Viking has announced that it has been named the new, official partner of the Professional Platform Tennis Association (PPTA). Through the new one year deal, Viking will be the exclusive provider of paddles, accessories, footwear and apparel at all PPTA events in 2010. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 11, Issue 3, January, 2010
Read More[click to enlarge] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 12, Issue 5, April, 2011
Read More[click to enlarge] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 12, Issue 5, April, 2011
Read MoreScarsdale Inquirer October 16, 1931
Read MoreFor inexplicable reasons, the list of winners in women's tournaments begins twenty-nine years after the list of those in men's matches. There seems to have been no official record of a Club championship in women's tennis until after World War II. Between 1923 and 1931 The Scarsdale Inquirer mentions four women who won tournaments: Muriel Bray (1923), Mrs. Stuart Cowan (1926), Mrs. J.T. Hall (1929), and Caroline Atkinson (1931). They may have been winners in the traditional Women's Invitational, a week-long event held annually for at least two decades. Astonishing as it may seem, the first documented Women's Singles and Doubles Club championships were not played until 1948, or sixty years into the Club's history
Read More
The APTA established an Umpire's Committee in 1974 and Paul Molloy, APTA President 1969-1971, was a founding member and active umpire for many years. He donated his jacket which was the "official" uniform for APTA umpires during the 1980s and early 1990s to the Museum And Hall of Fame in 2015.
Read More
Rollin Kirby (9/4/1875–5/8/1952) served as president of Fox Meadow in 1920. He was an American political cartoonist who gave modern cartooning decisive impetus in the direction of graphic simplicity and high symbolic value. He was born in Galva, IL and studied painting in New York City and Paris as a young man but switched to magazine illustrating and then cartooning. Kirby made his reputation during the 18 years (1913 to 1931) he spent on the New York World, where he won three Pulitzer Prizes for cartooning (1922, 1925, 1929). He stayed with the paper when it merged with The World Telegram in 1931 and in 1939 he went to the New York Post, where he remained until 1942. His cartoons later appeared in Look magazine and The New York Times Sunday Magazine. He criticized Wall Street, New York’s political bossism, imperialism, fascism, and the Ku Klux Klan and crusaded for c[...]
Read MoreLand on which the FMTC tennis courts where located bought by Emily Butler in 1911 and leased back for $1 per year The lease stipulated that no liquor be be sold on the premises and that various repairs be made to the tennis courts and backstops.
Read More
1883 was a time when America was feeling its industrial might, and when inventions and technical advances followed one another with breathtaking regularity. Chester Arthur, of the fluffy sideburns and Prince Albert waistcoats, occupied the White House, while Grover Cleveland was the governor in Albany. Down in New York City, that engineering marvel, the Brooklyn Bridge, opened with a full day of celebrations and fireworks. Scarsdale, however, was still a rather somnolent country town of not many more than 600 residents. There was, as yet, no village center, no store, no high school, no police. Yet sprinkled throughout the rolling landscape could be found the manicured country estates of a growing number of wealthy families with the leisure to seek out new pastimes. In 1883, about a dozen college-age men from these landed families decided to form a club for lawn tennis, a new game[...]
Read MoreFor more than forty years the Tennis Club had borrowed or leased Fox Meadow land for a token sum. In 1920, however, a Butler representative alerted the Club that it might be asked to vacate immediately if and when the land it occupied on Church Lane was sold. On July 24, 1920, FMTC members met at Town Hall to hear various proposals for buying or leasing a permanent site. The first of two possibilities was outlined by a representative of the Village Planning Board who suggested that the Club might lease a Fox Meadow tract from the Village and operate tennis courts there as a community service. A second option was to purchase four to five acres in an area of Scarsdale where prices were lower and more land could be bought. Members favored the second plan, and Club President Rollin Kirby named John Jackson, Pliny Williamson, William White, Oscar Williams, and Alan Chalmers to investigate [...]
Read MoreTheodore C Jessup (1892-1955) was a graduate of Hamilton and served as an Army Captain in WWI. After the war he had a short business career in New York City and then became head of the Ridgefield Boys School in Ridgefield, CT in 1922. Poor health forced him into early retirement. Scarsdale Inquirer April 23, 1921
Read More
Only incomplete records survive of tennis tournaments in the Club's first three to four decades. The earliest tournament mentioned in The Scarsdale Inquirer, which began publishing in 1901, was a Men's Singles in July 1902. The entry fee was ten cents, and nonmembers were invited to participate. The prize, a watch fob, went to A. W. Kelly. Champions mentioned in the intermittent reports of this era include Lou Tibbitts, Rupert Anderson, and Mary Howard. In 1904 Maude Gunning defeated Mary Howard to become the women's champion, and Samuel Swift defeated Rupert Anderson to become the men's champion. Isabel Atterbury collected several trophies during the early 1900s. We do not have to imagine how the gallery looked on a day when the Club held a tournament, for a series of photos taken around 1895 captures the scene. On a slight rise above the tennis courts, spectators used their [...]
Read More
Perhaps to accommodate the additional numbers, the Club shifted to the Fox Meadow estate of Charles Butler, great-uncle of “the Butler boys.” At the time, he was still enlarging his landholdings. In 1887 he owned 358 acres; by 1899, his only surviving child and heir, Emily O. Butler, owned 491 acres stretching from Wayside Lane to Fenimore Road and from Tompkins Road to the Bronx River. On four grass courts near the Butler mansion, members of the tennis club played two tournaments in 1885, a Ladies' Singles and a Mixed Doubles. A year later membership had grown to forty-four, and two more grass courts were added. J. Thomas Scharf's massive History of Westchester County described the three-year-old tennis club as the “only organization of a peculiarly social nature” in Scarsdale, and said it “now forms a prominent feature in the social life of the town.” [see excer[...]
Read MoreThe Reverend Alan Reid Chalmers was the rector of St. James the Less from 1920 - 1940 and was a keen tennis player and apparently the person to beat in singles. The July 8, 1922 edition of the Scarsdale Inquirer reported on the Men's Singles and said the "the most noteworthy event… was the defeat of Rev. Alan R. Chalmers, who was on his way to being the club's perpetual and universal champion." Born in Cambridge, MA, Chalmers was the son of an Episcopal minister who served the Church of the Holy Trinity in New York City for 27 years before his death. He was educated at St. Paul's School, Garden city, LI and Princeton (1908). After a short business career he attended the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge MA and graduated in 1913. Upon graduation he married the former Ruth Nash, a Vassar graduate, and served as a missionary in Cody, WY before moving to Scarsdale in 1920. [...]
Read More
Around 1892 the Club moved close to its present location, to a site just off Church Lane on land then owned by the Pophams and loaned to the Club by Lewis Popham1. At the new location, members played on four dirt courts. The Club changed its name to Fox Meadow Tennis Club about the time it shifted to the Popham land. However, even after the turn of the century, newspapers continued to refer to the Scarsdale Lawn Tennis Club. In the Club's first two decades, the community around it began to change appreciably. The trolley arrived with great fanfare on the Post Road in 1895; the town hired its first policeman in 1908; and the town's first store, the Scarsdale Supply Company, opened for business in 1912. Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club – The First Hundred Years,/em>, 1983 Note 1: Emily O. Butler, daughter of Charles Butler acquired the property in 1911 and lease[...]
Read More
Two years passed, and land prices rose sharply. In 1922 the Butlers informed the Club that the property it occupied would be put up for sale forthwith. The Club received first refusal for a three-acre site—encompassing the existing courts and two additional acres selling for $20,000, $5,000 more than in 1920. Faced with this friendly but firm notice to buy or move out, the Club acted decisively. John Jackson (head of a special committee evaluating possible locations for a permanent home) was instrumental in reorganizing the Club so it could finance the purchase. The Club became two legal entities, a corporation that bought and held the property and a tennis club that leased it The new Tennis Realty Corporation planned to issue capital stock of $20,000, divided into 400 shares, to be sold to old and new members at $50 a share. Each member could buy up to ten shares. As membership [...]
Read More
Information about the Club is sparse between 1886 and 1913, when a new regime of record-keepers and minutes-takers took charge. There are some tantalizing fragments of information, however. Women were not only members before the 1913 reorganization; they also served on the Board of Governors, and one woman was president of the Club for at least two years, 1907 and 1909. Her election was described in a 1907 Scarsdale Inquirer: “Owing to an oversight, we have omitted any account of the annual meeting of the Scarsdale Lawn Tennis Club, which took place on the third Thursday of April, at the residence of Colonel Crane. Mr. Alexander M. Crane, the president, directed the meeting. The following officers were elected: President, Miss Hopeton Drake Atterbury; vice-president, Rupert W. K. Anderson; secretary, Harry Van Cortlandt Fish; treasurer, Robert Campbell Winmill; governing [...]
Read More
Hopeton Atterbury's connections illustrate both the family nature of Fox Meadow Tennis Club and the continuity of many family ties with the organization. The Club's only woman president (1907-1909) to date1 was one of seven Atterbury daughters at "Woodlands," a twenty-five-acre estate off the Baraud extension of Drake Road just over the New Rochelle border. A niece recalls her as a champion horsewoman and a commanding presence. Hopeton Atterbury married Club member William Quaid, one of Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War, and both remained active members of Fox Meadow. Quaid's sister Vera married Francis (Frank) Ayres, a president of the Club from 1916 to 1919. Hopeton Atterbury's sister Isabel was the mother of member Anne Sanford. Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club – The First Hundred Years, 1983 NOTE 1: Since Diana Reische[...]
Read MoreScarsdale Inquirer, April 22, 1922
Read MoreIn 1913 the Club reorganized completely, with 142 "charter members." Membership was limited to twenty persons per tennis court, and any individual over sixteen years old was eligible. After the 1913 reorganization, women were no longer elected to the Board of Governors, and they did not have a direct voice in managing the Club again until the 1970s. The new Club constitution stated that "the objects for which this club is formed are to provide and maintain proper grounds and facilities for playing the game of tennis, the development of social life among its members, their physical improvement and enjoyment, the accommodation and entertainment of the members and guests of the Club, and the promotion of the welfare of the neighborhood." Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club – The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read More
J. Nelson Shreve elected FMTC President (1914-1915); articles of incorporation filed, a portable clubhouse installed, purchase of Wayside Cottage considered The period after 1913 appears to have been financially precarious, as neighboring clubs built and upgraded their facilities. The Scarsdale Golf Club built tennis courts in 1911, and in 1912 the County Tennis Club in Hartsdale constructed a clubhouse. Both events apparently lured some members and potential members from Fox Meadow. The Club's treasurer wrote endless letters dunning people for lapsed dues and asking payment for such items as tennis balls. (New balls were forty cents each, used balls twenty-five cents.) The Club's treasury did not cover all costs, as is indicated by the following letter from Herbert B. Shronk concerning a $45 bill for trophies: "As the Club now has in its treasury only about $10, it will be necessa[...]
Read MoreScarsdale Inquirer May 19, 1923
Read More
By 1916 a joint committee with members from both Fox Meadow Tennis Club and the Town Club had been formed to “prepare a financial plan for procuring a site for the Club.” Within a year the Fox Meadow Board of Governors noted that the Butlers seemed willing to sell the Club three or four acres at Fox Meadow for approximately $4,000 an acre. World War I interrupted efforts to buy a permanent home and reorganize the Club. Eleven members' names were shifted to an Inactive Military List at no dues for the duration of the war. In 1917 the Club held a tournament to benefit the Scarsdale Red Cross and sent off a check for $300 from the proceeds. There do not seem to have been regular tournaments during this period for, in 1919, Rollin Kirby suggested that preparations be made for holding tournaments. Club President Frank Ayres favored junior tournaments and advocated allowin[...]
Read More
While there were behind-the-scenes difficulties in raising enough cash to build a clubhouse and new courts, for most members the 1920s were a time of good fun and good tennis. Pressure for court time in 1923 produced a rule that members could not bring as playing guests any nonmembers who lived in Scarsdale. Though life-styles were changing, reminders of times past were very much in evidence on the Club grounds. Near the tennis courts there still were sheds for carriages, and when members played tennis, they still wore the costumes of a more genteel era: long sleeves, long skirts, long trousers. "I always wore at least two of my prettiest lace-trimmed petticoats," says Blanche Mason Starkweather of the costume a fashion-wise young lady wore for tennis at the Club circa 1921. "They came to the ankles, and of course when I ran for the ball, the lace showed." Two notices about wome[...]
Read More
Haywood was a native of North Carolina and studied law at the University of North Carolina and at Columbia University. He move to Scarsdale in the early 1920s and lived at 1000 Post Road. He became a member of the New York City law firm Moore, Hall, Swan & Cunningham in 1929 (Warren Cunningham served as mayor of Scarsdale and was also a FMTC member). In 1933 Haywood, who had been a member Scarsdale Board of Education since 1926, was elected President and oversaw the building of the new Scarsdale High School during his tenure. At the time of his election to President of FMTC the Scarsdale Inquirer of March 14, 1925 reported "the report of the treasurer showed the club in fine financial condition with a balance of $900 in the bank."
Read More
The "war to end all wars" marked a clear dividing line in the tempo and style of Scarsdale life. A postwar building boom redrew the map of the community while land prices climbed sharply. Automobiles began to displace carriages on the town's dirt roads, although cars were still banned from Emily Butler's 500-acre Fox Meadow estate. Visitors were free to stroll, ride horses, or drive carriages on her property, but cars—except those of house-guests—were prohibited on the estate grounds. Even the Fox Meadow estate was shrinking, however, for Miss Butler began to sell and give away bits and pieces of her land. All around the Fox Meadow Tennis Club the sounds of construction could be heard, as roads, schools, and houses were built. Miss Butler sold twenty-five acres between the Club and the Post Road to the Village for Scarsdale's first public high school, which opened in 1919, a[...]
Read MoreKing was made an honorary member of FMTC in 1928. He had played at the club for many years before moving into New York City
Read More
Rudolph C Culver (1883-1936) was president of Realty Brokerage firm Culver, Hollyday & Co. in New York City and an expert in cooperative apartments.
Read More
For four years the Club tried to raise enough money for a clubhouse by selling stock, but it was unsuccessful. At the 1926 meeting of the Tennis Club, John Jackson proposed another means of getting cash: He moved that up to an acre of the Club's property be sold to raise money to build a clubhouse and new tennis courts. It is clear that the proposed land sale provoked considerable debate. Four of seven directors of the Tennis Realty Corporation, among them President Pfeiffer, Jackson, Kent, and Stowell, resigned from the board. Although resignations signed by Jackson and Stowell dated July 26, 1926, are in the minute’s books, both are listed as present for a special meeting of the Tennis Realty Corporation on that date. A draft of the minutes says the board discussed an offer of $10,000 from John Jackson to buy the southern half of land facing Church Lane, which he would use as a ho[...]
Read More
Club Secretary Hynson spoke of a “renewal of activity worthy of the traditions of the oldest tennis club in Westchester County.” By June 1927 the directors were able to report: “On the strength of the new clubhouse and the good management of our officers, we have obtained about twenty-five or thirty additional active members” for a total of about one hundred active members. The plan was for a club of between 125 and 150 members “to guarantee us an income sufficient to pay the fixed charges and relieve us of the necessity of selling more property.” Sally Jackson Rasmussen, who grew up in the new Jackson house on Church Lane, says that it always seemed to her to be sunny and peaceful at Fox Meadow Tennis Club. From the house, the Jacksons could see not only the Club, but the cows and sheep grazing next to it on Crane Meadow. “There was nothing but sheep, cows, and the [...]
Read More
To celebrate, a full day of exhibition matches was planned for June 26, 1927. A number of notable players from around the country agreed to appear. Alas, rain fell the preceding night, turning the courts into quagmires. The skies cleared briefly about 9 a.m., renewing hope that the matches could be held. The courts were rolled once again, and the lines were redrawn. Another cloudburst erased the lines. Some of the visiting players suggested that, before rolling the courts again, Club officials burn off the dampness by pouring gasoline on the courts and lighting a fire. This was done, and finally, at 4 p.m., nearly 250 patient spectators were able to watch a match between Beryl Robinson, the Bermuda champion, and Mrs. Russell Downe of Greenwich. They played only one set on the still-slippery court, and Downe won 7-5. After a men's doubles match, the crowd watched the day's highlight, [...]
Read More
Scarsdale Inquirer October 21, 1927
Read MoreGeorge King (1894-1930), a long-time resident of Scarsdale, was instrumental in arranging this event and although he now live in New York City he had maintained strong ties with the club. King was ranked tenth in the nation in 1927 and was given an honorary membership in FMTC in 1928 which he graciously accepted : " Your club was the first tennis club I ever belonged to; it was the first club at which I ever played a tournament and the first club I ever won a prize at"
Read More
In the fall of 1928, Scarsdale, NY neighbors James (Jimmy) Cogswell and Fessenden (Fess) Blanchard were on a hunt for an outdoors winter sport close to home. This led them to build a multi-purpose wooden platform on a small strip of land on Cogswell’s property for deck tennis, badminton or volleyball. The size and shape of that strip of land had a significant effect on the whole future of Platform Paddle Tennis. The job was completed by the end of November 1928. The result was a 48' x 20' green platform marked out for both badminton and deck tennis. The landscape proved a challenge. The platform couldn't be wider than 20 feet without raising it over a rock. The ground fell off so sharply at 48 feet in length that a major operation would be required to increase it. Volleyball was no longer an option. They quickly realized that the unsheltered spot also was not ideal for badminton,[...]
Read More
As innovators of a new sport, the duo made a balanced team. Jimmy Cogswell was a trained engineer with a job in sales. "He was fascinated with the question of how to build the court, the technical side of it," said his daughter, Do Cogswell Deland. By contrast, Fess Blanchard "was so un-mechanical he couldn't change a light bulb," according to his daughter Molly Ware. He was the game’s pied piper, publicist, and chief promoter. These complementary skills provided a great impetus to the development of the game. The biggest stroke of luck was that these displaced Bostonians had ended up being neighbors in the first place. Blanchard had moved to New York to pursue a textile career in New York City, but Cogswell had set his sights on using his engineering training in a mining career in Canada. Fortunately, his wife would have none of that and he re-invented himself as a [...]
Read More
One day, Cogswell turned up with some short rectangular-shaped paddles and spongy balls, which he discovered in a sporting goods store. The equipment was used for paddle tennis, a game invented several years earlier by Reverend Frank Beal for cramped urban playgrounds. Beal and Frank Contessa had established the American Paddle Tennis association in 1922 to promote the game and market equipment - see Frank B. Contessa
Read More
While deck tennis rings and badminton birds were easy to keep in bounds, paddle tennis balls were a challenge. To keep the balls from running down the surrounding landscape, the court needed back and side wiring. Before long two-inch mesh chicken wires were stapled to eight feet high upright two by fours that surrounded the court. Gradually the court was completely surrounded by wires. The screens rose to 12 feet by 1932 as play evolved. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944, and Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959 Blanchard and Cogswell soon decided that the badminton 44' x 20' measurements were much better than the 39' x 18' measurements used in the original form of paddle tennis. By using the outer lines of badminton doubles, only two feet separated each back line and the chicken wire. This didn’t give them enough room to swing their paddles. This led [...]
Read More
The net height was lowered and court dimensions altered from the original Paddle Tennis standards. These changes and the adoption of the one serve rule allowed for a nice balance of advantage between server and receiver. The one serve rule was adopted at the beginning and has never been seriously challenged
Read MoreThe dimensions from Cogswell's original court, including service and single court measurements, have stood the test of time. There have been a number of experiments at changing them, including an APTA sponsored experiment at Fox Meadow Tennis Club in 1956
Read More
From the first game, Jimmy and Fess knew they were onto something promising. The court became a gathering place for their families and friends to socialize, play and fine-tune the game. The expanding circle of founders dubbed themselves the Old Army Athletes, for Old Army Road on which the Cogswell’s house stood. During the winters of 1928, 1929, and 1930, the Old Army Athletes shaped the rules and character of platform tennis. They made it a family game, a sport that players of disparate abilities and ages could play together happily. This enthusiastic group of 25-30 families infused the game with the camaraderie and informality that has become its hallmark. The Old Army Athletes even started a ”marital championship” with sixteen teams of husband-wife pairs only. There was a penalty of one point for each time a husband criticized the play of his wife, and vice vers[...]
Read More
“From October to April, beginning in the winter of 1928-29, hardly a weekend or holiday went by without a gathering of the Old Army Athletes (O.A.A.). We often had a gallery of twenty-five or more men, women and children, most of them waiting their turn to play.” This called for organization. One bench, erected under the supervision of the gang boss who had directed the platform project, Cogswell by name, was soon followed by two more. And in the nearby Cogswell cellar there began the accumulation of a collection of bear rugs, coonskin coats, and army blankets, many of them donated by members of the O.A.A. Jimmy and I would assume the job of trying to give everyone a chance to play, including ourselves, and we would attempt to arrange matches which would be as even as possible.” Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1958
Read More
An article on Contessa by Vicky Cosstick appeared in in Paddle World, Vol. 1 No. 5, Fall 1976 In the article John Ware, Blanchard’s son-in-law, referred to him as the ‘missing link” between paddle tennis and platform tennis as Contessa who developed, manufactured and promoted the paddle tennis racket, net and balls which Blanchard and Cogswell bought in a New York store. Through his church activities, Contessa met the Rev Frank Beal whose boys were playing street paddle with crude saw-cut bats, and in 1922 Contessa left his Wall Street career to form with Beal, the American Paddle Tennis Assoc. with the aim of marketing the game and equipment specifically for under-privileged youth. Contessa began with the financial backing of Wall Street colleagues, and space donated by his brother Joseph in the basement of a yarn warehouse at 131 Spring St. (in what is now called SoHo, [...]
Read More
The Great Depression also influenced the formative years of paddle. Money was short, and even those who were not suffering were reluctant to spend it. In paddle, gear was cheap, no particular clothes were needed, and a court could be built for as little as $400. It was a perfect game for lean times.
Read MoreClick image to enlarge Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 15, Issue 5 April/May, 2014
Read More
Early on, lighting was added to courts so play could continue during short winter days. Blanchard’s description of the first lighting system: “The best procedure is to set up 4 individual poles made of pipe, 2 along each side of the platform at distances of 8 to 14 feet from each corner (opinions vary as to the better of these distances). The pipes should have reflectors at the top with either 750 or 1000 watt bulbs on each, raised about 20 feet above the surface and suspended over the platform on a short arm at the top of the pipe. The lighting cost is not high and can be kept at a very low figure if you have a good amateur plumber and handy man among your friends. Jimmy Cogswell put up the lights at his court and we only needed expert help on the electrical switchboard.” Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944
Read More
Scarsdale Inquirer April 10, 1931
Read MoreA new notice appeared on the Old Army Athletes bulletin board on March 30, 1930. A Scarsdale banker suffering from excessive shyness and protruding ears had become a success in society and business as well as quite the ladies man as a result of playing the game. Frederick Allen, editor of Harper's magazine and poet laureate of the OAA, and his wife were the suspects.
Read MoreThe Scarsdale Inquirer of December 11, 1931 carried the story with the headline: "Paddle Tennis for Grown-Ups Grows More and More Popular With This Community. Fame of Game Developed on Wooden Platforms by Two Local Residents Spreads to Other Parts of the Country"
Read More
Of the twenty-five or more families comprising the Old Army Athletes (O.A.A.) in 1928, five were members of Fox Meadow Tennis Club and one of them had built their own court. They urged the club to put in a paddle court so Fox Meadow could become a year round sports rendezvous. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944 Expanding into an untried sport in the midst of a national economic depression was risky. Gradually worn down by the arguments of its O.A.A. members, the Board of Directors of the Fox Meadow Tennis Club had a meeting on April 15, 1931, to make a crucial decision. Should they or should they not put up a platform tennis court? They represented a tennis club and some of the avid tennis-playing members didn't warm up a bit. Finally, a happy compromise was proposed on which the conservatives and the enthusiasts could agree. The club would put up a p[...]
Read More
With the completion of the first paddle court, the Old Army Athletes joined Fox Meadow almost en masse and transferred their camaraderie and sense of fun to the Club. They formed the core of the new Paddle Committee (Cogswell, Gatchell, Blanchard and W. C. Harrison) and posted a notice on the Club bulletin board explaining the game in simple terms. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1958, and Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years, 1983 The informal quality of the games stems from these beginnings and the influence of the Great Depression. As paddle drew more people on frigid days Blanchard, an enthusiastic skater, conceived the idea of flooding the unused tennis courts for ice-skating. The unique ambience that still clings today to Fox Meadow evolved during winters of paddle and skating. It is captured in a frequently p[...]
Read MoreVassar President Henry MacCraken dropped by the Blanchard's unexpectedly in late 1931 “to find out about paddle tennis.” It was a necessary visit since an alumna had donated a court. The article headline in the New York Sun on October 24, 1931 read: “Paddle Tennis to Be Tried Out at Vassar.” At the end of a brief article about the game the Sun added, “Vassar is the first college to experiment with the new form of sport.” Unfortunately, the experiment was a failure, likely due to poor choices of court location and backstops, and the fact that there was only one court. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959 Also see The game starts to catch on
Read More
Frederick Lewis Allen, Editor of Harper's Magazine, wrote the following letter on February 19, 1932 to a lady who had asked him what he thought of the game. The letter was written before the Evans invention had made taking balls off the backstop an assured success, before the sanding technique had practically eliminated slipping during a rain, and when the game was still largely confined to those who learned it on the Cogswell court. “I know of no other active game which can so readily be played outdoors at all seasons and in virtually all weathers. In Scarsdale we play it every week-end from October to May (and sometimes on week-day evenings by artificial light). Golf links and tennis courts may be out of commission; skating ponds may not be frozen over; there may be no skiing or coasting—yet Paddle Tennis goes right on. We play it when the thermometer is below freezing and the s[...]
Read More
With the help of a rock wall and some fill, the original platform morphed to the current size of 60’ x 30’. Even with the larger platform and uneven bounces from the wire, the players continued the practice of playing the balls from the wiring. By this time, the wiring height had reached 12’ and used a smaller one-inch mesh. The Cogswell’s held a party right before the demolition of the first court that included dancing on the “doomed” old platform. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
By December, there were eight platforms in Scarsdale alone and the first open tournament took place, with forty-two entries. The new, larger Cogswell platform and court were the venue for the finals. Earle Gatchell and Fessenden Blanchard, representing the Old Army Athletes, won an exciting final match, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2, from Randolph Compton and James N. Hynson. "Paddled their way to victory on dry land," said The New York Times. By the end of the year, more than twenty courts had been constructed in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. These $500-$600 courts were initially popular on private estates. Later on, leading tennis clubs constructed their own courts. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944, and Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959 Historical Factoid: Lois Proctor - shown above presenting the trophy to Blanchard and Gatchell - had taken quite a [...]
Read More
Madeline (Madge) Childress Beck recalls that the Childresses had left Fox Meadow at one point for another club where the caliber of tennis play was higher, but "then came paddle, and our family rejoined. Paddle made the winters. It was absolutely wonderful. We spent happy, competitive winters and I looked forward to paddle in the winter more than to tennis." Former Club President Oscar (Oz) Moore, adds, “Fess Blanchard was the Dean, the Headmaster, the President Emeritus, and the Spirit of Fox Meadow. The debt we all owe to Fess for inventing, improving, and promoting (along with Jimmy Cogswell) our wonderful game of paddle tennis is enormous.” "What we had as a club was fun together with the family,” recalls another club member Marian Frohlicher. “Everyone was strapped for money and wanted some exercise and fun, so we made it a simple place where we got together and did [...]
Read More
The first court was slow in getting started. A few neighboring enthusiasts occupied it a great deal of the time and, while players took turns, there were “owners of the house” on hand to give everybody a fabulous time and provide robes to keep the gallery warm. The platform was raised above the somewhat uninviting bench provided for the spectators, and the clubhouse was as far away as the grounds permitted. Consequently, many club members were not encouraged to come down and wait their turn. While this original platform was used considerably (see article below), the real success of the game at the club awaited the installation of the second and third platforms. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1958 Scarsdale Inquirer April 22, 1932
Read MoreOver one hundred club members and their guests watched the finals match of the mixed doubles paddle-tennis tournament at the Fox Meadow Tennis Club. Mrs. Rufus Brent and Clifford Couch defeated Mrs. Rolin Sawyer and Rufus Brent 9-7, 6-1, 6-8, 6-7, 6-4. All four participants were excellent tennis players and the match was one of the finest examples of the game seen at that time. Source: Scarsdale Inquirer April 21, 1933 Scarsdale Inquirer February 10, 1933
Read MoreBoth clubs and private estate owners usually built the first courts in accordance with plans and specifications provided by Cogswell and Blanchard—at first for nothing and later for a nominal fee. Professor Eliot Dunlap Smith of Yale University assisted in early court improvements with Cogswell and Blanchard. Along with his personal experience playing, he consulted the Yale Department of Forestry for advice. In later years, Scarsdale architect Richard H. Tatlow also served as an advisor and worked in the American Paddle Tennis Association, the forerunner of the present day American Platform Tennis Association (APTA). Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944, and Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
James N. Hyson was a Princeton tennis star and squash ace and captain of his college's 1920s championship basketball team.He was an excellent tennis player, winning two consecutive National Championships (1937-1938), and was instrumental in the construction of the first court at Fox Meadow in 1931. Hynson won the club's Men's Singles six times - 1926-1929, 1933-1934, and 1936 During his tenure as President he helped oversee the addition of courts, and the building of a vibrant paddle community that lead to the club becoming known as “the home of platform tennis” and provided the momentum to expand the popularity of the game. For this later service he was among the first group of individuals inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 1965 (see Hynson) Scarsdale Inquirer March 31, 1933
Read More
FMTC's do-it-yourself spirit was never more in evidence than during the heyday of ice-skating, which began at FMTC in the 1930s. Mole Ware recalled: "In the thirties and forties, for many young people and for two transplanted Bostonians—Fess Blanchard and Jimmy Cogswell—an important part of the Club's appeal in winter lay in action on the skating rink. In the thirties, the rink skirted the portable paddle courts. Later, in the forties, the skating area was expanded and the large Victrola brought down from the porch to stand on the ice by the tennis backstop. Strains of Viennese waltzes and German polkas wafted over the paddle courts while my father and Mr. Cogswell taught ice dancing to anyone brave enough to try." Before the prevalence of indoor rinks with their ice-making equipment, readying an outdoor rink for skating was a labor of love, seemingly always done in the frigid [...]
Read More
Donald K. Evans of Fox Meadow solved the game's biggest problem, the unpredictable bounces off the backstops. Without a good solution the game had limited growth potential. Evans devised a method to stretch a one-inch wire mesh from top to bottom inside, but not touching, the uprights surrounding the court. With adjustable tension bars, the Evans Backstop yielded a uniform bounce when a ball hit any of the four screens, and it became standard on all new courts. The future of the game was assured. This new backstop was first erected—with the aid of John G. MacKenty—during the winter of 1934-35 on the second Cogswell court. Don Evans
Read More
Manursing Island Club of Rye, New York, was an early adopter of the game after a somewhat skeptical committee of two came to Scarsdale to try out the sport at the court on Old Army Road. After trying out the game, the discussion changed from whether to put in a court to how many. They made a decision to install two courts and two additional ones shortly after. Not long after, Manursing member John C. (Jack) Ten Eyck Jr., took the initiative in founding the American Platform Tennis Association (APTA)— first called the American Paddle Tennis Association. Initial members came from Fox Meadow, Manursing and Greenwich Field Clubs. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959 In November 1934, Ten Eyck called the inaugural meeting of the APTA in his office in New York City. Representatives of three clubs that had been pioneers in the establishment of platf[...]
Read More
Read More
The United States Paddle Tennis Association (USPTA) had abandoned the name American Paddle Tennis Association under which it was first organized in 19261 With the permission of the USPTA, the newly formed governing body for platform tennis adopted the former name of the USPTA. Blanchard latter regretted that they did not make a clearer distinction between the two games. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944 Note 1: According to an article in Paddle World in Fall 1976 the date that the Rev Beal and Frank Contessa formed the APTA was 1922 - see Frank B Contessa
Read More
Blanchard, a co-inventor of the game along with James Cogswell, and one of the five co-founders of the American Paddle Tennis Association became the first President. Although Jack Ten Eyck Jr. had been the driver behind starting the APTA, it seemed sensible to have Blanchard take the lead, as he was a tireless promoter of the game he loved. Ten Eyck served as the APTA’s first Secretary. During his tenure on the APTA Board Blanchard also acted as Secretary (1935-1941), chief correspondent and publicist for the game. He authored two books on the game – Paddle Tennis (1944) and Platform Paddle Tennis (1959). Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944, and Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
By the fall of 1934, the Great Depression had begun to hit many clubs extremely hard. Membership in the Fox Meadow Tennis Club, which had been well over 100 families, dropped to 77. The club had begun to run a deficit. Strenuous measures had to be taken. There were two schools of thought. One school favored extreme economy, saving the cash reserve as long as possible. Another group, having total faith in what platform tennis might do for the club, favored putting up another platform. They suggested raising part of the funds by members' underwriting. This would provide a stove for the clubhouse, and enable it to function fully as a winter club. To help put over this policy, they urged the establishment of a special winter membership for the six months from November 1, 1934, to May 1, 1935. Those willing to bet on the future of platform tennis won out, and the newly authorized court di[...]
Read More
The article was in the March 1, 1935 edition and had been written by Fessenden S. Blanchard
Read More
In 1935, the American Paddle Tennis Association started conducting a series of annual championship tournaments, held during January, February and March—the height of the season. Included for the first three years were Men’s and Women’s singles championships. But interest waned and singles were dropped in 1938. Blanchard claimed early on that paddle really was just a doubles game. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944 For the first five years, with one exception, teams from the Fox Meadow Tennis Club of Scarsdale dominated these tournaments, occupying both the winning and runner-up positions. By 1940, there were 17 member clubs in the APTA, most of which entered teams in the men's doubles. However, the experience and a large number of quality teams from the Scarsdale contingent kept them at the top of the heap. The one exception came in 1936 when a strong te[...]
Read More
On November 18, 1935, brochures were sent out to Eastern Lawn Tennis Association member clubs and to others potentially interested in the game. These had photos and a description of platform tennis; tournament records of the previous year; a diagram of the platform with measurements; rules and regulations; and required equipment. Principal activities of the Association: (1) Annual Reports (2) Answering inquiries about the game and helping individuals or clubs to get started (3) Planning and Conduct of National Championships (4) Establishment of rules and regulations and conducting investigations regarding possible improvements to the court, equipment, rules and regulations (5) Furnishing information about tournaments and results to stimulate publicity (6) Selling official plans and specifications for courts (7) Organizing exhibition matches (8) Providing leadership, in coo[...]
Read More
The Ardsley Country Club in Ardsley-on-Hudson, NY was one of the first clubs to build a court based on the APTA's grow the game initiative. Blanchard's Scrapbook included a picture of the court being used in 1935 although the caption was Ardsley Racquet and Swim Club which had by then merged with the Ardsley Club2, an informal offshoot of The Ardsley Casino1, that year to form The Ardsley Country Club. Interestingly the player in the dark sweater is very likely Stuart R. Stevenson3, an avid racquets player, who was the club's representative to the APTA. He was the grandson of one of the founder of the The Ardsley Casino in 1985, Amzi Lorenzo Barber "The Asphalt King", and his wife Julia. The courtIt was removed during WWII as the wood was rotting and could not be replaced due to lack of materials during the war. Note 1: The Ardsley Casino was created through the support of some of[...]
Read More
Fox Meadow Tennis Club member and former FMTC President (1936) Henry B Eaton, designed a collapsible platform that could be laid on an existing tennis court during the off-tennis season without damaging it. Eaton talked the New York lumber company company he worked for and the the forerunner of the Gates Sports Platform Company, to make the Eaton portable platform. The court was easy to transport and set up and only cost about $500, which made it affordable even during the Depression. These easy to install and cheap platforms were invaluable in growing the game. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959 Historical Factoid: Eaton's wife, Jean Eaton, was the winner of the Women's Doubles and Singles Nationals in 1935 (the inaugural tournaments) and the Women's Doubles in 1936.
Read More
In the early stages of the game, players used the lightweight, solid, rectangular shaped paddle (The Paddle Tennis Company’s standard paddle), but it was too light for a fast game. At the request of the Old Army Athletes The Paddle Tennis Company1 modified the shape of the paddle to a more oval design and added holes (the Tennette paddle) but this also proved to be too light and the edges tended to chip as there was no protective rim. A perforated, oval, mahogany stained paddle with a metal binding around its edges proved to be the answer and was first introduced in the late 1930s. It became the standard for the next four decades despite several efforts by the APTA to investigate better alternatives. After the 1930s, the history of the paddle gets a little fuzzy. Apparently, the Reverend Frank Beal, who had invented playground paddle tennis, had a son who was living in the Scr[...]
Read More
For some time, Blanchard wondered whether or not he and Cogswell had been carrying on with a game invented many centuries before. The matter arose when Esquire magazine requested some information on the game and Blanchard sought the help of an eminent historian and Old Army Athlete by the name of C. Alison Scully. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959 In December 1935, Scully shared the bulk of his research in a letter to Blanchard as part of an article Blanchard was writing for Esquire. The origin of the game of paddle tennis is lost in the mists of antiquity. The recent widespread interest in the game has renewed the desire for certitude as to its beginnings and, as a result, much that is new and enlightening to the students of the history of the game has been developed. Recent discoveries on the Coast of Wales establish that a game,[...]
Read More
The nationwide broadcast took place on November 21, 1935 at 6:15 pm in conjunction with WJZ- NY. The noted sportswriter John R. Tunis moderated the event which included the Old Army Athletes, Frederick. L. Allen, Fess Blanchard and Charles O'Hearn. In typical fashion some Old Army Athletes, in this case Peggy Brent and others, used the broadcast to tease Cogswell - see letter Radio Broadcast Transcript
Read More
At Fox Meadow, paddle meant not just championship competition, but the inclusion of young and old, good and mediocre. This was an aspect of the sport fostered by the Old Army Athletes. From the time a youngster was old enough to get a ball across the paddle net, she or he was included, not just in Juniors play, but in some Club tournaments as well. And Fox Meadow held a lot of tournaments: Men's and Women's Doubles, Singles, Mixed Doubles, Girls', Boys', Round Robins, Scrambles. On a single 1935 weekend, the Club held a Men's Doubles, a Junior Boys' Singles, and a Junior Girls' Singles. In some of these, quite young players had a chance to face the game's best competitors. In the winter of 1935, Ruthie Blanchard, age twelve, partnered her father to the finals of a Club championship Mixed Doubles. The Blanchards lost, but the pair across the net were Percival and Kitty Fuller, and Kit[...]
Read More“It is a splendid means of entertainment for all of those who have places large enough for a court and who are sociably inclined. But don't put up a platform if you are a social isolationist or want to enjoy complete peace and quiet, uninterrupted by the sounds of laughter and exclamations in many keys. For once you have a court and have invited your friends, you’ll find it hard to keep them away. “ Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944
Read More
The article "Paddle Game a welcome Member of Tennis Family" by Howard Cohn appeared in the January 1950 edition of American Lawn Tennis. Cohn wrote that "tennis with a paddle not only teaches youngsters the fundamentals of lawn tennis, but it also provides wonderful off-seasom recreation for thousands of devotees of the older sport." The article provided and excellent account of the development of paddle tennis and platform tennis.
Read MoreThe members of the Tremont Place Paddle Tennis Club of Orange, NJ, developed the textured court. Sprinkling beach sand into the freshly painted deck before the paint dried produced the non-skid surface. When properly applied, the sand prevented both players and balls from skidding in wet conditions. The surface also eliminated glare from the reflection of a bright sun. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944 The APTA gave the following information to its members in its 1936 report: "An improved court surface has been developed at the Tremont Place court in Orange, thanks to the research of Richard Grant, Herbert Pease and others. This is accomplished by sprinkling about 40 pounds* of fine beach sand on the platform as it is painted and while the paint is wet. This gives a less slippery surface, enabling the court to be played upon even when slig[...]
Read More
Elfie Carroll, from the Seminole Club,Forest Hills, NY, won her second straight Mixed title with her husband Ronald, and the Women’s with Louise Ganzenmueller. Elfie Carroll (APTA Honor Award in 1970) was a former New York State tennis champion and she and Louise had been New York State tennis doubles champions; both had picked up the game very quickly. Louise was also a two-time Women’s Doubles Indoor Tennis finalist (1940 and 1955). In the Men's long-time tennis rivals Sutter and Wood (a former Wimbledon champion) teamed up to win. This was the fourth title for Sutter but the first, and only one, for Wood. Sutter received the APTA Honor Award in 1967. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
In 1950, the American Paddle Tennis Association was renamed the American Platform Tennis Association (see Annual Meeting Minutes). As explained by Fess Blanchard, this was a positive move because, "despite the fact that our game developed into something very different from the original paddle tennis, we gave it the same name—a mistake, as I see it now, and one that was principally my own fault. For a while, we tried to distinguish between the two very different games by calling one 'playground paddle tennis' and the other 'platform paddle tennis.' But habits are hard to break, despite the fact that, in 1950, our game became officially 'platform tennis' when the Association changed its name. Despite the official change, it is still called—by most of the old-timers and many of the newcomers—paddle tennis.” Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959, and 19[...]
