated resurgence of neon‑lit dance floors has yet to materialise; instead, the spotlight has shifted to padel courts, golf courses and running tracks. Yes, sport has emerged as the city’s new social arena – but what is the driving force behind this burgeoning new movement?

Traffic and working life once dominated the urban experience in Jakarta, a cycle escaped through shopping malls, restaurants and nightlife. But residents have found new reprieve, discovering how something as simple as mid-week padel sessions or weekend runs, simultaneously satisfying social and health needs, but beyond that, breathing new enjoyment of life in the city.

According to G-sports.id, Jakarta now boasts around 55 padel courts, a figure that has doubled in just one year. This rise hasn’t come from nowhere, Sean Monteiro explains to NOW! Jakarta, a shareholder of one of Jakarta’s hottest padel centres, Padel Pro Kemang. “The pandemic closed many of Jakarta’s large nightclubs, and as the city recovered, people gravitated towards speakeasy bars. But those bars don’t facilitate new interactions; you tend to go there to catch up with old friends, and it feels awkward to try meeting strangers. When nightclubs remained closed yet the craving for new connections persisted, padel emerged as an unexpected solution with far better repercussions.”

Padel, originally from Mexico, is a fast-paced racket sport likened to a cross between squash and tennis. The glass-enclosed courts are smaller, with rackets made for precision rather than power. These factors make padel relatively more accessible and easier to pick up for new players compared to tennis, contributing to its quick adoption. Again, as a game of precision, men and women compete on more equal terms, as do older players against younger opponents. Coupled with the doubles format, requiring a total of four players, it brings friend groups of wider ages and genders together, seeing the sport as a fun, healthy means of hanging out. It is inherently social in nature.

The appeal of “better repercussions” by swapping bleary‑eyed mornings for endorphin highs is also echoed by the founders of Degen Run Club, an international running community in Jakarta founded by a group of friends, determined to swap neon nightlife for sunrise streets— and to create a wholesome, welcoming running club where people can just show up and join without rigorous registration process.

As they explain, “Previously we would party on Friday or Saturday nights, but now most of us stay in because we’ve got to wake up early to run on Sunday. By 1 pm, we’re home and resting, no hangovers, just that feel‑good buzz.” That’s saying a lot, coming from a group predominantly made up of Gen-Zs and Millennials.

Degen dodge’s traffic woes and puts work pressures away, gathering at dawn on Sundays to transform city stress into solidarity. Degen Run Club offers multiple pace groups, each led by an experienced pace, so everyone can find their stride and never feel left behind. “It’s very important to us that everyone feels welcome,” they explain. “We actively encourage the community to introduce themselves to new runners– so everyone will feel welcomed from the first time”

Being inclusive is another cornerstone of this running club: it offers a safe space for those who might not find one in their work life. Just like padel, the club’s accessibility is a key magnet of these ‘social’ sports where anyone can turn up in trainers and join in, regardless of ability or background.

For every Sunday Run, they have both running and walking groups, in which participants can hop from one group to another whenever they want according to their preference. This is another effort by the club to uphold their inclusivity. With every kilometre and every high‑five at the finish line, shy solo joggers find themselves woven into a tribe. In helping each other reach common goals, runners forge friendships that outlast any nightclub acquaintance, proving the power of shared miles and morning camaraderie.

There is a certain exclusivity to these sports groups, but a positive one. The curation isn’t based on profession, education or social circle, but on one shared ambition: the desire to be healthier and to master something new. As Rani Tachril, founder of golf‑media community, Mutual, and owner representative of Jatinangor National Golf & Resort (JNGR), observes, “Everybody wants to hit a new target … it provides a quick sense of accomplishment alongside the adrenaline rush, and it just makes you feel good about yourself in a very positive way.” That singular focus unites participants in a way no nightclub ever could. The intent behind the encounter differs night and day (literally and figuratively): one arises from a craving for quick, easy gratification and the other from a need to achieve something, prolonged yet deeply satisfying.

Golf’s social dimension extends even into the boardroom. “I’ve heard many executives say that if you want to close a deal, you take someone golfing first,” Rani notes. “You can tell if they’re honest or not. It reflects how they handle adversity, much like they would at work. Because when playing golf, your competition is yourself and it is a sport that requires so much patience.”