Read More
On January 25th, 1936 George Trevor (1892-1951), remembered as one of the best sports writers in the business, began an article on Platform Tennis as follows: Paddle Tennis Gains Place as Winter Sport Look! That's the answer to the riddle that has been puzzling the winter-bound business athlete for generations. It solves the problem of how to get outdoor exercise in a competitive game when snow covers the ground and the thermometer is down around the freezing mark. Incidentally, this new game will mean financial salvation for many a country club that needs an appealing winter pastime to bring in revenue during the dead months. Trevor gave his impressions of the exhibition match he had watched (Charley O'Hearn and Jim Hynson vs. Kip Couch and Ed Grafmueller): The writer was impressed by the rapid-fire tempo of the game and the skill of the players. Charley O'Hearn's cannon bal[...]
Read More
“A new sport is making inroads in the Washington area, where less-than-perfect weather half the year has always been a bugbear to tennis fans. The importation, platform paddle tennis, is played on a slightly raised wooden platform that drains and dries in a jiffy after rain or snow. Several of these all-weather courts are already up and in use in the environs. The Herbert (Pete) Scovilles, Jr., of Ten Oaks, at Langley, and the Edward F. Hamms, Jr. of Rocky Run, McLean, are among the sponsors here. The Scovilles recently had their platform trucked down to Virginia from their place at Taconic, Connecticut, where they have used it for many years. The Hamms brought their court three months ago.* These couples invite neighbors to play every weekend. Probably no one should own a court who isn't sociable. Friends learn to play easily and love the game so much that they keep reappearing. T[...]
Read More
Harold D. Holmes and Richard G. Newell from Tremont Place Platform Tennis Club in New Jersey won the Men’s Championship in an epic match against the Fox Meadow Tennis Club team of Fessenden S. Blanchard and Earle Gatchell.Blanchard was devastated that a non-Scarsdale team had won a National title! Blanchard recalled the match in his 1944 book: "The Men’s final match still holds the APTA record for length and closeness. Both teams had already played in the quarters and semi-finals that same day. The referee made the finals the best of five sets, as opposed to the standard best of three. For the first time, a Platform Paddle Tennis championship went outside of Scarsdale, with Holmes and Newell winning the epic match: 3-6, 8-6, 4-6, 9-7, 15-13, a 77 game final, over Blanchard and Gatchell. Holmes and Newell had 13 match points before winning.” Historical Factoid: One of[...]
Read More
Frank Beal, the inventor in 1911 of the playground form of paddle tennis, visited the Cogswells in March 1936. He brought with him the winners of the New York City Junior Girls’ Championship, Alice Elazat and Estelle Suarez, who played Do Cogswell and Ruth Blanchard, winners of the Fox Meadow Tennis Club Championships. The home team won.
Read More
By the end of 1936, the APTA consisted of eight clubs: FMTC, Tremont Place Tennis Club, Manursing Island Tennis Club, Field Club of Greenwich, Ardsley Country Club, Bronxville Field Club, American Yacht Club, and the Amackassin Tennis Club. The Association began organizing exhibitions at various clubs: Orange Lawn Tennis Club, Wee Burn Club, Hartford Golf Club, Short Hills Club, and others. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
Walter Pleuthner the architect for the Fox Meadow clubhouse sketched the scene
Read More
The first of this racquet dynasty at the Club were Avent and Madeline Childress. Mrs. Childress taught all four of her daughters to play tennis, and three of them loved the game. When the girls were introduced to paddle, they took to the game like a trio of naturals. All three became national champions: Sally Childress Auxford, Madge Childress Beck, and Maizie Childress Moore. For decades, the family's daughters and grandchildren formed a nearly unbeatable paddle dynasty, with a string of APTA National Championships stretching from 1936 to 1974. Sally Childress, a frequent women's tennis champ at the Club, took her first national paddle tournament in 1937. Her partner was her sister Maizie. Nearly twenty years later Sally Childress Auxford captured a second Women's Doubles title, with partner Barbara Koegel, and in 1959 she won the Mixed Doubles crown. Although each of the Childr[...]
Read More
Newsweek featured platform tennis in a March 21, 1937 article and on March 23, 1937, J.P. Allen proclaimed in the New York Sun: Davis Cup Panacea Offered. Blanchard Proposes Paddle Tennis to Balance California Supremacy in East
Read More
Report includes comments on Evans backstop and court surface improvement. APTA Report to Members,1936
Read More
In January, 1937, the APTA received a request for information from Durban, Natal, South Africa, after they had read about the sport in the Christian Science Monitor.
Read MoreFox Meadow Tennis Club teams dominated the Nationals, winning all five events and Charley O'Hearn completed a hat-trick in the Mixed (with Kitty Fuller in 1935 and then with his wife, Virginia, in 1936 and 1937). This was the last year the singles was played until Men's singles was reintroduced in 1980.
Read More
This tradition began when the Cogswells arrived at FMTC with the Old Army Athletes in the 1930s. Families took turns serving tea, cinnamon toast, and cookies. In 1936, fifteen cents entitled a member to “unlimited tea, toast, and condiments.” (see sidebar article) So popular were the Saturday teas that they were extended to Sundays, and iced tea was served during tennis season. It was not until the 1970s that the Sunday teas were discontinued. Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read More
Before Fox Meadow could make any substantial changes—buy or sell property, expand the clubhouse—it first had to gain operating control of the old Tennis Realty Corporation, which owned the Club's grounds and facilities. This wearisome task took more than a decade. By the early 1930s, so many former members (and therefore stockholders) had resigned, moved, or died that Club members owned a shrinking percentage of the Realty Corporation's stock. It had become impossible to assemble a quorum for the annual meeting of the Realty Corporation, a situation that left its directors in a legally untenable situation. In 1937, during John Van Norden's presidency, the Club board began an all-out effort to collect enough stock through donation, purchase, or affidavits stating that the shares were lost, to gain control of the Realty Corporation and then liquidate it. After years of persistent[...]
Read MoreHarold Holmes was affectionately known as “Mr. Paddle of New Jersey” for his tireless efforts on behalf of the game in that state. Holmes, a member of the Tremont Place Paddle Tennis Club in Orange, NJ, was an outstanding player of the early game.
Read More
Considered by Blanchard as “one of the greatest steps forward in the history of platform tennis,” Ken Ward created the scrambles format and conducted them at Manursing Island Club. These scrambles tournaments were keys in increasing participation by balancing talents and introducing tournament play without the championship tensions and rivalries. Ken Ward and John Stephenson presided over the draw. The entries were secretly classified into A and B players, and the names of each group put in a separate hat. No two players from the same hat or the same club could play together. Ken Ward and Oz Moore discussed the draw. “I have the worst luck in these scrambles tournaments,” said Ken. “I never seem to draw anybody who is any good. Why, sometimes my partners haven't ever seen a paddle. Of course, if I did get anyone that was any good, they'd all be suspicious.” “I'm [...]
Read MoreLife magazine edition of March 8, 1937, publish an article on Sun Valley, ID which had been founded by W. Averell Harriman and had just opened. The pictures included one of a platform tennis court. Ever the promoter, Blanchard wrote to Harriman to inquire about the state of the game at the resort.
Read MoreThe Scarsdale Inquirer of October 10, 1936 carried the story: "Last Saturday a new paddle tennis court of the latest design, constructed to give a perfect bounce was used for the first time. The other three courts have been repainted and sanded, making a surface which can be played on immediately after rain or dew has fallen. Many members are taking advantage of the artificially lighted court where the game may be played after dark with perfect vision."
Read MoreThe court was constructed in Central Argyle, half an hour or so SSE of Yarmouth in Nova Scotia, on the property of the Ardnamurchan Club. Ardnamurchan, named after the eponymous peninsular on the west coast of Scotland, is not a club in the traditional sense. During 1908-1909 many acres of land were purchased and a large shingled house built on waterfront property, solely for the purpose of being a summer gathering place for the Cox family, all originally from Philadelphia. The incorporators of the Club included paddle tennis co-founder Fessenden Blanchard's mother-in-law, Martha Cox Bryant, one of eight children. Of course, with the Blanchard family as members, a paddle court was bound to follow and one was built in 1938, ten years after the sport's invention. The first court was very simple and the wires were not very good but still provided fun summer-time recreation. Th[...]
Read More“You know,” said the guilty man enthusiastically, “paddle tennis is the only game I can play with my wife and still like it.”
Read More
The early court construction had been greatly helped by the efforts of Henry B Eaton who was working for a lumber company in NYC. In the late 1930’s, the lumber company was liquidated, but fortunately the work Eaton had done in providing an easy and convenient way for clubs and individuals to obtain platforms inspired one of the company's employees, Joseph Russhon, to take over its platform tennis business and he continued operations as the Gates Sports Platform Company. Thanks to Eaton and Russhon, the early development of the game received a considerable boost, and many platforms were set up. Some of these platforms were erected on top of tennis courts in the fall, and then taken down and stored in the spring. Later, clubs began to find it too expensive and hard on the platforms to put them down and take them up each year and permanent courts came to be the accepted practice[...]
Read More
1950 Annual Meeting Minutes
Read More
The event was held on December 10,1938 and was won by Sidney Wood and Don White.The tournament used a blind draw format as as Wood had never played he drew Fox Meadow ace Donald White who coached through to the winners circle. Wood had trouble serving early on but as the tournament progressed he developed a tricky twist serve which proved formidable! Don White served as APTA President from 1942-1944. Sidney Wood (1912-2009) became the only uncontested winner of a Wimbledon final. Wood's opponent in the final of the 1931 championship at the All-England Club was U.S. Davis Cup teammate Frank Shields. Shields, however, was unable to play because of an ankle injury. Wood had already made Wimbledon history four years earlier when at 15 he became the youngest male to ever play in the tournament. Dressed in white knickers, he lost in straight sets to French great Rene Lacoste. Wood [...]
Read More
Singles now had been discontinued. Blanchard had always maintained doubles suited the game of platform tennis best. The APTA confirmed this and found a low level of interest in both men’s and women’s singles and decided to discontinue these events in 1938. Men’s singles was reinstated in 1980. Fox Meadow teams swept the remaining three National events and Charley and Virginia O'Hearn won their third straight Mixed title and the fourth in a row for Charley. Only two other team have won more than three consecutive Mixed Nationals - Ronald and Elfie Carroll (1949-1952) and Hilary Hilton Marold and Doug Russell (1979-1982). Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944
Read More
A busy day at Fox Meadow in the early 1940s. Platform tennis, hockey and skating keep members out of mischief. In 1938, FMTC held a Memorial Day Carnival, complete with a Fox Meadow orchestra directed by Woodruff Johnson and made up of members: on piano, Johnson; on saxophone, Putnam Livingston; on guitar, Earle Gatchell; on banjo, Allison Scully; and on violin, Wardwell Proctor. Two reasons were given for staging the carnival: to provide a good time for families and to raise money for a Club Improvement Fund. The carnival raised $333. That was Fox Meadow Tennis Club: fun, practical, and frugal. When something needed to be done, more often than not, members would do it themselves. Dues remained low because of members' willingness to pitch in. The master of ceremonies was Thorndike Deland, Sr. For a ten-cent admission charge one could also watch him perform magic tricks. The gy[...]
Read MoreThe Fox Meadow Tennis Club had been holding tennis Scrambles for several years when Ken Ward of Manursing suggested in 1938 that the recently formed American Paddle Tennis Association (APTA) hold an inter-club Scrambles. In paddle, this event came to be called the Jamboree and later the Jambles. Play was held at Fox Meadow, the only club with enough courts.
Read More
APTA Report 1939
Read More
Blanchard gave Ward much credit for his enthusiasm and organizing ability as chairman of the Publicity Committee that he had run prior to taking over as President. He threw the same energy into the new position and the Association continued to flourish, By November 1941, the APTA had 21 member clubs. Blanchard considered him one of the best presidents the APTA had during the first two decades. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read MoreIn October, 1939, five years after the organization of the APTA, President Harold D. Holmes reported a membership of 15 clubs, all of them still only in the New York suburbs. “As paddle tennis veterans may remember, our form of the game began in Scarsdale in November, 1928. For several years its growth was slow. In the last few years the game has gone rapidly ahead with Scarsdale still leading in the number of courts (now twenty-eight), Greenwich, CT, second, and Englewood, NJ, which has come forward rapidly, third. It is impossible now for the Association to keep an account of all of the courts that go up during each year. Some of the more recent ones include platforms for Saint Mary's School of Peekskill, the Round Hill Club of Greenwich, the Bedford Golf and Tennis Club, the Knollwood Club of White Plains, the Saddle and Cycle Club of Chicago, the Woodway Country Club of Stamford[...]
Read MoreThe explosive popularity of paddle, with the accompanying demand for more courts and for weekend and night play, led to some discussion in the late 1930s and the 1940s about the kind of club Fox Meadow should be. Some long-term members who were also neighbors complained about the increase in activities and the noise. They urged the Club to remain small and low-key, with membership limited to numbers the existing small clubhouse could accommodate. Yet pressure to expand paddle facilities proved irresistible. The first step was to find a place to put more platforms. The Club built additional courts on land it leased from the Crane heirs in 1938 for $150 a year. The site was a 40' x 250' strip of land running along the Club's southern boundary. Although the Cranes had begun to sell parts of the estate, efforts to buy the property outright stalled. This situation finally changed i[...]
Read MoreFox Meadow Teams again dominated the tournaments and were winners and finalists in the three events. Couch and Kilmarx repeated their 1935 win by defeating Hyson and O'Hearn who had won the previous two years and Madge Beck and Marie Walker successfully defended their 1938 title and were on their way to five straight wins until the war years when the event was discontinued from 1943-1948. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944
Read More
Jimmy Cogswell (1893-1959) was a founder of the game of platform tennis along with Fess Blanchard. Cogswell grew up in Portsmouth, ME and Blanchard in Boston, MA and both had different educational backgrounds and interests, but through an extraordinary lucky set of events they ended up as neighbors in Scarsdale, worked in the same business area, and had similar interests in finding something to do in the winter months. The first court was built on the Cogswell property on Old Army Road and became a gathering point for a bunch of friends that called themselves the Old Army Athletes. The story of how the game grew from this court, rescued FMTC from bankruptcy and now is played by over 40,000 enthusiasts throughout the county is rich with the seminal contributions of many FMTC members over many decades.
Read MoreThrough the 1930s and 1940s, Fox Meadow players dominated the new sport, and their styles and strategies became the standards for championship play. The Club's pre-eminence was partly attributable to members' wholehearted adoption of the game and partly to the fact that Fox Meadow had far more courts than any other club, with the exception of Manursing Island Club in Rye, NY.
Read More
In the spring of 1940, the APTA received a request for information on the sport from the "Embassy of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" in Washington, D.C. The Russian Commissar of Sports, Mr. Dm. Chuvakhin, wanted to learn more about platform tennis.
Read More
Report to Members, 1938
Read More
The book was published by A. S. Barnes. John Roberts Tunis (December 7, 1889 – February 4, 1975), was an American writer and broadcaster and "the 'inventor' of the modern sports story." Known for his juvenile sports novels, Tunis also wrote short stories and non-fiction, including a weekly sports column for the The New Yorker magazine. As a commentator Tunis was part of the first trans-Atlantic sports cast and the first broadcast of the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament to the United States.
Read MoreThe APTA Annual Report of October 25th estimated 500 courts to be in use. They based the estimate on a list of 229 platforms built by the Gates Company and a partial list of plans distributed by James K. Cogswell.
Read More
This is a partial listing as there were "platforms too many to mention in the suburban area of New York City," and there were also courts in Los Angeles and Nova Scotia. Source:"Growth of the Game," Report to members of the American Paddle Tennis Association", as cited in Paddle Tennis, Blanchard 1944
Read More
Kenneth Ward arranged for a piece to run in Life Magazine, and he appeared in several of the pictures that ran with it. In one of the shots, his expression was so contorted that Life felt impelled to caption it: "Up the wire, like a monkey, goes Ken Ward, President of the American Paddle Tennis Association. In spite of his strange antics, Ward is a good-looking New York broker." (Note: The pictures were taken by the Albanian-American photographer Gjon Mili who, along with Harold Edgerton of MIT, was a pioneer in the use of stroboscopic instruments to capture a sequence of actions in one photograph) The Life article brought some amusing reactions. One was a letter from a man who objected to calling O'Hearn the “game's greatest player.” He said O'Hearn had never played against him. Another man's letter made the revolutionary idea of taking balls off the backstop seem tam[...]
Read More
The Scarsdale Inquirer reported: "Local Team Loses in Paddle Tennis. Paul Hicks and Witherby Black of Manursing are the national paddle tennis champions in men's doubles. They won the title by defeating Edward Grafmueller and James Landauer of Scarsdale last Sunday at the Fox Meadow Tennis Club. A large, interested and enthusiastic gallery watched the play." Tea was served to a large number of guests and visitors later in the afternoon, following the tournament." Fox Meadow teams dominate the two other events, with Madge Beck and Marie Walker winning their third straight Women's title and the O'Hearns their fourth Mixed title. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944 Scarsdale Inquirer February 2, 1940
Read More
A Keith Eaton (1891-1975) was a graduate of Bowdoin College and retired from Shell in 1949 as assistant manager for national sales. He had served in WWI as a flight instructor and as a colonel in the Army Corps of Engineers in WWII where he was in charge of the manufacture of the "Pluto" pipe lines that ran from England to France to supply the Allied armies with oil.
Read More
By 1940, more than a dozen people were on the waiting list for membership. World War II, however, put most Club activities on hold. Because gas rationing made tournaments all but impossible, most were suspended for the duration of the war. By the dozens, members and their offspring left for the war. Dues for those on active duty were cut to $25. Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read More
The number of men who seem to enjoy playing with their children, as well as their wives, is evidence of the great appeal of paddle tennis as a family game. Children start batting the ball around at about seven years of age, and begin acquiring the rudiments of tennis.
Read More
Blanchard kept two valuable scrapbooks covering the development of the game in the early years. This one covered the years through 1940. The second one covered 1928 - 1963 (the year of his death). There is some considerable overlap in material between the two and this one has a number of historical photographs that have been "borrowed" by others in writing about the sport and have been lost. Nevertheless, there is a fascinating tale being told in both books for those interested in the very early days of the game.
Read More
The United States was not yet at war, but for months waves of German bombers had pounded England almost daily, causing terror and destruction in towns and cities. Among those hardest hit was the world's tennis Mecca, Wimbledon, whose citizens issued a plea for help from America's tennis players. The Fox Meadow Tournament Committee responded promptly: “In response to an appeal on behalf of the heavily bombed citizens of Wimbledon, England, we are having a Wimbledon Paddle Tennis Tournament . . . a scrambled mixed doubles event with Tea and Crumpets afterward. The entry fee is $1.00.” The 1941 benefit was typically Fox Meadow: well bred, in the precise spirit of the times, intergenerational, and centered on platform tennis. The Wimbledon tournament drew ninety-five players, many of them young people home from prep schools or colleges for Easter. Oz Moore handled the complicated [...]
Read MoreCliff Sutter (Greenwich CC) and his partner Joseph Maguire (Greenwich Field Club) won the Men’s over another Connecticut team from the Hartford GC , Holbrook Hyde and Leland Wiley. Sutter doubled by winning the Mixed with the wife of his Men’s partner. FMTC teams dominated the Women’s, with Madge Beck and Marie Walker winning their fourth consecutive title. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944
Read MoreIn 1941, the Hartford Golf Club joined the Association. In the same year, the Hartford team of Holbrook H. Hyde and Leland Wiley reached the finals of the National Doubles championships. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959 Blanchard, ever the promoter of the game, wrote the article "Up from the City Streets" in the Spring of 1941 explaining the game's origins of the game, its attraction as a game for different skill levels. The article mentions the recently publish list of courts by the APTA. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Unknown Publication, 1941
Read MoreIn 1941, a powerful new type of play carried a new star to three championships. Clifford S. Sutter, former third ranking tennis player of the United States and twice intercollegiate champion, supported by his partner, J. B. Maguire, developed the exciting possibilities of the lobbing game. With almost unbelievable accuracy in their deep lobs and exceptional skill in taking the ball off the back and side wiring, Sutter and Maguire were able to keep the ball in play, even though their opponents were constantly smashing for the corners. For a time, at least, it seemed they had found the answer to the net game. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944
Read More
The Club built additional courts on land it leased from the Crane heirs in 1938 for $150 a year. The site was a 40' x 250' strip of land running along the Club's southern boundary. Although the Cranes had begun to sell parts of the estate, efforts to buy the property outright stalled. (Note: In 1943, Hazel Barton McClintock bought a twenty-five acre parcel from the Crane heirs, and she agreed to sell the Club nearly all the land on which it already had paddle courts, approximately three-fourths of an acre, for $4,200. One paddle court still lapped over onto McClintock's property, but she permitted the Club to leave it in place.) Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read More
A few years after Felix joined the Club in 1941, Charlie O'Hearn said in his president's message that he honestly didn't know what Fox Meadow would do without Felix. “He is wonderful with the kids, he is wonderful with the grownups, he is wonderful with a hammer and saw, and more than once he has fixed our coal burner single-handed. And the tennis and paddle courts speak for themselves. He is an institution around this Club.” “Fox Meadow is a kind of institution,” said Brook Kindred, “and in the old days the institution was Felix McCrea, who was probably the most renowned court builder in the metropolitan area.” Felix served full-time until 1960 when he started to work on a part-time basis overseeing the courts. He died in 1972 and a bronze plaque was placed outside the clubhouse to honor “a thorough gentleman and dedicated custodian of the Fox Meadow Tennis Club for [...]
Read More
Don began playing paddle in the early thirties and became a National Champion in 1943 with Charles O'Hearn as his partner. He was friendly with Blanchard and Cogswell and often contributed to the direction in which the game has evolved. Don was a member of Innis Arden Golf Club in Old Greenwich, CT and an enthusiastic promoter of the game to the membership.
Read More
The 1941 Finalists, Holbrook (Hobey) Hyde and Leland (Lee) Wiley from Hartford GC, CT, capture the Men’s over the 1940 winners from Manursing, Witherbee Black and Paul Hicks. The steady play of the winners and their lobbing skill finally offset the speed of Hicks and the reliable play of Black. Hicks won the Mixed with Madeline Price and FMTC teams again dominated the Women’s with Madge Beck and Marie Walker adding a fifth consecutive title - a record that still stands. It was in the semifinals of that same tournament that Sidney B. Wood (former Wimbledon tennis champion) and Kenneth Ward beat the lobbing game of Sutter and Maguire, the defending champions, by Sid's hard-driving and Ward's deceptive chops. This was a match in which the offense of the winning team overcame the largely defensive play of the losers. Perhaps they were inspired by a remark that Sid made to Ken be[...]
Read More
Robert S Gordon (1898-1979) was long time civic leader in Scarsdale. He practiced law at Sullivan & Cromwell before becoming general counsel at National Dairy Products Corp. (now Kraftco Corp.). One of his sons, James P Gordon, (1928-2013) was credited with the development of the fore-runner to the laser and narrowly missed being awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics for his work; he also was a multiple APTA National Champion. The other son Dr. Robert S Gordon, Jr. coordinated AIDS research at NIH and died in 1985
Read MoreThe Women’s and Mixed National Championships were not played because of wartime travel difficulties. Fox Meadow teams dominated the Men’s, which was the only tournament held. Charley O'Hearn won his third title over future Hall of Fame inductee John Moses. Historical Factoid: At the time Moses, who had grown up at Fox Meadow, was 19 and in military service between stints at Yale; he became the youngest finalist in the history of the game. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944
Read More
Moore also served as President of the APTA from 1946-1948, which proved to be important growth years. He was credited with developing the mixed Scrambles or Jamboree, a format that gave the game much of its social overtones and proved to be very popular. Few people gave so much of their time and energy, or were so dedicated to platform tennis.
Read More
In 1943, Hazel Barton McClintock bought a twenty-five acre parcel from the Crane heirs, and she agreed to sell the Club nearly all the land on which it already had paddle courts, approximately three-fourths of an acre, for $4,200. One paddle court still lapped over onto McClintock's property, but she permitted the Club to leave it in place. A few years later the McClintocks joined the Club. Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read MoreAs in 1943 the Women’s and Mixed National Championships were not played because of wartime travel difficulties. Holbrook Hyde and Leland Wiley from Hartford GC, CT, won their second Men’s Nationals in a repeat of the 1942 finals. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Paddle Tennis, 1944
Read More
APTA Annual Meeting Minutes 1943
Read More
J. P. Allen of The New York Sun covered the meeting: Old Mrs. Necessity, who has mothered a brood of inventions, has presented her latest offspring to the American Paddle Tennis Association. To keep the game going, despite ball shortage due to war, clubs have arranged to rent spheres to players. That decision was arrived at during the eighth annual meeting of the organization at the Yale Club.....[see article for more] Meeting Minutes: APTA Annual Meeting Minutes 1942
Read More
Blanchard’s book covered the origins and history of Playground Paddle Tennis and Platform Paddle Tennis. It also chronicled the court configurations, rules governing each game, playing strategies and tournament champions. Blanchard continued to be a prolific writer about the game and was its most ardent promoter. Scarsdale Inquirer, December 22, 1944
Read MoreWith the exception of Manursing Island Club in Rye, NY, no other club even came close to affording its members such ample opportunities to play “The Game.” With seven courts Fox Meadow was the premier club for the game and its "home." Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read More
Club minutes refer to a 1944 Honor Roll of eighty-seven members and sons and daughters of members who were in the services, but the list has vanished in the intervening years. Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read MoreDespite having so many members away for the War effort, and raising the membership limit to 140, the waiting list still grew as Fox Meadow's popularity increased, driven by the strong platform tennis social and tournament activities. Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read More
As in 1943 and 1944, the Women’s and Mixed National Championships were not played because of wartime travel difficulties. The Greenwich team of Sutter (Greenwich Country Club) and Maguire (The Field Club) captured their second Men’s (their first was in 1941). Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
Allied troops were advancing in Italy, but the Nazis still held the Apennine Mountains, and suspected Allied sympathizers faced execution by the Germans. In hopes of rescuing a priest and a family who were in jeopardy, two young American paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines in March of 1945. One was a teenager from Scarsdale, John Parker Compton. As he neared the priest's church, a sniper shot and killed him. Later the Nazis killed the priest and burned his church. After the war, the Compton family had the church rebuilt and a memorial plaque installed. At home, John's parents Randolph and Dorothy,created a living memorial to the boy who had played so much tennis at Fox Meadow Tennis Club, a tennis tournament for boys eighteen and under. Paul Sullivan and his pal John Compton played many a game together. "Then John went off to Exeter," Sullivan recalls, "and a year at Prin[...]
Read More
Moore was President through some important growth years and was credited with developing the mixed Scrambles or Jamboree event. This format gave the game much of its social overtones and proved to be very popular. Few people had given so much of their time and energy, or been more identified with or dedicated to platform tennis.
Read MoreThe Women’s National Championship was not played, but the Mixed was reinstated. The Mixed was won by the Fox Meadow team of Lamar Fearing and Maizie Moore and marked the only time Maizie had beaten her sister Madge in a National Championship. In a repeat of the 1945 final, the Greenwich team of Sutter and Maguire captured their second straight Men’s title, and third overall, with a five set win over the Fox Meadow team of Couch and O’Hearn, after being two sets down. Commenting on the match in his 1959 book, Blanchard observed: "O'Hearn was marvelous, mixed up his game. Couch tired himself out slamming overheads ineffectively without resorting to drop shot (drop volley) variations, though his forehand was fine and fast dropping. Sutter and Maguire were steady and kept lobbing." Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read MoreDuring World War II, the growth of platform tennis naturally slowed down. For several years, the men's doubles were the only tournaments played. By 1946, things picked up, and some tournaments draws were the “largest ever.” The Women’s event was not reinstated until 1949.
Read MoreAs play improved, balls were occasionally bounced over the 12-foot wiring, ending a rally and making it necessary to chase the ball for some distance. This was corrected when the APTA adopted a rule regarding balls bouncing over the backstop: "A ball which lands in court of play and bounces up and over side or back walls should be considered a 'let ball' and the point replayed."
Read MoreThe APTA had an inquiry from Department of Agriculture, in Quebec, Canada. “Having been in charge of this district for the Province of Quebec Lawn Tennis Association,” said the letter, “I am convinced that paddle tennis will be popular but the older members are skeptic about the whole thing.” Blanchard recalled how similar this was to Fox Meadow’s initial take on the game. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read MoreIn 1946, Tournament Chairman Lamar Fearing introduced an innovation to the Club's popular Parent-Child tournaments: any member who lacked a child of playing age could borrow one from another member. At Fox Meadow, paddle meant not just championship competition but an aspect of the game fostered by the Old Army Athletes, the inclusion of young and old, good and mediocre. Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read More
APTA Annual Meeting Minutes 1945
Read MoreAs in 1946 the Women’s was again not played. The Fox Meadow team of Moses and Grout overcame the 1942 and 1944 champions Hyde and Wiley from Hartford, CT. The New Jersey husband and wife team Elwood and Sarah Cooke easily won the Mixed over a Fox Meadow team. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959 Historical Factoid: At the time Moses was 23 and became the youngest player in the history of the game to win a National championship; he was the recipient of the APTA Honor Award in 1976.
Read MoreWhile the Club had employed tennis pros off and on since 1931, most taught only a day or two a week and remained at the Club a short while before moving on. The pattern changed when Robert Stubbs arrived to teach daily in May and June of 1947, during Charlie O'Hearn's presidency. One of the nation's leading clay court players, Stubbs won the U.S. Professional Lawn Tennis Association Singles title in 1947 and 1948, and with partner Mitch Gornto he won the Doubles title in 1953 and 1954, the second year against Bobby Riggs and Frank Kovacks. He played the pro tour with Donald Budge and Pancho Segura. Stubbs' lessons were so popular that one of the Club's five existing courts was being taken over, and the need for an extra court became urgent. When the original paddle courts on the Club's Church Street property finally were torn down, a new clay practice court and backstop were built [...]
Read More
Charley O'Hearn (1901-2001) turned down an offer to be the Red Sox's GM. Both FMTC and paddle benefitted from this decision. Charles O’Hearn dominated the game from 1935 through to 1950 and won ten National Championships—four times in Men's, five times in Mixed, partnering with his wife Ginnie for four of them, and the last Singles Championship. When he moved to New Haven, CT, in 1951, his involvement in the game declined, although he remained an excellent player. His son Michael O'Hearn was also an active FMTC member and a Club and National Champion.
Read More
APTA Annual Meeting Minutes 1946
Read More
Five California tennis stars took over the exhibition court and gave expert performances before an enthusiastic gallery. The Village recreational department was instrumental in bringing Edward Moylan, Clarence Carter, Helen Pastall, Louise Snow and Beverly Baker, all of whom held honored places in the tennis world, to the club.
Read MoreIn 1947, sixty-four teams entered the Parent-Child tournament, with Charlie O'Hearn and his son Michael defeating Lamar Fearing and his son John to take the crown. The newspaper reported on the event that children come in all sizes, from pint-size to towering specimens and that referring to the latter as “children” somehow didn't seem right. Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read MoreThe young tennis stars of Fox Meadow's post-war years included three teenage girls, Anne Wofford and the Barnes sisters, Lucie Bel and Sally. Anne Wofford placed first in the Eastern Lawn Tennis Association (ELTA) Junior Girls' Singles rankings in 1947 and won the Anita Lucas Trophy. The next year belonged to the Barnes girls, who won the Eastern Open Doubles championship, the Ardsley Invitational Junior Doubles, and the New York State Doubles. Sally also took the Ardsley Singles championship, winning the Anita Lucas Trophy. To cap her 1948 triumphs, Sally Barnes recovered from a disastrous first set to win the New York State Junior Girls' tournament 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. That year she ranked second in the 15-18 division of ELTA, and sister Lucie Bel ranked fourth. When the FMTC Women's Singles championships were instituted in 1948, it was the younger generation who dominated. For fo[...]
Read MoreThere is no record of a Mixed event being held and there was no Women’s event. The Men’s was one of the longest finals on record – 67 games – with Kip Couch and Charlie O’Hearn finally prevailing over John Moses and Rawle Deland. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read MoreJohn Stephenson, a member at the Manursing Island Club, Rye, NY, served as Vice President of the APTA from 1941 to 1946, and as its President from 1948-49. An avid player and tough competitor, he won many local tournaments, and was very active in promoting paddle at the Manursing Island Club, and organized some of the first night play under lights. He was a leader in organizing the annual Westchester-New Jersey inter-team matches held in Englewood, NJ, and participated actively in exhibition matches to help promote the game.
Read MoreIn 1948, when there were seven courts, Killy Kilmarx prepared a long-range plan for moving and refurbishing these courts and adding two others. Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read More
APTA Annual Meeting Minutes 1947
Read More
The Hebard era had begun. Dick Hebard and Fred Walker won their first title, defeating the previous year’s winners, Kip Couch and Charlie O’Hearn. The Women’s Championship was reinstated after a hiatus of six years and Madeline Beck resumed winning. She had won the last five events (1938-1942) with Marie Walker and now won with her sister Maizie Moore. The Mixed was won by the husband and wife team, Ronald and Elfi Carroll, a portent of things to come. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
Livingston (1905-1987) grew up in CT and ME and attended Williams College. He retired from Bankers Trust as a vice president after a long career where he focused on using technology to improve efficiency and customer services. He was recognized as a leader in this field. He retired to NH where he died after a long battle with Alzheimer's.
Read More
T Edmund Beck (1903-1996) was class of 1926 at Princeton and joined Dillon Read & Co. upon graduation. Four years later he founded the investment counseling firm of Beck, Mack & Oliver which he headed until his son John succeeded him in 1953. He married into the Childress dynasty at FMTC and two of the three children that he and Madeline (APTA Hall of Fame inductee in 1965) had were very fine tennis and platform tennis players with Susan Beck Walsh being inducted into the APTA Hall of Fame in 1976 Beck partnered with his wife for five Mixed championships in platform tennis - 1943-1946, 1948 and 1950. They also won the APTA Mixed in 1939.
Read More
APTA Annual Meeting Minutes 1948
Read More
APTA Annual Meeting Minutes 1949
Read More
Source: Passing Shots; A Historical History of Platform Tennis, Christina Kelly, 2010, page 20
Read MoreHebard and Walker won their second title and Madge Beck and Maizie Moore were again back in the winners circle after been the finalists the previous year. The Mixed was won for the third straight year by future Hall of Famer Elfie Carroll and her husband, Ronald. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
1951 Annual Meeting Minutes
Read MoreInterested clubs or players could purchase plans and court specifications directly from the APTA for $30. Previously Cogswell and Blanchard were the source for plans. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
Carver (1919-1982) was the number one tennis player at the University of North Carolina and from there went on the tennis circuit as an amateur. He played at the premier United States Tournament, the Nationals at Forest Hills, six times in 1940, 1944, 1946-1948, and 1952. In 1944, he played his way to the quarterfinals, disposing the eighth seed in the round of 16 to get there. He emerged from Forest Hills that year ranked 11 nationally. Carver served as a Major in the US Army Air Forces and had a brilliant career as a bomber pilot In tennis Zan won the club Singles eight times - 1952-1956 and 1963-1965, the Doubles seven time - 1954, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1969, and 1970-1971, and the Mixed once in 1958 In platform tennis he won the clubs' Men's ten times - 1959, 1965-1966, and 1968-1974, and the Mixed six times - 1959, and 1961-1965. Zan also amassed an enviable APTA National Ch[...]
Read More
It was a repeat performance for the 1951 winners in all three events. For Elfie and Ronald Carroll this was their fourth straight win, a record only matched since by Hilary Hilton Marold and Doug Russell (1979-1982). Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
Hebard (1914-2007) graduated in 1933 from the Hill school in Pottstown, PA where he had an outstanding athletic record (see side-bar) and in 1937 from Springfield College. MA. He returned to the Hill School as a faculty member for a number of years and later during WWII he served as a lieutenant commander with the Navy. After the war he joined his father's business the R. W. Hebard Company Inc., an engineering and contracting company (had been involved in the Panama canal construction) and R. W. Hebard Associates, agents for Brazilian mining interests (Hebard had South American lineage through his mother's side). He was the National Boys tennis champion in 1928 at the age of 14 and continued to have great success on the tennis courts over his playing days. Hebard married Lois Fuller the daughter of Percival and Kitty Fuller in 1948 and they were long-time members of Fox Mea[...]
Read More
On February 21, 1953, T. Edmund Beck, President of the Fox Meadow Tennis Club, presented silver bowls, on behalf of his club and the APTA, to Jimmy Cogswell and Fessenden Blanchard, to commemorate their founding of the game 25 years ago About a hundred “devotees of the sport,” as the Scarsdale Inquirer put it, turned up for the occasion, which was a complete surprise to Cogswell and Blanchard who thought it was just another party. Blanchard adds this personal remembrance of the event: “James M. Carlisle, one of the games best players at the time, read his famous ‘Hiawatha’ poem and proved himself to be a worthy poet laureate successor to the Allens. It really was a proud moment for Jimmy and me.” Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
The Old Army Athletes (OAA) had a long tradition of enlivening celebrations with poetry about the game and the people involved starting with Frederick Lewis Allen, editor of Harper's magazine, and his wife. The Allens were neighbors of the Cogswells and regulars at OAA gatherings. This tradition carried over to Fox Meadow when many OAA joined after the construction of the first paddle court. On February 21, 1953 another poet laureate for platform tennis came to the fore at the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the game at Fox Meadow. The poet laureate was James M. Carlisle, a worthy successor to the Allens and one of the games best players, even though he served underhanded! Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
The streak of Mixed wins by Elfie Carroll and her husband came to an end when they lost to the Fox Meadow team of Dick Hebard and Madge Beck in the Finals. French and U.S. singles and doubles champion Don McNeill (1918-1996) teamed with 1938-1939 NCAA tennis champion Frank D. Guernsey (1917-2008) to win the Men’s. Fox Meadow members and sisters, Madge Beck and Maizie Moore, both future Hall of Famers, won the Women’s for the third straight time. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959 Historical Factoid: Guernsey, a decorated World War II fighter pilot, had defeated Bobby Riggs in 1939, a week after Riggs had won Wimbledon. McNeill and Guernsey had been Men’s Doubles finalists in the US Open in 1946 losing to Gardnar Malloy and William Talbert 20-18 in the fifth set.
Read MoreBy 1953, Fox Meadow had so many great players that it inaugurated a Doubles Class A Club championship that was open only to players not top-ranked nationally. Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club – The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read MoreAs part of Killy Kilmarx’s (1900–1996) long-range plan, developed in 1948 for moving and refurbishing the Club’s seven courts and adding two more, all the old paddle courts east of the clubhouse had been dismantled. By 1953 and in the 1953-54 season, the Club built two new courts for $6,000. Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club – The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read More
1952 Annual Meeting Minutes
Read More
1953 Annual Meeting Minutes
Read MoreIn the early days, courts often fell into disrepair as the original construction techniques and choice of materials were poor. Often these courts were torn down, but the court at Riverside Yacht Club in Riverside, CT, was the first to be lost to an “Act of God.” Despite the fact that courts were being lost, many more were being built and the number of operational courts was expanding rapidly.
Read More
The 1953 winners all repeated. Guernsey and McNeill staged a fine recovery against Hebard and Carlisle after being two sets down. The match, one of the longest on record, lasted 71 games. For Madge Beck and sister, Maizie Moore, this was their fifth title and the fourth in a row. Madge had now won ten out of the last eleven events played from 1938-1954 (no events were held from 1943-1948 because of WW II and the aftermath). Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
The article covered the coming of age of the game when the APTA's 21st birthday was marked by the Men's Nationals at Fox Meadow, and described the hard-fought finals between Hebard and Carlisle, the winners, and Moses and Deland. Source: The New York Times, March 14, 1955
Read More
Carlisle and Hebard, the finalists in 1954, prevailed in a close match against Moses and Deland. Elfie Carroll collected her second Women's title with Louise Ganzenmueller (their first win had been in 1950 and they were finalists in 1952 and 1953). John Moses sweetened his loss in the Men's by winning the Mixed with Fritzi Smith over the very strong team of Madge Beck and Dick Hebard. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
The first time Bob Kingsbury's paddle abilities came to public attention was in 1955, when a newspaper article noted that Oliver Durrell and his son Bill had defeated Oliver Kingsbury and his son Bob in a Club tournament. Bob was a multiple winner of Club tennis and platform tennis tournaments (see Kingsbury, as well as a two-time national champion in platform tennis. He served as APTA President from 1978-1980 and was inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 2003. Source: Adapted from Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club – The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read More
Elliott Wilson (1899-1962) was an executive with the paper products division of the Owens-Illinois Glass Company
Read More
The article included some excellent pictures of players and galleries taken during the national doubles championships at Fox Meadow in Scarsdale. Source: World Tennis, April 1956
Read More
For a number of years, the APTA had closed their eyes to the common issue of repeated foot faults, figuring that it might lessen the fun if they kept calling them. However, the Association began cracking down on them in championship tournaments, appointing foot-fault judges for final and semifinal matches. Formal rules were introduced for the Men’s Championships in 1958. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read MoreAPTA started prescribing rules for use and specification of balls. Ball Specification: The APTA furnished sponge rubber balls, approximately 2.5" in diameter. The Ball Use Rule: In tournaments, only one ball could be used continuously during each set. The server could not substitute another ball during an unfinished set without the permission of the tournament officials, nor could the server hold another ball when serving.
Read More
There was no standard or official uniform for paddle players, except maybe in overcoats. Coonskin coats seemed to be the mark of the well-dressed player, except when he was actually playing. A few of the younger players began turning up with coonskin coats, for which they paid $25 to downtown furriers. When Blanchard went to one of the furriers to get a coat for himself, he was greeted with these remarks: "I have been storing these coonskin coats for years but never had a nibble. But now I am almost sold out. Some people out in Westchester have a game that they play outdoors all winter. They've been coming in here and have gobbled up almost all I have” Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read MoreThere had been several suggestions that the length of the court (not the platform) should be increased in order to make it possible to lob more effectively over the heads of opponents and introduce a greater variety of offensive play. By lengthening the court, possibly two feet at each end, the idea was to make it easier to break up long rallies, where poor overheads and short lobs off the backstop were used. The APTA asked Fox Meadow Tennis Club and Orange Lawn Tennis Club to conduct some experiments. Temporary lines were drawn on one court at each club, making the length of he court 48 feet instead of 44 feet, leaving 6 feet at each end past the backline. With reliable backstops, returning deep drives would not be extremely difficult. A number of matches used the longer courts. The majority of the players preferred to leave the measurements as they were. Players felt that the lon[...]
Read More
In the Men's Harrison and Pardoe won their first of their two titles. Sally Childress Auxford teamed up with Barbara Koegel and got the best of her sister, Madge Beck, and her partner, Blanchard's daughter, Ruth Walker. The Mixed was a repeat of the 1955 final but this time Hebard and Madge Beck won. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
Carlisle had served as APTA Secretary the previous two years. He was a multiple Nationals winner and the only one to use an underhand serve. Carlisle received the APTA Honor Award in 1966.
Read MoreDon McNeill and Rob Carlisle taped an on-the-spot Men's Nationals commentary from Fox Meadow Tennis Club which was later broadcast over NBC's "Monitor" program The Nationals now included a Men’s senior event, the 45 or over (this was changed to 50+ in 1965 as too many 45+ players were still very competitive in the Men's). Fittingly the new APTA President James Carlisle won the inaugural Men's Senior with partner Berkeley Johnson, and was a finalist in the Mixed. The Women’s final pitted two-time champion Louise Ganzenmueller against her sister-in-law Louise Raymond. The sister-in-law won. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959, and Paddle World Feb/Mar 1979
Read More
Clifford (Kip) Couch was one of the best players in the early APTA championships and was among the first group of individuals inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 1965. The sports writer George Trevor of The Sun (New York) called him the “stylist of the paddle tennis realm.”
Read MoreHelen Couch readies the candles for the Club's festive seventy-fifth anniversary tea The Governors, Tea is an annual event that takes place in April. Tradition dictates that no recipe be printed for the punch served at the event and instructions for the punch are handed down from president to president; and theoretically, therefore, the only way to get the recipe is to work one's way up through the Board of Governors. However, presidents have been noted to be using bottles of champagne, Cointreau, and brandy in concocting the mixture. There is suspicion, too, that liberties are taken from time to time with the formula. Ollie Kingsbury says every president uses what he wants in the recipe, but that his was the best, attributable to the classical caloric count of imported champagne.
Read More
The 1958 Men’s Championships saw the introduction of the formal Foot Fault Rules. The server shall throughout his delivery (moment of impact of paddle and ball) of his service: A. Not change his position by walking or running (1) The server shall not by the following movements of his feet be deemed "to change his position by walking or running" (a) Slight movements of the feet that do not materially affect the location originally taken by him (b) An unrestricted movement of one foot so long as the other foot maintains continuously its original contact with the ground. The moving foot cannot touch the baseline or touch inside the court. B. Maintain contact with the ground (platform) C. Keep both feet in such a manner so as not to touch the baseline nor touch inside the court. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
APTA President Carlisle and Johnson repeated in the 45+ and Carlisle also captured the Men’s with partner Hebard when they made a great comeback after being two sets down against the previous year's winners. Elfie Carroll and Louise Ganzenmueller, the previous year's finalists, captured their third title. From 1950-1960 they won three and were finalists four times. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
Close served as APTA Tournament Chairman from 1958-1959, after which he served as association President from 1960-1961. These were busy and successful years for the game and, during his regime, the APTA membership increased from 24 to 38 membership clubs. Close received the APTA Honor Award in 1967
Read More
This acquisition completed a plan dating from the late 1940s to sell the Club’s less usable higher land off Church Lane and to expand instead towards the more usable lower land behind the Club. The higher ground of the Church Lane lot was sold in 1955. Many of the trees planted by the club, starting in 1959-60 under Walter Close, were added to the newly acquired Stonehouse parcel. Source: Adapted from Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club – The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read MoreBlanchard considered the Scrambles event championed by Ken Ward to be “one of the greatest steps forward in the history of platform tennis.” The Scrambles was a men’s event and was followed by Jamborees, a mixed event that Oz Moore was active in fathering. In 1959, the APTA turned over all responsibility for the Jambles to Fox Meadow, where a Scrambles event had been run very successfully for a number of years. Fox Meadow also had enough courts to handle the number of teams signing up.
Read More
This was the largest Nationals since its inception. Fifty-one teams played in the mixed doubles at the Wee Burn Club in Darien, Connecticut. Thirty-one teams fought it out in the national senior men's doubles, and there were 43 teams in the women's doubles, both held at the Fox Meadow Tennis Club of Scarsdale, New York. The men's doubles draw, also at Fox Meadow, was the highlight, with 77 teams from 35 clubs from Massachusetts to Virginia entered. It was run by a committee under the able chairmanship of Walter H. Close, the APTA President. With the aid of four Manursing Island courts, 154 players were taken care of in two days. The Women’s event was won by the mother-daughter team of Madeline Beck and Susan Beck Wasch. Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959 “In 1959, also, was played one of the best matches of men's doubles ever seen i[...]
Read More
At the October 7, 1958 meeting of the APTA, President Carlisle reported a membership of 34 clubs and 5 individuals. Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959
Read More
James Power Gordon was born in Brooklyn, NY, on March 20, 1928, and was raised in Forest Hills and Scarsdale, NY He attended Scarsdale High School and Phillips Exeter Academy (Class of 1945). In 1949 he received a bachelor’s degree from MIT and joined the physics Department of Columbia University as a graduate student. He received his Masters and PhD degrees in physics in 1951 and 1955, respectively. In the framework of his doctoral research he designed, built and demonstrated the successful operation of the first maser (microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) together with H. Zeiger and with his doctoral advisor Prof. Charles H. Townes. There was considerable skepticism about whether the device would work and some of his colleagues said maser really stood for money acquisition scheme for expensive research. Gordon however was a believer and had a bet of a b[...]
Read More
The Reporter-Dispatch of White Plains, New York, was one of the leaders among the local Scarsdale papers in giving interesting, illustrated accounts of platform tennis. The March 9th edition of “One of Saturday's features,” speaking of the Men’s Nationals , commented on the play of Earle Gatchell of Fox Meadow and Ken Ward of Manursing Island Club, who admitted to a combined age of 128 years. “They beat two younger men from Massachusetts in the first round in straight sets before bowing out. Gatchell helped construct the world's first platform tennis court three decades ago. I might add that the older team taught the youngsters something about the strategy and tactics of the game. When Earle came to report the results, he said, 'There has been a dreadful mistake. I know it wasn't supposed to happen, but we won.' Platform tennis covers a wide span of years." Source: Adapted [...]
Read More
Jimmy Cogswell was a co-founder of the game and served as President of FMTC in 1939. He was among the first group of individuals inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 1965. Upon retirement, Jimmy moved back to his boyhood roots in Maine and settled in Kittery, where he proceeded to build a retirement home and accompanying barn. He used the latter to pursue his hobbies that had expanded to include building a dinghy. He acquired a classic Down East open lobster boat and embarked on a retirement career as an avid amateur lobster fisherman. He died suddenly one morning in 1959 while attending to his lobster pots and was buried at the First Congregational Church in Kittery Point, ME. Blanchard’s second book on the game, Platform Paddle Tennis, which was published that year, was dedicated to his memory.
Read More
This was Blanchard's second book on the game. His first book Paddle Tennis had been published in 1944. Blanchard was a prolific writer and wrote many articles about paddle and published a number cruising guide books on his other passion, sailing.
Read More
Telesports made a 16mm sound film of about 5 minutes showing part of the 1960 National Men's Doubles Finals. The APTA 1963 Annual Meeting Minutes indicated that the film was the property of the APTA and was available to any member club at no cost by contacting the Secretary-Treasurer. Harrison and Pardoe win their second title in a tough match against the 1953 & 1954 champions and tennis stars Guernsey and McNeill. Madge Beck and daughter Susan Beck Wasch win their second title in a row. Cliff and Suzanne Sutter captured the Mixed over FMTC’s Susan Beck Wasch and her brother John Beck, earning them a mention in the March 21st edition of Sports Illustrated. Blanchard called Cliff Sutter, “a canny player if ever there was one and few can compare with him in the way he varies his game and keeps opponents guessing.” Sutter had won the intercollegiate tennis championshi[...]
Read More
Ware, Blanchard’s son-in-law, spent roughly 40 years of his adult life nurturing and promoting the game of platform tennis. He served as Secretary of the APTA from 1959 to 1961, during which time he did extensive research on format, size, and timing of tournaments and the composition of paddles. Ware was instrumental in bringing young people into the game when he inaugurated the first APTA Junior Boys National Championships in 1963 and was the driving force behind changing the ball color from white to orange and persuading manufacturers to adopt the new color. He designed the crossed paddles and ball insignia for the Association. The logo was modernized in the late 1970's, but Ware's original design remains on the crests presented to Hall of Fame recipients and past Presidents. Ware was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995
Read More
1960 Annual Meeting Minutes
Read MoreFuture multiple champion and Hall of Famer Charlotte Lee emerged on the paddle scene as a winner in the Mixed with James Gordon, and in the Women’s with Lindsay Sager. Hebard partnered with Zan Carver to win the Men’s, and with Walter Close to win the 45+. Source: Oliver H. Durrell, The Official Guide to Platform Tennis, 1967
Read More
The Men’s final was a repeat of the previous year, although this time Hebard and Carver won in four sets, not five. The Men’s final was filmed for television. James Gordon and Charlotte Lee repeated as Mixed Winners. Susan Beck Wasch won her third Women's title with Cogswell's daughter, Theodora (Do) Deland. Source: Oliver H. Durrell, The Official Guide to Platform Tennis, 1967
Read More
1961 Annual Meeting Minutes
Read More
The article by Rex Lardner described the history of the game, where the game was being played, notable players and the casual sociability of the sport, including the "dress code." The article began.... "The tennis fans of Connecticut and its neighboring states are a hardy lot—at least, a significant and growing number of them are. When winter winds begin to howl and snow blankets their courts, these intrepid racketeers neither give up their ball-banging nor take up squash; they deck themselves instead in a special kind of warm winter finery and move on to a structure of wood and wire to play a game called platform Tennis."
Read MoreHebard and Carver won their third straight Men’s title, and Charlotte Lee won her second Women’s title with a new partner, Buffy Briggs, and her third straight Mixed, but this time with Dick Hebard, rather than James Gordon. Zan Carver and George Harrison won the Men’s 45+. Source: Oliver H. Durrell The Official Guide to Platform Tennis, 1967, APTA Platform Paddle Tennis 1963-1973: Rules and Records, 1973
Read More
In the winter of 1963, an equipment innovation pioneered at Fox Meadow brought new color to the game. Because paddle in the north is often played in snow, the traditional white ball was difficult to see. John Ware decided that coloring the balls might solve this problem. "I got a can of fluorescent paint, orangey-red, and started spraying paddle balls. These crusty orange balls worked pretty well until they dried out and cracked, and you got paint all over your clothes. But they were the precursors of the present yellow ball." The APTA 1963 Annual Meeting Minutes included the following recommendation of Rules and Equipment Chairman George Harrison: "The committee has spent the past year in an unsuccessful attempt to inveigle the ball manufacturers to produce a regulation ball spray painted with a fluorescent yellow-orange paint. . . . We suggest the member clubs purchase balls [...]
Read More
Sullivan was President of the APTA in 1964 and 1965, and was on the Board for many years prior to that, serving as secretary, treasurer, vice-president, and chairman of the nominating committee. During his tenure, the association improved its communication with the membership, and set the sport on a more professional footing by demanding quality umpiring and giving APTA more control over tournament draws.
Read More
1962 Annual Meeting Minutes
Read More
Fox Meadow was Walter and Betty Close's first love. All of their best friends were there and it was the nucleus of their social life. They played tennis and paddle tennis and planned, executed and attended all of the parties. No one cared more about the grounds and the plantings than Walter. He was house and grounds chairman when it was decided that a retaining wall between the porch and the tennis courts was needed and he became the chief designer, foreman and construction worker. Starting in 1959-60 Close and his crew of volunteers began to plant trees, dozens and dozens of them. And, when there were droughts he saved rainwater from the gutters of his home and somehow transported it to Fox Meadow to water his precious seedlings. Close claimed that over the years the Club had planted more that 256 trees to screen the paddle courts and to prevent the lights from bothering neighbo[...]
Read More
Blanchard, a co-founder of the game, suffered a heart attack at the Harvard-Princeton football game at Harvard stadium. A 1910 graduate of Harvard, he was a leader in textile research, a past president of the Textile Research Institute (1941-1945) and, for many years, head of his own industrial relations firm, which he founded in 1948. He served as the first President of the APTA, from 1934-1938, and was a tireless promoter of the game in the early years. He was among the first group of individuals inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 1965. In addition to authoring two books on the game, he also wrote widely on yachting. One of Blanchard’s reports, prepared for the Massachusetts Development and Industrial Commission and made public in 1951 after a two-month dispute involving charges it was being suppressed, told of a “widespread belief” that the executive and legi[...]
Read More
The Minutes paid a tribute to the late Fessenden Blanchard who had died suddenly shortly after the meeting. Two of the 1963 National Tournaments recorded the largest number of team entries in the history of the APTA - 85 teams in the Mixed Doubles and 83 teams in the National Men's Championshps. The Minutes reflected two important initiatives: A National Boy's Tournament was established: "Over the past year, a keen interest in an APTA Boys' Tournament was reflected by many member clubs and individuals. The APTA Executive Committee has therefore decided to create and endorse a new National Boys' Doubles Tournament. The provisions of this tournament are as follows: a. It is to be a pure junior tournament, not to be confused, with the USLT Junior Tournament age rulings. It is open to all boys who have not reached the age of 20 by the date of the tournament. b. The bowl to [...]
Read More
From 1929 until his death in 1963 Blanchard had kept a detailed Scrapbook about how the game started and developed and those that made it happen. It provides a unique insight into the early years of the game. Blanchard also had an earlier scrapbook covering 1928 - 1940. There is significant overlap between the two and the earlier one has a number of old photographs that were "borrowed" and not returned.
Read MoreDuring his tenure on the APTA Board in the early 1960s, John Ware began looking at clubs with dedicated junior programs. In an effort to learn how to encourage other clubs to strengthen their programs, he visited the Englewood Field Club in New Jersey to observe its program. Ware found it to be so impressive that he suggested the APTA sponsor a tournament for boys. In 19631 Fox Meadow hosted the first National Boys' Doubles, chaired by Rawle Deland and John Ware (both, appropriately enough, sons-in-law of the game's founders). The APTA named the Championship trophy for the recently deceased Hall of Fame inductee Earle Gatchell
Read MoreThe Men’s 45+ was discontinued and was later reinstated in 19721. A Men’s Senior 50+ event was added as the new Senior Men's event. In the Men’s, David Jennings and Oliver Kimberly, the previous year’s finalists, emerged as the winners over Thomas Holmes and Michael O’Hearn. Charlotte Lee and Buffy Briggs won their second straight Women’s. The Fox Meadow pair of Zan Carver and Barbara Koegel won the Mixed (Zan had wanted to take a cigarette break after they had split two long sets, as was his way, but Bobbie would not let him, as was her way!). Germain Glidden and William Park won the inaugural 50+. William deSaussure IV and Geoffrey Nixon won the inaugural Boy's Junior event [Also see APTA 1963 Annual Meeting Minutes], the first of three straight titles for the team. Note 1: The reason for this was that the APTA concluded that their initial d[...]
Read More
Hall of Fame inductee Earle Gatchell was one of the leading pioneers and proponents of the game. Gatchell was a great supporter of junior players and the trophy for the Boys Junior Championships which started in 1964 was named after him. [Also see APTA 1963 Annual Meeting Minutes]
Read More
1964 Annual Meeting Minutes
Read More
Dick Reilly had started building courts in 1965 and, by 1967, had built over sixty around the country. An enthusiastic player, Reilly developed many improvements in court construction that greatly enhanced durability and playability. In the early 1970s, he pioneered the aluminum deck, which has become the standard. Among the many improvements he made to court construction are: • The use of thirty-foot, kiln-dried deck members, joining under the net, making the playing surface as technically perfect as is possible. • A two-toned, green and red deck surface on which the white lines were two inches in width. This aided the players' vision and promoted greater accuracy in a fast-paced rally. • Hinged snow-boards which facilitated rapid clearing of the court. • Quartz-iodine lighting for night play. • The use of one-inch, hexangular, galvanized mesh with a gau[...]
Read More
On February 18, 1965, the APTA gave out the inaugural Honor Awards to individuals who had made outstanding contributions to platform tennis. The awards were to be presented when the association's Executive Committee felt that one or more individuals merited inclusion in the group of men and women who had created the game, nurtured it, or played it as champions. The first APTA Honor Award Recipients were: Madeline (Madge) Childress Beck: Considered one of the outstanding women players of the game, Madeline (Madge) Childress Beck won 17 National Championships—12 Women’s, 4 Mixed, and 1 Singles—from 1936 to 1960 and likely would have won more except that the Women’s Nationals were not held from 1943-1948, and the Mixed Nationals were not held from 1943-1945 and in 1948. (Fox Meadow Tennis Club) When it comes to discussing the leading women players developed since the game b[...]
Read MoreHolmes and O’Hearn (son of Hall of Fame member Charles O’Hearn), the previous year’s finalists won a five-setter over Dick Squires and Ted Winnpenny, Jr.1 Hebard won his first 50+ with partner Sidney Sweet and Charlotte Lee won her fourth Mixed title, this time with Bill Pardoe. Do Cogswell Deland and Susan Beck Wasch won the Women’s; it was Wasch’s fourth Women’s title and the second one for the team. Note 1: Charley O’Hearn was seen anxiously walking back and forth around the court where the final was being played like an expectant father. He was overjoyed at the outcome. Source: Oliver H. Durrell The Official Guide to Platform Tennis, 1967; and APTA Platform Paddle Tennis 1963-1973: Rules and Records, 1973; Personal communication from Michael O’Hearn.
Read More
Kingsbury (1902-2005) was born in Clifton, NJ and graduated from Paterson High School. For many years he was an officer of the advertising firm Donahue & Coe, Inc. in New York City where he handled one of the key accounts, Metro Goldwyn Mayer in the hay day of MGM musicals. During Kingsbury's tenure the board developed plans for a major addition to the clubhouse that would contain a new kitchen and clubroom. The undertaking created much controversy with neighbors and the new wing only became a reality in 1967 because of the perseverance of Walter Close and Kingsbury who were feted by the club for their achievement, at which time the addition was unofficially dubbed the Kingsbury Wing.
Read MoreIn the immediate post-war years, the Club's boards concentrated on adding paddle courts and improving the grounds. Not until that was done and the old mortgage retired could the board move on to the long-held dream of expanding the little 1927 clubhouse.` The addition would contain both a new kitchen and clubroom. Such construction required a zoning variance from the Village, and some nearby residents protested strongly. They said doubling the size of the clubhouse would add to existing traffic problems and noise. At the time of the controversy the Club had 145 family members, thirty house members, ten nonresident members, and two honorary members. The parking lot could hold twenty-two cars. Building the wing involved months of planning and was accomplished principally because of the presidential perseverance of Walter Close and Oliver Kingsbury. Hours were spent soliciting [...]
Read More
James M. Carlisle: Carlisle served as APTA Secretary from 1955-1957, and as President from 1957-1959. A winner in as many different kinds of tournaments as anyone else in the early years of the game, he won the Men’s Nationals in 1955 and 1958 with Richard K. Hebard. He also won the first and second annual National Men's 45+, in 1957 and 1958, a tournament that he is generally considered to have founded. (Fox Meadow Tennis Club). Donald K. Evans: Among his many accomplishments, Donald K. Evans is best known for the backstop that shares his name. In designing and producing the Evan Backstop, he solved the major impediment to the enjoyment and expansion of the game—the inconsistent bounces of the ball off the wires. He designed and built the freestanding taut wiring that is officially used today. The first installation was on Jimmy Cogswell’s court in Scarsdale, NY, during the wi[...]
Read More
The previous year’s finalists, Dick Squires and Ted Winnpenny, Jr., prevailed over the new and rising team of Gordon Gray and Jesse Sammis. Charlotte Lee won her fourth Women’s title with yet another partner, Carolyn Nelson, and Gordon Gray and Anne Symmers won the first of their three straight Mixed titles. The dominance by Fox Meadow teams had begun to wane. Cogswell's grandson, Rawle Deland, Jr., was a finalist in the Junior Boy's for the second year in a row. Source: Oliver H. Durrell The Official Guide to Platform Tennis, 1967; and APTA Platform Paddle Tennis 1963-1973: Rules and Records, 1973
Read More
To support the growth of the game beyond the NYC metropolitan area the APTA Board elected two Regional VPS located in MA (New England) and MD (Mid Atlantic). 1965 Annual Meeting Minutes
Read MoreIn 1964, Peter Dominick (Colorado US Senator from 1963-1975) was working on subdividing a family farm in Cherry Hills Village (just south of Denver) and set aside a parcel for a family swim and tennis club. Hig Gould 1, a transplant from the East and related to Dominick through marriage, was working of the subdivision that was to include the club, now know as the Arapahoe Tennis Club, and persuaded the other founders to include two platform tennis courts. The game started to flourish there and was helped by the arrival of Fess Blanchard's daughter, Ruth, who moved there after the death of her husband Fred Walker (Hall of Fame 1966) in 1964. Ruth Walker Johnson was an accomplished player having been a finalist in the 1956 and 1959 Women's Nationals. Note 1: Gould was a stand-out hockey player at St Paul's and Yale. After graduation from Yale he did two years of active duty in the Na[...]
Read MoreSwanberg enjoyed many years as an active player and enthusiast of the game. He fondly recalled the well-attended annual meetings of the APTA at the Princeton Club in New York City and, at one of these meetings during his tenure, he reported that it appeared that the game was growing at a rate of 20-25% annually, based on metrics of court construction and APTA membership rolls. Swanberg was instrumental in getting ranking players to put on exhibitions at clubs where new courts had been built.
Read More
Walter H. Close, Jr.: Walter Close started his platform tennis career in the early 1950’s and soon became known as a “worker” who gravitated to the important jobs. He teamed with Dick Hebard to win the National Men’s 45+ in 1960 and again in 1961. But, his accomplishments stretched beyond the court. He served as APTA Tournament Chairman from 1958-1959, after which he served as association President from 1960-1961. These were busy and successful years for the game and, during his regime, the APTA membership increased from 24 to 38 membership clubs. (Fox Meadow Tennis Club). John A. Stephenson: John Stephenson served as Vice President of the APTA from 1941 to 1946, and as its President from 1948-49. An avid player and tough competitor, he won many local tournaments, and was very active in promoting paddle at the Manursing Island Club, and organized some of the first night play u[...]
Read More
The book was authorized by the APTA and the dust-jacket explained the book’s goals: “This book has been prepared to answer every conceivable question about platform tennis. It tells the story of the origin and development of the game, describes the strategy and tactics of play, how to go about constructing a platform, where to purchase paddles, balls, and net, the official rules, and how to run a tournament. It also explains the activities of the American Platform Tennis Association, and lists its past officials, as well as the records of every major tournament ever played under the auspices of the Association.” One of the useful tips from the chapter on "How to Run a Tournament" "The Chairman can host the semi-finals for luncheon at his home, thus allowing the finalists a chance for a shower and change of clothes. Bull shots (vodka and beef broth) are traditional on this [...]
Read More
APTA President Ned Swanberg and his partner Tom Richardson lost to the 1964 Champions David Jennings and Oliver Kimberly, Jr. in four sets. Charlotte Lee and Peggy Stanton won the first of their four straight Women’s titles, defeating two time champions Do Deland (Cogswell's daughter) and Susan Wasch. Gordon Gray and Anne Symmers won their second straight Mixed. George Lowman and Bill Pardoe won their second straight Men’s 50+. Gogswell's grandson won the Junior Boy's with John Lowman; they had been finalists in 1965 and 1966. Source: Oliver H. Durrell The Official Guide to Platform Tennis, 1967; and APTA Platform Paddle Tennis 1963-1973: Rules and Records, 1973 Women's Nationals 1967: Peggy Stanton and Charlotte Lee
Read More
Paul Sullivan (1927-2009) was born in Brooklyn, NY and lived most of his life in Scarsdale. He attended Princeton University, and served in the Navy as a radioman in Annapolis during WWII. His work career spanned over 50 years, first with Hayden Stone and then with Smith Barney. Paul was a avid tennis player and became a USTA umpire and officiated at the US Open and Wimbledon. He grew up playing tennis with John Parker Compton at Fox Meadow and became the long-time chairman for the Compton Memorial Tournament. During his term 1967 the club renovated the eight old courts and installed a ninth one. Paul also made many contributions to platform tennis and to the APTA where he served as President from 1963-1965. Sullivan was elected to the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 2002.
Read More
1966 Annual Meeting Minutes Only the first page of the Minutes have survived.
Read MoreDuring Paul Sullivan's presidency in 1967, the Club renovated eight old courts and built a ninth one. Dues were raised to $150 a year to help finance the program. Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club – The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read More
It had been a controversial journey but the new wing was now a reality thanks to the efforts of Kingsbury and Close. Ollie Kingsbury weilds the scissors as the new wing of the clubhouse is formally opened. Watching are Governors Wilson, Sullivan, Ware, Nagle, H Hammer, Tredwell, and Close. Fox Meadow members have enjoyed singing together and, on especially happy occasions, can be counted on to have their own lyrics ready. The opening of the much-disputed new wing at the Governors' Tea in 1967 was such an event. "Maybe the spirit unique in Fox Meadow can't be entirely captured in cold type," muses Ollie Kingsbury, "but a seven verse song and chorus composed for the occasion comes rewardingly close." The credits read "Lyrics by John and Ellie Lou Kirk and Bob Kingsbury (with constructive editing by numerous members). Performed to the music of ‘The MTA,' strummed by Julie Westl[...]
Read More
The WPPTA was formed in 1967 by five private clubs: The Edgeworth Club, Allegheny Country Club, Fox Chapel Racquet Club, Fox Chapel Golf Club, and the Rolling Rock Club. The purpose of the organization was to promote paddle to other clubs and organizations and to sponsor the Western Penn. Open tournaments, the first of which was held in 1968. Within four years women's., mixed, and junior tournaments had been added to the schedule. Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 2, No. 1
Read More
In searching for a new caretaker board members consulted with Felix McCrea, who had retired after almost 20 years at the club on a full-time basis and five more years on part-time. He suggested they talk to the foreman of the Scarsdale Parks and Recreation Department, namely Hugh King. Hugh admitted that when Jim Carlisle approached him about the job, he was apprehensive. He was, after all, a family man with three young sons. At the Village he had a staff under him, and a pension. "So I sat with Felix," Hugh said in a voice that still echoes County Galway, "and he told me he was there during the Depression, and that there were days when nobody came into the Club. And Felix said, 'I never lost a paycheck. You don't have to worry about security’." When Hugh King was hired in 1967, FMTC acquired a man who was to become universally liked and admired. And the feeling was mutual. "I d[...]
Read More
By 1970, there were an estimated 150,000 people playing platform tennis. Based on a survey of court builders and ball and racquet manufacturers, the growth during the next five years ranged from 15 to 25 percent per year.
Read More
Gordon Gray and Jesse Sammis fell short again and were defeated by Bradley Drowne and William Scarlett. Charlotte Lee and Peggy Stanton1 repeated in the Women’s, as did Gordon Gray and Anne Symmers in the Mixed, and George Lowman and Bill Pardoe in the Men’s 50+. Cogswell's daughter, Do Deland, was a finalist in the Women's and his grandson, Rawle Deland, Jr., was the Junior Boy's finalist Source: Oliver H. Durrell The Official Guide to Platform Tennis, 1967; and APTA Platform Paddle Tennis 1963-1973: Rules and Records, 1973 Note 1: Margaret G. (“Peggy”) Stanton was a major contributor to the advancement of women’s platform tennis and a distinguished player. Besides winning the Women’s Nationals with Lee from 1967 through 1970, she went on to win two Senior Women’s Nationals in 1974 and 1977. She was the first female on the Board of Directors of the APTA [...]
Read More
With growing interest, the number of tournaments sanctioned by the APTA increased dramatically. In 1969, there were 25 listed tournaments, but a decade later, the APTA offered more than one hundred events.
Read MoreAmbassador Walter Stoessel, a keen player and lover of the game, introduced the game to Warsaw when he was appointed US Ambassador there in 1968. They had been initiated in the game at the Chevy Chase Club in Washington, D.C. and while they were far from expert they loved the game and thought it would be ideal in the long Polish winters. Using plans Supplied by APTA, they built a wooden court at the American Embassy in Warsaw. It worked, although it was quite a hybrid. The wood was obtained locally, the wire came from West Germany, and the lights were regular Warsaw street lights. The game caught on rapidly and was played enthusiastically by members of the American community in Warsaw and their friends in the foreign community. In 1970 he sent a letter to Paul Molloy, APTA President, enclosing a picture taken on February 20, 1970 before the inaugural game on the Warsaw Emba[...]
Read MoreThe 1970's Nationals were the largest draws in history, with 128 men's teams and 72 in the women’s. Gordon Gray and Jesse Sammis III won their second consecutive title over the rising team of Bob Kingsbury and John Mangan. Charlotte Lee and Peggy Stanton won their fourth straight title. John Mangan sweetened his loss in the Men's by partnering with Susie Harris to beat the previous year’s champions, Charlotte Lee and Bradley Drowne. Dick Hebard and Zan Carver defeated the previous year’s champions, Tad Bowen and Sidney Sweet, Jr. in the 50+ (Hebard had won the event in 1965 with Sweet). John Cookman and Mansfield Sprague won the Men’s 60+ (also called the Veteran’s). In September 1970, the second APTA Paddle Newsletter printed the draw sheets and results - see link above. Source: The APTA Paddle Newsletter, September 1970
Read More
Oscar F. Moore served as President of the APTA from 1946-1948, which proved to be important growth years. He was credited with developing the mixed Scrambles or Jamboree, a format that gave the game much of its social overtones and proved to be very popular. Few people gave so much of their time and energy, or were so dedicated to platform tennis. (Fox Meadow Tennis Club).
Read More“If it had not been for Fox Meadow Tennis Club and the friends we made there, I don't think Evie and I would have stayed in Scarsdale. We had planned to move to Connecticut, but we met such great people at Fox Meadow that we changed our minds and bought a home [in Scarsdale]. Now we have lived here more than thirty-two years.”—Jim Carlisle, FMTC President, 1969-70. Source: Diane Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read More
Bob Kingsbury, the son of FMTC President Ollie Kingsbury (1965-1966) captured an enviable number of club tennis and platform tennis crowns. In tennis he won the Singles five times - 1966-1967, 1969-1970 and 1975, and the same number in Doubles - 1962 (with his brother) and 1969-1971 (with Zan Carver). In Mixed Doubles he won six championships all with his wife, Clare - 1968, 1970-1973, and 1975-1976. Teamed with Zan Carver, Kingsbury won the club Men's platform tennis title five years running, from 1968 to 1972, and the Mixed Doubles six times, again all with Clare - 1970-1974 and 1976. In APTA National championships, he and partner John Mangan of Manursing Island Club were Men's Doubles runners-up in 1970 and 1971 before clinching the title in 1972 at Fox Meadow, and again in 1973 in Cleveland. Kingsbury served as APTA President from 1978-80 and was inducted into the Pla[...]
Read MoreAmbassador Walter Stoessel, Jr. reported that paddle was of to a good start in Warsaw. c/o The American Consulate Gen., APO New York, N.Y. 09757, May 18, 1970. Dear Mr. Thistle: Thank you for sending me, under cover of your letter of April 20, a copy of the APTA Newsletter. We will look forward to receiving subsequent copies. We found particularly enjoyable the article on paddle tennis from the American Airlines magazine. – Our paddle tennis season ended this month in Warsaw with a tournament and banquet where trophies were distributed. The tournament was held over the weekend of May 9-10, with good finals games in all categories: Women's Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Men's Doubles, and Scrambles. We had originally planned to have the finals the previous weekend, but a snowfall on May 2 interfered! The paddle tennis banquet was held May 1) in the American Club at the Embass[...]
Read MoreSally Barnes Bondurant was another of the second-generation paddle players to emerge in winners' lists in the 1960s. With her mother, Helen Barnes, Bondurant took the Club Women's Doubles title in 1968. Paired with Spencer Brent, son of Old Army Athlete Rufus Brent, she collected the Mixed Doubles championship. Bondurant paired with various partners to win most of the Club's member and invitational tournaments in 1968. Bondurant, along with her sister, Lucie Bel, had an impressive tennis career as a junior (see The Barnes Sisters and ended up compiling an even better record on the tennis courts winning the Singles title four times - 1965 and 1967-1969 and the Doubles three times - 1965-1967, the last two with her mother. Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club-The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read MoreThe minutes of the November 5th meeting reported on: (a) the efforts to grow the game (b) the inaugural National Senior Women’s tournament to be held in 1971 (c) the introduction of tiebreakers (d) a focus on regional events The Treasurer’s report showed income of $6442.42, a Net Loss for the year of $192, and a Net Worth of $9,692.67.
Read More
Although she won twenty club titles in tennis and paddle, as well as two APTA titles, one in Women's Doubles and one in Mixed Doubles, and was inducted into The Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 1966, Barbara Koegel is remembered best at Fox Meadow for the help and encouragement she gave to other players, as opposed to her own play. As coach of the Paddle Pals at FMTC in the 1950s and 1960s, she made it fun to work hard at improving one's game. Barbara’s husband, William F. Koegel, served as President of FMTC from 1973-1975. Source: Adapted from Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club – The First Hundred Years, 1983 Several ladies chairmen gave credit for team play in the late 1950s and the 1960s to Koegel. When Barbara coached Paddle Pals, says Delsa Wilson, she instilled a competitive spirit by constantly telling the players, "You have to want the ball to come to you." Dotsi[...]
Read MoreElfie Carroll, a New York State tennis champion in singles and doubles, won three National Women’s (1950, 1955 and 1958) and four straight Mixed (1949-1952) with her husband, a record that stood until 1982 when it was tied by Hilary Hilton Marold and Doug Russell. Her Women’s wins in 1955 and 1958 were all the more remarkable since she and her husband moved to eastern Long Island in 1952 where she had few opportunities to play. (Seminole Club, Forest Hills, NY). Alexander (Zan) H. Carver, Jr. played on the amateur tennis circuit and was ranked as high as number eleven in 1944. He won the Men’s Nationals three straight times (1961-1963), the Mixed nationals in 1964 and the Men’s 45+ in 1963 and the Men’s 50+ in 1970. He was skilled at the half-volley and brought the center court theory of tennis doubles to the game. (Fox Meadow Tennis Club). Mary A. (Maizie) Moore was pa[...]
Read More
Kim Kimberly and Tad Bowen installed the new aluminum decks pioneered by Richard Reilly of R. J. Reilly, Inc. that were the first installations of what has become the modern standard. They were built in the Wilton & New Canaan, CT area.
Read MoreRichard J. Reilly, Jr. had been building wooden courts since the mid 1960’s and had made numerous innovations over time. But, it was Wilson Sporting Goods that ultimately gave Reilly his best idea. Wilson had come out with a metal tennis racquet and their major rival, Head, was anxious to catch up and had some consultants working on an aluminum racquet as a competitive response. It so happened that Reilly had built a wooden court for Peter Fisher in Katonah, NY and Fisher suggested he visit George Vaughn and Dick Hargrave who, along with an engineer with a PhD in the aluminum field, were the principal consultants for Head. This Princeton, NJ based team helped Reilly develop all the technology (specifications, extrusion dyes and techniques), required to manufacture an aluminum deck. As a woodworking purist, he hated the idea of using aluminum, but saw it as providing the longevit[...]
Read More
Malloy had been very close to the game for many years but, despite this, in his farewell remarks as President, he said, “….there is no way I can picture where our game will be 10 years from now. The instant appeal of the game is so great that it is impossible to estimate how long the accelerated growth will last and how far it will spread." Under his leadership the first newsletter was created to keep players informed of activities throughout the year and much work was done in scheduling and coordinating tournaments and satellite events in recognition of the new areas of growth in the game and their demand for tournament paddle. National rankings had also been established by the end of his term, with Hennessey donating cups to the individual man and woman gaining the most points from ranking tournament play. With the upsurge in women’s play, he was also instrumental in getting[...]
Read More
CBS had coverage of the National Mixed Doubles narrated by Heywood Halle Broun, Jr.
Read More
The newsletter leads off: “The Executive Committee of the APTA has thought for a long time that a periodic newsletter on the game of Platform Tennis is in order and would be of interest to the membership. Accordingly, the following is our first attempt at such a newsletter, and we welcome contributions to it. Same should be sent to Brook Kindred, 10 Brook Lane, Scarsdale, New York 10583.” The newsletter went on to cover the National Boys’ tournament (won by the Baird brothers) and the results of the Cleveland Invitational, Connecticut State Men’s, and Long Island Invitational. It also reprinted an article from the in-flight magazine American Way on paddle tennis. The newsletter was edited by Fox Meadow member, Brook Kindred for four years
Read MoreThe foot-fault revision was unofficially known as the “Kimberly Rule,” after Kim Kimberly who took a running leap at the ball, ignoring the baseline and violating most rules, however modified. He was fun to watch though! The First APTA newsletter carried a discussion on foot-faults and the let rule if a ball was bounced out of the court. "Foot-Faults At a recent meeting of the Executive Committee, the foot fault rule was discussed ad infinitum due to the flagrant violation of it by numerous players who are beating their serve to the net. To reiterate, the APTA foot-fault rule is a direct copy of' the USLTA rule: The server shall throughout the delivery of' the serve: A. Not change his position by walking or running. B. Not touch, with either foot, any area other than that behind the baseline within the imaginary extension of' the center mark or sideline. Section A w[...]
Read More
George R. Harrison won the Men's Nationals in 1956 and 1960 and the Men's 45+ in 1963. He was active in the APTA as chairman of the Rules and Equipment Committee and, during his tenure and through his efforts, the yellow-orange ball that replaced the original white ball was introduced and became the ball standard until the modern yellow ball was adopted. (Fox Meadow Tennis Club). William E. Pardoe won the Men's Nationals in 1956 and 1960, the Mixed Nationals in 1965. and the Men’s 50+ three straight times (1966-1968). He had one of the all-time best serves in the game, and brought the American twist service to platform tennis. (Fox Meadow Tennis Club).