Yet this alignment with business networking has also fuelled the stereotype that golf is male‑dominated and reserved for a certain age or background. Through Mutual’s “Mutual Majors” events, reality‑show–style content and targeted outreach, Rani and her team are steadily dismantling these barriers, celebrating a new generation of young and female players and demonstrating that golf is for everyone, even normalising renting golf equipment and reducing the financial pressures of buying one’s own.

Another thing that drives people’s increasing interest is having that scheduled ‘disconnect’. “When I play golf, I leave my phone behind,” Rani explains. “It’s immersive, you focus on your surroundings and escape from constant connectivity. You get fresh air, open space and dopamine thrills from each hole.”

That’s true among the other sport groups too: those moments running, cycling, playing, are one of the few hours of the day people can be present. Sean of Padel Pro shares this same sentiment: “High‑quality, air‑conditioned courts with ample spectator seating, comfortable changing rooms, showers and clean restrooms are essential. Good F&B areas, from the lounges, to the restaurants and shaded seating can make all the difference. Padel has raised the bar in Indonesia by focusing on consumer comfort, not just courts.”

“We acknowledge that people have different reasons for getting involved in padel,” Sean explains, noting that each padel court in Jakarta cultivates its own personality to meet varied needs. Padel Pro, for instance, caters to those wishing to truly hone their skills. Its Dubai‑backed, professional‑spec construction with high roofs, generous spacing between courts plus and an elite coaching roster (5 local and 3 Spanish coaches) deliver a genuinely pro‑level experience. “Padel Pro focuses on excellence: tournaments, top‑tier coaching and pro‑grade courts,” By contrast, he explains that another centre, Padel Cartel, where Sean also coaches, offers an exclusive, members-only retreat complete with a pool and no clocks, providing a high‑comfort escape.

Both venues prioritise authentic, high‑quality experiences, yet they foster social interaction in distinct ways: Padel Pro through competitive tournaments that bring together players who may never have met, and Padel Cartel via cosy, high‑end lounges that invite post‑workout relaxation and conversation. Having a space that can accommodate social interactions between participants is essential and baked into the design.

The founders of Degen Run Club carefully pick their post‑run venues too, scouting for the right atmosphere, promotions, and amenities that make for the perfect pitstop after the finish line. The run may be over, but the fun just begins, with discounted drinks, raffles, games and sometimes even a DJ (yes, at 7am!) to foster group bonding. Unlike in a nightclub, there’s no pressure to drink either, with people opting for ice coffees and matcha lattes or ordering a bite to eat as they hang out – again, everyone at their own pace. Most participants linger for hours post-run, enjoying the good community atmosphere.

Muhammad Aldajaidi, proprietor of 7 Speed Coffee branches in Panglima Polim and Kemang, confirms that a well‑appointed venue is vital. “Since the pandemic, we’ve hosted about 20 sports events a year, a steady upward trend that shows no signs of slowing,” he says. “Communities need great spaces and good times to flourish, and forging them through sport delivers the best benefits for body, mind and spirit.” Brands and entrepreneurs are taking note of this rising, active demographic: expect to see new sport-related venues opening and interesting collaborations between sports communities.

Of course, Instagrammable moments help grease the social wheels too, pictures of lush fairways, bustling padel courts or triumphant sunrise finishes all beg to be shared. Nothing cements a friendship quite like shared hardship (and a few huffed, puffed post‑run selfies). On a night out, the only ice‑breaker tends to be “What are you drinking?” On the track or court, a coach’s rally cry or a hard‑fought game offers infinitely more engaging starters for conversation and camaraderie.

The rise of social sports in Jakarta is essentially residents self-prescribing a cure to the vicious cycle of urban life. It has enabled healthy lifestyles, great new touch points to meet like-minded people, and offers a much-needed excuse to disconnect and be totally present. The thrill and banter of a night out, without the hangover – instead a fresh rush of endorphins. It has given Jakarta a new layer of enjoyment, and it comes at the perfect time.

Does this spell the death of Jakarta’s traditional nightlife? Definitely not. People will always party, and we wouldn’t want to see the decline of the city’s favourite bars. But something has definitely shifted: wellness is now the sought-after lifestyle, and sport is the new social hotspot in town.

Dinda Mulia

Dinda is an avid explorer of art, culture, diplomacy and food. She is also a published poet and writer at NOW!Jakarta.