Read More
No one from Fox Meadow had won the Boys' Doubles yet, but in 1969 the Club's Clay Auxford, son of Sally Childress Auxford, and partner Hi Lankenau of Chappaqua made it to the finals. They lost 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 to Chip and Steve Baird, brothers from Chevy Chase, Maryland, who won the Men’s National Championship in 1976. Steve Baird and partner Rich Maier dominated the game in the 1980s and early 1990s Source: Adapted from Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club – The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read MoreThe APTA Paddle Newsletter reported on the policy that stated that only officially approved rackets and balls would be sanctioned for play at APTA Tournaments. The only rackets approved for play at the time were manufactured by the Dalton Company, Marcraft and Craig & Simplex Co. Official balls used at APTA Tournaments were those produced by the Barr Rubber Company. The APTA told manufacturers, interested in getting their equipment approved, to contact the APTA concerning submission requirements. Source: First edition of The APTA Paddle Newsletter
Read More
The Annual Meeting Minutes covered the results of tournaments including the new Senior Veteran's (60+) which was contested for the Ken Ward Trophy, the financial health of the APTA, and the Honor Award presentations to George Harrison and William Pardoe. [See]
Read More
The 1971 Nationals included the inaugural Women’s 50+. The men had a 128 team draw, and the final was a repeat of the previous years. This win made it a hat-trick for Gray and Sammis, the second hat-trick in the game’s history (Hebard and Carver had won in 1961-1963). The new and up and coming team of Gloria Dillenbeck and B.J. DeBree won their first title, defeating the winners of the last four events, Charlotte Lee and Peggy Stanton. Tad Bowen and Sidney Sweet, Jr. repeated as finalists in the Men’s 50+, losing to Robert Baldwin and George Schmid. William Miller and Gregory Prince won the Men’s 60+, while Charlotte Lee and partner Clair Hesseltine won the inaugural Women’s 50+. In the Junior’s, Charles (Chip) Baird Jr. won his third straight and future Hall of Fame member, Rich Maier, was a finalist. Source: The APTA Paddle Newsletter, Vol. 2, No.[...]
Read MoreThe February APTA Paddle Newsletter discussed the issue of handling the large draws: “As the Men’s Doubles grows, the APTA is faced with the problem of the strain of the tournament on the host club, particularly in that the tourney is held over two weekends. Of concern also is that players from out of town who are defeated on the first weekend must return the following weekend to see the semi-finals and finals. There is also the distinct possibility of having to have a larger draw than 128 teams. Accordingly, the 3 following alternatives are being considered: 1. Confine the tournament to one weekend by having competition begin on Friday, and have a maximum draw of 128 teams. If necessary, hold regional qualifying rounds on the prior weekend to maintain a final draw of 128 teams. 2. Hold regional tournaments for places in a final draw of 64 teams and hold the 64 team tournam[...]
Read More
APTA sought reaction from players to this innovation by the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA1) Note 1: The USTA was previously known as the United States National Lawn Tennis Association that was established in 1881. In 1920 the word “National” was dropped and in 1975 the word “Lawn” was dropped
Read More
The September APTA Paddle Newsletter reported: “Starting this winter, paddle in New York City is a reality. The place is the Town Tennis Club. Sports Marketing Associates Corporation1 has joined with the exclusive Town Tennis Club in a joint platform tennis venture. They have three lighted courts available for lunchtime or after work play or all the time if you live in New York or don't want to go home. Also, complete clubhouse services from cocktails to meals to locker rooms with saunas. Sounds pretty plush. By membership only and same covers the paddle facility only from November I thru March 31." Note 1: SMAC was owned by "Mr. Paddle", the future Hall of Fame inductee Dick Squires Source: The APTA Paddle Newsletter, Vol. 2 No. 3
Read More
On November 1st, 128 people attended the meeting at the Princeton Club in New York City. The Minutes reflected the creation of satellite events to satisfy the needs of the growing interest in the game; the introduction of National rankings; the rapid growth of women’s play; and a request to the Nominating Committee to nominate a woman as Co-Tournament Chair to give women representation on the Board. The APTA also established a trophy for the “individual man or woman gaining the most points from tournament play,” with Moët Hennessey donating the cups each year. The Minutes of the meeting also included comments by outgoing APTA President Paul Molloy on the progress made over the past two years of his term, the financial statements, tournament results, Men's and Women's Rankings and a brief report of developments with the ball. The Nominating Committee report showed that the[...]
Read More
Another Dick Squires promotional video extolling the virtues of the game and its growing popularity. Includes instructions of how to play and footage of various matches in the 1970 including the finals of the Mixed Nationals in 1971.
Read MoreFrom the APTA Annual Minutes: “Robert Frothingham reported on efforts with Barr Rubber Company to improve the ball and asked Stan Greene of Marcraft to report on their efforts to enter this activity. Mr. Greene stated that they have a source for balls but are still working on the flocking problem. They hope to have limited quantities available this season.”
Read MoreThe Annual Minutes reported: “The APTA will have a new dues policy this year, notice of which has been sent out. Briefly, any individual who is a member of a dues paying club in the Association is eligible to play in any APTA Tournament. However, in order to be on the mailing list, he must pay annual dues of $3.00. Any individual who is not a member of a member club becomes a member of the Association upon payment of the $3.00 dues and can play in any APTA Tournament and will be put on the mailing list. (Obviously, one $3.00 payment is sufficient to cover the family).” Source: The APTA Paddle Newsletter
Read More
As with many sports, the turn of the calendar to a new century produced a new generation of platform tennis players who infused the game with a heightened level of athleticism and rapidly changing skill sets. Elbow-bending slices turned routine overheads into unplayable winners. Vicious spin serves caromed off two and even three screens to make aces part of the game. Two-fisted backhand blasts became the norm rather than the exception. An influx of converts from the tennis community was at the forefront of the new emphasis on physical play and new-honed skills. Source: Christina Kelly, Passing Shots: A Pictorial History of Platform Tennis, 2010
Read More
On the recommendation of Eagle Rubber Company, the APTA introduced a yellow ball (the “night ball”) in 1972. Other ball manufacturers soon followed their lead. Vittert produced the V-29 ball while Marcraft introduced both a red and yellow ball named “Big M.” Other manufacturers, like Barr, Puma and Bullet began producing orange and red balls as the game took off through the 1970’s. Source: Christina Kelly,Passing Shots: A Pictorial History of Platform Tennis, 2010 and Robert A. Brown,personal communication.
Read More
Marc Duvin covered the Men's and Women's Nationals for PTM: In the middle of the second set of his National Championship semi-final match, Scott Mansager shot a perplexed look at his partner. Flip Goodspeed. For the second time in three successive points Goodspeed had dumped a ball into the backhand of opponent Mike Stulac, who promptly did what he usually does when he gets a good look at a backhand - ripped a winner. Up a set, but down a break, Goodspeed and Mansager were within shouting distance of a fifth consecutive National Championship Final, a feat never before accomplished in the sport. But Stulac, with his backhand and stunning quickness at the net, was beginning to take over the match. "That ball can't go there. Flip. You know better than that," Mansager chided his partner. "Be smart." As if the disgusted look on his face wasn't telling enough, Goodspeed's play dur[...]
Read MoreAt their annual dinner, the Western Pennsylvania Platform Tennis Association (WPPTA) elected Neil Van Horn as President, replacing Eldridge (Woolly) Birmingham, who was a founding member. Birmingham had been largely instrumental in the development of paddle tennis in the Pittsburgh area, from court building to initiating the Men's, Women's and Mixed Doubles Invitational Tournaments. The WPPTA now had 10 member clubs. Source:The APTA Paddle Newsletter, Vol. 3 No. 3
Read MoreThe committee, headed by Fox Meadow members Paul Sullivan and Jim Carlisle, provided legal counsel. The by-laws were approved in 1973.
Read MoreIn a 1972 article about the Nationals in The New York Times, Tournament Co- Chairman Dick Balzac noted that teams had participated from as far away as Illinois, North Carolina, and Texas.
Read More
Annual Meeting Minutes
Read More
The April APTA Paddle Newsletter included two Times’ articles on the game – one previewing the upcoming Men’s Nationals at Fox Meadow, published on February 27th, and a March 26th article by Suzanne S. Fremon entitled “It’s Dawn for Platform Tennis.”
Read MoreGeorge H.B. (Hig) Gould, introduced paddle to the Mile High City with the formation of the Arapahoe Tennis Club in 1964. He was tragically killed in a car accident in April 1971. The Arapahoe Tennis Club established an annual tournament in his honor that rapidly became well attended by nationally ranked players seeking to both ski and play paddle. The Hertz Corporation offered to put up cash prizes but the organizers declined the offer as they wanted to keep the event low-key. Hig was an accomplished player and had competed in the 1969 National Platform Tennis Championship at Scarsdale, NY. At the time of his death, he was president and a director of Gates LearJet Corp.
Read MoreBob Callaway had these observations: I've often been asked, ‘how do today's players compare with the top players from the 60's and 70's?’ Back then, platform tennis was booming. Court time was at a premium. Fox Meadow closed the gates at the Nationals due to overcrowding as a reported 4,000-5,000 people packed the stands at Forest Hills. My answer is, however, today's top players are better. The following is evidence to support my point. When I was researching material for my book, Platform Tennis (published in 1972), I charted matches at men's and women's national ranking tournaments, state tournaments, and club tournaments in order to get more information on how points were being won and lost. One finding was that, depending on the level of the players' games, 60-80% of points were determined with the serve, return, and first volley. I did the same charting this past season a[...]
Read More
Although women had been playing from the start of the sport, 1972 was the first year of women’s rankings with ten teams ranked by the APTA.
Read More
Bob Kingsbury and John Mangan broke through to win the Men’s over the three time defending champions, Gray and Sammis. It was a dominating performance by Kingsbury and Mangan, taking the title without losing a set. Gloria Dillenbeck and B.J. DeBree1 repeated as Women’s champions, and the brother-sister team of John Beck and Susan Wasch won the Mixed. In the Senior events, Charlotte Lee and Eleanor Hesseltine1 repeated as winners of the Women’s 50+, Charles Baird and Edmund Swanberg won the Men’s 50+, and Walter Frese and Ken LaVine won the 60+ (Veterans). Charles (Chip) Baird, Jr. won his fourth straight Junior Boy's title. Note 1: Historical Factoid:This was the second year in a row that Charlotte Lee won the Senior Women's with Eleanor Hesseltine and also the second year in a row where she lost to Eleanor Hesseltine's daughter, B. J DeBree, and her partne[...]
Read More
PTM: How did you become an APTA president? JHH: I had been on the Board for two years as president of Region III when then APTA President Charley Stevens asked me if I would like to be vice-president along with Nancy Mangan. I had brought up several new ideas before the Board during that time, including the APTA Visa card, the Board teleconference, and the website. I had also been working closely with Charley trying to secure national sponsors for the APTA. PTM: How long is your term? JHH: Charley Stevens passed the torch to me after the meeting in 1997. The term of office of President, as with all Board positions, is one year. I have been re-elected the past two years. PTM: How long have you been into platform tennis? JHH: My stepfather introduced me to the game in the mid 70's. I began helping him (and my mother) run the Maryland State Men's tournament in the early 80's.[...]
Read MoreFor many years, the APTA newsletters carried the results of all the major tournaments from the round of 16 on. The February, April, and September newsletters included the draw sheets from the round of 16 for the Women’s Nationals; Senior Women’s; Western Pennsylvania Men’s, Women’s and Mixed; Connecticut State Men’s; Long Island Men’s Invitational; Rye Men’s Invitational; Middle Atlantic Men’s; Short Hills; and Bronxville Field Club Women’s Invitational. There were also notes on the New Canaan Men’s Invitational, the APTA Senior Men’s, and the first North Carolina Men’s tournament.
Read MoreBy the mid-1970's, platform tennis was a national game, attracting an estimated 500,000 competitors. The game was no longer exclusively played by Eastern clubs. The tournaments were often commercially sponsored. As the game widened, Fox Meadow lost its dominance of the Nationals, but the Club's impact in other areas remained strong. Cecil J. (Mike) North, Jr.(APTA President 1975-1977) of Bedford Golf and Tennis Club wrote in the program for an earlier Nationals: "As platform tennis attracts greater numbers of players, expands geographically, and becomes increasingly money-oriented, I think it is important to remember why people played it in the first place: because it is informal, because it is fun. Fox Meadow is a reminder of these qualities." Source: Diana Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club – The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read MoreHorine's column in PTM, From the APTA..., had this update: “The Board of the APTA has had a busy summer getting ready for this season. Beginning with the magazine you hold in your hands, there are many subtle and not so subtle changes. With constructive criticism from you, our members, the layout, typeface and printer have changed. The mailing will be timelier and we have added a new department, sports psychology. All will hopefully make for a first class magazine. The web site has also changed. Visit us at www.platformtennis.org. We have added several more categories. Check out the "National Champions." How many times have Scott and Flip won? Or how many National titles do Bill and Dave Childs have? Look up the "Hall of Fame" to see who has been awarded the highest honor in our game. This year each Region will have its own page under "Regions" to post local news, pr[...]
Read More
The Annual Meeting minutes included the following report by Secretary Robert A. Brown. “The rapid growth of the game is attributable to the increasing number of ‘newcomers’ who are exposed to and are taken up by the game. With this in mind and in order to maintain the high level of sportsmanship and good conduct that is such an important part of ‘paddle,’ the APTA recently published a new booklet entitled “The Etiquette of Platform Paddle Tennis.” The author of the booklet was Robert A. Brown. It has been reprinted a number of times and is still available. The APTA mailed the booklet to all members, and it was well received. Subsequently, the APTA received requests for over 3,000 additional copies of the booklet. Although intended for the newcomer, a number of old-timers requested copies for their close friends who played. Source: The APTA Paddle Newsletter, [...]
Read MoreThe September 15th Newsletter carried the following basic policy: • It is the intent of the APTA that the game of Platform Tennis be played under uniform court conditions wherever it is played. • The APTA considers it appropriate to provide advice and guidance, where needed, to ensure quality and uniformity in court construction while recognizing the desirability of encouraging innovations in the use of materials and methods of construction so long as the basic nature of the play of the game is not affected. • The APTA will offer guidance to those seeking information on plans, specifications, and builders of platform tennis courts. Such guidance is offered within the framework of this policy, the implementation of which is outlined below; while it is based upon the best information available, the APTA cannot accept responsibility for quality of construction, delays, or fa[...]
Read MoreThe Wired 12/4 paddle is an exceptionally lightweight paddle with an average weight of 12.4 ounces. Its components consist of an aerospace-derived biaxially-woven, graphite-reinforced foam core; a highly textured two-ply cross-matched fiberglass skin; and a high-tempered aluminum full metal jacket. While designed for the two-handed backhand player, it remains a central-weighted, center-balanced paddle. The Wired 13/6 has an average weight of 13.6 ounces and is slightly head weighted. Two years in the making, the Wired paddles have been tournament tested by some of the game's premier players. "Get Wired...Play Platform!" Source: From the APTA, Platform Tennis Magazine Vol.2 Issue 1, September, 2000
Read MoreThe December 10th, 1971 APTA Paddle Newsletter published the first ranking for Men and Women "National Rankings were initiated this year for the first time. Men's teams were ranked on the basis of play in at least 3 of 7 specifically selected tournaments during the year and the Women's on the basis of 2 of 5 tournaments. The tournaments were selected and weighted on the basis of the size and quality of the draw." Gordon Gray and Jesse Sammis III were ranked first in the Men's and B. J. DeBree and Gloria Dillenbeck were first in the Women's [click image at left to enlarge and see full list] Source:The APTA Paddle Newsletter, Vol 3, No 1, December 10, 1971
Read More
Have you ever seen a platform tennis court installed? Have you ever even thought about it? The design of the aluminum court calls for all the actual manufacturing to take place in the factory. In theory, the subsequent on-site installation is a simple process of putting the parts together like a giant erector set. In reality, working with augers (the drill to help dig footings) concrete piers, manually carrying and precisely placing 500 pound deck panels, tightly lacing steel screen sections by hand with square comers and a perfectly flat plane, working with steep changes in grade, snow storms, torrential downpours, and sweltering heat, R. J. Reilly’s installation crews might take issue with the idea that platform tennis court installations are, in fact, simple. They will, however, categorically convey that when they are through, the court will be picture-perfect and ready for the best[...]
Read More
The Princeton Club in New York City played host to the 1972 Annual Meeting, with 132 people in attendance. President Peter Thistle reported on the escalating growth of the sport; the increasing tournament activity; the establishment of the Equipment Committee to ensure uniform playing conditions for the game, and the success of the new initiative to include individual membership in the APTA. Dues and selling plans and specifications for courts provided most of the total income of $14,274.74 and contributed to a healthy profit of $7,722.37. The net worth of the APTA now stood at $19,267.27 Secretary Robert A. Brown provided a detailed account of the activities of the Secretary’s Office – answering requests for literature and information on the game, providing plans and specifications for courts (at a price of $30), and a summary of how these requests had grown over the pas[...]
Read MorePhilip W. Osborne had been an active player in the New York metropolitan area at Englewood Field Club, NJ until he was relocated to Pittsburgh, which at the time was a platform tennis desert. He set about changing this and he did. Initially he tried to convince clubs to build courts but was turned down. So, he built his out facility, Fox Chapel Racquet Club, and that was the start of what has become one of the most active regions for the game in the country. Osborne, who worked for Alcoa, was a keen supporter of the aluminum deck that became the standard in the early 1970s. (Fox Chapel Racquet Club) Source: "Minutes of Annual Meeting" The APTA Paddle Newsletter Vol. 4 No. 1
Read More
An article in the magazine Paddle World by Bob Callaway covered his experiences in opening the center
Read More
On the Friday prior to the Short Hills national ranking tournament, the PPTA Board of Officers met to finalize their testing and certification process. The effort to start the organization for teaching professionals began 18 months ago and has included a series of meetings and feedback from the country's top teaching professionals in each APTA region. As part of the recent meeting at Beacon Hill the PPTA completed certification for its initial group of members (Gary Horvath, Hank Irvine, Patty Hogan, Gerri Viant, and Rich Maier). The PPTA tentatively plans to hold an open meeting for prospective members at the APTA Nationals in Rochester and may conduct an initial offering of the test in the Tri-State area at the end of the season. The mission of the PPTA is to improve the standards of the teaching profession and help increase awareness in the sport. PPTA President Gary Horvath sai[...]
Read More
In the summer of 1972 Robert A. Brown, Secretary of the APTA, approached Fox Meadow Tennis Club with the idea of constructing a space to house APTA files and memorabilia. Although the concept was initially well received and discussions went as far as developing a conceptual drawing, the project ultimately did not proceed. This was the first attempt at developing a Museum and Hall of Fame. Letter Aug 4, 1972 from APTA to FMTC re space Source: Personal communication from Robert A. Brown, 2013
Read MoreApril 1, 2000 - Wilson Racquet Sports announced the sale of its platform tennis ball business to Viking Athletics (Lindenhurst, NY), the market leader in platform tennis balls, effective immediately. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. "Viking owner David Kjeldsen came to us with an offer we felt was fair and reasonable for us to exit this aspect of the business," said John Embree, Vice President/General Manager, Wilson Racquet Sports. "Because the market is so small, it probably makes sense to only have one supplier of balls. Therefore, we came to a mutually beneficial understanding.” While Wilson Racquet Sports was no longer in the platform tennis ball business, it continued to market its platform tennis paddles and accessories. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Issue 5, May, 2000 Note: Wilson had decided to exit the ball business in 1999. The purchase and sale agreeme[...]
Read More
Mark Fischl had some thoughts….. “One of the many topics of conversation at the 2000 Nationals was on what to do about those all too familiar backdraw defaults. The question arose after the teams of Conklin/Kinney and Cosimano/Haller each had to pull out due to injuries following their round of 32 losses. While these injuries were legitimate and ail four players have a proven track record for attending backdraw events (i.e. Chicago and Short Hills), many other players choose not to bother once they are out of the main draw. Backdraw defaults have long been a concern of the APTA. After the 1994-1995 season players were penalized by having to forfeit any points won in the event if they chose not to play the backdraw matches. This was deemed to be an insufficient deterrent due to the fact that the points revoked were generally insignificant if the loss was in an early round. As a res[...]
Read More
The gospel of platform tennis continues to spread beyond the borders of the good old USA. R.J. Reilly recently completed three new platform tennis courts in conjunction with European Platform Tennis AG (just outside Zurich). The Sportcenter Stork decided to complement its tennis and squash courts with three new Reilly All-Aluminum Courts. The courts are ideally sited for viewing, as they are placed inside a small stadium which allows spectators to watch play from all sides. They can simultaneously take in the beautiful surroundings in this glorious Alpine setting. The club hosted a grand opening of the courts in which many members and local sports enthusiasts watched the game played for the first time. Following the exhibition the guests tried it themselves. Jim Reilly, Vice- President of Sales and Marketing of R. J. Reilly, paired up with accomplished player and Reilly court builder[...]
Read More
Patty Hogan, Tonia's college classmate, was responsible for getting the sister-in-law team together. Tonia had met future husband Tim Mangan at Bobo's wedding in 1983 and began playing with Bobo after getting married in 1992. Bobo Mangan-Delaney Born: Yakima, Washington Profession: Head Pro at the Noe Pond Club in Chatham, New Jersey, for the past four years (tennis and platform tennis instructor for the past 14 years). License Plate: BOBOPRO Children: Zealand (8), Corey (7), and Trevor (3) Marital Status: Bobo's husband, Frank, is an Investment Banker at TD Securities in New York City. Past: When it comes to platform tennis family history, the Mangans are famous. Bobo was introduced to `paddle' as a child by her mother, Nancy, and her Uncle, John. Nancy had a high women's national ranking and John was the men's national champion. If that wasn't enough, legendary Hank Irvine[...]
Read MoreAPTA President John Horine reported on the development in the From the APTA column: "Speaking of the web site, this season's tournament results are being posted on the site. On the "Home Page", scroll down to and click on "Check Results." Look for your event by region or National Ranking. This year we are posting entire draws, including all consolation draws. So, if you know someone from Kansas City who played in the Chicago Charities, you can check the web site and see how they fared." Source: Platform Tennis Magazine Vol.2 Issue 2, November, 2000
Read MoreIn 1972 Web and Dottie Otis returned to Ross, California, from a government assignment in Washington, D.C., where they had been introduced to platform tennis. Armed with plans for a court, they employed a local contractor, Bim Lansill, to erect an all-wooden court over a small swimming pool on a hillside above their home. Two more private courts were soon erected in Ross, and in 1975 an amorphous group calling themselves the Ross Valley Hunt Club conducted the first tournament in Northern California. By 1978 Ross, with a population of 2,700, had a public court in the town park. In addition to Ross, the 1970s were a time of growth throughout the region. San Jose Steel constructed grade-level courts on a tennis court surface in various locations from San Diego to Salishan, Oregon. The facility that drew the most attention was the Cabrillo Athletic Club in San Diego. The manager a[...]
Read More“As the sun set on the Rochester horizon, John Horine took to the court to play the 75th and deciding match of the 2000 President's Cup. Because of an upset earlier in the day at the hands of a strong Region VI team, Horine and partner, Scott Freund, had been handed an opportunity to redeem themselves for their earlier loss. Even though the commentary of Bob Costas and the cameras of ESPN were missing, this match contained all the drama, excitement, plots, and subplots of any of the more widely covered sporting events. As the match progressed, the score remained close and teammates from both sides started to cheer louder, causing a crowd of 75-100 people to convene around the court. I turned to fellow Region VI player Dan Magee, who had been a President's Cup virgin just eight hours earlier in the day, and asked him what he had learned from playing in the tournament. Magee ha[...]
Read More
What's the difference between a good platform tennis facility and a truly wonderful one? More often than not, it's a warming house. While a facility can boast the best courts with the newest lighting and heating systems, history has shown that its success will be limited if there is not a central place where players and spectators can congregate and keep warm when not on the court. On the other hand, even a modest two-court facility can become a buzzing beehive of paddle activity when it is supported by a well-designed paddle house. Paddle is by nature a social sport. A paddle house, therefore, serves a variety of purposes. It is not just a place to keep warm while you wait your turn for a court. It is perfect for carrying out those all-important side aspects of the sport like joining together for drinks and discussion and being with fellow players. Watching others play is a significa[...]
Read MoreChris Gambino and David Ohlmuller were ranked #1 in the Men's and Sue Aery and Gerri Viant #1 in the Women's.
Read More
Rich is widely regarded as the best man to ever play platform tennis and was first introduced to platform tennis at the age of 18 by his high school tennis friend, Jay Edwards. Six years later, after graduating college, Jay got Rich to take platform tennis more seriously. At the ages of 23, Rich and Jay entered their first paddle tournament. On that day a star was born. In his first round match in his first platform tournament, Rich defeated Keith Jennings and Chauncey Steel, the previous season's national champions. Born: Born March 2nd, 1953 in The Bronx, New York, Rich currently lives in Northfield, Illinois, 30 minutes from downtown Chicago. Profession: Head Racquets Pro at the Sunset Ridge Country Club in Northfield for the past six years. Rich has been teaching tennis and platform tennis for over 20 years. Family: Rodman (9), Lindsay (6), Kevin (3) and wife Susan Men's Nati[...]
Read More
The Viking Cup Adult/Child Tournament was held on November 12, 2000 in three age categories. 12 and Under Championships Hissey-Hissey def. D'Elia-D'Elia 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 15 and Under Championships Barinski-Barinski def. Gafney-Gafney 8-4 18 and Under Championships Nolan-Nolan def. Nunziata-Considine 6-7, 6-2, 6-4
Read MoreA significant development occurred during the first half of the year after many years of discussion within the APTA. Under the leadership of APTA President John Horine the Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame (PTMHOFF) became incorporated as a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible organization thanks to the work of Cincinnati player/attorney, Andy Giannella. The PTMHOFF now stood alone from the APTA with its own Board and fund raising capabilities, although the latter had to wait of IRS approval of the 501 (c) (3) status.
Read MoreAPTA President John Horine in the PTM column From the APTA... Many people have called and e-mailed me regarding the recent size of tournament draws. In several areas, the numbers of teams signing up for tournaments has been smaller over the past few years. I have noticed the same trend in the event that I run, the Maryland State Men's Championships. For many years, we had full draws of 48 teams. In the last four years, the numbers have been approaching 32 teams. Upon doing some research, I found that most teams not participating did so for good reasons (i.e. Injury, work, family or other commitments). In some cases people could not play for several years. However, virtually everyone I spoke to still plays and intends to play in the future events. I have also spoken to league players and captains around the country. In nearly every conversation, the numbers are up in league play. This[...]
Read MoreAnyone who has run an APTA sanctioned tournament knows that one of their many responsibilities is the ominous task of collecting dues from those participants who are not members of the APTA. I will never forget the first time I had this responsibility. I mentioned the dues payment to one of the participants who responded by saying, "Why should I pay APTA dues? What benefits do I get from being a member? If they are like most organizations they surely don't do anything, and besides, I probably don't want whatever they are selling." At the time I fumbled to find an appropriate response, even though the answer was obvious to me. It seems only logical that by supporting the governing body, you are supporting the infrastructure for the sport. In addition, in a sport as small as platform tennis your voice will most likely be heard when you have questions or concerns. This line of thinking i[...]
Read More
Bob Brown, chair of the APTA Rules and Equipment Committee, on a proposal to eliminate the singles lines: Why do we have white lines defining a singles court when the game of platform tennis is rarely, if ever, played by just two people? That is the question that was raised by the APTA Rules and Equipment Committee in a recent proposal to the Board of Directors to eliminate the unnecessary singles lines. If this were done, the lateral service line would be extended (by two feet per side) to the outside service line. The concern would then be whether the wider service box would have any effect on the play of the game. The committee has conducted some play tests and preliminary results have concluded that the wider service box does not have any noticeable effect on the game. However, the Board decided that it would be appropriate to advise the membership of this proposed change an[...]
Read MoreAPTA President John Horine provided an update in the March and September From the APTA columns in PTM: I am very excited about the progress the APTA Board has made so far. In the past, APTA Board discussion of a Hall of Fame has never gotten off the ground. I am determined to make this a reality. This is where you, the APTA member, come in. A significant development occurred this spring/summer for The Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation. The Hall of Fame became incorporated as a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible organization. Thanks to the work of Cincinnati player/attorney, Andy Giannella, the Hall of Fame now stands alone from the APTA with its own Board and fund raising capabilities. You can bet one of the first goals will be to begin fund-raising for a permanent location (Note: This had to wait for an application to be made to the IRS for approval of the 501 (C) (3) [...]
Read MorePPTA President Gary Horvath provided the update: In 1998, a group of the country's top teaching professionals met in Chicago to lay the groundwork for the USA Professional Platform Tennis Association (PPTA). Since then, the PPTA has developed a certification process that provides professionals with an initial rating at one of three levels (P1, P2, or P3) based on their performance on a battery of tests. In a nutshell, the PPTA certification exam includes a written examination covering all aspects of the game, an on-court examination of teaching skills, a feeding skills test, and a playing evaluation. As those who have taken the test will testify, the process is comprehensive. The written exam is heavily weighted towards the topics of teaching and strategy, but requires knowledge of teaching concepts and principles, tactics, business, stroke and strategy diagnostics of photographed[...]
Read More
Marjorie Hodson reported on the event for PTM: If you have been worried about the future of platform tennis, you can relax. The future was on display at the Beacon Hill Club, Canoe Brook Country Club, Short Hills Club and Echo Lake Country Club on Saturday, January 27, and it is bright. The APTA Junior Nationals, an exciting lead-up to Super Bowl Sunday, featured competitive matches and unparalleled sportsmanship. Parents and pros pitched in to prop up a pneumonia plagued Patty Hogan, and play proceeded as planned. Check-in and lunch at the Beacon Hill Club preceded a great photo opportunity with the giant inflatable Viking hat. Players then dispersed to nearby clubs to begin the competition. Following Round Robin play in all age groups, semi-finalists returned to Beacon Hill to finish. In 10 & Under play Pete Donnally, a finalist last year, teamed with Karen Cash (whose sister La[...]
Read More
The Canoebrook Club in Summit, New Jersey was the host club for the 2001 Men's and Women's Open Nationals. From Phoenix to Maine and everywhere in between, 192 men and 128 women converged for three days of the best competition platform tennis has to offer. The five-time defending men's champions, Michigan's Flip Goodspeed and Scott Mansager, were once again the odds on favorites even through they were the #2-ranked team in the country. The Jersey boys, David Ohlmuller and Chris Gambino, were seeded #2 and expected to push for their first team championship. The big question in their minds was whether or not Chris Gambino's knees would hold up to the challenge. New Yorkers, Scott Estes and Scott Mackesy showed up at Canoebrook as the #3 seeds. Coming off their big win in Short Hills, anything would be possible in the Nationals. The other New Jersey duo, Anthony Cosimano and Steve[...]
Read More
David Ohlmuller Born: November, 1969 in Montclair, NJ Current: Single and resides in Chatham, NJ Occupation: North-East Technical Manager - Wilson Sporting Goods As a child, David grew up as a junior tennis tournament player. In college, he continued his tennis as the #1 player for Loyola College. David was introduced to paddle in 1989 by his mother, then acting APTA secretary, Ginny Ohlmuller. From 1990 to 1995, David earned his first three National Titles. All were Mixed Opens with Patty Hogan. In 1995, David (and his partner, Bruce Kelsey) also won his first Men's Open National Championship. In 1996, David was hospitalized for 25 days after a car accident nearly took his life. Eight surgeries later, David's leg showed progress and talks of amputation were dismissed. It didn't take long for David to hit the courts for his '97 comeback tour. David has progressed each y[...]
Read MoreCherry Valley Country Club in Garden City, New York hosted the 50+ Women's National Doubles tournament on February 28th, with matches also being played at the Garden City Country Club and Plandome Club. Karen Cashman & Courtia Worth, the 2000 champions, were back again! The newly formed team of Helen Garrett / Ann Mitchell had sharpened their paddles for the event along with the seasoned teams of Alice Duff/Penny Johnston, Winnie Hatch/Sharon Hummers, Gloria Grafer/Elaine Hoolahan and Rita Goldberg/Ruth Weil. Viking supplied all players with balls and coolers. Cashman & Worth, the twin towers, were defeated by Garrett and Mitchell in the semi-finals 6-3, 7-6, with Courtia diving for the ball the last point of the tiebreaker! Hatch & Hummers defeated Duff & Johnston on the other side of the draw, 6-4, 6-2. Hatch & Hummers then faced off against Garret & Mitchell, two players who [...]
Read More
Annual Meeting Minutes
Read MoreChris Gambino and David Ohlmuller were ranked #1 in the Men's and Sue Aery and Gerri Viant #1 in the Women's.
Read MoreThe Region 1 Winners [L-r} top row: Jeanie Shaw, Kimberly Newsome, Louise Cash, Bobo Mangan Delaney, Susan Lovejoy: bottom row: Tonia Mangan, Carrie Short, Susan Penney, Andrea Noyes. The bandannas were the team favor/ color and the teams were told they had to wear them creatively; Region ! won that award too! The 2001 Women's President's Cup competition was hosted by the Short Hills Club on March 22nd. The Chairs for the event were Ginna Ohlmuller and Carol York. Women's Region I, lead by Brenda Borho, won the Women's President's Cup, with Region II posting the next highest score. Region I Team Members: 1. Bobo DeLaney and Tonia Mangan 2. Hilary Debbs and Carrie Short 3. Louise Cash and Kimberly Newsome 4. Susan Lovejoy and Jeanie Shaw 5. Andrea Noyes and Susan Penney
Read MoreThe 2001 Men's President's Cup competition was hosted by the Montclair Golf Club on March 23rd. The Chairs for the event were Ginna Ohlmuller and Carol York. Men’s Region IV, lead by Andy Todd, won the event with Regions I and II finishing in a tie for second. Region IV Team Members 1. Tony Jagodzinski and Todd Ward 2. Tim Foster and Eric Toth 3. Martin Sturgess and Paul Stulac 4. Mike Stulac and Dan Mott 5. Greg McFaden and Scott McFaden
Read More
Of all the National events, none seems to be more friendly and social than the Husband/Wife...at least in the early rounds. Players were in agreement that the goal of the tournament was not necessarily to win, but to remain married. Camaraderie and sportsmanship were on display in Pittsburgh. Unlike the Mixed, the Husband/Wife Nationals started out with a bang. In the first round, local Pittsburgh favorites Guy and Jane Herrmann defeated #1 seeded Robin and Bob Fulton. The remaining three out-of-town favorites proceeded on to the semi-finals as planned. George and paddle newcomer Lauren Zink defeated Guy and Jane in a tight two-setter. Lauren, fresh back from the maternity ward, showed why she had not yet lost a match in her first six tournaments. Although still new to the wires, Lauren demonstrated that with solid ground-strokes, screen-play is just a technicality. Superman must h[...]
Read More
The 2001 Mixed Nationals was held in Pittsburgh at the Fox Chapel Golf Club from March 10th to 11th. Last season's Mixed champ Gerri Viant had to 'dig up' a body when told that her partner, Chris Gambino, was resting his tendonitis-plagued knees. Gerri and her fill-in, Mike Gillespie, teamed up in years past to win one Mixed National title. Gerri and Mike entered the event unseeded. The 1999 champions, Scott Mansager and Sue Aery, felt good about their odds since they both won the previous season's Open titles. Sue and Scott were the #1 seeds. With Gambino out, John Milbank and Bobo Delaney, wouldn't get their 2000 finals rematch; however, a title would work any way they could get it. John and Bobo were seeded #2. George Zink returned to action after a one-season hiatus, teaming up with Cindy Prendergast. George and Cindy won the 96' and 98' titles and were placed as the #3 se[...]
Read MoreMen's Senior Nationals Men's National Senior 45+ Baird-Sturgess Men's National Senior 50+ Adams-Baird Men's National Senior 55+ Irvine-Russell Men's National Senior 60+ Hempleman-O'Donnell Men's National Senior 65+ Childs-Childs Men's National Senior 70+ Bascome-Leroy Men's National Senior 145+ Mahmarian-Thompson Women's Senior Nationals Women's National Senior 40+ Delaney-Mangan Women's National Senior 50+ Hatch-Hummers Women's National Senior 60+ Garrett-Parks Mixed Senior Nationals Mixed National Senior 50+: Hackenberg-Hackenberg Mixed National Senior 60+ Childs-Garrett Husband-Wife National 50+ Hackenberg-Hackenberg
Read More
Anthony and Steve began playing platform tennis at New Jersey's Brookside Racquet Club in 1993. Neither played much tennis; however, both were eager to learn platform tennis. Shortly after they met, Anthony's father suggested the idea of the two forming into a tournament team.Who would have guessed that joining a former wrestler with a former football player would give us one of the top platform tennis teams in the country? Anthony Cosimano Born: Ramsey, New Jersey Current: Hoboken, New Jersey Age: 31 Profession: Sales Marital Status: Single Summer Hobby: Weight Training Steve Haller Born: Allendale, New Jersey Current: Mahwah, New Jersey Age: 34 Profession: Sales Marital Status: Newlywed Summer Hobby: Golf Anthony and Steve began playing platform tennis at New Jersey's Brookside Racquet Club in 1993. Neither played much tennis; however, both were eager to learn pl[...]
Read MoreWayne Dollard’s Letter from the Editor column had the details: Recently, we at PTM have been receiving numerous calls regarding our future goals and plans with Platform Tennis Magazine. During the 2000-2001 season, the APTA operated at a deficit. Although the APTA has a comfortable financial cushion, steps needed to be taken to prevent any future losses. During the 2001 APTA Board Meeting in May, many suggestions were offered to reduce future expenses and generate additional revenue. As the leading annual APTA investment, the PTM was heavily emphasized in this discussion. Cost-cutting ideas, such as decreasing the number of PTM issues per year (five down to four) and printing the magazine in half-color / half-black and white, were discussed. When all was said and done, the APTA decided that it did not want to reduce the size or quality of the PTM. We then agreed on a two-year PT[...]
Read MoreFrom the APTA column by John Horine: As we look forward to a new season, I can't help but look back on these last few months. On September 11, a horrified nation looked on as thousands of lives were destroyed and many more changed forever. In the days that followed, we all took some time to reflect on our own lives and what is important to us. Family members and friends are at the top of our list. I spoke to a dear friend of mine (and former APTA Board member) who lost her sister-in-law on September 11th. She told me of the outpouring of support she had received from paddle players from all over the country. She was very thankful for their cards and e-mails. Platform tennis at its core is a competitive recreation with like-minded people who enjoy the game. On a larger scale, platform tennis is a sport made up of a close community of people around the country - all enjoying each other [...]
Read More
The Rules and Equipment Committee had been working on an update of the booklet on "How to Conduct a Tournament Draw", and had reached the point of a final draft. However, before going to press, Bob Brown had become aware of a difference of opinion among some Directors and members of Players Committees regarding the procedure for placing the seeds in the draw. Ultimately the extant procedure was maintained How to Conduct a Tournament Draw
Read More
The Long Island Platform Tennis Association, Chaired by Charles Vasoll, hosted the 2002 Men's and Women's Open National Championships from March 8-10. The weather was a comfortable 65 degrees; however, occasional wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour were not uncommon. One thing was for sure, a wind of change was in the air. Going into the Men's Round-of-16, no major upsets occurred. But everyone knows that anything can happen in the Nationals. The 16's saw two upsets: Mike Cochrane-Martin Sturgess (12) def. Brian Uihlein-John Hough (4) and Mike Marino-Chris Williams (10) def. Scott Estes-Scott Mackesy (2). With the gates opened up. Mike Gillespie-Bob Conklin (6), the highest remaining seeded team in their half of the draw, advanced past Marino- Williams in the quarter-finals and over John Milbank and Jim Kaufman (8) in the semi-finals (Milbank-Kaufman advanced over Sturgess-Cochra[...]
Read MoreAPTA President John Horine expressed his views in the From the APT column in PTM: A topic of much paddle party conversation and PTM articles so far this season is back-draw defaulting. Everybody seems to have an opinion on this issue and lots of people have expressed them to me in one form or another. My personal opinion? I think defaulting out of any round of any draw of any event (for anything other than a valid injury) flies directly in the face of what platform tennis is all about. As I wrote in the last issue, platform tennis is a sport made up of a close community of people - all enjoying each other and the sport they love. If someone loses and decides not to play the consolations, they are depriving not just one, but several teams from competing in matches they may have traveled many hours to play. I cannot comprehend someone signing up to play in an event and pulling ou[...]
Read More
Is it truly possible to determine who the best platform tennis players were based on their records, or is it more realistic to ask the veterans who played through the late 70's heyday and continue to compete today? No matter what criteria you use, the one name that always rises to the surface in women's paddle is Robin Fulton. Robin picked up her first wooden paddle in 1978 when her parents installed a court in their Darien. CT backyard. A year later, Robin began to take the game seriously, at The Paddle Center in Norwalk, under the careful watch of her friend and coach, Bob Callaway. Before long, Robin had excelled in local women's paddle and was competing at line one in the men's league for the Stanford Yacht Club. Bob Callaway recalls, "I can remember Charlotte Lee, Linda Wolf, and the other top women in their prime times, however, no one could intimidate or dominate a match lik[...]
Read MoreWomen's Charities: Rain was forecast all week long. Somehow, on November 2nd, the weather broke and nothing but 65 degree warmth and sunshine was in the forecast. Women's Tournament Director, Liz Hayward, kicked off the show on Friday morning with a full 32-team draw, featuring all but a few of the top-ranked players. Among 'the few' not playing included Sarah Krieger, the other half of last season's Charities Champs. The other winner, Robin Fulton, paired up with Cindy Prendergast. Patty Hogan was absent due to family illness. Therefore, everyone felt that with teams switching around and two of the game's top players absent, the women's draw was up for grabs. Everyone, that is, except the top seeded team of Sue Aery and Gerri Viant. Coming off another National Charities takeover. Director Hayward only seeded three teams; however, five other teams were placed. As expected, the ro[...]
Read More
Majorie Hodson reported on the Championship for PTM: Once again, the future of platform tennis descended on Beacon Hill Club in Summit, NJ. Fifty-six pairs of juniors competed in four age groups for the right to be called National Champions and wear the coveted medals. These APTA Junior Nationals featured competitive matches and unparalleled sportsmanship. And these kids can play! Check-in and lunch at Beacon Hill Club preceded a group photo. Players then dispersed to nearby clubs (Canoe Brook Country Club, Short Hills Club and The Racquets Club of Short Hills) to begin the competition. Following round robin play in all age groups, finalists returned to Beacon Hill to finish the tournament. In 10 & Under play, reigning champ Pete DonnaHy paired with last year's finalist James Burke to defeat Karen Cash, Donnally's partner a year ago, and Evan Zimmer. Twenty-one pairs vied for [...]
Read MoreOn November 17, 2001, the Viking Cup was hosted by the Montclair Golf Club and utilized the courts of Montclair, Essex Fells Country Club, Fellsbrook Club, and Essex County Country Club. On a beautiful Sunday morning, 37 adult/junior teams, representing the best in Canada and the US, assembled at Montclair. Well over 100 teams competed in the various play down-sites, which is a testament to the current health of junior paddle. All preliminary matches were run in a flighted round robin tournament with the top two finishers going on to the semis. The level of play among all of the teams was impressive to watch and made many of us feel we were watching the future stars of our sport display their precociously high level of proficiency. 18 & Under Finals Anthony Nunziata and Bob Considine def. Diego Rodriguez and Doug White 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 15 & Under Finals Ari and Rayni Borinsky def.[...]
Read More
Annual Meeting Minutes
Read MoreAt the Annual Meeting Bob Brown reported that the PTMHOFF had been incorporated and had applied for 501 (C) (3) non-profit status.
Read More
On March 17, 2002, Sue Aery (and partner, Gerri Viant) shocked the spectators at the National Championships. No, it wasn't the service let cord that dropped in for a match point ace. Nor was it the tight third set victory After all. Sue and Gerri had won seven of the previous eleven Women's Open National Titles, including three in a row. The surprise came to the crowd when Sue picked up the microphone and announced her retirement from platform tennis. Sue and Gerri had accomplished more than they ever could have imagined thirteen years earlier. Just when 400 exuberant fans were expecting Sue's modest victory speech, her tearful eyes and trembling voice proclaimed a different message, "As of now, I am announcing my retirement from platform tennis to pursue a career in chiropractic therapy." Sue's mother. Peg, said, "Sue has had extensive chiropractic therapy over her athletic career[...]
Read MoreBertan Cikigil and Rich Lombard reported on these events which were played at The Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, New York and featured a turnout of 65 teams: Represented in the draw were teams from Canada, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and the Northeastern states. Three days of non-stop play featured a number of firsts, such as: • Bob Brown and Howard Sipe won the Men's Senior 65's and gained their first-ever win over Bill and David Childs 7-5, 0-6, 6-4 • In the Men's Senior 55's, Gary Cochrane and Tom Caputo gained their first (or anyone else's for that matter) win over Doug Russell and Hank Irvine (1-6, 6-2, 6-3), and then went on to win the championship over Scott Estes and Danny Galves by a score of 6-4, 6-2. This was their 29th match against each other, and they now stand 1 and 28. Congratulations to perseverance! • The Men's Senior 4[...]
Read More
Flip Goodspeed and Scott Mansager captured the #1 spot in the Men's and Sue Aery and Gerri Viant were #1 in the Womens.
Read MoreAPTA by-laws required that Directors be elected for a term of one year with no restriction on the number of terms served. At the Annual Meeting in May 2002 the Board amended the by-laws limiting the amount of time a person could serve to two three-year terms. In addition the revised by-laws stipulated that a past Director could not be re-elected until two years after the end of his/her last term.
Read MoreThe events were held at Fox Meadow Tennis club in Scarsdale, NY. [click image at left to enlarge] Men's Senior 50+: Hodges-Irvine defeated Baird-Hayes 6-4,6-1 Men's Senior 60+: Graham-Opdycke defeated Holmes-Anderson 6-1, 7-6 Men's Senior 70+: Bascome-Leroy defeated Nelson-Piccoli 6-3, 6-3.
Read MoreWomen's Senior 40+: Fulton-Prendergast defeated Aery-Viant 6-3, 6-3 Women's Senior 50+: Cash-Tucker defeated Hatch-Hummers 6-1, 6-1 Women's Senior 60+:Hatch-Hummers defeated Goldberg-Huber 6-4, 7-6
Read MoreMixed Nationals: Milbank-Delaney defeated Hogan-Cosimano 7-5, 7-5 National Husband/Wife: Zink-Zink defeated Mangan-Mangan 6-4, 7-5 Senior Mixed 60+ Nationals: Buchmayr-Hatch defeated Goldman-Carpenter 6-1, 6-0 Mixed Masters 50+ Nationals: Bassett-Tucker defeated O'Donnell-O'Donnell 6-2, 6-0 National Senior Husband/Wife: O'Donnell-O'Donnell defeated Sturgis-Sturgis 6-2, 6-2
Read More
She says that she's 5' tall wearing new shoes on a good day. Stating that "size doesn't always matter," Patty Hogan is a six-time National Champion who has proven year after year that mental prowess is more important in platform tennis than physical size. Born 42 years ago in New Providence, New Jersey, Patty's early platform tennis mentors included Hank Irvine and Wendy Chase. Today, Patty is the mentor for hundreds of adults and juniors across the country. The achievements I'm most proud of are the 17 Junior National Champions I have taught to play our sport," Patty said. She added, "I am also extremely thankful to the Beacon Hill Club for giving me the freedom and flexibility I need to do my job to the best of my ability." Over the years, Patty has had record-breaking seasons with many of the best women to play the game. "My best season was the winter of 98'-99' when I played wi[...]
Read More
Big news in the platform tennis court industry. R.J. Reilly Jr., Inc. and Green Mountain Platform Tennis have merged to form Reilly Green Mountain Platform Tennis. PTM carried the details: The merger brings together the industry's most experienced platform tennis court providers. R. J. Reilly Jr., Inc. was started over 40 years ago by Dick Reilly. His daughter Kathy and son Jim joined him full-time in 1985. R.J. Reilly invented the aluminum platform tennis court, which has become the standard court of the industry. They have built over 3,000 courts throughout the U.S. and the world and have long been devoted to contributing to the growth and development of the sport through innovations, educational materials and resources, as well as financial and material contributions. Chris Casiraghi, owner of Green Mountain Platform Tennis and now the president of Reilly Green Mountain Platform[...]
Read MoreAs the result of a very successful fund raising effort in connection with its conducting of the National Championships of platform tennis for men and women last March, the Long Island Platform Tennis Association was able to distribute $24,000 to three local charities. The beneficiaries were the Family and Children's Association, the Interfaith Nutrition Network, and Rotacare. Each received an $8,000 share of the contribution. "A large portion of the contributions came from the individual members of LIPTA who participate in the sport during the fall and winter seasons," indicated General Chairman Charles Vasoll. Several corporate sponsors enlisted by Director of Finance, Duane Hayden, also helped make the event a financial success. Leading that list was the AON Corporation. Other corporate sponsors deserving of mention were The Island Financial Group, First American Title Insurance [...]
Read MoreWestchester native Bob Considine teamed up with famed Chicago web designer Geoffrey Johnson (Lands End, JCrew) in late 2001 to create what was to become the hottest platform tennis web site of 2002 - paddlepro.com. Considine originally intended for the web site to simply be a value-added service to the men and women he taught paddle to; however, the Westchester Platform Tennis Association saw the in-progress site and requested to have their league/tournament information included. The Sound Shore Invitational soon after became the first tournament to register 100% of player entries through the web via credit card. Shortly after the WPTL signed on, members began requests for an online paddle store to purchase items such as balls, paddles, trophies, and team logo-printed clothing. "We will continue to expand the website as long as it is positively adopted by the paddle community and p[...]
Read MoreAnother year for the charities goes off without a hitch thanks to the leadership of John Noble and Company. This November, 296 players competed in four events: The Men's Open, Women's Open, Men's 45+, and Men's 55+. In the women's open tournament, last season's finalists Aery/Viant and Fulton/Prendergast were no-shows. Therefore, the draw was ripe for the picking. The biggest quarter-final upsets came when 5th seeded Kerri Delmonico and Shelly Morse upset the top-seeded team of Tonia Mangan and Bobo Delaney. They proceeded to defeat Jane McNitt and Leslie Hough (who defeated 3rd seeded Hilary Debbs and Patty Hogan) in a three-set semi-final match. In the other half of the draw, 2nd seeded Mary Doten and Julia Sierks held their ground to reach the finals. Kerri and Shelly won the finals (their first Charities Title) in a hard-fought match. In the men's draw, the top seeds proceeded [...]
Read MoreDick Squires had some thoughts on how court construction should change to grow the game: The November, 2002 edition of Platform Tennis Magazine was primarily concerned about where our lovely sport is going...or not going. We should all be concerned. The premier tennis court in America was built less than 50 years before the first paddle court. Why did that sport experience widespread, meteoric growth not only in this country, but around the world? The tennis court consumes four times the amount of land and it too was initially a recreational activity for the wealthy, yet, it took off like a Southern California forest fire. How come? It is truly a mystery why a rather boorish game like racquetball could experience astronomical growth during the late 70's. Even though participation eventually leveled off almost as fast as it grew in the ensuing years, there are millions still pla[...]
Read More
John Embree has been involved in sports, and more importantly - racquet sports, since he was a child. In college, John was a four-year letterman in both soccer and tennis. He was even voted MVP and senior athlete of the year. In the early 70s, John went on various professional tennis tours, included in this was his participation in the 1976 Australian Open. John's enthusiasm for tennis was recognized by the USTA when they hired him in 1980. John soon after developed and implemented the new USTA League Program. Today, John's baby has 400,000 annual participants. Wilson saw John's potential and hired him soon after. He worked his way up to become the V.P. and G.M. for Wilson Racquet Sports. One day in 1994, Wilson's President asked John if he knew of any new business ventures the company could get involved with. Citing service and quality-related problems from platform tennis' prima[...]
Read More
On January 5, 2003, a fatal propane gas explosion occurred on a platform tennis court at the Eastham Residential Community in Grantham, New Hampshire. A suspected gas leak caused the explosion that killed 64- year-old James Owen (husband and father of one) and injured three others. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine Vol. 4, Issue 4, March 2003
Read More
What activity can you do with kids in the middle of winter when its 15 degrees out? Put them on the paddle courts of course! That is exactly what happened January 11, as 184 players took to the courts for the 2003 Junior National Championships hosted by the Beacon Hill Club in Summit, New Jersey. Seven area clubs, 28 courts in all, saw non-stop action as a record number of players battled it out in hopes of winning a National Title. At day's end, four teams left with championships medals and "Champion's Chairs" while the other 88 teams left with the satisfaction of knowing they competed their best. The winners in the 10-and-Under championship were Will Burchenal and Thomas Killian (Summit, NJ). They topped Ryan Hissey and Scotty "THRASH" Safford (West Chester,PA) 6-2, 6-3 in the finals. Terry Keegan (Fairfield, CT) and Liam Bohannon (Westport, CT) won the 12- and-Under champ[...]
Read MoreGary Horvath paid tribute to those that made it happen: The quiet resurrection of the junior circuit has to be included in this list of events that will shape the game in the years ahead. Junior paddle has seen its rebirth as a result of renewed support for the APTA Junior Nationals, increased programming by teaching professionals, and the creation of the Viking Cup and Viking Junior Tour. This season, over 180 players participated in the Junior Nationals. Patty Hogan, Junior Nationals Tournament Director, was impressed both with the level of enthusiasm and the improvement in the level of play. This season also marked the first year of the Viking Junior Tour. There have been four junior tournaments held so far this season with over 350 participants. Two more are definitely scheduled and two additional tournaments are tentatively scheduled for this season. A year after entering t[...]
Read More
One hundred and eleven men's teams negotiated their way to Philadelphia to compete for the prestigious, year-end, National Platform Tennis Championships, March 8th and 9th. When the dust cleared on Sunday afternoon, the defending National Champions, Scott Mansager and Flip Goodspeed had been upset in the semifinals by Mike Stulac and Bill Anderson. Stulac and Anderson were then defeated by David Ohlmuller and Chris Gambino in two hard-fought sets in the finals. For Ohlmuller and Gambino, the victory was especially sweet as they recaptured the National Championship from two years ago. "We had a great year, capped off by an amazing Nationals," said David Ohlmuller. "The tournament was first class all the way. The atmosphere made it feel like the US Open," exclaimed the three-time National Champ. With Mother Nature cooperating and providing partly sunny skies and temperatures i[...]
Read MoreWith defending Region IV champs missing several veteran players, the Region III dark-horse men's team delivered a stunning victory in front of their hometown fans. After four rounds of competition, Region III had won 18 out of a possible 20 points, mathematically winning the Cup prior to the final round against a strong Region I (NY/NJ) squad. Lead by the undefeated play of John Stefanik and Tim McAvoy at #1, Region III started strong and never let up, bringing the Cup back home for the first time since 2000, when Captain Pete Mathews led the team in Rochester. As with every PC victory, this year was a total team effort. The up and coming rookie team of David Caldwell and Blake Cordish went 4-1 at #4. Also, Chris Gorman, another first-time PC player, joined forces with Fred Gumbinner in the #5 slot and also went 4-1. They too, went undefeated in their first four matches. The veter[...]
Read MoreThe video was shot at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, Briarcliff, NY and produced by Fox Meadow member and indie film producer Eric Taylor. It shows the fun of paddle competition and the spirit of the players. The foursome involved were: David Ohlmuller, Chris Gambino, Mike Cochrane and John Schmitt. Source: Eric Taylor
Read More
During his tenure as the chair of the APTA Rules and Equipment Committee Robert A Brown had conducted a number of surveys of service holds and breaks, in part because of the no-let decision in the late 1990s. In 2003 he updated his earlier work with and analysis on the 20003 Senior Men's 50+, 60+ and 70+ championships and filed the following report with PTM. In discussions with players about the "pros" and "cons" of the no-Jet on net cord serve rule, the conversation usually progresses to a question as to whether the server In platform tennis has an advantage in serving. The "con" proponent will generally comment that this is the case and that the no-let rule further favors the server. While there Is a modicum of truth to the latter comment, It is not a significant factor, since most of the net-cord serves are returnable and the Incidence of the "dribbler" occurs on less than one-half[...]
Read More
The first platform was built in Scarsdale, NY and was ready for play in late November, 1928. Initially it was used for badminton and deck tennis but the discovery, soon afterwards, of the racquets and balls used in paddle tennis1 lead to the creation of the game we know today. Despite a number of experiments with modifying the physical dimensions of the court over the years the court configuration adopted by the Founders has stood the test of time, as did the one-serve rule and playing the ball off the wires. For more details on the initial experiments with the game please see The Early Years 1928-1934. Note 1: Paddle Tennis was developed by the Reverend Frank P. Beal as a child in Albion MI. Later in life when he had moved to New York City and was the Associate Minister of the Judson Memorial Church he introduced the game to New York City playgrounds in the early 1920s
Read More
The APTA started looking for a simple new logo during the latter half of 2002 and a contest was announced with the winning designer earning an individual life membership to the APTA. At the May Board meeting the logo designs submitted in response to the search for a more modern logo were reviewed and the one submitted by Connie Welch was selected. The new logo was to be be the new masthead for the organization. The original logo for the APTA had been designed by John Ware in the early 1960s and had been replaced in late 1977 as part of the celebration of 50th anniversary of the game in 1978.
Read MoreAPTA President John Horine covered the developments in the From the APTA... section of PTM: At the APTA Board meeting in May, we heard from Rob LeBuhn who wanted to organize and formally train umpires so that the Nationals and each region will have certified umpires for all of its events. The Board whole-heartedly supported Rob and his idea. The Board also formally approved the Promotions Committee, a group of Board members, players, court and equipment manufacturers who have gathered to brainstorm ideas of how to grow the game in dominant areas of the country. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 1, September, 2003
Read MoreViking Athletics announced Viking Kids' Day 2003 would take place Friday, October 31st at the Chicago Charities Platform Tennis Tournament. Dave Ohlmuller, National Sales Manager, Viking Athletics had this to say: "Viking Kids' Day is going to be a wonderful experience for all the kids that participate in the event. We are thrilled to have such incredible support from the top regional and national teaching professionals and top ranked players for this event. The extent of the player commitment is a testament to what a worthwhile experience Kids' Day is going to be for the participants. The kids will have the opportunity to receive instruction from many of the top instructors and players in the game of platform tennis." The following Viking Professionals and top players committed to participate in the Viking Kids' Day: Mike Rahaley, Mike Marino, Tim Mangan, John Milbank, Sco[...]
Read More
Henry Burchenal (Summit, NJ) and John Donnally (Madison, NJ) have played together now for three years. Henry • and John won the 12-and-under Nationals in 2002 and lost in the semi-finals of the 14-and-under Nationals in 2003. They are both 8th graders who also excel in tennis, hockey and lacrosse. They are looking to improve on their semi-final finish in last year's nationals by practicing more before this year's tournament! Henry plays the ad court but his strength is at the net where he loves to hit his favorite shot, which is his backhand volley. John's strength from the deuce court is his return of serve. Both players love the challenge of difficult screen shots. Henry keeps his 2002 Viking National Championship chair in his room along with his gold medal prominently displayed. John doesn't know where his gold medal is and thinks his brother traded him something for the ch[...]
Read MoreBob Kingsbury and Dick Squires, both of whom were major achievers and contributors in the 1960's and 1970's. Because their achievements and contributions were better known to players in those decades, it was decided to hold the induction ceremonies at the Senior Nationals dinner at Sleepy Hollow in March of 2003, where there was a large, enthusiastic, and appreciative crowd of peers. Brook Kindred presented the induction speech for Bob Kingsbury and Steve Baird delivered the presentation for Dick Squires. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 1, September, 2003
Read MoreChris Gambino and David Ohlmuller secured the #1 spot in the Men's and Kerri Delmonico and Shelley Morse edged Bobo Mangan Delaney and Tonia Mangan for the top Women's position.
Read More
Gary led the way for the first five years of the Association's existence and with his energy and leadership the PPTA had made great strides in its mission of raising the standards of teaching platform tennis as a profession and increasing interest and awareness of the sport. Patty Hogan stepped in to fill his shoes.
Read More
Terry (Fairfield, CT) and Liam (Westport, CT) are headed into their third year as partners on the junior circuit. Both competitive tennis players, Liam has given up playing competitive hockey to be able to play more paddle. He still plays baseball and soccer, but paddle is his favorite! He loves the different tournaments on the Viking junior circuit and getting the chance to meet other juniors from outside his region. Terry spends plenty of his time playing many sports including soccer and water polo. He is currently in training for his first triathlon and figures the 3-mile run will be the hardest part. His favorite athlete is Andre Agassi and he loves the Yankees. His favorite classes are gym and geography, while Liam enjoys math class the most and says Arthur Ashe is his favorite athlete! Terry and Liam played many of the Viking junior events last year and look forward to playin[...]
Read More
PTM Editor Wayne Dollard had these observations: This issue is a tribute to women and their changing role in platform tennis. When I first jumped on the tournament scene in 1997, I was amazed at the talent level among the top women players. As a newcomer to tournaments, it helped me to improve by watching their form, technique, preparation, and intensity. Gerri Viant showed me the ready position I use today. Patty Hogan drilled a steady and more compact volley out of me. And Sue Aery taught me that consistent groundstrokes are more valuable than powerful ones. Looking back through the pages of paddle history, women such as Charlotte Lee, Hilary Hilton, and Robin Fulton have also added so much to the sport. Powerful one- handed backhands, backflips off the screens, blitzing the net, and more. These women showed the paddle community that they could do it all. The women of yesterday c[...]
Read More
In the October 13, 2003 issue of Business Week, platform tennis got another plug. Staff writer Marilyn Harris wrote about the wintertime enjoyment that we look forward to in her article entitled, "Paddle, Anyone?" The night air was beyond bitter, the wind cut like a buzz saw. Light flooded a metal platform enclosed by chicken wire, on which four figures, bundled in fleece, chased a yellow ball and smashed it across the net. A car screeched up, and out jumped a man. "She has been crying since you left!" he shouted. His wife dropped her graphite paddle with a clang, raced into the car, and as soon as she could peel away the layers, was nursing her infant daughter. A short while later, play resumed. What would make a mom run out on her newborn? "Neither rain, nor snow, nor crying babies keep me away from platform tennis," says the athletic mother of three. Male or female, old or young[...]
Read MoreHall of Fame member Walt Peckinpaugh, Jr. filed the story with PTM: Platform tennis made its debut in Cleveland shortly after World War II when the Chagrin Valley Hunt Club built the first courts. Even the arrival of Witherbee Black, the 1940 National Champion from Rye, New York, could not stir the interest in "paddle." The facility faltered from neglect until 1968 when two new courts were built and the "modern era' of platform tennis began. Members of the Hunt Club then arranged a paddle exhibition and clinic featuring four top ranked players from the East: Roger Lankenau, Don Miller, Oliver Kimberly, and Dick Squires. Members of all east side clubs attended the, exhibition and from cooperative relationships, paddle began to gain momentum in Cleveland. A most important contribution to the growth of Cleveland paddle was the decision by John Bernet, Carrington Clark, David Dickenson[...]
Read MorePTM: Dave, you've been with Viking for two years now and know the operations well. Can you tell me how long a paddle should last? DO: That question comes up all the time. The rule of thumb is a new paddle every year if you're playing two or more times a week, and a paddle every other year if you're playing competitive paddle once a week. PTM: No offense, but are you saying that to encourage players to purchase more paddles? DO: The fact is the high-tech cores that are in paddles today breakdown over time and with extended play. It doesn't matter whose paddle you are talking about. Don't forget today's paddles offer greater control, more power, and far, far more shock absorption than the wooden paddles of the past. Unfortunately, in platform the luxury of restringing doesn't exist. And, in paddle the average points last far longer than those in tennis. That translates to many, ma[...]
Read More
David Kjeldsen, CEO, of Viking Athletics, announced that the recently completed 2003 Viking Cup will be the last for the Child/Adult Tournament. Asked why such a well respected tournament is being stopped, Kjeldsen responded: "The Viking Cup was started eight years ago in an attempt to get more young people on the courts. At the time, there were few outlets for kids to play platform tennis. We felt that if we could get the adults involved, we could get the kids on the courts. We've more than accomplished that goal. More kids are playing than ever before. We'd like to put our emphasis now on kids playing with kids. The Viking Junior Tour is gaining momentum and we'd like to increase our support in that area. In addition, we are exploring with a number of platform tennis communities around the country starting a Viking Junior Platform Tennis League, with much the same format as the adu[...]
Read More
John Noble filed the report on the event with PTM: The 31st year of the Chicago Charities seemed to be an event enjoyed by all. With a slightly smaller draw, due to the Halloween holiday, the pressure on the volunteer staff to run the four tournaments within the event was not as much of a drain as it has been in previous years. The Northwestern Cancer Research program was the beneficiary. The Women's Open was witness to a pleasant number of upsets. Only one of the top four seeds made it to the semifinals. In the finals, Cindy Prendergast and Lauren Zink won a hard-fought three-setter against Hilary Debbs and Patty Hogan, the second seed (6-1, 2-6, 6-2). The Men's Open was marred by rain in the last set and a half. Last year's Champions David Ohlmuller and Chris Gambino had to work a little harder on their way to this year's final, as they were taken to three sets in the quarters by[...]
Read More
Dick Squires (a.k.a. Mr. Platform Tennis) passed away on November 12, 2003 after a long battle with emphysema. The following is an excerpt from the article Dick Squires... Gone, but not Forgotten that appeared in Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5 Issue 3 A National Champion in tennis and squash, Dick tried his luck in platform tennis. Squires brought flair and color to the game. He wore pink sweaters, a paddle glove and hit shots from behind his back in the fifth set of tournament finals matches. He is also familiar to more than two generations of paddle enthusiasts as the author of "How to Play Platform Tennis," the definitive book on our sport. Another bestseller to his credit is "The Other Racquet Sports," covering every racquet and paddle sport from court tennis to pickle-ball. His writing was not limited to sports, however. "One Moment At A Time, A Love Story," dedicat[...]
Read MoreThe PPTA had a very busy fall certifying teaching professionals from all around the "paddle" world. Hank Irvine and Bob Callaway had the opportunity to go to Rich Maier's world on the north side of Chicago and join him in a two-day certification marathon. Fifteen pros were tested thanks to Scott Bondurant, who recruited many prominent pros from the north shore area. Among the pros who went through the certification process were former national champion Scott Mansager and the current women's national champions, Mary Doten and Susie Keane. While Hank and Bob were in Chicago, Gerri Viant, Patty Hogan and Paul Quinn went to Philadelphia and conducted certification exams for nine pros from the Middle States area. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 3, January 2004
Read More
After eight years of great service to the APTA as Executive Director, Carolyn Tierney announced her retirement. During her tenure, Carolyn kept the organization running and was the number one goodwill ambassador. Carolyn's retirement was effective December 31, 2003. Marjorie Hodson, a member of the APTA Board of Directors, was to serve as the interim Executive Director until a permanent replacement was found. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 3, January 2004
Read More
The names Safford and Hissey may ring a bell for some of you because they are second and third generation paddle players out of the Philadelphia area. Scott's parents, Tom and Leila, are accomplished players, as is Ryan's mom, Laurie. Ryan's uncle and grandmother are former national champs. Scotty and Ryan are following in their family's footsteps by trying to make a name for themselves in the paddle world! Between football, baseball and golf, it's little wonder Scott and Ryan have any time to play paddle, but finding time and competing at a high level is something these two boys have been able to do quite well. They were the runners-up in the Junior National Championships in the 10- and-under age group last January. They also had success winning the Philadelphia Open 12s in 2001 and 2002, and in the Viking Cup lOs and 12s regional play. Both boys follow the Phillies, Eagles and Si[...]
Read MorePTM carried an article by Tom Dow on how to sell the idea of building more public courts and facilities. The article was written to provide the basis of a presentation that could be made by those wanting to expand the game in their area to potential supporters such as their local municipality, YMCA, foundation, and/or local "paddle angel." The article was supported by various case studies of successful programs. [please enlarge images to read the full report] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 3, January, 2004
Read More
The following is an excerpt from John's letter that appeared in Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 5 Dear Platform Tennis Fans, Well, I guess this is it. My last letter "From the President" and the last of Wayne's many calls saying "John, have you done your letter yet?"As I think back on my tenure on the Board and my sevenyear term as President, I remember all the people with whom I served and all the accomplishments we achieved. The website and the Platform Tennis Magazine are among the biggest legacies I am leaving behind. Thanks to Bill Cunningham for sharing the vision and helping design and host the early stages of the website. Thanks to David Kjeldsen and Viking for funding the site when the Board said it wasn't worth the money. Once posted online, the Board saw the value of the web, our site and its possible benefits to our membership. We now have a sophisticated webs[...]
Read MoreMark Holtschneider summed up Horine's many accomplishments over 11 years of service. In 1993, John Horine joined the APTA Board of Directors. In 1997, he became the President. This May, John's term ends and he leaves the APTA as its longest serving President. He also leaves as one of its best. Great progress was made during John's tenure as President: • The APTA's internet site was created. The website allows members instant access to all tournaments, applications, rules, and other information, including on-line membership sign up. • Platform Tennis News was replaced with Platform Tennis Magazine. The former newsletter was in black and white and focused primarily on tournament results. The new full-color, 32-page magazine includes tournament results, but is focused on instruction and player feature articles. • The Professional Platform Tennis Association was created. [...]
Read MoreDollard Publishing Company (DPC), the publisher of PTM, was awarded a significant contract for publishing another magazine and this prompted DPC to seek additional publishing and design help which, in turn, lead to an update to the design of PTM. Wayne Dollard, PTM editor, wrote in From the Editor...: "Why did we make the change now rather than at the beginning of next season? After seeing the preliminary designs, we simply couldn't wait! My chief designer wanted to end the season on a high note and get everyone excited for next season. We agreed. We have also offered a new masthead and cover theme to kick off the new style. I hope you like it." Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 5, April, 2004
Read More
"You're gonna wanna be here!"That was the word coming out of Cleveland going into this year's National Championship, and after the fact it's hard to argue differently. If you weren't there, you should have been. After an absence of more than a decade, the Cleveland paddle world stepped up to the plate and delivered a national title tournament to remember - impeccably organized, offering a spectacular Saturday night party and oh, by the way, some unbelievable paddle. Both the Men's and Women's draws delivered on the promise of tremendous play inside the cages, as well as the answer to some intriguing questions surrounding the game's best players. Can anyone beat David Ohlmuller and Chris Gambino? That had to be the question on the minds of many entering this year's National Championship, as the defending champs entered the tournament having dominated the paddle scene the [...]
Read MoreThis year's President's Cup should have just been mailed in advance to Region I. Winning both the Men's and Women's President's Cup, Region I dominated this year's event with a deep pool of teams that came to compete. For the 2003-04 season's President's Cup, the women had a perfect day for their event, which took place the Thursday before the main draw. Blue skies lurked overhead, as each of the five regions brought out their best teams to compete against each other. In the end, the top three teams were separated by one point and Region I won. Congratulations to the winning team: Judy Arden and Susan Lovejoy, Michelle Griffith and Susan Tarzian, Alia Main and Kerri Flynn, Maria Manley and Kim Curcuru, Michelle Jellinek and Lissa Barry and alternate Kerith Flynn. The men's day was not as perfect. Punctuated by high temperatures and wind gusts of up to 40 mph, the men battled the e[...]
Read MoreMarjorie brought a wealth of paddle experience to her new role, including: former APTA Board member, NJ Women's League President, VP and Tournament Director and the 2001 APTA National Championships Co-Chair. In addition to her paddle background, Marjorie brought strong computer and administration skills to the job and a passion for our sport...this was more than just a job for Marjorie. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 5, April, 2004
Read MoreMen's Venues and Regional Champions (1978-2004) Women's Venues and Regional Champions (1983-2004)
Read More
At the annual APTA Board Meeting on Friday and Saturday, April 30 and May 1, 2004 new APTA Board Member Mark Fischl was elected APTA President succeeding John Horine. Mark, a Long Island native was an enthusiastic promoter of the sport.
Read More
The Annual Meeting of the APTA was held in the evening of April 30, 2004. On the afternoon of April 30, the APTA Board of Directors and invited guests met to discuss marketing plans and strategies to promote paddle. On May 1, 2004 the APTA Board of Directors met for the annual business meeting. At the annual meeting, new APTA directors Bob Callaway, Sally Cottingham, David Lowe, Marina Ohlmuller and Todd Ward were elected and returning director Martin Sturgess was reelected. Retiring directors Mark Holtschneider, John Horine, Tim Mangan and Jo Rogers were also recognized. This was a very emotional meeting. In addition to the regular APTA business that was conducted, the meeting marked the end of John Horine's 7-year tenure as President. John closed the meeting with a heartfelt review of his activities and accomplishments and thanked those who helped make them happen including Charl[...]
Read More
http://youtu.be/FZoLbHnV6zI On April 11, following Davis Cup coverage, The Battle @ Beckett appeared on The Tennis Channel. The Battle @ Becket was the largest media event in platform tennis history, covered by five television stations, including ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX, and numerous magazines and newspapers. The event featured the Jensen Brothers (1993 French Open Champions) and 2003 National Champions Chris Gambino, and David Ohlmuller. The event took place at Beckett Ridge Country Club (West Chester, OH)and was the first time professionals from the ATP tennis tour and platform tennis circuit faced off against each other on a paddle court. Luke and Murphy had been ranked as high as #4 in the world ATP rankings. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 5, April, 2004
Read MoreThe APTA had financed and supported the creation of the PTMHOFF1 as an independent 501 (C) (3) entity. With the IRS finally granting exempt status effective February 19, 2004 the Foundation could now embark on a fundraising effort to "realize the dream" Because the Foundation was a newly created corporation the approval was an "advance ruling" and was only effective through December 31, 20082. NOTE 1: APTA President John Horine was the driving force to accomplish this and had worked closely with Andrew Giannella of ulmer berne llp of Cincinnati, OH to incorporate the Foundation and file the application for non-profit status. [See Also] NOTE 2: This was subsequently extended
Read MoreOver three decades Diane Straus Tucker amassed 23 National Championships with 12 different partners, including six Women's titles and two Mixed titles. She is still winning Senior events. Gerald Manhold devoted the better part of a lifetime to platform tennis and was a driving force for platform tennis league play in his home state of New Jersey and served as the representative for senior level play on the APTA Board for five years. Walt Peckinpaugh's legacy was in his organizational leadership, vision, promotional abilities, expertise in chairing major tournaments, and technical competence. Without his contributions, there would be a vastly different platform tennis landscape today in the Mid-Western Region as well as nationally. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 5, April, 2004
Read MoreJason Gray from Beckett Ridge Country Club (BRCC) in West Chester, Ohio, was the first to take the courageous step of transforming traditional green and brown platform tennis decks to the bold custom mixed colors of 'Premier Purple' and green. Research indicated that ball visibility was increased because purple provided the most intense color contrast to yellow (and orange). The ease of making line calls is greatly enhanced also by the purple background and white line contrast. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 5, April, 2004
Read More
Susie Keane was born in Detroit, MI, 39 years ago. Growing up, she had a natural talent for tennis. Susie made the pro tennis circuit in 1980 after being ranked the #1 junior girl tennis player in the world (PTM mistakenly said "the #1 girls' 15-and-under player in the world")1. She competed on the tour until 1988, earning a ranking as high as #27 in the world. Enjoying her tennis retirement by raising her three children, Susie was coaxed into a paddle game three years ago when her husband's partner (her brother) failed to show up for a Saturday morning game. "My first game was very frustrating, but I liked it," she recalls. "Playing that first match got me interested and when my friend Nancy Maxwell called me to play in a follow-up game I was excited. Nancy had been trying to get me out there for years," she added. Susie moved to Chicago shortly after that first game. She explaine[...]
Read MoreChris Gambino and David Ohlmuller edge out Flip Goodspeed and Scott Mansager for the Men's #1 position and Cindy Prendergast and Lauren Zink secure the Women's #1 ranking.
Read MoreIn its efforts to grow the game in all regions and at all levels, the APTA is heading south to hold an exhibition in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, January 15. The exhibition will take place at Ansley Golf Club from 10 AM-2PM. The event will feature top players showcasing their talents, as well as an opportunity for locals to hit a few balls in an introductory clinic and round robin. Enthusiasm for platform tennis is high in Atlanta thanks to two existing courts at two clubs and a large number of experienced players from more traditional platform tennis areas who now call Atlanta home. With a strong foothold like this the APTA hopes that Atlanta will be one of the next major growth areas for the sport. It is also hoped that an APTA-sanctioned tournament will be added in Atlanta in 2005-06 as the sport grows there. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 6 Issue 2, November, 2004
Read MoreIn July 2004 a proposal was made to Fox Meadow Tennis Club to establish the Museum and Hall of Fame in a new building on the Fox Meadow premises. While a number of discussions were had at the Fox Meadow Board level no consensus could be developed. Alternative proposals were made to Fox Meadow in 2007 and 2010. [Note: the first proposal to establish a "home" for APTA artifacts was made to Fox Meadow in 1972] Source: Robert A. Brown personal communication, 2013
Read More
Platform Tennis Magazine editor Wayne Dollard surveyed the manufacturing companies supporting the game. Platform tennis has been called the best kept secret of winter sports. The game has a small following of die-hards that would have difficulty imagining what winter would be like without their favorite pastime. This article is a look into those six service and manufacturing companies that provide us the opportunity to enjoy our "little secret." Representatives from Viking Athletics, Wilson Racquet Sports, Bulletworks, Premier Platform Tennis, Reilly/Green Mountain and The Paddle Company opine on the state of the game from their perspectives. [enlarge the images to read full story] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 6, Issue 2, November, 2004
Read MoreOn behalf of the Board of the American Platform Tennis Association, I am pleased to welcome you to another season of fun and competition. I am very excited to be starting my first year as your President.Your Board and I have been working hard on establishing a strategic vision that builds upon recent successes and help take the APTA and our sport forward with a clear sense of purpose and a renewed sense of vigor. As for the short term, we are pleased to announce a number of initiatives for the upcoming season designed to improve member services. Look for a redesigned Platform Tennis Magazine and a greatly enhanced APTA website. In addition, we have begun a new effort to share learning from across the country that will help build better players and programs. [enlarge images to read full report and financials]
Read More
Mats Wilander is a tennis legend—and for nearly 20 years he has enjoyed playing platform tennis in his spare time. Mats won 33 career singles titles including 7 Grand Slams (Australian Open in '83, '84 and '88, French Open in '82, '85 and '88, and US Open in '88). He was also a member of three champion Swedish Davis Cup teams. Occupation? I'm still involved in tennis. I travel about 51h months a year playing the senior tour and exhibitions. I'm also the Captain of the Swedish Davis Cup Team. When and where did you first start playing platform tennis? I started playing around 1986 in New York City. My wife lived in the city, and I played on a court in her neighborhood around 3rd Avenue and 23rd Street. How often do you play? About 10 times a year. Why do you enjoy platform tennis? I like any sport where you have a ball or a puck and something in your hand to hit it with. Hoc[...]
Read More![[click to enlarge]](http://platformtennishalloffame.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Screen-Shot-2013-05-20-at-10.57.33-AM.png)
The day served as a kickoff for the brand new "New Jersey Junior Platform Tennis League" modeled after the successful men's and women's leagues around the country. Juniors from nine area clubs would have the opportunity to participate in league play on 16 Friday nights beginning in October and running through February.
Read MoreWayne Dollard, PTM editor in Vol 6, Issue 3 reported: For each of the past six years, ! have spent my birthday weekend at the Chicago Charities tournment. There are few places I'd rather be. Thi Midwest hospitality offered by our Chicago friends is matched only by their enthusiasm for the sport. And there is no other place in the country experiencing the growth rate that we are now seeing in Region V. Six years ago, 90% of the APTA's membership came from the East Coast; today that number is less than 50% The change is not due to an eastern decline, but rather a western expansion. Of the 7,500 APTA members, 30% are from Chicago and 52% overall are from the Midwest. Source: From the Editor, Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 6, Issue, 3, December, 2004
Read More
PTM Editor Wayne Dollard reported: PTM recently had the opportunity to sit down with Baltimore's up-and-coming paddle sensations Blake Cordish (age 33) and David Caldwell (age 30) and asked about their remarkable history with tennis and their seamless transition to platform tennis. Blake Cordish was born in Baltimore and played tennis at an early age. As a junior, he was ranked in the top 100 in the United States in singles and the top ten in doubles before going on to play for the varsity team at Princeton. David Caldwell was raised in Danville, Virginia. As a junior, David was ranked #1 in the country. At the University of North Carolina, he improved and was a three-time All-American. By the late 1990's, David was playing the top pros in the world at the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open. He was ranked in the top 150 on the ATP Tennis Tour. David and Blake have be[...]
Read More
Wayne Dollard reported for PTM from Chicago: A refreshing 2004-05 season was on display in Chicago from November 5-7 for the annual Charities tournament. The best players in the game, including 214 men and women, competed in this season's extravaganza. New pairings, veteran teams, and reunited legends captured off a weekend of unparalled platform tennis. 2004 Chicago Women's Charities: What would you like to see when going to watch a major platform tennis championship? Power, finesse, excitement? You might also like to see new teams rising to greater heights and veteran teams returning to show a younger generation that they're not ready to go away any time soon. This year's Chicago Charities provided all of these things plus much more. The ladies of platform tennis kicked off the weekend on Friday, November 5th. The absences of Lauren Zink, Shelley Morse, Patty Hogan, Sarah Krie[...]
Read MoreOn Saturday, December 11, 2004, the Long Island Platform Tennis Association hosted its 2nd Annual Viking Junior Tour tournament at the Garden City Country Club and Cherry Valley Club. Among the four age divisions, 28 teams participating (56 kids!), with countless parents and grandparents cheering. The level of paddle was extraordinary, the good sportsmanship was commendable and the smiles were constant! John Cerga and Alex Bancila, the Directors of Racquet Sports at the Garden City Country Club and Cherry Valley Club, respectively, volunteered their time and helped make it a memorable day for the players. We expect to have even more teams next year, so sign up early! The Champions and Finalists were as follows: 10 & Under Winners: Jack Stiuso and Dylan Neville Finalists' Hunter Robinson and Timmy Schnier 12 & Under Winners: Liam Neville and Warren Trunz Finalists: Jack Mara [...]
Read MoreThe iconoclastic Platform Tennis News.com was published by 2005 Hall of Fame inductee Charles Vasoll and a former President of the APTA. The first issue was in September 1, 2003 and after a year of publishing hard copies the newsletter was moving online. Vasoll wrote articles that gave his view of happenings in the sport and invited others to submit articles with their views. Vol 1-1 discussed Vasoll's view of the new APTA logo [enlarge pages to read his views]. The APTA had started a search for a new logo in late 2002 and had picked a winner in May 2003. Note: All issues of Platform Tennis News.com are available in Search and Explore Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 6, Issue 1 (mislabeled as Issue 6), September, 2004
Read MoreDuring the summer, Platform Tennis Magazine launched their new web site www.ptmonline.com in partnership with the Pittsburgh-based web design firm Amixa, LLC. A list of core features for the site were: • An on-line store • Tournament dates and information • Rules of platform tennis • History of platform tennis • Featured articles from the most recent issue (summary only) • Platform Tennis Magazine archives (for ordering) • Advertising information for Platform Tennis Magazine • A robust set of links to other platform tennis web sites The website was not affiliated with the APTA Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol.7, Issue 1, September, 2005
Read More
Maura Judkis provided a summary of efforts to grow junior paddle over the past decades One of Whitney Snyder's most poignant memories from his childhood in Sewickley, Penn., is the slow scratch of a shovel being dragged across a snow-covered aluminum floor. While his weeks were filled with middle school, his weekends were devoted to platform tennis. Instead of waking up early on wintry Saturday mornings for cartoons, Snyder would go to the paddle courts at 7 a.m. and hear the scraping shovel that signified the beginning of his early morning group lesson. The 1970s generated junior paddle leagues across the country. Both Snyder and his friend Bill Hallett recalled their junior paddle days as being sponsored by enthusiastic parents who were willing to teach the game and send their children to the Junior Nationals by the bus load. "There really weren't pros teaching the game," said Ha[...]
Read More
PTM Editor Wayne Dollard had the story: On Saturday, October 8th, 16 of the top men in platform tennis competed for $5,000 in prize money at the first-annual Premier Cup. The group included last season's #1, #2, #3, #5, #6, #8 and #11-ranked teams. Nearly one year ago, David Dodge (owner of Premier Platform Tennis Courts) and Jason Gray (head professional at Four Bridges Country Club) were brainstorming on ways to bring improvements to platform tennis. In the spirit of tennis' ATP tour, the two men came up with the "Premier Purple" court color. The demand for the new look has been overwhelming on Dodge. He explained, "Wherever I go, I am being asked to repaint old brown and green courts with the new Premier Purple. The more vibrant color is not only refreshing but it also makes line calls easier because of the ball contrast on the court." At the 2005 National Championships in P[...]
Read MoreRex Savorum, paddle enthusiast, reported from The Paterson Club (Fairfield, CT): If it's true that "necessity is the Mother of invention," then jam-packed weekend calendars for families in Fairfield County, Connecticut, was the catalysis for starting Sunrise Paddle. Beginning the week before Daylight Savings Time, and running through mid-March, a hardy group of passionate paddlers arrive in the paddle hut at 5:30 AM on Saturday mornings for coffee, donuts and stretching. Accompanied by an eclectic mix of Rock, Blues, Punk, Reggae and (very little) Rap music piped out to the platform courts, play starts at 6:00 AM sharp and normally runs to 8:00 AM, or whenever the blinding early morning winter sunrise makes it near impossible to play. This unique "paddle cult," now going into its third year at The Patterson Club (Fairfield, CT), started with a member e-mail blast to over 100 fellow[...]
Read More
PTM Editor Wayne Dollard reported on both events from Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — When it came to surprises and unanticipated drama the 2005 Marsh APTA Nationals delivered where no other championship had in recent memory. On Thursday, March 17, sixty of the top women platform tennis players in the world kicked off the four-day competition by vying for the 2005 President's Cup. The Region I women (Downstate New York New Jersey and Fairfield County, Connecticut) had won the competition each year since starting a four-year run in their own backyard with the APTA New Jersey Nationals in 2001. This year's team was led by returning champions Susan Lovejoy, Susan Trizian and Kerith Flynn. With the absence of six 2004 nationally ranked playing veterans including the #2 national ranked player Aila Main, Region I was at a disadvantage. Waiting to take advantage was the hos[...]
Read More
On behalf of the American Platform Tennis Association I would like to thank you for another terrific season. As I close my first year as President I want to reflect on some of the initiatives the Board and I set out for this season. Our two main goals for the year were to be in the black financially and have a web site that provided additional member services. On the financial front it looks like we will return to profitability. The Web site provided a bit more of a challenge, but with the never-ending help of Marjorie Hodson, our Executive Director, and Jim Ingle of the Revere Group, we seem to be headed in the right direction. Building a web site is always a work in progress, with the first year being especially difficult. Fortunately, we have the infrastructure to continue the building process. Our secondary goals were marketing the sport through exhibitions and other promotiona[...]
Read MoreIn the Men's Anderson and Stulac edged out Goodspeed and Mansager for the coveted #1 spot and Delmonico and Main were firmly in #1 in the Women's.
Read MoreAPTA Secretary Taylor Bowen reported: The APTA Board of Directors held its Annual Meeting and work sessions May 20-21, 2005, at the Glen View Club near Chicago. In addition to working through the usual tasks of scheduling next season's tournaments, debating rule changes, and planning enhanced member services, the Board also took action on two especially exciting developments. First, in a move designed to foster the growth of paddle in the South, the Board approved the creation of a new APTA region Region VII which is defined as Virginia (excluding Northern Virginia/metro Washington, DC) and south along the Atlantic Coast. The "deep South" has had active paddle communities for decades but in the past several years has seen an increase in number of players, court installations and participation by southern teams in APTA tournaments. Charlottesville, Richmond, Winston-Salem and Atlant[...]
Read MoreFor the first time since Region I claimed the 2002 President's Cup in Long Island, the hosting women's region won the event The women of Region IV hadn't taken home the Cup since 1996 (Rochester). Congratulations to Region IV team players: Jessica Guyaux and Kelly Fischer, Lissy Hill and Janet Mazzola, Holly Peck and Karen Henke, Nathalie Lemieux and Ann Wagner and Nancy Budde and Heather Hairston-Prop. The Men of Region V have claimed the President's Cup for the first time since dominating the competition in their region (in the 1998 Chicago Nationals). The ten-man team deprived Region IV of a President's Cup sweep by defeating them by one set. Congratulations to Region five teams: Jay Woldenberg and Mike Sullivan, Michael Chabraja and John Noble, Ben McKnight and DanWilliams, Peter Berka and Ed Granger and Mike Marino and Mike Rahaley.
Read MoreThe 2005 Junior Nationals hit a new milestone with over 200 players participating in seven divisions. The event was a huge success thanks to the cooperation of over 20 volunteers, which included a combination of caring parents and PPTA pros. Special thanks goes to Marjorie Hodson for her help in setting the schedules for each of the nine different tournament sites!The event was a huge success thanks to the cooperation of over 20 volunteers, which included a combination of caring parents and PPTA pros. [enlarge image to seethe 2005 National Champions and Finalists for each age group and division]. Congratulations to all the juniors for a great day of paddle and amazing sportsmanship!The 2005 Junior Nationals hit a new milestone with over 200 players participating in seven ditnsions. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 6, Issue 5, April, 2005
Read More
As competitive play increases in platform tennis, so does the need for accurate line calls. Platform tennis courts are smaller than tennis courts and line calls are typically easier to make, with the exception of where the singles line meets the service box. To solve this issue Jason Gray (Beckett Ridge Country Club in West Chester, OH) and David Dodge (Premier Platform Tennis) implemented an idea used in tennis which is to leave a three inch gap in the singles line. Jason had mentioned this idea to David two years ago but with 'The Battle of Beckett' during the Cincinnati Midwesterns, and the Premier Purple introduction, the service gap issue was unintentionally neglected until the idea surfaced by John Stefanik, a private court owner from Philadelphia. John wants the service gap incorporated in his court when he resurfaces with Premier Purple this spring 2005. Jason put this new idea i[...]
Read MoreIn two recent events held at the Beacon Hill Club in Summit, NJ, and the Fox Meadow Tennis Club in Scarsdale, NY, the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame recognized the outstanding achievements of four individuals through their induction into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. On February 19, 2005, at the time of the Women's Senior National Championships at Beacon Hill, Patty Hogan was honored before a large and enthusiastic lunchtime gathering of her peers in an induction speech delivered by Steve Baird. On March 5, 2005, David Childs, Bill Childs and Charles Vasoll were honored in ceremonies during the evening social gathering of participants in the Senior Men's Nationals at the Fox Meadow Club. Before a large an appreciative crowd oftheir peers, the Childs' induction presentation was delivered by Brook Kindred. Charles Vasoll's induction presentation was delivered by Bob Brown. Vaso[...]
Read MoreNestled in the center of the Niagara Region, the Niagara Platform Tennis Club (NPTC) will open its doors this fall as Canada's first new platform tennis facility in over 10 years. Located just 30 minutes from Buffalo, one hour from Toronto and just 15 minutes from Niagara Falls, the NPTC can offer plenty of enjoyment for both platform tennis enthusiasts and fans. [enlarge image to read full story] Source: The Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 7, Issue 1, September, 2005
Read MoreRegion VII was established in early 2005 and was defined as Virginia (excluding Northern VA and metro Washington DC) and south along the Atlantic Coast. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol 7 Issie 1, Sept. 2005
Read MoreWhat started out five years ago as a handful of pros teaching platform tennis has grown into a record 115 certified pros in 18 different states. Illinois leads the way with 34 certified pros. The numbers are a reflection of the growth of the game and the acknowledgement that teaching platform tennis is a viable profession that can help club professionals establish themselves in year-round teaching positions. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol.6, Issue 5, April, 2005
Read More
When longtime platform tennis player and friend Dan McCormick introduced Kern Delmonico to platform tennis eight years ago, she had no idea of the sport's addicting nature. Coming from a family with two brothers and one sister Kern grew up in a competitive environment. She explained, "In platform tennis, I enjoy the team aspect, but in the end it's all about the competition!"" Kern had a few consistent partners and would achieve a consistent top five ranking year by year. I feel that I have stepped up a level this past year," Kern commented. She added, "Aside from reading the player tips and strategy in Platform Tennis Magazine, I think the biggest factor to my success is that my boyfriend Mike (Stulac) is rubbing off on me." Mike (the 2005 Men's Open Champion) and Kern have been dating for the past two years. In addition to platform, Kern is an accomplished tennis player. She discussed [...]
Read More
PTM Editor Wayne Dollard reported on one of his favorite tournaments: The sun rose at 6:25 am on Wednesday, November 3rd over the Glenview Club as 76 women arrived to prepare for a long day of battle at the 33rd annual Chicago Charities tournament. At first glance of the tournament draw sheet there were gaps that had previously been filled by top national ranking players: Aery, Shea, Hogan, Prendergast, Zink, Debbs, Mangan and Delaney. Was this Chicago Charities going to live up to the expectations set by the previous 32 events? After further review of the draw the #1, #4, #5, and #6 teams in the country were all represented. Perhaps more important, Chicago showed up with some fresh new talent taking the tour by storm. On display the traditional first weekend of November was the power and depth of the Chicago area women's field featuring: former State Champions Sally Cottingham [...]
Read More
There's a growing trend in paddle that is helping to make the sport hotter than ever.. or at least warmer than ever. Today's warming huts are elegant, multifunctional structures with expansive social spaces both indoors and out that offer full kitchens, bathrooms and more. In fact, the term "hut" no longer does these buildings justice. A force behind many of these new and improved huts is Chris Casiraghi, President of Reilly Green Mountain Platform Tennis. Most know the firm for their 45+ year history and innovation building of platform tennis courts; yet, they have expanded their offerings to meet the changing needs of their clients. 'We have definitely seen a shift in what our clients are asking for when it comes to warming huts," Casiraghi explained. "More than a decade ago, Reilly Green Mountain built (for the most part) modest warming huts. Today we are asked to build state-of-th[...]
Read More
Terry Miller was born in New York City 38 years ago. After tremendous success on the local junior tennis circuit, Terry jumped on the professional tour at the ripe old age of 16. From 1983 to 1991, Terry competed with and defeated the top female tennis players in the world. Over this time period she reached the quarter-finals of the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open Grand Slam events. At one point, Terry was ranked 14th in the world. After leaving the tour, Terry moved to Winnetka, Illinois, and became a tennis teaching professional. In 1993, she was introduced to her future platform tennis doubles partner, Jane McNitt. "I met Jane when I was teaching tennis at Indian Hill Club in Winnetka. We were then re-connected last fall when we played together at the exhibition opening of the new paddle hut at the Winnetka Park District." Terry spoke about her new-found favorite sport, "I[...]
Read More
Scott Freedman was born in 1962 in Venice Beach, California. As a child of the late 60's, Scott was attracted to the excitement generated by the great paddle tennis players of the era who called Venice Beach their home. Paddle tennis is (and was) played next to the beach on miniature tennis courts with a playable area 20' by 50' and a 31" high net. In comparison, the playable area of a platform tennis court is 20' x 44' with a 34" high net. Paddle tennis utilizes a tennis ball that is punctured with a hypodermic needle. There are no screens, so points are short and aggressive. Although Scott had never played tennis or racquetball, the allure of this beach sport appealed to his superior coordination, conditioning and fast hands. By the age of 18 (1980) Scott had accumulated four World Junior Paddle Tennis titles. After college, Scott returned to the beach and renewed his passion [...]
Read MoreBrook Kindred died on January 7, 2006 after a long and brave battle with cancer. He had the distinction of having served the cause of platform tennis for more years than practically any other living individual. Dating back to the early 1960's he was a tireless, unselfish and dedicated contributor to the support and promotion of the game. He was elected to the APTA Board in the early 1960's and served on the Board for 16 years. He was Treasurer, Tournament Director, and single- handedly produced the Newsletter for many of those years. He also served on many National Championship committees and was the Tournament Chairman of the 1968 Men's Nationals. He was instrumental in the formation and administration of the APTA Umpires Committee in the 1970's, and although that activity no longer formally exists, he still continued to go far and wide to officiate at APTA Championships and ot[...]
Read MoreMark Brosnan reported for PTM: On Saturday, December 17, 2005, the Long Island Platform Tennis Association hosted its 3rd Annual Viking Junior Tour tournament at the Garden City Country Club, the Cherry Valley Club and the Garden City Community Park. With Christmas only a week away, the children received a surprise early morning visit from that jolly old Nordic man with rosy cheeks and a little round belly - that's right, David Kjeldsen, founder and chairman of Viking Athletics, was there to provide his support, wearing his trade-mark "horns"! Among the four age divisions, there were forty-two (42) teams participating (84 kids!), and countless parents and grandparents cheering. The level of paddle was extraordinary, the good sportsmanship was commendable, and the smiles were constant! John Cerga, Alex Bancila and Steve Bromley, the Directors of Racquet Sports at the Garden City Countr[...]
Read MoreOn Saturday, December 10th the New England Junior Open was held at The New Canaan Field Club. It was one of the first ranking event of the junior paddle season. Seventy four children participated, representing four states in the general area. 10-and-underWinners: Peter Simonds and Daniel Adajian both of Southport and Fairfield defeated Reed Schultz & Jack Jeffrey of New Canaan 8-1 in a pro set. 12-and-under Patrick Newton and Carter Lovejoy from New Canaan, played a tough fought match against CJ Purse of Greenwich and Parker Connolly of Wilton. They were victorious after an exciting three setter (1-6, 6-1, 6-3). 14- and-under Jason Ottomano and Nick Newhouse from Weston, CT pulled out a third set tie-break beating the Safford brothers from Philadelphia. 18-and-under Terry Keegan from Fairfield and Liam Bohonnon of Westport, defeated Jay Schwab and Cole Barris of Sc[...]
Read More
Patty Hogan, Junior Nationals Director, summed up the action: This year's Junior National Championships, hosted by The Beacon Hill Club in Summit, N.J. will be remembered for several significant "firsts". This was the first year there were enough players to hold a separate championship for the 10-and-under girls. This was the first time we had a player from Yale win a Junior National Title, as Brandon Kutcha took time off from his studies to team up with his brother Michael to win the very competitive Boy's 18-and-Under title. They won a thrilling three-set, third set tie-breaker over the first player ever to come back from a stroke to reach a national final. That player is the incredible Eric D'Elia, who suffered a stroke in July but was able to team up with Marc Powers to beat some very tough teams en route to the finals and the close loss to the Kutcha brothers. It was a[...]
Read More
Ansley Golf Club and Piedmont Driving Club played hosts to the 1st Annual Peachtree Invitational Platform Tennis Tournament January 14 & 15. This is a new APTA Region VII PCQ event that follows on the heels of last year's successful exhibition and clinic that kicked paddle in Atlanta into a higher gear. The two-day event was limited to 16 teams due to court capacity (there are currently just two courts in Atlanta). Nine players traveled in from as far away as New Jersey and Virginia to participate in the event. Atlantans Jay Bailey and Peter Lauer took the inaugural Peachtree title over brothers John and Nick Gill (from DC & Alabama). Bailey and Lauer also won the Southern Invitational in Winston-Salem, NC, two weeks later over Mark Fischl and Alex Whaling. [enlarge image to read full story]
Read More
If the 2006 Nationals had a decidedly Chicago flavor, it wasn't lust because of the location. Men's champions Brian Uihlein and Dave Keevins and Women's champion Mary Doten are all long standing area residents and Susie Keane, though living in the Detroit area, learned her paddle skills in Chicago. The path to the finals for both winning teams was dramatic, though in very different ways. Keevins and Uihlein had to survive four consecutive three-setters from the round of 16 on, and came from behind in every match to win. Maybe their gutsiest win came in a three-set quarter-final against Anthony Cosimano and Steve Haller when, down 5-6 and triple match point and Uihlein cramping badly, they survived in a tie-breaker. The semis proved no easier against defending National Champions Bill Anderson and Mike Stulac. Stulac showed his toughness by overcoming a sprained ankle in[...]
Read MoreIt seems that David Keevins must have grown up with a racquet in his hand. At 18, he received a full scholarship to play tennis at the University of Kentucky. By the end of his senior year, he was ranked #37 nationally in singles. After earning his MBA from the University of Chicago, David was burned out on tennis. He explained, 'Tennis no longer interested me. Someone suggested platform tennis so my dad and I went to our club (Tennaqua) and played. We both liked it. I was hooked." David knew Brian Uihlein from junior tennis. About ten years ago, Brian and John Hough began inviting David to play in their platform tennis practice games. They have been practicing ever since. Comparing his tennis background to platform tennis, David said, "Paddle is a game of mistakes. Power has less of a premium, just look at the lobbing nature of the game." He added, "In tennis, sometimes one bre[...]
Read MoreThe snow had melted and leaves were starting to appear on the trees. Knees swollen from a winter of pounding on the paddle courts had started to heal. Tennis whites and racquets with strings had been removed from the closet. Then the phone call came. A good friend called and said, "I played tennis last night. It occurred during the match that paddle is much more fun than tennis. Would you be interested in playing paddle during the summer?" Three thoughts came to mind after hearing the proposal. First, that paddle really is more fun than tennis. Second, there was no reason that we couldn't play during the summer. Last, could we find anyone else crazy enough to play? [enlarge image to read full story]
Read More
PHILADELPHIA — The APTA held its Annual Meeting and Board Meeting at Waynesboro Country Club in Paoli, PA, May 5-6, 2006. Highlights from the meetings include: A new APTA mission statement was developed. It reads: The mission of the APTA is to: A. Govern the sport B. Grow participation I. Among all levels and types of players 2. Across all our regions C Improve all aspects of the game We will accomplish this mission by: maintaining the rules and codes of behavior to ensure the integrity of the game; creating and increasing awareness of our sport; providing guidance to clubs and municipalities on how to start platform tennis programs and then how to make those programs successful, and; promoting the sport among current players to raise their level of addiction APTA finances in 2005-06 were in the black by approximately $49,000. The Board approved a $12,500 grant for [...]
Read More
Viking Athletics announces the manufacture of its 25,000 OZ paddle, the most played with paddle in platform tennis. To celebrate, Viking is giving away more than $25,000 in product. Viking will be supplying every paddle manufactured for the upcoming 2006/2007 platform tennis season with a scratch-off ticket that is redeemable for product at the Viking Pro Shop.
Read MoreThe APTA and PPTA will partner this season in an effort to bring more juniors into our sport. The APTA will provide the funding and the PPTA the know-how at Junior Paddle Days around the country. Generally, these will be scheduled to precede a junior tournament by a few weeks, in order to build interest in those "follow-up" events. All juniors who become APTA members, during one of these events (necessary for participation in APTA tournaments), will receive a gift from the APTA. If you would like to host an event in your area, or learn about an event scheduled for your area, please contact Marjorie at the APTA Office. Parents, pros and other interested adults are encouraged to get involved. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol.8, Issue 1, September, 2006
Read MoreJerry Brown of The Paddle Company provided an update: Since 1995, platform tennis has enjoyed an amazing technological transformation with graphite, carbon fiber and titanium making paddles lighter, stronger and easier to play with. This has helped to reduce the stress on players' bodies and encouraged a broader participation in the sport. Developing new paddles for the sport has been an enlightening and rewarding experience. Within standards developed, by the American Platform Tennis Association, there are numerous ways which paddles can be adjusted and made to look and feel different from one another. And with the new materials accepting vibrant colors, the new graphics allow paddles that are distinctive and attractive. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 8, Issue 1, September, 2006
Read MoreBob Callaway, Chair, Rules Committee reported: At the Annual Board of Directors meeting in May, a number of rule changes were approved and will be in effect for this 2006- 2007 season. Since a most recent edition of the Official Rules of Platform Tennis has not been printed and distributed, the APTA wanted to alert all players of the following changes: Rule 1: Dimensions and Terminology The Board approved as an option, a gap of up to six inches in the alley lines where the alley lines meet the service line and extending toward the baseline. It was felt that this optional alteration in the painting of the lines will make it easier to make calls on serves. Rule 10: Fault or Out In the third paragraph an additional sentence will be added: "In an officiated match, depending on the Chair Umpire's responsibilities regarding line calls, agreed to ahead of time with the Tournament Dir[...]
Read MoreBrook Kindred was inducted posthumously at his home club, Fox Meadow Tennis Club, by Bob Brown in a heartwarming, well-attended ceremony on March 18,2006. Sue Aery and Gerri Viant were inducted into the Hall of Fame ceremony in Summit, N.J., where Patty Hogan, a 2005 Hall of Fame recipient, stressed the significance of their talent and the disciplined approach to the game that they both possess. Howard Sipe was inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the National Championships on March 4, 2006 at the Glen View Club. Prior to presenting the award, 2004 Hall of Fame recipient Walt Peckinpaugh expressed that "Chicago is the 'hub' of the sport right now, in part because of his pioneering efforts." Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 8 Issue 2, November, 2006
Read More
They came to the Four Bridges Country Club in Cincinnati from all over: Chicago, Toledo, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Boston and Cincinnati. Sponsored by Premier Platform Tennis, Wilson Sporting Goods and Michelob Ultra, David Dodge (Premier) and promoter Jason Gray invited the top 16 men's players to compete for a $5,500 purse at the 2006 Premier Cup. "The best tournament of the year!" "The highest level of play in the game today" "I'm here to take home the cash." These were a few of the quotes offered by the players. An overwhelmed and enthusiastic Cincinnati audience had similar comments not suitable for printing. After a Saturday round-robin featuring two four-team brackets, the top two teams in each paired off against the top two in the opposing bracket on Sunday morning semi-final play. Sunday saw David Keevins and Chris Gambino play aga[...]
Read MoreSpringfield, IL demonstrated yet again why it is the oasis of right-minded paddlers, opting to join its brethren from the east in embracing Premier Purple courts during resurfacing in September. Prior to the resurfacing, Premier's Dave Dodge, with assistance from friend and competitor Bullet Brown, re-welded two of Springfield's courts. This eliminated dead spots that some locals referred to as a "Clark Spot," or a "Bean There." "Premier and Bulletworks work together on a number of each other's bigger projects," said site impresario, Dan Kepner. "It's nice to see that kind of cooperation amongst rivals in a sport so small that clashing personalities and interests could bring it down." The decision to go purple was difficult. Local players were evenly divided between "traditionalists" and "innovators."...........(cont.) [enlarge image to read full story]
Read More
Jean Kempner reported for PTM: As the first "major" of the year, the Chicago Charities tournament picked up where last year's Nationals left off. Story lines were continued, rivalries were resumed and new partnerships featured exciting and fresh dynamics. The Women's tournament showcased all of last season's top teams and, though the pairings hadn't changed, the results were clearly different. Mary Doten and Susie Keane came in as defending National Champions and made it to the final without dropping a set to stage a rematch of last season's National final against Kerry Delmonico and Aila Main. Delmonico and Main had a tougher road and won a three-set semi against Cynthia Dardis and Amy Shea 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. Doten and Keane had beaten Sally Cottingham and Chris Sheldon in their semi in a 6-3, 6-3 slugfest. Cottingham and Sheldon had broken through to their first Chicago semi by defea[...]
Read MoreMore than 80 juniors from the tri-state area gathered at Fox Meadow Tennis Club to open the 2006-07 Viking Junior Tour. Participants in Viking Junior Tour events earned points toward an end-of-season ranking - but most importantly, they had a great day of platform tennis!
Read MoreThe 2006 Sound Shore Invitational had many subplots, but the main attraction was the exciting 7-6, 7-6 victory by Dan Rothschild and John Schmitt in the finals over Mike Stulac and John Milbank. People turned out in droves at the Fox Meadow Tennis Club to watch some incredible platform from four of the nations top players. The shot-making and incredible athleticism made for a very exciting match for almost 100 spectators. In one semi-final, David Caldwell and Blake Cordish lost a tough three-setter while Rothschild and Schmitt were able to outlast a new and exciting team of Brad Easterbrook and Alex Bancila, 6-4 in the third. In the quarter-finals, the #3 seed of Anthony Cosimano and Steve Haller were bested by Bancila and Easterbrook while the #4 seed of Mike Cochrane and Chris Gambino had to retire due to injury.....(cont.) [enlarge image to read full report]
Read MoreOn Saturday, December 16, 2006, the Long Island Platform Tennis Association ("LIPTA") hosted its 4th Annual Viking Junior Tour tournament at the Garden City Country Club, the Cherry Valley Club and the Garden City Community Park. With Christmas only a week away, the children received a surprise early morning visit from that jolly old Nordic man with rosy cheeks and a little round belly - that's right, David Kjeldsen, founder and chairman of Viking Athletics, was there to provide his support, wearing his trademark "horns." LIPTA is grateful to Viking Athletics for its sponsorship of the Viking Junior Tour, and for providing the children with a memorable platform tennis experience (and great favors). Among the four age divisions, we had thirty-nine teams participating (78 kids), and countless parents and grandparents cheering. The level of paddle was extraordinary, the good sportsmansh[...]
Read MoreDavid Keevins and Brian Uihlein were the #1 ranked Men's team and Kerri Delmonico and Aila Main maintained their #1 ranking in the Women's.
Read More
Brad Kelly Age: 38 Married: Jenny Children: Lauren (11), Anna (9) and Ben (6) Born: Charleston, WV Resides: Pittsburgh, PA Education: BA Business Marketing WVU (1991) Occupation: Director of Brokerage Services ECHO Real Estate Like many of the top platform tennis players, Brad Kelly was a full-scholarship, Division 1 college tennis player. At WVU (Top 20 national college tennis team), Brad captained his team to nine conference championships in singles and doubles. He was one of three Division 1 All-Americans in WVU tennis history and he also earned a USTA National Indoor Doubles Championship title. Brad moved back to Pittsburgh in 1995. He recalled, "I knew a lot of guys that played platform tennis at The Pittsburgh Field Club and they got me out there to give platform a try." He added, "At first, I relied on the similarities with tennis - really the basics such as strokes[...]
Read MoreA few years back, David Dodge of Premier Platform Tennis built two concrete grade-level courts at Ocean Pines, Maryland. The warmer climate sees little snow and therefore the necessity of a conventional deck was absent. A few months ago, Dodge and Bullet Brown (Bulletworks Platform Tennis) completed two more courts at Ocean Pines. The courts - not yet approved by the APTA - were not painted, except for the red lines. A broom finish was applied to the court for better footing. So what is the post installation verdict? Resident players claim: • The broom-finish provides very good footing and is considerably easier on the knees and ankles. • The non-painted court is much brighter under the lights. • The non-painted surface initially saves $3,000 per court and $2,500 every few years thereafter. • Pitching the courts just two inches from the net to either end work[...]
Read More
Patty Hogan reported on the event for PTM For the 10th year in a row, Patty Hogan and the Beacon Hill Club hosted the APTA Junior Nationals. The growth of junior programs throughout the country is evident with a record 244 junior participants this year! Although half of the players came from New Jersey, the total represented six states and four different APTA Regions. The event was sponsorship by Marsh, Viking Athletics, the APTA Junior Development Fund, the New Jersey Men's Platform Tennis Association, and the New Jersey Women's Platform Tennis League. Bulletworks also sponsored the event by providing fun favors for all players. It would be impossible to stage a tournament this size without a dedicated corps of volunteers. Thanks go out to: Patty Hogan, Marjorie Hodson, Sheryl Barcic, Bob Considine, Susan Penney, Terry Doran, Steve Bromley, Scott Slobin, Kent Chalmers, Drew[...]
Read MoreOn January 27, David Caldwell, Todd Ward, Mike Rahaley and I headed to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to put on an exhibition and clinic at the Chapel Hill Tennis Club (CHTC). I have been involved in many exhibitions, but this one was the first one I have ever participated in where the APTA has played a large role in the creation of a platform tennis program. Together, with some creative work by Reilly Green Mountain and Rich Green, the APTA is pleased to have been a partner to help CHTC install two courts, the first in the Raleigh-Durham area. When I first became involved with the APTA, my main goal was to be able to help with the installation of public courts around the country. The Board has worked hard to create a mission statement (see above) and to improve our finances to put us in position to help strong local leaders with the financial burden that goes with purchasing court[...]
Read MoreChapel Hill, North Carolina, has two new platform tennis courts. Sure, congratulations are probably in order but does the installation of two new courts merit full-spread coverage in PTM? Well, yes. You see, these particular courts are different. First of all, they are in the South — not exactly in the paddle mainstream. But what really sets these courts apart is that they were partially funded by the APTA in its grass roots efforts to grow the game. [enlarge image to read Bowen's full report]
Read MoreThe first National Champions of the season were crowned at Fox Meadow Tennis Club, the first club to have platform tennis courts. They came from California and Georgia, from Vermont and Pennsylvania, from Albany and Long Island and Westchester, NY, from Connecticut and Massachusetts and New Jersey. Only Region 5 was not represented at the Women's 50+ and 70+ National Championships! With many assists from Hope Kerr, the Women's 70+ doubled its size from the two previous years. Nine of the 16 participants were new this year! [enlarge image to read full report]
Read More
Nationals Chairman Bill Taubner and his staff of volunteers had nearly every angle covered for the week-long platform tennis festivities in Pelham, New York. In a word, the start of the Women's Platform Tennis Nationals could be summed up as soggy. Rain plagued most of Friday, March 22, the first day of the competition. Despite the best efforts of the staff of the New York Athletic Club to dry courts in between showers, by 3 p.m., a substantial shower lasting a solid 40 minutes persisted. A few games already in play were completed, but as the tired and cold players felt the usually crisp hits of the ball turn into a soggy, hard-tocontrol effort, spectators and fellow competitors drifted away to the dry confines of the clubhouse. There, they waited and hoped for the rain to subside enough for the New York Athletic Club staff to once again bring out the towels and push-blow[...]
Read More
Over the course of a season, platform tennis players get an opportunity to eye each other up for strengths and weaknesses and see signs of improvement among their competition. In 2005, Schmitt and Rothschild ended the season #10 in the country. In 2006, they ended #6 in the country. This year they were seeded 2nd going into the National Championships, but ended the season as #4. Some teams just keep getting better and it forces the question, "Why?" That's the case with John Schmitt and Dan Rothschild, both of Garden City, New York. Schmitt said the reason for the team's break-out success this season was their ability to analyze their strengths and weaknesses objectively. [enlarge image to read full profiles]
Read MoreGray skies and 30-degree weather opened up the Women's President's Cup Competition but, by mid-afternoon, the skies had cleared to reveal some much needed sun. The three main courts of the New York Athletic Club were surrounded by plywood sheets to protect player's feet from the mud created by the melting snow. What was perhaps most notable, however, was the way the Region 4 Women's team melted away the competition. Comprised of Heather Prop, Lynne Schneebeck, Jenny Kelly, Sherri Wilson, Nancy Budde, Chris Underwood, Sandra Odenbach, Ann Turner, Karen Henke and Nathalie Lemieux, the team worked hard to win the President's Cup and enjoyed drinks and dinner at the awards ceremony in the New York Athletic Club's main dining hall. As for the other teams present, all played exceptionally against very evenly-matched competition. Louise Cash of Allendale, New Jersey, played on the Region [...]
Read More
The married mix field was a strong draw fielded by 25 Chicago teams and 5 out-of-towner's who got to witness a typical March Chicago snow storm. With all the weather came phenomenal paddle. In through the snow came a local team of Dan and Sarah Williams to win their first national title taking out the 1st seed in a three-set battle in one semi, and then team Odenbach from Rochester N.Y. in another three-setter. 47 teams competed in the Open Mixed. Bobo Delaney and John Milbank defeated Sally Cottingham and Ed Granger, 6-3, 6-3 in one semi. In the other, Susie Keane and Mike Marino defeated Marina Ohimuller and Mike Rahaley 7-6, 6-7, 6-3. The finals saw Delaney and Milbank win 6-3, 6-3 over Keane and Marino.
Read MoreAn expanded version of the 2004 proposal to Fox Meadow was made in July 2010 which contemplated adding a two story wing onto the existing building. In addition another proposal was made to the Village of Scarsdale to renovate their Brite Avenue facility to include a modernize structure to house the Museum and Hall of Fame and act as a "warming hut" and add three new courts. Fox Meadow terminated the discussions in October citing doubts about the ability of the Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation (PTMHOFF) to raise the necessary funds and concerns about obtaining all the necessary building and zoning approvals to construct such a facility. Likewise, the Brite Avenue proposal ran into a number of logistical issues with implementation on Village property. Source: Robert A. Brown personal communication and Minutes of the PTMHOFF meetings
Read MoreThe National Mens 45's was arguably the strongest ever and players have expressed how exciting all the matches were. In the quarter-finals, Goodspeed/Todd defeated Griffey/Higgins; Mott/Pierce defeated Mangan/Heath; McAvoy/Stefanik defeated Palmer/Harlow; and, Gillespie/Kaufman defeated Hallett/Katz. In the semi-finals, Goodspeed/Todd defeated Mott/Pierce, and McAvoy/Stefanik Defeated Gillespie/Kaufman. The final was unbelievable. In the first set tie-breaker 9 set points were saved finishing with a 15-13 to Goodspeed/Todd. The final set saw Goodspeed and Todd at their best winning 6-0. The National Mens 55's had another powerhouse draw. In the semi's, Baird/Irvine defeated Nycum/Estes and Adams/Hayes defeated Brooke/Dyminski. The final saw four greats with many years history between them. Adams/Hayes had to take an injury time-out during the finals 20 years previous leading wit[...]
Read MoreCochrane and Estes edged out Caldwell and Cordish for the Men's #1 slot and Prendergast and Zink captured the Women's #1 position.
Read More
To say Ann Sheedy is passionate about platform tennis would be an understatement. By her own admission, Sheedy says her love for the sport is an outright addiction. Exposed to paddle as a child, playing on her uncle's court in Connecticut, Sheedy's addiction remained dormant until she was invited to a beginner's clinic 20 years ago. "I said 'yes,' and it was love at first hit," Sheedy said. "I've played in a league since that first year and I would say that my best friends have all come through paddle." In the early summer of this year, Marjorie Hodson exited the role as APTA Executive Director. Her successor, George Douaire of Chicago, was chosen from a pool of resumes. Douaire resigned in September but is helping the APTA on a volunteer level with long-term strategic planning. [enlarge image to read full report]
Read More
The Annual Meeting took place at the Fox Chapel Golf Club, Pittsburgh, PA on May 4-5, 2007.Highlights were: Financial Report by Sally Cottingham. • $65,651.00 Income $9,000 over budget • In 2003, APTA had $85,000 in working capital. $220,000 now. • Need to put money in marketing. • No restriction on the amount of reserve for 501 (C)(3)- we are provisional until 2009. Regional Presidents Reports Region 1: Mike Cochrane- Events well attended but not from outside the region. Nationals held at NYAC Pelham ran well with a few issues. Region 2- Won Men's President's Cup Region 3- Fred Gumbinner/Tim McAvoy. Participation up in all tournaments. Big prize money tourney! Well-attended, well-run- 45, 55, 65, 8145s. Region 4- Martin Sturgess - Healthy region - more courts coming- Cincinnati is booming - new courts and a waiting list for the Midwesterns tournament. Rochester hos[...]
Read MoreBullet and Jacki Brown, owners of BulletWorks Platform Tennis, are pleased to announce the formation of Advantage Paddle Courts. The new entity was created to market ground level courts in Regions VI and VII. The first official Advantage court was installed this spring in Napa Valley, California. "We see tremendous growth potential for the sport in the Southeast and West," says Bullet Brown. "There are tens of thousands of active seniors in these areas who have never heard of platform tennis. We plan to introduce targeted groups to the sport and position our product as a smart recreational amenity for their home or community." BulletWorks, Inc. operates out of a 5,000 square foot manufacturing space in Rutland, Vermont. Currently, in response to limited market demand for new courts from the existing platform tennis community, BulletWorks manufactures 10-20 courts a year. "We could[...]
Read More
With the lone exception of the National Championships, no other tournament packs the talent like the Chicago Charities. With few exceptions, the best of the best showed up for the 35th annual tournament benefiting the Northwestern Healthcare Kellogg Cancer Care Centers. Women's: On November 2nd, 52 Women's teams kicked off the 2007 Chicago Charities. Six of the top eight teams from the 2006-07 season competed. Absent was the nation's top team - Lauren Zink/Cindy Prendergast and the nation's #6 team - Bobo Delaney and Tonia Mangan. Last season's #2 team of Sally Cottingham and Chris Sheldon took the #1 seed spot, while Delmonico/Main, Doten/Keane, Dardis/Shay, Prop/Schneebeck, Ohlmuller/Takach, Flynn/Tarzian and Henke/Lemieux rounded out the 2-8 seed spots. Tournament Director John Noble's draw sheet ran as expected with all seeded teams reaching their anticipated finish with on[...]
Read More
Laura Berendt-Parsons was born in Barrington, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, 30 years ago. Laura competed heavily in junior tennis. Among others, Laura played against Annica Cooper in 10-and-under competition. During childhood, Laura moved to Florida where she was ranked #1 in the state in 18- and-under tennis competition. She had a national ranking of #16. Laura earned a tennis scholarship to the University of Texas. In her sophomore year, she reached the prestigious status of All-American. After college, Laura hit the pro tour for two years. "I didn't like being on the tour. I always felt alone," she said. "I started playing platform tennis a few years ago. Nate (Parsons) needed a tennis/platform tennis assistant at theGlenview Club in Chicago," Laura said. She added, "I love the social aspect of platform tennis much more than tennis ' Laura had only played in four tour[...]
Read More0n October 6th & 7th Chicago not only hosted the Chicago Marathon and the Chicago Cubs, but the 3rd Annual Premier Cup made it's way to the Saddle & Cycle Club in downtown Chicago. After two successful years in Cincinnati at Four Bridges Country Club, Scott Mansager and Bill Fiedler offered to help run and organize this year's Chicago event... and they put on one heck of a show for all to see. The Premier Cup, the brainchild of Jason Gray and David Dodge, was started as a way to promote interest in platform tennis. This year's event again brought eight of the top-ranked teams from the 2006-07 season together to compete for $5,000 in prize money put up by court builder Premier Platform Tennis. This year's event saw a different and unique format as all 8 teams played a single set round robin format throughout the day on Saturday to establish the top 4 teams. Those teams competed f[...]
Read MoreGloria Dillenbeck Dodd was the first Executive Director of the APTA and served from 1975 to 1981, setting a bar for her successors that continues to challenge them to this day. Dodd took the sport on the road, showcasing it in locations from Hilton Head to New Canaan. She was instrumental in the creation of the President's Cup and recruited people of influence such as New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne to play in competition. Despite all of the back-end support she gave the APTA, Dodd was also an accomplished player, competing in five consecutive finals between 1969-74, and winning three titles in a row from 1971-73 with her partner, B.J. DeBree. Dodd also played the finals of the 1974 and 1975 Mixed Nationals with John Mangan. John Mangan was honored not only for his exemplary court performance but his duty on the APTA Board. He won the Men's Nationals with Bob Kingsbury in 1972 and 1[...]
Read MoreRichard K. Hebard passed away on October 22, 2007, at the ago of 93. He was survived by his wife Lois, three sons, Richard, Douglas, and Donald, his daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. Dick Hebard was a member of Fox Meadow Tennis CLub, in Scarsdale, New York, where he excelled in both tennis and platform tennis. During his playing era, he won more Platform Tennis National Championships than any other man at that time. He won eight National Men's Championships, and was a finalist twice. Hebard also won five National Mixed Doubles Championships, and was a finalist twice. He continued to play competitively into his senior years, winning the 50-and-over Men's Nationals four times and the 60-and-over Nationals once. In all, Hebard won 18 National Platform Tennis Championships. He also served as President of Fox Meadow Tennis Club and the American Platform Tennis Association.[...]
Read More
The Viking Junior Tour began in November at Fox Meadow Tennis Club, kicking off our season at the birthplace of platform tennis. Almost 80 juniors came out for an afternoon of fierce competition and outstanding sportsmanshipThe Viking Junior Tour began in November at Fox Meadow Tennis Club, kicking off our season at the birthplace of platform tennis. Almost 80 juniors came out for an afternoon of fierce competition and outstanding sportsmanship. Gold Medalists 10 & Under: William Cannon/Alex Slobin 12 & Under Girls: Kaitlin Ball/Tess Tregellas 12 & Under Boys: Will Burger/Gardner Tregellas 14 & Under Girls: Katey Hopper/Maddie More 14 & Under Boys: Tyler Kratky/CJ Purse 18 & Under Girls: Margaret Souther/Rachel Whitney 18 & Under Boys: Reid Coopersmith/Evan Zimmer Silver Medalists Christopher Salisbury/Ethan Shire, Dylan Neville/Jack Stiuso, Hannah Kratky/Phoebe Wilks, Jack[...]
Read More
Although there were some incredible new paddle technologies being released, 2007 may very well be membered as "The Year of the Ball" A problem for our sport from the manufacturer's standpoint - the ball has always been a loser. Not economical from any standpoint, the situation has come to a head in the last couple of years as the APTA asked, "What are our alternatives to the conventional platform tennis ball?" Our ball has to endure up to 100-degree variations in heat, increasing amounts of grit applied to paddles, and the ability to be seen at night under the lights. Is it time we ask ourselves "Are we asking too much from this yellow piece of rubber?" The volume of balls manufactured yearly (less than 200,000) is minuscule compared to balls for other sports. The health concerns alone for the workers who apply the flocking to the ball are enough to make your hair stand on en[...]
Read MoreThe event was a Men's and Women's National Ranking Tournament "Last year's event was wonderful, but we want this year to be even better." With those words, Dave Marvin, Co-Founder and CEO of Marvin and Palmer Associates, Inc., set the goal for the 2008 Philly Open. The event will be hosted by the Overbrook Golf Club on the weekend of February 23rd and 24th and will be Chaired by Simon Peppiatt. Philadelphia hospitality will welcome all visitors with open arms, plenty of food and drink and extra amenities, including on-site massage therapy, available all day Saturday. Prize money will be increased to $5,000/team for the men's and women's winners and the top 10 men's and women's teams will end up in the money. [enlarge image to read more about the event and prize money]
Read More
Platform tennis players have it made. What sport our size has four major manufacturers competing so heavily for the equipment market? Since the mid 1990's, Viking and Wilson have been going head-to-head in the ball market. Due to a heavy, individualized marketing effort by owner David Kjeldsen, Viking was able to secure a substantial market majority through the 1990's. In April of 1999, Kjeldsen bought out Wilson's ball market share for an undisclosed figure and term limit. Since then, Wilson's former promotional Director John Embree began to focus on the paddle market, particularly in the Midwest and amongst women. Two years ago, Jim Burda replaced Embree to direct the platform tennis program. His duties included detailing paddle specification, testing equipment and then marketing to players and instructors across the northeastern states. Burda's success was evident last [...]
Read MoreKeevins and Uihlein captured the Men's #1 ranking and Delaney and Mangan edged Delmonic and Main for the top Women's honors.
Read More
Sandra Odenbach filed this report with PTM: Shortly after Christmas I received an email from PTM Editor Wayne Dollard asking me to call him. I learned that he wanted to do a feature article on my husband Fritz that would run in the February issue of the magazine. He wanted it to be a surprise and would I be willing to write it. I started to panic and shot off a quick email to Wayne asking him to be more specific on what he wanted in this article. All I got was "Five hundred words, I'll edit, I need it in two weeks." Yikes. So, undercover I decided to go, determined to find out as much information about him as I could, getting help from his friends, picking his brain whenever possible and encouraging him to tell me all his paddle stories. A die-hard Red Sox fan, Fritz Odenbach, or "Freddie" as many like to call him, grew up in a family of nine children in the town of Penfield,[...]
Read More
Chuck Vasoll reported on the development for PTM: It's been six years since the Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation was established with the mission of locating a site and creating a home for the sport's memorabilia and a place to recognize those who have been selected to receive the sport's highest honor, induction into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. A major portion of that mission has now been accomplished. The site will be at the Centercourt Athletic Club (CAC) in Chatham, New Jersey. The plan for a Hall of Fame Museum dedicated to the sport has been ongoing since 1965 when the first individuals who had major achievements in the sport were recognized with an "Honor Award." In 1998 the "Honor Award" designation was changed to "The Platform Tennis Hall of Fame" and all prior Honor Award recipients were recognized as members of the Hall of Fame. The Foundati[...]
Read More
The statistics: 36 volunteers, 4 APTA regions, 5 states, 8 championship teams, 15 clubs, 55 courts, and 2807 games played! They came by car, plane and train. They drove themselves or arrived with parents and siblings in tow. They returned from college to renew old rivalries or tried competition for the first time. They arrived with hopes of a title, or just a fun day of paddle. More than 250 junior platform tennis enthusiasts participated in this year's Junior Nationals. All of them had a fun day of play. Sixteen of them went home with gold medals. A few years ago we made a prediction that the future of platform tennis looked bright. Following this year's Junior Nationals we realize that it is not just bright, it is absolutely brilliant! For the second year in a row we saw an increase in the number of participants, with a record 256 juniors entered in the tournament this year. The [...]
Read MoreMen's 45+, 55+ and 65+ Nationals: After a ten year absence, the Senior Nationals returned to Chicago this March and 3 National Championships were claimed. Starting what promises to be a record-breaking streak, Scott Mansager and Flip Goodspeed took their first 45's crown together without dropping a set. They beat always tough Scott Bondurant and Bill Fiedler in the finals after defeating Rob Pierce and Leo Power in a 2 1/2 hour 6-3, 6-3 semi. Bondo and Fiedler took down Todd Ward and Dan Mott in the other semi in a tough two-setter. Thirty teams played in the division and the competition was strong all weekend. In the 55's, Jean Kempner and Jim McNitt defeated Hall of Famers Hank Irvine and Steve Baird 6-2, 6-3 in the final after Irvine and Baird had beaten Scott Estes and Jeff "Dr. Detroit" Hodges in a close and entertaining semi. The 65's saw the team of Jim Bishop and Mike H[...]
Read MoreOn March 6th-9th , the sport of Platform Tennis will take it's grandest stage as the sport travels to Las Vegas to be a part of the ATP Tour's event called "The Tennis Channel Open". This will mark the first time the sport has been associated with another professional event at the same time! The likes of defending champion Lleyton Hewitt, Fernando Gonzalez, Marcos Baghdatis, and The Bryan Brothers will compete on one stage as Platform Tennis will be a part of a side event called "Tennispalooza". 0rganizers Jason Gray, Jean Kempner, and David Dodge (Premier Platform Tennis), along with the APTA, are proud to showcase the sport out west for the first time. The group has put together what they feel will be a unique one-of-a-kind, four-day event called "Platformpalooza". The festivities will take place in Summerlin, Nevada, at The Darling Memorial Tennis Center. Along with "Platformpalooz[...]
Read More
March 2nd, 2008, New Canaan, CT - Judging by the number of silver-plate platters they took home, you would think that newlyweds Kerri Delmonico and Mike Stulac of New York City registered at the New Canaan gift store "That Personal Touch." Delmonico and Stulac, who were married this past year, pulled off a rare double feat, winning two National Platform Tennis Championships in a single weekend. On Friday, February 29th, they won their first National Husband-Wife Championship, defeating Tonia and Tim Mangan of Bayville, NY by a score of 6-1, 6-3. Two days later on March 2nd, they won their first National Mixed Doubles Open title, defeating three-time winner Cindy Prendergast of Wilmington, DE, and her partner, Rusty Wright, also in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. It was an exciting weekend of platform tennis in New Canaan as the three-day event drew 188 players from across the country, tra[...]
Read MorePTM surveyed the top 50 men and the top 50 women in platform tennis and asked about tournament competition. Forty-five players responded, giving an interesting view inside the minds of the best in the game. Categories were: Most Offensive Overheads, Toughest Competitor, Best Hnads at Net, Best Sportmanship, Best Serve, Best Return of Serve, Least Unforced Errors.
Read More
Chuck Vasoll filed an update with PTM: We are up and running. Our web site, that is. The address is platformtennishalloffame.org. We encourage you to visit the site which has: a video history of the sport, a snap shot biography of the Hall of Fame inductees, information about how you can help provide funds and memorabilia to the museum, a list and background of the Trustees of the Foundation, a photo gallery of progress in the construction at the Centercourt Athletic Club in Chatham, New Jersey, and other historic photos from the sport's archives. It is truly worth a few minutes of your time to view this very interesting presentation about our sport. The Trustees are hard at work in many areas of the development of the museum. Chairman Robert Brown, President Richard Lombard, Treasurer Joseph Rogers and Curator James McCready met with a representative of a firm that designs the int[...]
Read More
Every year, nearly all of the nation's top players converge in Chicago for this early-season tournament. As the second highest-ranked tournament of the year (next to the APTA National Championships), players wishing to attain a high rank see the Charities as a must fight for. The 36-year history of the Charities is one of great generosity. This year's charitable recipient is JDRF - an organization committed to Type 1 Diabetes research. The Charities is the first major tournament of the season and that means that seedings are based on ranking points earned the previous year. In the summer off-season, teams switch around and new ones form. What does this mean? It means that the Charities is the new status quo for how the new teams will be judged for the rest of the season. If you want to prove yourself, perform well in Chicago. With below-seasonal average temperatures, mixed with [...]
Read More
"We had a great time and would love to do it again" - Mike and Bob Bryan, 5-time Grand Slam doubles champions commented after playing platform tennis for the first time A public relations concept turns out to be arguably the most memorable event in platform tennis history. Just one week before the National Championships, from March 5th through 9th, platform tennis put on a show at the Tennis Channel Open for the entire nation to watch via live television. The Tennis Channel Open is an annual ATP Tennis Tournament held in Las Vegas and features many of the best players in the world. Lleyton Hewitt, Marat Safin, Marcos Baghdatis, Robby Ginepri, and 5-time grand-slam winning doubles team - the Bryan Brothers are a few of the top-billed participants. The Open is televised live for the week and also features coverage from the world "paddle" (not platform) tennis championships, and[...]
Read More
APTA President Mark Fischl met with 2008 Hall of Fame inductee, David Kjeldsen, and discussed the recent sale of Viking Athletics to Prince. MF: David, there has obviously been a lot happening in your life of late. Is it true that you are selling Viking Athletics to Prince? DCK: Yes. MF: Are you excited by it? Are you working less now? DCK: Excited yes. Very excited. I have been working harder in the last few months than I have in the last couple of years. There is so much information to share with and transfer to the great staff at Prince. MF: Is it true you talked with other companies before selling to Prince? DCK: Mark, I am not comfortable talking about that. It's not proper to talk about those that you dated in the past on your wedding day. MF: What will this sale mean to the platform tennis community? DCK: The platform tennis community will benefit in a number of wa[...]
Read MoreRod Workman, PPTA Professional Director of Racquets at the Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, IL, recounted the experience in a column on intermediate and advanced instruction in PTM: Sixteen years ago, I was teaching a paddle camp in Eureka, Montana with the "Godfather of Paddle," Hank Irvine, when my ideas on the winning shot began to take shape. A gentleman from Long Island arrived at the camp and said to Hank, "I've traveled all the way across the country for you to show me how to hit more winners when I play." Hank's blood pressure spiked and he swiftly responded, "Sir, my suggestion is that you get on the next available plane back to New York because we won't be teaching winners at this camp. The game is not about hitting winners but never making errors!" With that, I adopted Hank's style of teaching and playing, which I still use today. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine,[...]
Read More
Made for Living. That's the hometown slogan of Rochester, New York. The slogan just as well could be Made for Paddle. The Rochester area has had a proud platform tennis tradition for decades. In 1988, the city was handed their first opportunity by the APTA to show what they could do. Local paddle guru and owner of the Shadow Lake Country Club, Fritz Odenbach agreed to chair the Nationals. What the city lacked at the time in number of players and courts, they made up for with hospitality and enthusiasm. The Nationals brought together entertaining parties and a social aspect that had never been prevalent at a prior Nationals. The standards set in Rochester were the benchmark for all future Nationals. Odenbach was asked to host the Nationals again in 1996, 2000 and then again in 2008. Today, Rochester platform tennis has grown by several fold. Fritz Odenbach has been [...]
Read MoreWomen's President's Cup: The Women's President's Cup took place on Thursday, March 13. Top women from six of the seven APTA regions competed for the prestigious cup. For the third time in four years, the Region IV women (Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toronto) won the title. The team players included: Nancy Budde - Nathalie Lemieux, Holly Peck - Karen Henke, Lynn Thompson - Chrissy Johnson, Kathy Allen - Ann Turner, and Sandra Odenbach - Vicki Nagy. Men's President's Cup: On Friday morning, while the women were taking to the courts for their main draw first round matches, the men were playing their President's Cup matches. For the second time in the Cup's 32-year history the Region II men won the event. The last time they did it was... in 2007! The team players included: Bill and Leo Power, Jerry Albrikes, Greg Bennett, Rob Pierce, Johan du Randt, Matt Dana, Jeff Mitchell[...]
Read MoreAt the Saturday evening banquet during the Rochester Nationals, the 2008 Hall of Fame inductions took place. Patty Hogan read the introduction for inductee David Kjeldsen and Walt Peckinpaugh did the honors for inductee Fritz Odenbach. The remaining two inductees, Scott Mansager and Flip Goodspeed were still on the court at 8 p.m. and were unable to attend their own induction, due to their opponents 3 1/2 hour previous round of 16 match. They eventually finished their match by 10:30 and their induction was postponed until January 2009 at the Cincinnati Midwestern tournament. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 9, Issue 5, May, 2008
Read More
The new APTA website - overview and ideas to consider: Paul Wiggin gave a detailed report on the new website and led a general discussion. The site has gotten off to a great start and will continue to grow in size, quality and contribution. He suggested that the general mission of the website is to support the APTA Mission. 1) The APTA wants the site to be the repository for things such as the rules of the game and the history of the game. 2) The APTA wants the site to support the "grow the sport" and "increase player enthusiasm" parts of the APTA Mission. News items and instructional videos will help support this aim. 3) The site's cost is approximately $7,000 to create and about $1,500 per year in ongoing costs. This provider does not give the APTA a perfect platform, but for the price is reasonable. 4) The APTA now has the ability to process credit card transactions for a "$3.0[...]
Read More
The 2008-09 paddle season is here and the future of our sport is very promising. Junior paddle is on the rise with a record number of sanctioned tournaments (16) scheduled for this season. The season kick off tourney is on October 25 in Cleveland and the 2009 Nationals in Long Island on January 31st. Players of all levels are encouraged to sign up and will receive a tournament favor. Consider getting your child involved in tournaments. If they do not have a partner, contact the tournament director. They often get similar requests. It will be a positive learning experience. [enlarge image to read more]
Read MoreThe APTA Rules Committee (Martin Sturgess, Bob Callaway, Steve Nycum and Mike Stulac) filed this update with PTM: There have been a couple of rule changes that you should be aware of before your next venture on to the court. No, the let rule has not been changed and lobs out of the court are still a loss of point. However, a major change passed by the Board at the May 2008 meeting is that a "carry" or "double hit" is now a legal shot providing that the player uses a continuous motion, and hits the ball before it reaches the screen. This rule has been changed mainly because it is felt that a "continuous motion" is a much clearer concept and thus should eliminate disagreements. Tennis made this switch many years ago for the same reason. To summarize this rule, any ball struck using a continuous motion is now legal. In 2007, a rule was established that if player A strikes a [...]
Read More
The weather forecast was dire. The flu bug was hitting the area hard. By Wednesday morning, the draws had shrunk to a total of 50 pairs. Those who played enjoyed a great day of paddle, friendship, camaraderie, favors, food and fun - and mostly good weather. In the 60-and-over tournament, Helen Garrett and Sandy Simmers won for the 4th time in a row (and 5th overall) and took their gold medals home to Virginia. Betsy Heidenberger and Jan Shelburne took the 40-and-over gold medals back to Maryland. The new team of Louise Cash and Mary Fenton kept the 60+ silver medals in New Jersey, and Bobo Delaney and Tonia Mangan kept the 40+ silver in Region I. Other winners include: 60+ 3rd Place - Ginny Sniatkowski & Ruth Weil; 60+ 4th Place - Winnie Hatch & Sharon Hummers; 60+ Consolation - Colleen Burns-Keenan & Birgit Maio defeated Christa Ruppert & Dolores Krzanowski; 60+ Last Chance[...]
Read More
Buffy Briggs died on October 30, 2008, after a long bout with cancer. She was 82 and lived in Vero Beach, Florida. Buffy teamed with Charlotte Lee to win the Women's Nationals in 1963 and 1964, and in 1968 she was runner-up with Do Deland. Shortly thereafter, her playing career was curtailed by a fall from a ski lift, seriously injuring her shoulder. Although her competitive activity was ended, Buffy was a major contributor to the administration of women's activities , serving as Women's Tournament Director for the APTA over a period of ten years during the 1970's. She also served on the APTA Board. She was responsible for creating the point system, still used today, for ranking players and for use in doing seedings in women's draws. She also created reprieves for women's events, to provide further information for ranking and seeding. She traveled extensively to all of the women'[...]
Read More
On October 11th & 12th, Region 1 and Plainfield Country Club (Edison, New Jersey) played host to the 4th Annual Premier Cup. An invitational event for the top eight Men's teams from the final year end standings. This year, such as others, a few teams had scheduling conflicts which allowed teams just outside of the top 8 to grab the opportunity to spend the weekend playing against the best in the country. Event coordinators David Dodge(Premier Platform Tennis) and Jason Gray decided to go east after Guy Moore (Director of Racquet Sports at Plainfield Country Club) put together a package that would be perfect for the event. Plainfield is located 30 minutes outside of NYC has a pristine tennis and platform facility and program featuring four platform courts situated beautifully around a platform hut that overlooks all courts. Presenting sponsors Premier Platform Tennis along, with[...]
Read MoreOn Saturday, December 13, 2008, the Long Island Platform Tennis Association ("LIPTA") hosted its 6th Annual Viking Junior Tour tournament at the Garden City Country Club, the Cherry Valley Club and the Garden City Community Park. With Christmas less than two weeks away, the children received a surprise early morning visit from that jolly old Nordic man with rosy cheeks and a little round belly - that's right, David Kjeldsen, founder of Viking Athletics, was there to provide his support, wearing his trademark "horns"! LIPTA is grateful to Viking Athletics for its sponsorship of the Viking Junior Tour, and for providing the children with a memorable platform tennis experience (and great favors). Among the four age divisions, thirty-two (32) teams participated, and countless parents and grandparents cheered. The level of paddle was extraordinary, the good sportsmanship was commendable[...]
Read More
Fred Gumbinner, Chair of the Players Committee filed the report in PTM As most of us are aware, foot faulting has become a pervasive problem in the game of platform tennis - both at the social level and at the competitive tournament level. It has been exacerbated by the fact that there is often resentment or even outrage when a player calls a foot fault violation.The one enforcing the rule as opposed to the perpetrator is sometimes labeled the "bad guy."This phenomenon does not occur when one calls a dearly out ball out; yet it does with respect to foot fault violations, even though both instances constitute a loss of point under the rules of the game. There is no need to discuss the policies against foot faulting as there is almost universal concurrence that players should not foot fault. Various ideas have been suggested and debated as to how to effectively enforce the foot fault[...]
Read MoreAs most of you are aware, this is the first season of the Roving Foot Fault Judge. I have not received an update on the experiences in other regions, but I will report on the first tournament where we used RFJs in a Region III PCQ Tournament. We did it at the Mid-Atlantic Championships, held at the Chevy Chase Club (and Columbia Country Club) in Washington, DC. The bottom line is that it was a great success. [enlarge image to read for report]
Read MoreFAULT - Roving Foot Fault Judges. Where were they at the first large APTA tournament of the season? I watched over 15 hours of matches at the Chicago Charities, and I didn't hear one foot-fault called - although I saw a lot. I thought the new APTA rule was roving foot fault judges were to be used at all national ranking tournaments. Maybe I was in the wrong place at the wrong time when I was watching? Funny, I didn't see any at the Sound Shore Invitational either. Surely I will see them next weekend in the APTA Presidents back yard for the Long Island Invitational. ACE - Peachtree Paddle, Atlanta, Georgia. Gotta love any platform group that gives out great car window decals to their members. The three-color design really stands out. Contact them and maybe you too can get one. ACE - Videographers. With the technology available today, there is a lot of great information regarding p[...]
Read MoreOur sport is growing, and growing quickly. This is evidenced by the number of websites devoted to league play and area play across the country. While I am sure I am missing quite a few, below is list of sites that I recently compiled. (If you know of others, please let me know.) Clearly some of the sites are updated almost daily. Sadly, others haven't been updated in over a year. Some are hokey; some are professional to the max. Some are purely data driven; others are all about the story. But the bottom line is they seem to work for the groups they serve. If you have a half hour or so, spend some time visiting each of the sites. You may get ideas to share with your league webmaster to make your site better. Please let me know your favorite. Mine is the Western Pennsylvania Platform Tennis Association. [enlarge image to read more]
Read MoreI've had a lot of discussions over the past couple of seasons with a number of players about the lob "bounce out" loss of point rule. I think this rule should definitely be changed for the following reasons: 1. Lobbing effectively in platform tennis requires a lot of skill in a 22 feet deep court (note: a tennis service box is 21 feet deep). Any lob hit high/deep enough to bounce out of the court would give the net team enough time to get under the ball and decide whether or not to play it out of the air. It is difficult to get your opponent much behind the service line with low trajectory lobs even if they would land deep untouched and the good overhead hitters handle the high/medium depth lobs pretty well. A higher trajectory lob would come down steeper and if hit deep enough would force the overhead hitter to take an additional step back thus creating more potential offensive oppo[...]
Read More
Scott Bondurant Age: 49 Residence: Chicago, Ill. Family: Wife: Susan; Daughters: Brooke, 13; Cara, 11 Occupation: Asset Management Hobbies: Tennis, Golf, Travel Do you have an awareness of the fact that you're playing guys that could be 30 years your junior? I'd be lying to say that it isn't fun to be able to compete with players that are a lot younger. It's still fun to be out there playing in the open division. The other thing is platform is very conducive to continuing to be able to play, to compete at older ages simply because it's a smaller court and it's all doubles. If you can find a partner that can cover a large part of the court, you can hang in there. Do you prepare differently mentally than you have in the past? Not really. I would just say that I probably don't get as nervous about matches as I used to. I just go out there and take them as they come. Has y[...]
Read MoreThe APTA Service Award was created in 2009 to honor the spirit of volunteerism that has been so important to the health of our sport. Candidates for the Award will exemplify volunteer service according to three criteria: 1. Volunteerism without any expectation of a personal gain pure giving versus doing something that might advance their business or standing in the community. 2. Efforts that are transformative efforts that create new potential or bring substantive change to the sport on a National or Regional basis. 3. Efforts that have a sustained impact on our sport over a period of years. Source: Paul Wiggan, Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 11, Issue 4, March, 2010
Read More
As he completed his term, the APTA board surprised Mark by recognizing his devotion to the sport and numerous achievements as its leader by making Mark the first recipient of a new APTA Service Award. Mark Fischl served as President of the APTA from 2004 through 2009, a period of rapid growth for our sport. Though Mark hails from a region steeped in the sport's traditions, his emphasis on gender balance and geographic diversity has meant nationwide impact. Mark devoted countless hours to the APTA. He continues to be involved in many ways even after his term ended. He is active in the Players' Committee, with participation in exhibitions, and he led the effort to rescue the platform tennis program in Huntington, New York. His genuine enthusiasm continues to be highly contagious. When asked about his tenure, Mark shared that he takes great pride in the effectiveness of fellow boar[...]
Read MoreTim McAvoy, a Phoenixville, PA, native, graduated from Penn State in 1980, worked 18 years with GlaxoSmithKline and the past 10 years with Marvin and Palmer Associates—an institutional money management firm. Tim was introduced to platform tennis by his mother, 1992 Hall of Fame inductee Lucie Bel, and has been playing competitively since 1982. Tim has been a member of the Region III men's President's Cup team over the past 25 years and is a former Men's 45 and Mixed Doubles National Champion, with John Adams and Diane Tucker, respectively. Tim served on the APTA Board from 1999- 2006, was a founding member of the Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation and currently serves on the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame Selection Committee. Tim also serves on the Philadelphia MAPTA Board. Tim and his wife Nancy, have four children: Tom (20), Jen (18), Lindsay (16) and Wil (14) [...]
Read MoreHall of Fame inductee, Paul G. Sullivan, died on February 4, 2009 in Vero Beach, Florida, at the age of 82. He was born in Brooklyn, lived most of his life in Scarsdale, New York, and in recent years, Vero Beach. He attended Princeton University, and served in the Navy as a radioman in Annapolis. His work career spanned over 50 years, first with Hayden Stone and then with Smith Barney. Paul served for many years on the Board of the American Platform Tennis Association, and was APTA President from 1963-1965. He was also President of the Fox Meadow Tennis Club from 1967-1969. During the 50's and 60's, he was a major contributor to the activities of the APTA serving, among other things, as Chairman of many National Championships and as Chairman of the APTA Umpires Committee. He was also a USTA umpire, and served in that capacity at the U.S. Open and at Wimbledon. He was instru[...]
Read More
Jonathan Lubow Hometown: Randolph, NJ Spouse and Kids: Wife: Jessica. Daughters: Caroline (8), Katie (5) Hobbies: Gardening, Golf, Skiing Personal Note: Wrote Options on Futures: New Trading Strategies Paddle used: The National Favorite shot: The "Dagger" Sports experience: Played tennis in high school Team accomplishments: 2006 and 2009 NJ State champs, 2008 Chicago Charities champions Platform tennis partner history: "I used to play with Chip Dyer. He moved to Colorado four years ago and I hooked up with Steve." How do you train for the season: "I do not train. I try to play all year round. Night paddle in summer is great." Nutritional regimen, vitamins, stretching, etc.: "I drink Gatorade and I never stretch." When did you start playing platform tennis? "After College. Charlie Stevens (Paddle Legend) got me into the game." What do you like most about platform [...]
Read MoreWomen's 40+ and 60+ National Championships The weather was spring-like and the ladies showed there was still a lot of spring in their step as they competed for the Women's 40+ and 60+ National titles. Helen Garrett and Sandy Simmers once again claimed the Women's 60+ National title despite strong competition from some new teams. This was their 5th gold in a row and their 6th as a team. In a rematch of last year's final, they defeated Louise Cash and Mary Fenton by the score of 6-2, 6-7, 6-4. Other winners were: Winnie Hatch and Courtia Worth, 3rd place; Ginny Sniatkowski and Ruth Weil, 5th place and Sharon Hummers and Hope Kerr, Last Chance winners. An exceptionally strong field in the Women's 40+ event led to some exciting matches. Continuing their title run, Cynthia Dardis and Amy Shay defeated Bobo Delaney and Tonia Mangan to win their first National title. Liz Jaffe and Sue T[...]
Read More
Deception can be an effective weapon in any paddle player's arsenal. Throwing up an offensive lob when your opponents are on top of the net or hitting a drop shot off a hard drive will keep them off balance and lead to a lot of free points. Here you will learn how and when to attempt a Dagger, an extremely low percentage shot that, if executed successfully, could win the point outright and get some laughs in the process. The Dagger is a shot off the end of the paddle that should only be tried under certain circumstances. The Set-up A good spin overhead from an offensive position backs one of your opponents deep into his corner and puts him on the defensive. All he can do now is hope to dig the ball out and keep the point going. A weak floater towards the middle of the court is the perfect setup for a Dagger attempt. The Reaction The other team sees that they have hit a weak sh[...]
Read MoreIn a celebration held at the Women's 40/60 National Championships on February 11, 2009, Winnie Hatch and Sharon Hummers were inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame, in recognition of their outstanding achievements both on and off the court over many years. The induction presentations were delivered by Steve Baird for Edwina "Winnie" Worth Hatch and by Bob Brown for Sharon K. Hummers, before a large, enthusiastic, and appreciative audience at the Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, New Jersey. Each honoree acknowledged the election with thanks, and other comments of adoration followed by several relatives and friends. The induction of Mansager and Goodspeed, the 2008 Hall of Fame Inductees, took place on January 17, 2009 at the Cincinnati Midwesterns. Todd Ward explained why: The Cincinnati Midwesterns played out the way most Midwesterns have gone for the last several y[...]
Read More
PTM reported from Cincinnati: Mary Doten and Susie Keane Reach High to Capture Third National Title In some ways, the Nationals is like any other tournament. There are draws, favors, reunions with friends, good lunches and the highs and lows of personal performance. But the Nationals is also something very different. There are temporary courts and a camera tower. Every hut has monitors and extra balls. There's a merchandise tent, lots of sponsor banners and multiple parties. A masseuse works tired muscles. The finals play to big crowds. And at the Nationals the "thrill of victory" and the "agony of defeat" are just that much more intense. The bulk of the women's tournament was played Friday. Play started at 8 a.m. and ran reasonably on time, with the last quarters finishing up just before 6 p.m. The weather was warm and windy like Thursday, with overcast skies. All the [...]
Read MoreRegion IV Women's team included Kathy Allen, Janet Mazzola, Ann Turner, Kelly Fischer, Tammy Simone, Sandra Odenbach, Chrissy Johnston, Lynn Thompson, Nancy Budde, and Lindy Ward Region I Men's was captained by Mike Cochrane and included Juan Arraya, Mark Ruppert, Ray Crosta, Mark Parsons, Drew Broderick, Guy Moore, Scott Slobin, Patricio Misitrano, Chris Fitzgerald, Brian O'Connor, and Mike Stern (not pictured at left) Teaching pro Christi Hayes had arrived in Ross, CA from Pittsburgh in 2007 and had added energy to the program by starting a junior program and league play. By 2009 Region VI was able to send a full women's team to the President's Cup.
Read MoreYou are excused if you don't know the answer to that question. The President's Cup has been a part of the APTA Nationals for years, and is a hotly contested event, but there are few people outside of die-hard tournament players who know what it is. It was established in 1978, when the sport was becoming professionalized, as a national competition for amateur players. It's success kept it going after money left the sport. Each region fields a set of teams based in large part on President's Cup Qualifier points accumulated at regional tournaments. Players seeded in the top 8 nationally may not participate but otherwise each region fields the strongest players it can. Sometimes a region cannot field a complete team and players are borrowed from other regions to fill out the roster, or two regions may combine to form one team. The President's Cup is a grueling day long round robin even[...]
Read MoreAs I finish up my last year as President of the APTA, I realize how lucky I was that John Horine approached me seven years ago and asked me to consider succeeding him. These last years have flown by. Recently, one of my friends on my league team asked me if I was glad to finally be done. I quickly responded with a resounding "no." I am sad my term is over. I have loved almost every minute of it. During my first year serving as a shadow Board member, I participated without an "official" vote in all Board activities, although John always encouraged me to voice my opinions. I'm sure he did not realize how little a concern this was! The first year of my presidency was a year of transition. Term limits had been enacted and the entire Board was being replaced over a three to four-year period. In considering who my vice president would be, the name that came to mind immediately was Sco[...]
Read More
Marjorie Hodson reported for PTM: The weather was beautiful, the site spectacular and the tournament committee, Indian Trail Club staff and volunteers outdid themselves in staging the 2009 Mixed Nationals and Husband-Wife Mixed Nationals. With sunny skies and temperatures that were cool enough for the players but comfortable for the spectators, the Indian Trail Club hosted the Mixed Nationals the weekend of March 13 — 15. The club took this opportunity to show off their new McBride House, which is so much more than a paddle hut! The staff anticipated needs before the contestants even knew they had them - with such touches as a bin of ice and plastic bags for after match aches and pains — to add to a memorable weekend. Play began on Friday with the Husband-Wife contests, with both Open and Senior divisions playing in a one-day format. In the Open draw, Jessica and Matt Guyaux[...]
Read MoreDavid Caldwell & Blake Cordish had thoughts on the subject: Over the last five to seven years a fresh crop of experienced tennis players has dramatically influenced the way the modern game of paddle is being played. Tennis players have helped to make paddle a faster, more aggressive game characterized by new shots, spins and strategies. New Shots Tennis players have brought their ground strokes to paddle and the effect has been increased pace, spins and additional offensive firepower off both sides from the baseline and the net. On the forehand side, many tennis players utilize a semi-western grip that allows for more topspin so the ball can be struck harder and still come down in the court. This has also allowed for new offensive strategies such as using an off-pace, topspin groundstroke to dip the ball to a net person's feet so the player can then "blitz" and volley the next [...]
Read MoreGoodspeed and Mansager were on top for the Men and Doten and Keane for the Women
Read MoreMark Holtschneider opined. At this year's National 45s/55s/65s Championship, a tape of the 1976 Men's Nationals was playing in the paddle hut. The play was dominated by lobs and soft overheads to the corners. There was an occasional flat forehand drive. There were no Mansager-like crushing forehands, no Goodspeed-like two-handed backhand drives, and no Uihlein super cut overheads. Contemporary players look much quicker and more athletic. A few players in the hut said that today's top players are definitely better than the best players of the '70s. Others agreed that athletes in all sports are better today than they were 30 years ago - track times are faster, pole vaults are higher, basketball players are taller, and football players are bigger. I disagree. I think the late 1970s champs could compete with the best of today's players. First, the rackets and balls in the '70s wer[...]
Read MoreFriday, May 8 The Annual APTA Board Meeting was called to order at 12:45 p.m. The APTA website - overview and ideas for next steps: Paul Wiggin gave a detailed report on the website and led a general discussion on APTA priorities for the next 12 months. The site is off to a great start and continues to grow in size, quality, viewership and in contribution to both the APTA membership and to the sport. The Board agreed with Paul's prioritization of the future initiatives and, in addition, emphasized certain action items: 1. Having worked out most of the bugs in the on-line tournament registration procedure, the APTA now wants to encourage Tournament Directors to use the APTA site for tournament registrations, at APTA sanctioned events, to ensure that the waiver is signed. 2. Put a "passive waiver" onto the draw sheets (e.g., "By signing up for this tournament and appearing on this[...]
Read MoreThe Fonthill Platform Tennis Club, just 25 minutes north of Niagara Falls, offers two platform tennis courts, a comfortable warming hut, players that welcome you with open arms, and a fridge full of beer. Basically a platform tennis player's dream! James Aldred, President of the club and event organizer, along with long-time friend and club member, Rich Humphries, put together the winter's most anticipated event. On March 28th 2009, the top Canadian platform tennis players came out to compete for the first prize money tournament ever in Canada. Club members all pitched in with home made food and baked goods, Lorenzo's Fine Foods was on the grill, and Embroidery Plus donated jackets. The local Tribune newspaper touted articles and camera crews showed up to give the event television coverage. David Dodge of Premier Platform tennis put up the prize money which was divided between w[...]
Read More
Hall of Fame inductee, Margaret G. ("Peggy") Stanton, died peacefully in her home in Quogue, New York, on June 17, 2009, at the age of 85. Peggy was a major contributor to the advancement of women's platform tennis and was also a distinguished player. She won the Women's Nationals in 1967, 1968, 1969, and 1970, and was a finalist in 1971. She was also a finalist in the Mixed Nationals in 1969, and went on to win two Senior Women's Nationals in 1974 and 1977 and was a finalist in 1976. Peggy was an active promoter of platform tennis, an enthusiastic worker for the advancement of women's platform tennis, a well known instructor, and played in many exhibitions. She was the first female Director on the APTA Board, in 1971, and served for three years as the women's tournament director. In recognition of her achievements, Peggy Stanton was inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fa[...]
Read More
Focus, accountability, teamwork, and growing the game……. It is a privilege and a pleasure to have been selected to lead the American Platform Tennis Association as we enter our 75th year as a not-for-profit association. I look forward to giving back to the sport that has introduced me to so many wonderful people across the country. I am committed to the tradition and integrity of our sport and am also focused on the APTA's mission to govern, grow and try to improve the sport we play and enjoy so much. I was introduced to platform tennis as a child and started playing competitively in 1982. My mother helped bring the sport to the Philadelphia area in the early 1970's and taught platform tennis to hundreds of players over the next two decades. Known as Mother Paddle in Philly,
Read More
Today, 80 John Street in Lower Manhattan is a newly renovated art deco building offering loft apartments with steep rents. In 1934, it was the site of the founding of the American Platform Tennis Association. With the upcoming anniversary of the APTA, it's fitting to highlight the origins of the organization that has overseen our sport for 75 years. After the 1928 foundation of platform tennis by James Cogswell and Fessenden Blanchard, the game's popularity grew rapidly. Within a few years, the founding fathers deemed it necessary to create an official organization that could oversee rules and equipment while shepherding the development of the game. In November 1934, John C. Ten Eyck Jr. from Manursing Island Club in Rye, New York, organized a meeting of five of the sport's leaders at his office at 80 John Street. The men represented three clubs that had been instrumental in devel[...]
Read More
Platform tennis legend and Hall of Fame inductee, Dick Reilly has been a staple of the game for more than four decades. Growing up with the sport in Scarsdale, New York, Reilly remembers his father playing recreational platform tennis. Reilly took up the sport in college. After college, he entered the world of academia as a teacher, but worked on a construction crew, building houses in the off-months to supplement his income. It was during these summer vacations that Reilly got the idea that building platform tennis courts to a higher standard could do both him and the sport a service. How did the idea to build platform tennis courts come to you? "While playing on some courts in Scarsdale, I was shocked at how poorly the courts were made. In 1961, the wooden joints and butts of the platform were raised, causing many bad bounces. I thought that if I built a court, I would make the jo[...]
Read MoreThe APTA is seeking new worthy platform tennis court projects from around the country to help fund - Are you interested? Mindful that a stated mission of the APTA is to grow the great sport of platform tennis, as well as the quandary that it's hard to justify courts if you don't yet have players, and yet it's hard to attract new players if you don't have courts for them to play on, the Board of Directors of the APTA decided several years ago to experiment with a Grant Program. The concept was and is to solicit proposals for grants to help build publicly accessible platform tennis courts in areas where the sport has great growth potential. The first grant was made in 2006 toward a pair of courts at the Chapel Hill Tennis Club. At the initiative of Rich Green, a NY transplant to this tennis rich area of North Carolina, this small and inexpensive tennis and swim club embraced Rich's v[...]
Read MoreThe APTA is proud to announce the formation of the APTA Junior Tour. Formerly known as the Viking Tour, the APTA Junior Tour will be led by Tom Safford who has been working closely with David Kjeldsen to ensure a smooth transition. Viking will also continue to be the lead sponsor for the Tour. Our thanks go out to John Embree, President, Prince Americas and to David Kjeldsen, former Viking CEO, for all of their support in making the APTA Junior Tour a great experience for our junior platform tennis players. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 11, Issue 3, January, 2010
Read MorePlatform tennis technology continues to evolve, making the sport more enjoyable and easier to play. The key components to determine a paddle's playability are: weight, density and composite materials, surface area, grit, hole sharpness, rim style and grip length. Most of today's paddles come standard with grit and sharp holes. It is the other things that will ultimately define an end-user's preference in equipment. With the introduction of EVA Foam paddles and the record sales of the Viking OZ back in the 90's, manufacturers have committed to altering foam paddle core densities for new paddles. Eleven of the 17 paddles comprising the 2009 lines are 2008 remakes. Three more are remakes with minor alterations. While Viking comes out with major innovations every few years, Wilson's new [K] line is the year's greatest innovative change in 2009. Not necessarily better or worse tha[...]
Read More
At Tim McAvoy's invitation, I write with great and growing news on what is arguably the single most important mission of the APTA: to grow our great sport to the prominence in this country and beyond that we all think is worthy. Each of us has seen how players who are new to the sport light up after their first few games saying 'Wow, this game is great fun," or the like. We've witnessed juniors who wander into a paddle tennis cage with great curiosity, start banging a ball around with friends, and get hooked. It's a terrific sport, and we'd like to see it grow further and faster. [enlarge image to read more]
Read MoreThe APTA, in conjunction with talented and experienced tournament directors, is compiling a resource inventory to assist tournament directors. From small local events to National Championships, you will find documents that will provide a guideline for you and your volunteers. Many of these documents are now available at Tournament Support The site includes documents such as: Tournament Director Handbook, How to Conduct a Draw, Draw Sheets in Detail, Rules of Platform Tennis, Standardized Warm-up. Coming soon: Budgets, Timelines, Organizational Charts, On-Line Registration Information, Entry Form Template and Hut Commander Playbook. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 11, Issue 3, January, 2010
Read MoreLast season was a nightmare for the platform tennis ball industry. Wilson was criticized for two reasons: their balls came out late and the ball wasn't as bright as their Viking competition. On the other hand, the Wilson ball's flocking held up much better in competition than Viking's and it seemed that there were fewer Wilson "wobblers" (balls that were not properly balanced) than Viking wobblers. Players will also notice changes to both the Viking and Wilson balls this season.
Read More
Orlando Retirement Community to Build Six Platform Tennis Courts The inaugural meeting for a Paddle Instructor Committee, or PIC, was held at the Villages in Orlando on Friday, Jan. 15, 2010. Anderson DaSilva, Manager of the Truman Recreation Center, hosted the meeting. Village of Bonita resident, Joe Russo, Sr., volunteered to be the instructor. At the meeting, he discussed the following: A. The new ground-level paddle court design used here B. Demo of current play equipment C. Sources of equipment D. Membership in the APTA E. Update of APTA Rules F. A flyer on paddle in The Villages to be given to newcomers Other discussions and activities included: 1. Outline of free teaching clinics, court play regulations and court times by Anderson 2. A 33 minute DVD on paddle (and ask for comments) 3. Question and answer period 4. Discuss next PIC meeting time and date 5. Enjoy[...]
Read More
Uihlein and Marino Team Up to Take Men's Title.....Delmonico and Main Win Women's Charities......... It was a beautiful platform tennis day and the play was outstanding when the women took to the courts at the Chicago Charities. The 2009 women's draw was missing many of the big-name players such as Lauren Zink, Cindy Prendergast, Laura Parsons and Susie Keane; however, the talent level was still exceptional compared to most other ranking tournaments. Kerri Delmonico and Aila Main worked their way through the draw defeating Sally Cottingham and Liz Hayward in the quarter-finals and then Bobo Delaney and Tonia Mangan in the semi-finals on their way to the final. http://youtu.be/HiPJbZWsHUA Quarter Final Prop-Schneebeck & Doten-Schwartz.3rd set tie break - Prop-Schneebeck are up in the breaker 6-1. Ad-hoc commentary provided by energized viewers in the hut Heather Prop and L[...]
Read More
John Horine Age: 48 Family: Wife: Paige; Daughters: Devon, Amelia Residence: Baltimore, MD APTA President: 1998-2004 John Horine was the President of the American Platform Tennis Association from 1998 through 2004. His presidency will always be associated with improving communications between the APTA Board and its Members During his tenure, John was responsible for contracting with Dollard Publishing to bring the APTA members Platform Tennis Magazine in 1999. He also was instrumental in getting the Board of Directors to create an official website The site, www.platformtennis.org has gone through a few revisions over the past few years, and has evolved to be a great source for current and archived news and information. We sat down with John Horine to catch up on his thoughts on the new directions taken by the APTA. Can you tell our readers what you have been doing on an[...]
Read More
John Embree has had a long and storied history in the world of racquet sports. Growing up in Chicago, he moved back to his home town in the Windy City to take a position with Wilson Sporting Goods. He remained there for 17 years, rising to the title of Vice President and General Manager of Wilson's global racquet sports. He subsequently left Wilson to become part owner of tennis apparel manufacturer Balle de Match. "I went to Balle de Match because the owner needed marketing and sales help," Embree said. "I thought I could use my tennis connections to grow the business. Wended up tripling sales in three years." That firestorm of sales helped Embree get his next position, as he was tapped by Prince CEO George Napier in March of 2009. "When I started with Prince, the economy was in a trend heading south and consumers stopped their spending," Embree said "Consumers are now changing th[...]
Read MoreJuan Araya is from Buenos Aires, Argentina, has been playing platform tennis for four years and tennis since he was five years old. He was in the top five in Buenos Aires, and in the top 10 of Argentina, playing with people like Gaston Gaudio (#5 in the World), Guillermo Canas (#12), Mariano Puerta (Finalist of the French Open) and others. In December 1991, he competed at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, reaching the quarter-finals and losing to Norman Magnus, former #2 of the ATP Tour. He also played every tournament in the COSAT circuit, reaching the semifinals of the Pascuas Bowl in Asuncion, Paraguay. At the age of 18, he played the South American professional tour, reaching several semifinals and quarterfinals. Later, at the Universidad de Belgrano, he got his degree in Management Information Systems. While at UB, he worked for different companies as a software developer whi[...]
Read MoreAlthough the platform tennis season is winding down, the full flame is still burning at the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame Museum. Another year has passed, and while progress has been slow, there continues to be good progress toward the realization of the dream of a "bricks and mortar" home for display of the memorabilia of the sport and a place to honor those elected to its Hall of Fame. The Foundation's Chairman, Bob Brown, and Museum Curator, Jim McCready, have worked with museum consultant Ed Puches to develop a model of a display case featuring the 1970's decade. It is pictured below. Mr. Puches of Irvington, NY has developed projects at Harvard University and IBM. Eight similar display cases will be included in the museum to highlight other decades since the sport's invention in 1928. A great deal of the memorabilia has been collected, but more is still welcomed by the Committee. [...]
Read MoreOn January 13th, Helen Garrett and Mary Jane Parks, newcomers to the 70s, swept to victory by defeating Nancy Libby and Gail Reifsnyder in the finals of the 70+ Women's Nationals, 6-1, 6-0. Helen and Mary Jane have the habit of winning their 1st eligible age year. Congratulations. Nancy Libby has the distinction of being in the finals four years in a row and five out of the last six. The draw was the magic number of eight as required by the APTA. We had perfect weather and the entrants are a fit and fun group. We always look forward to the competition and sharing the day with our age group. Source: Ann Brown, Tournament Chair, Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 11, Issue 4, March, 2010
Read More
http://vimeo.com/9191361 "The future of our sport is looking bright!" Those were the closing words that APTA Junior Nationals Tournament Director Michael Gillespie proclaimed after he draped the traditional medals around the necks of the last finalists and champions of the 2010 edition of this annual, day-long tournament. Bright indeed. This year, 200 juniors participated in the annual junior championships, held on Saturday, January 30, in New Canaan, Connecticut, and hosted by members of the New Canaan Field Club. Teams traveled from as far away as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and even from Hinsdale and Highland Park, IL. The weekend kicked off with the traditional Friday night "Welcome Party" for all participants. Each of the Field Club's four courts were set up with a different activity: Court 1 featured nationally-ranked players Mark Parsons and Brian O'Connor taking on chal[...]
Read MoreGeorgetown University - After eight years of playing paddle and three years of passionately promoting college platform tennis I offer some observations, advice, and optimism for the future of the sport at the college level. There has been a lot of talk about college platform tennis and, I'm pleased to say, something to show for it too. At Yale University, Kate Macauley (Yale '11) and Rob Coster (APTA College Program Chair) have done a great job securing two courts at a nearby country club, getting support from local players and enthusiasts, and holding weekly events for Yalies. After two years in the making, Yale Platform Tennis Club has 30 students of all abilities on the roster, and about ten players who play each week. Kate has been successful by recruiting Yale friends to play and has grown interest through club fair events at school. [enlarge image to read full report]
Read MorePlanning for the 2010 APTA Men's and Women's Nationals began April 20, 2009 and culminated with the four day event taking place March 4-7th, 2010. With Waynesborough Country Club as the host facility, our vision was to change the format of the evening parties and host the men and women on Friday night, instead of Saturday, and offer a "Come as you are" party on Saturday evening, to allow players and spectators to watch the men's quarter final play, with beer flowing and a BBQ grille serving up chicken and burgers through the night. We were rewarded by the tremendous turnout for the Friday night party (over 400 players/volunteers attended) as well as for the Saturday night men's quarter final play (close to 400 players/spectators came to watch). [enlarge image to read full letter]
Read MoreThe two things I will miss most about leaving the APTA board are the relationships I have bridged through trying to achieve a common goal and the experiences I have shared with the thousands of enthusiasts throughout the country during my time on the board. It is hard to believe that it has been five years since our first clinic and exhibition took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mark Fischl and I went up to the Woodhill Country Club just off Lake Minnetonka on a beautiful Minnesota fall day. The leaves were in their prime fall colors and the weather was a gorgeous 55 degrees and sunny. We had 35 people come out for what would be the beginning of an 18-city tour during my tenure with the APTA board. When I first started this initiative, my goal was to bring in some new life and direction to depressed or undeveloped paddle markets. The idea was to bring out new players and help the[...]
Read More
2010 APTA National Championships: On-line Postings Provide Real Time Story http://vimeo.com/18363470 http://vimeo.com/18363046 Thursday, March 4, 7:30 a.m. EST We're here at the Waynesborough Country Club in the Philadelphia suburbs for the 2010 APTA National Championship Competitions. I will be documenting the event and posting news and results every few hours. Today, we will feature the Women's and Men's President's Cups. Tomorrow will be the Women's day one of the Nationals. The men will play some first round matches to open up more courts for Friday's matches. Thursday, March 4, 9:15 a.m. EST Well, the team photos have been taken, and the Men's and Women's President's Cup competitions are under way. Are you familiar with the President's Cup? This special event is held every year immediately prior to the Nationals. Each APTA region selects five of their best teams (ex[...]
Read More2010 Platform Tennis Presidents Cup Trailer from YYR Productions on Vimeo.
Read MoreIt seems that Chicago has been getting more and more attention lately in the platform tennis world. No disrespect to the East or West coasts, but I would say this is rightfully so. Although only 2-3% of the known platform tennis courts are in the Chicago area, their's is the largest organized league in the country with approximately 3,000 players. Also, over the past seven years, seven Chicago men and women have captured ten of the 14 National Men's and Women's Nationals( Susie Keane, Mary Doten, Scott Mansager, David Keevins, Brian Uihlein, David Ohlmuller and Chris Gambino). [enlarge image to read more]
Read MoreOne of the great highlights during the APTA National Championships in Philadelphia was the party at the Waynesborough Country Club and Cindy Prendergast's induction into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame Committee President Bob Brown and APTA President Tim McAvoy presented the award to this dedicated enthusiast. These achievements were noted among Cindy's many contributions to the sport: - Winner of six APTA National events, including three mixed, two women's, and one senior women's titles - Recognition for her effortless style of play, easygoing manner, and outstanding sportsmanship - Served on dozens of tournament committees and a force behind Delaware's hosting of the Mixed Nationals - Led a delegation to Germany to introduce the sport of platform tennis March 17th was the biggest night of the year for the Chicago league. Teams battled it out in playoff fina[...]
Read More
Tom Stafford, the new Czar, filed this report on the development in PTM The APTA Junior Tour Czar has quite a ring to it. As most things with me — it’s self-titled. Timmy simply asked me to head up the new APTA Junior Tour. Dave Kjeldsen and Viking had done such a great job with it for the last umpteen years and now APTA was going to bring it in house. David was not passing on that great horned hat, but certainly I had to have a title that was fitting. Director — boring, Head — don’t have much of one, Chief in charge — closer, CZAR— Now we’re getting someplace. This is my 41st year of playing platform tennis — not bad for a 47 year old. I played in my first tournament at 6, had 13 fun filled years of Juniors with the same partner, played “the circuit” through the 70′s, 80′s and 90′s and now get to watch over as the future stars take shape from the junio[...]
Read More
Jerry Albrikes Age: 40 Hobbies: Fitness, running, tennis and the Minnesota Vikings Family: Married to Beth; Children: Olivia 15, Liza 14 and William 3 Residence: Mystic, CT Tennis Highlights: Former #1 in New England in Men's Open, Doubles and Mixed Occupation: Head Professional at Mystic Indoor Tennis for 10 years to present Platform Tennis Beginnings: Peter Harvey introduced me to the game six years ago. I played tournaments for four years with Lennart Jonason and this year with Johan. Currently plays out of Essex Platform Tennis Club in Essex, CT, once a week and tournaments on weekends." Johan du Randt Age: 32 Hobbies: Golf, Squash,teaching my dog tricks and playing poker Family: I have a girlfriend named Neely and a Stafforshire Bull Terrier named Bliksem. He was our mascot at the Nationals. Born: Somerset East, South Africa Residence: Newton MA Tennis Highlights: Ra[...]
Read MoreNovember 9, 2009 - The platform tennis world lost a great champion. Hall of Fame inductee, Edwina (Winnie) Worth Hatch, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Winnie, a 14-time National Senior Champion was inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008. Winnie introduced hundreds to the game of platform tennis and ran scores of tournaments, from the Nationals to local events. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 11, Issue 2, 2009
Read MoreMike Cochrane and Scott Estes secured the Men's #1 position while Mary Doten and Susie Keane edged Heather Prop and Lynn Schneebeck for the top Women's slot.
Read MoreBrian O'Connor Age: 25.75 Hometown: Larchmont, NY Marital Status/Kids: "I am not sure what marital status means. If that is the same as martial arts status, yes, I have a yellow belt with two black stripes. Kids... no, I do not fight kids, although some in my class are pretty tough” Hobbies: Tennis, beaches, bodybuilding, and Gossip Girl Achievements in Tennis: • Hold record at Binghamton University for most singles victories • Team advanced to NCAA's 3 times • Two-Time National Grandfather/ Grandson Champion How and When You Got Into Platform: " I fell in love with paddle when I was a young bang-baller. I spent most of my childhood following women's paddle, as my mother (Joanmarie) would bring me to all her local events and league matches." What You Like About the Sport: "The various styles of play provide for interesting matchups. Among the top teams strategies [...]
Read MoreThe 5th Annual Premier Cup took place this year at Sunset Ridge Country Club in Chicago on October 10th & 11th. This year's field featured the strongest veteran teams in the sport as well as many of the top up and coming teams. Sunset Ridge boasts six courts and is under the direction of Peter Berka. This year's field had representation from states of Illinois, Ohio, New York, and New Jersey for the two-day event that had a total purse ofS5,000. The first day of competition started at 10 a.m. on Saturday and lasted through dark as each team played a round robin competition within their own group (three matches). Format: • Two out of three sets; regular scoring • Super tie-breaker for 3rd set (Sat. only) • Top two teams from each group advanced to semi-finals on Sunday Rules for Advancement: • Best overall record from round robin play • 1st tie-breaker used i[...]
Read MoreOhlmuller & Johnson Defeat Main & Caldwell in Three-Set Finalin the Mixed Marina Ohlmuller and Mark Johnson teamed up for their first run at the APTA Mixed Nationals, and after an amazing three-set final against Aila Main and David Caldwell, they emerged victorious, 6-7, 6-0, 7-5. There were big momentum swings in the match, as is often the case with paddle, and in the third set they were at one point down 3-0, 40-love with the other team serving. The match was marked with steady play by Marina and Aila, while dazzling displays of athleticism from Mark and David enthralled the spectators. This is Marina's third national title. She and husband David won the Husband/Wife Nationals in 2003 and 2005. Its Johnson's first. Props Outlast LeFevres for APTA Husband-Wife Title The unseeded team of Heather and Vince Prop won the 2010 APTA Husband-Wife National championship, defeating J[...]
Read MoreMelanie Oudin helps inaugurate courts in Atlanta On Friday, October 9, The Peachtree Paddle League (PPL) kicked off the new season in fine style with its annual gala and exhibition at the newest platform tennis venue in Atlanta, the Racquet Club of the South (RCS). Made famous recently by the charmed success of US Open quarter finalist, 17-year-old Melanie Oudin, RCS unveiled their brand new courts and viewing deck to a crowd of some 125 people, including many enthusiastic kids. Topping off the night was an appearance by Melanie in person, who picked up a paddle and played her first set of platform tennis, paired with Philadelphia native and Atlanta transplant, Ali Tross Cole. Behind the RCS story was a grant from the American Platform Tennis Association to help with the cost of construction of their two courts. Mark Fischl, then President of the APTA, was instrumental in [...]
Read MoreMarty Pomerantz, Director, Campus Recreation, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill filed this report with PTM: It took about five years of cajoling, collaborating, and construction, but this author's vision for a multi-purpose recreational facility finally evolved from a paper napkin at Bruegger's Bagels to a successful grand opening on Saturday, October 17. The new South Campus Recreation Complex (SCRC) sits atop what once was an eight court tennis center and home of the Carolina Varsity Tennis Team. Today, it consists of three sand volleyball courts, three tennis courts, two full length basketball/inline hockey courts, and the piece de resistance, three brand new ground level platform tennis courts. The grand opening event included sand volleyball and tennis tournaments, which attracted a number of student teams. But the highlights of the day's festivities included a professi[...]
Read More
Hall of Fame inductee, Chuck Baird died peacefully on December 26, 2009 at the age of 87, after a long bout with Alzheimers. A true ambassador of platform tennis, he was an active participant in both the play and the promotion of the game. He was consistently highly ranked in the years that he competed on the "open" circuit and in the Nationals. Although never a winner of the open Nationals, he and his partner, Roger Lankenau, went as far as the quarter-finals. Upon entering the Senior ranks, his first Championship win was in the 50+ Nationals in 1973. What followed thereafter was a record-breaking streak of Senior National Championships, totaling 23 wins in the 45+, 50+, 55+, 60+, 65+ and 70+ categories. He was also a finalist 15 times in these Senior events. In 1982, he and his partner George Schmid achieved a milestone never accomplished before or since, winning three events, in the 5[...]
Read MoreFinancials: Aila Main presented an overview of our income statement and balance sheet which showed our financial position as being very strong. However, given the wide variety of initiatives the APTA is pursuing, it was proposed that we raise the league membership dues. Tim and Ann proactively reached out to many of the APTA league Presidents and the idea was agreed to by all of those people. It was moved that we raise the APTA league member dues from $25 per year to $30. The motion carried unanimously. Then, a variety of discretionary spending items were discussed resulting in the following actions: It was moved that we put $15,000 into the budget for "Grow the Game" grants this year and each succeeding year. The motion carried unanimously. It was moved that we transfer (one time) $40,000 from our cash on the balance sheet to the fund for grants for this coming year. The m[...]
Read MoreIn an effort to spread an awareness of platform tennis across the country and grow the game, the APTA's grant program awarded three grants this year totaling $35,000 to projects that otherwise would not have succeeded. The awardees induded the Creve Coeur Racquet Club in St. Louis, Mo., North Park, a county run facility in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pa., and the YMCA in Wilton, Ct. The first and largest will assist with the creation of a new platform tennis venue beginning with 2 courts at the Creve Coeur Racquet Club in St. Louis, a large, low cost, semi public indoor/outdoor tennis facility. The growth of Paddle in St. Louis has for years been hampered by a lack affordable access. Two years ago, Rick Randall, Frank Sant, Frank Childress and Bob Curtis formed the STL Platform Tennis Association to address the problem and the APTA is pleased to partner with this group of enthusiast[...]
Read More
On March 30th, the growth of Platform Tennis continued its seemingly inexorable journey south. Thanks to the vision and efforts of Joe Russo, The Villages in Florida decided to install six grade-level courts. The Villages, located 60 miles northwest of Orlando, is a retirement community of almost 80,000 people. Coming on the heels of APTA-assisted projects in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia, The Villages is a privately- funded project masterminded by Joe Russo. Joe previously had been responsible for the installation of four courts in Ocean Pines, Maryland. Preliminary plans for the addition of twelve more courts are being discussed as the initial project is evaluated. The Grand Opening at The Villages featured an exhibition and clinic hosted by APTA Board member Juan Pablo Arraya Martinez. Juan heads up the APTA Exhibition tour, having succeeded Todd Ward in May o[...]
Read More
Early each summer, David Dodge and Jason Gray sit down to discuss how they are going to out-do their previous year's Premier Cup tournament competition. Dodge is the owner and founder of Premier Platform Tennis Courts. Gray is the Director of Racquet Sports at the Four Bridges Country Club in Cincinnati but moonlights as the consummate promoter of all things platform tennis. Over the past several seasons, many cities have been host to the Premier Cup - a $5,000 invitation-only, elite paddle tournament. Who gets to play? The top eight men's teams in the country are invited. If anyone cannot participate, the #9 team will be invited, and so on. The 2010 Cup was set up a little different than those of past seasons. This year, the event took place in southern "virgin" paddle territory - Richmond, Virginia. To kick off the three-day festivities, the American Platform Tennis As[...]
Read MoreResidence: I have lived in Madison, CT for almost 30 years. Years of Service: It's a blur. I count the years by the Annual Meetings. I was voted in at the Chicago meeting, Long Island was after my first year, Atlanta was after my second, so next the meeting will mark three years on the Board. Family: My wife Barb is a Southern California transplant. I finally pried the tennis racket out of her hands a few years ago and put a paddle in its place. She now loves the game almost as much as I do. And this past season, she had the opportunity to play on the Region 2 President's Cup team. My oldest son Rory attended a prep school that had PT courts. He and his buddies would head out many nights after study hall and play a few sets. At college in Schenectady, NY he was almost arrested for trespassing when sneaking on to a private club's courts in the middle of the night. And he's now "[...]
Read MoreAPTA Clinic Brings Bozeman Out of the Jungle When paddle came to Bozeman, Montana three years ago, very few had even heard of the sport. Despite this, a small group of tennis players, as well as people who had played paddle back east as kids, were pumped up to play a winter racquet sport. This was mainly due to the fact that it is winter for almost seven months a year in Big Sky country. [enlarge image to read full story]
Read MoreNestled underneath the brick façade of an athletic building on the University of North Carolina Campus approximately one hundred yards from the Dean Dome Basketball Stadium sits an unlikely sight - three platform tennis courts. On October 10th, an even more unlikely sight occurred, all three courts filled to capacity, four pro ambassadors teaching clinics, spectators watching from outside the cages, and passers-by stopping to wonder what all the hoopla is about. [enlarge image to read the full story]
Read MoreCourtia Worth put together a paddle morning, mid-day lunch and shotgun golf tournament on Monday, October 4th at the Hartford Golf Club in Hartford Golf Club in Hartford, CT. Among the many reasons to attend were the opportunities for raffle trips, an open bar and delightful dinner and finally an opportunity to celebrate the life of Hall-of-Famer, Winnie Hatch. Players from five states assembled at the five paddle courts for three hours of casual play as many of Winnie's former partners and friends kicked off the 2010-2011 season. Sprinkled amongst the twenty plus players were former champions; Sig Buckmeyer, George Lynch, Jack Westerfield, Bob Brown, Bill Childs, Ted and Nanny Hoehn, Sharon and Herb Hummers and Rich Lombard. Several of the Hartford seniors mixed in with the outing players including one 70+ player who strapped on his oxygen tank and proceeded to race around the cou[...]
Read More
In the more than 80 years that our sport has been in existence, there have been rule manuals, magazines and instruction books, but not a comprehensive history detailing its evolution. Along similar lines, the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame Foundation has been a force for honoring the history of Platform Tennis without the benefit of having a building to call home. That's where Tina Kelly, APTA board member and author, came in with a project to serve both needs through one book — the creation of Passing Shots. This beautifully rendered coffee table book highlights platform tennis over the years. Proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation. "The actual idea came from the Hall of Fame Foundation — Bob Brown, Rich Lombard, and their committee," Kelly said. "Their concept was to do this book to raise money for the building effor[...]
Read MoreIt is with mixed emotions that I am writing this letter to the APTA membership. I am, on one hand, honored to have been named interim President of the APTA, but also very sad that our current president and good friend, Tim McAvoy, is fighting another battle with cancer. Tim is a great leader, a great competitor, a great family man, and, above all, the most positive and upbeat person I have ever met. We have spent a lot of time together over the last twenty-five years of playing paddle, and I have never left him without a smile on my face. The current APTA Board is an amazing group of dedicated men and women who are focused on making this game better than ever, and keeping the growth of the game moving forward. We will all work diligently in Tim's absence to promote the initiatives set for this year: "To govern the sport, grow participation and improve all aspects of the game". [e[...]
Read MoreThe initial rental term between Centercourt Athletic Club (CAC) and the Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation (PTMHOFF) had been for two years and was up for renewal in 2010. During the negotiations for the renewal it became clear that CAC had seen considerable growth in membership and the once "unused" space allocated for the Museum and Hall of Fame now was required for club activities. As a result the lease was not extended. This was a considerable set back for the PTMHOFF as, in addition to rental payments, a significant amount of work had been done to develop the plan for the space and associated displays. It was time for the PTMHOFF to regroup and rethink how to realize their dream. Source: PTMHOFF Minutes, November 2010
Read MoreThis year's Chicago Platform Tennis Charities Tournament featured the launch of the APTA's new live tournament scoring system, a joint venture between the APTA and the CPTC. The system is designed to enhance the tournament experience for players and fans using the internet and social networking. The initiative began last spring when John Noble, tournament director for the 2011 APTA Men's and Women's Nationals in Chicago, approached the APTA with an idea to use the internet and social networking to make news and scores available real-time for the 2011 Nationals. It was a two-pronged approach. One: develop a truly interactive draw that could be updated real-time by tournament volunteers at any location. Two: use social networking to report news that could be displayed within the system and also accessed directly through the social networking site. The system would also include direc[...]
Read More
Tina Kelly Residence: Savannah, GA (since Dec. 2010), previously Sleepy Hollow, New York APTA Board of Directors: May 2006 - present Family: Husband, Bill, two stepdaughters, six grandchildren, and one Boston Terrier. How long have you been playing platform tennis? I started playing when I was about 10. My father, Art Houlihan, was very active in platform tennis and on the APTA board during the 1970s, so paddle has always been a big part of my family. My older brother, Tom, played as a junior (and continues to play in Boulder, Colorado), and won three junior nationals, so I was always trying to keep up with him. Have you ever won any major tournaments? I hate to admit it, but I think I hit my peak when I was 18. My partner and I won the 15-and-Under and 18-and-Under Nationals. Of course my husband might argue that our recent husband-wife club title is the most important tourna[...]
Read More
Every year, normally around the second week of August, the buzz around the Cincinnati area is about the upcoming ATP Masters Series, showcasing the best tennis professionals in the world. This year there was a special event that made the week even more unique: Jason Gray and Four Bridges Country Club organized a charity event that benefitted the Bryan Brothers Foundation and included a performance by the Bryans' band. The event took place on Monday, August 16th, in conjunction with the opening night of the tennis tournament. The Bryans, the top seed, had a bye in the first round and did not have to play. Through the efforts of Four Bridges members Pierre Dommestrup, Phil Huff, and others, support was obtained from presenting sponsor Beacon Orthopedic and contributing sponsors Ciney Tech, Katz, Tener, Brant, & Hild, Bethart Printing, and Ace Authentic. Leading up to this event, the [...]
Read More
The Women's Players Committee... What is that you ask? I didn't know we had one of those, you say. Well, you do. The Women's Players Committee is comprised of several female representatives from around the country. Currently serving are yours truly, Ma Main, along with Sally Cottingham, Charlotte Gilet, Christi Hays, Sandra Odenbach, and Cindy Prendergast. The Committee has a few purposes. One of the Committee's goals is to pass along any observations, ideas and, recognizing our sport can always improve, criticisms players may have. Another is to give recommendations on how to handle any issues that may come up during the course of the year. While most issues that arise are tournament related, they can also be about etiquette, rules or protocol. It is also the Players Committee's role to present any suggested material changes of the status quo to the APTA Board. For example, should[...]
Read MoreCourtia is currently the Director of Tennis and Platform Tennis at the Hartford Golf Club where she has grown the platform tennis programs in particular over the past six years. She is partial to her Senior Racquets group of over a dozen men who show up with paddle or tennis racquet in hand three times a week throughout the year ready to play either sport! With an average age of 79, how great is that? She was pleased to be tapped to go The Villages and work with over 100 seniors in that stellar Orlando community. Courtia learned how to be a teaching pro from some of the best. Bob Callaway gave her guidance at the Reilly Platform camps in Jackson Hole, Patty Hogan was her PPTA Coach and she started her teaching career teaching juniors with Marie Minnick. Her sister, the one and only Hall of Famer
Read More
http://vimeo.com/19993131 It was almost as if God smiled on New Canaan, Ct., for the 2011 APTA Junior National Tournament. Falling between record-breaking snowfall leading up to the event, and the threat of severe winter storms immediately following the day's play, it would seem that a window of clear skies and cleared roads would be unlikely for the weekend. But, as cars pulled in, bumper to snow bank, to Waveny Lodge, to unload young players from as far away as Chicago and Pittsburgh, it became as clear as the skies above that some serious platform tennis was about to be played. The Junior Nationals, organized by Steve Caccam, Hooey Wilks, Tish Tregellas, Amy Burger, and Thea Ross took among others, took place in one day at 12 locations around New Canaan, all within a 15-mile radius of Waveny, and included 224 players. Finals were brought back to central Waveny Lodge to play i[...]
Read More
Tim Mangan Residence: 112 Bayville Ave. Bayville, New York 11709 Years of Service: APTA Board of Directors - 2nd term, LIPTA VP - 6 years, Director of Racquet Sports at Nassau Country Club - 31 years Family: Wife - Tonia, 3 children Brooke 17 years old, Jack 14 years old, Caroline 10. Wife Tonia plays with my sister, BoBo Mangan Delaney, my mother Nancy Mangan a Hall of Fame inductee, and my uncle John Mangan who is also in Hall of Fame. How long have you been playing platform tennis? I've been playing for 40 years. I started playing competitive paddle at the age of 16, and I am now 56. Have you ever won any major tournaments? No, I have not, but I've been nationally ranked for 25 years in the Open, Ranked top 10 in 45+,50+,55+, Husband/Wife top 4, Mixed 50+ ranked 2, and was a 5-time runner up in Husband/Wife. What do you feel is your contribution to the APTA Board? Creati[...]
Read More"The 2010-11 season has quickly come upon us. This year the PPTA will continue to offer top level instruction videos, clinics and platform tips. The organization this past year added many new PPTA instructors. If you are looking to improve your game there are local PPTA pros in your area. To find your local Professional go to
Read More
Being charged with putting on the biggest tournament of the season is no small thing, and, in the case of the 2011 Chicago Nationals it was an outright miracle of organization and coordination. John Noble, Matt Garavaglia and Shannon Vinson, coordinators of the event, had to arrange for 84 courts of play at 22 sites all within a 25-minute radius of Chicago's North Shore Corridor for 452 competitors. The trio had to coordinate everything from ensuring the bleachers were delivered and installed on time, to putting together the program and merchandising for the event. Thankfully, there were 175 volunteers who were organized by Walter and Ann Fyk. "They are a wonderful couple and they organized it by day, by club, by time slot. They ran with it," Vinson said. "We needed many volunteers to execute the weekend. The level of excitement for the event to return to Chicago was high[...]
Read MoreResidence: Northfield, Illinois Years of Service on the APTA Board: 2 Family: Three adult children: Amanda (27, married), Megan (26), and George (23) Years Playing: 15 years Have you ever won any major tournaments? Only in my mind. I'm there to be first-round cannon fodder and get the pullovers. I did win a first round match in the Nationals once and a back, backdraw in the Mixed Nationals several years ago. [enlarge image to continue reading the profile]
Read MoreWhenever there's a national tournament to be played, you can usually count on Bobo Delaney's name somewhere in the winner's circle. This year, she took National titles for the Women's 40+, 50+ and Open Mixed. Despite tying the record for five Mixed Nationals titles and a lifetime of winning that began with her first Junior Nationals in 1976, Delaney said she still gets nervous when she walks into the wires for tournament play. "You definitely still get nervous. Some days are better than others. I've competed my whole life in other sports, and I used to get more nervous when I was younger. There's the pressure to win, then the pressure of being a Mangan, with the family being good in the sport," she said. "I've gotten better at controlling that. The nerves are still there, but by playing a lot and competing, you just get better at managing it -controlling it. There's always pressure[...]
Read MoreA team competition starts the ball rolling at Nationals You may have seen the designation PCQnext to the name of many tournaments on the APTA tournament schedule and wondered what it meant. PCQ means President's Cup Qualifier. So what is President's Cup? It is a region versus region tournament that takes place the day before the Nationals. The APTA divides the country into seven regions and each region sends a men's team and a women's team to the competition. This year there will be an 8th team, the Independent team, which will consist of players who did not qualify for their regional team. Spots on each team are earned through season-long competition. Each region has its own rules regarding qualifications. Some require participation in three tournaments, some only two. Points are awarded on the basis of how a team or an individual does in a PCQ designated tournament. Many playe[...]
Read MoreDear Platform Tennis Community, On behalf of my wife, Nancy, and the entire McAvoy family, thank you very much for all your support over the past four months. Since my Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma diagnosis in November last year, the outpouring of love and positive energy has been inspiring. As I have told several friends, I never felt alone during all of my treatments, including my 17-day stay at the spa in the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The doctors there had never seen someone respond to treatment and recover from treatment more quickly than me and when I returned home on March 10th, I began my recovery process to get back into the game - which is still ongoing but feels great! Given my ongoing recovery, I am pleased to be able to step back in to "active duty" with the APTA, effective Friday, April 1st. [enlarge image to read the full letter]
Read MoreChanges in format will create a PC final and offer top men a spot on the teamEarlier this year, the Men's and Women's Players Committees submitted changes in the President's Cup format to the APTA Board for their consideration and approval. The APTA Board has voted to move forward with the suggestions made by the Players Committees. For the upcoming President's Cup competition in New Jersey this March, the following changes will be implemented on a trial basis: 1) Regional teams will consist of a minimum of ten players and a maximum of thirteen players. 2) Each team should consist of players who reside in that region. Cases where someone plays regularly in one region and lives in another will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the President's Cup Committee. 3) If all seven regions enter a team, a team consisting of players who did not qualify for their regional team will for[...]
Read MoreGrowth is a good thing, but requires management. So, after careful consideration and planning, the Professional Platform Tennis Association President, Nate Parsons, has announced that effective August 1, the PPTA has hired Missy D'Alise as Member Services Administrator. D'Alise, a PPTA pro from Hinsdale, Illinois, has been a long-time friend to the PPTA, helping out with the organization's needs behind the scenes whenever possible, Parsons said. "Some of the changes that we'll be making next year, including [Missy's] role, are all based on the fact that the PPTA has seen growth by a factor of 30 to 40 pros this year. Administration is a huge job," Parsons said. "Missy is one who's a PPTA pro, helped in the area, has a good background, so I approached her as becoming a director of everything as far as the PPTA home office is concerned." D'Alise will tend to member services, as we[...]
Read MoreMarch 10th was the day and Chicago was the place that kicked off the year's most exciting week for platform tennis... the 2011 APTA National Championships. The Glenview Club, located in Chicago's northern suburbs, was well-prepared to be the host site for the week-long paddle festivities. Under Nationals Chairmanship of Shannon Vinson, Matt Garavaglia and John Noble, qualifying members for the 2011 President's Cup began play on Thursday morning. For the first time, all seven regions fielded both Men's and Women's teams. Defending champions, Men's Region V (Illinois, Michigan and the Midwest) and Women's Region I (Eastern New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) were looking to repeat last year's performances. Region V Men repeated their 2010 performance in capturing the President's Cup and Region V Women won their Cup in front of their hometown crowd.
Read More
Matthew Porter Age: 33 Residence: Boston, MA Profession: Financial Advisor - Merrill Lynch Achievements in tennis/platform tennis: Tennis - #700 world singles 1998. Division II National Champion 2001 Rollins College; Court Tennis - 2009 #1 US Amateur Court Tennis; Platform Tennis - 2011 National Finalist. Finalist in 2011 Boston Open. Hobbies off the courts: Racquet sports, snowboarding, reading financial books, travelling Europe and eating (mozzarella in Italy the best) Personal Platform Tennis: Play as a team and push the boundaries of the sport The 2011 Chicago Nationals saw many surprising teams come to the forefront to compete against teams that we're all used to seeing. One new face in the Men's Finals was Australian tennis whiz, Matthew Porter, who played with partner, Johan du Randt. PTM caught up with Porter to see how his new partnership evolved into becoming t[...]
Read MoreMen’s 45+ Nationals – Winners: Mike Gillespie, Bob Conklin. Finalists: Rob Pierce, Leo Power Men's 50+Nationals - Under sunny skies, Scott Bondurant (Winnetka, IL) successfully defended his 50+ National Championship with a new partner, Bill Fiedler (Chicago, IL). Scott had won the two previous years with APTA President Tim McAvoy. Bondurant's forehand and Fiedler's blitzing were the difference makers in their two-set win over Fritz Odenbach (Rochester, NY) and Rusty Wright (Pelham, NY). The win for the Illinois duo avenged their loss to the New York players in the 2006 45+ title match. In the first set, Bondurant and Fiedler went up a break but Odenbach and Wright fought back and took it to a tie-breaker. The second set was hard fought but Bondurant and Fiedler kept the foot on the pedal and won 7-6, 6-1. Men’s 55+ Nationals – Winners: Mike Sullivan, Scott Pecor. Finalists:[...]
Read More
Family and Sports Go Hand in HandFor a man with many accomplishments, Scott Estes, Sr., is remarkably humble about his feats. He hopes to defend his Men's 65+ Nationals title this year, with partner Doug Barrow, and his Men's 60+ Nationals title with Lloyd Ucko. "First of all, to win a title is great, but defending a title is even more rewarding. Secondly, you know what made last year's 60+ Nationals special? It was Lloyd's first national title" From a man with 15 Senior National titles out of 29 finals, remembering what it was like to be a first-time winner must be a distant memory. For the past four years, the APTA Men's 45+155+165+ Nationals were played in Estes' hometown of Chatham, New Jersey. And for those years, Estes has been the tournament director as well as a competitor. This year, the tournament will be held in Cincinnati. "A year off from running the tournament? I'm looki[...]
Read MoreWomen’s 40+ Nationals - Winners: Bobo Mangan Delaney, Judy Takach. Finalists: Laurie Hissey, Cooey Lyon. Score: 6-2, 7-6 Women’s 50+ Nationals - Winners: Judy Takach, Bobo Mangan Delaney. Finalists: Judy Arden, Susan Lovejoy. Score: N/A Women’s 60+ Nationals – Winners: Louise Cash, Diane Straus Tucker. Finalists: Helen Garrett, Sandy Simmers. Score: 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 Women’s 70+ Nationals – Winners: Birgit Maio, Ginny Sniatkowsky. Finalists: Sharon Hummers, Pat Fallon. Score: 6-4, 6-2 The American Platform Tennis Association's Women's 70+ Championship finally took place on February 16th at Fox Meadow Tennis Club. It was rescheduled twice because of heavy snowstorms on the scheduled tournament dates. Several ladies were not able to participate, including the defending champions, Helen Garratt and Mary Jane Parks. They were very disappointed and believed to be hoping fo[...]
Read MoreFinancials: Aila Main presented an overview of our income statement and balance sheet which showed our financial position as being very strong. Grow the Game: Peter Lauer described criteria the Grow the Game (GTG) Committee uses to score each grant applicant. Currently, there are 70+ grant requests on the list. Peter reviewed the six grant requests which were selected as prime candidates for a grant and/or a loan. The Board voted to support the six projects chosen by the Grow The Game Committee. The planned recipients for these funds are: Stonington, CT, $15K grant; Pine Manor, MA $10K grant; Scituate, MA $10K grant; Kansas City $10K grant plus a $10K loan; Charleston, SC $15K grant: and Northbrook, IL $5K grant plus a $15K loan. The APTA will put a time limit on these grants where the APTA will commit to pay out the grant during the coming season — by March 31 of that seaso[...]
Read More
The Cleveland Masters tournament is a long running classic in platform tennis. Hall-of-Famer
Read MoreThere is nothing like having the wind at your back, whether it be in business, competing in sports or with life in general. As most of you know, I am healthy once again and loving life. I am also more excited than I’ve been in years for the upcoming platform tennis season. Like so many of us, I can’t wait to compete on the court, get a great workout and reconnect with my platform tennis community—I missed you! As for building momentum, platform tennis is growing nationally by leaps and bounds. Court, racquet and ball manufacturers reported across the board double digit growth this past year. Through the APTA grant program, we’ve been able to help grow the game in Boston, Stonington (CT), Chicago, Kansas City and hopefully Charleston, SC! The APTA, working hand-in-hand with the PPTA, has also helped these locations and many more, with exhibitions and clinics throughout[...]
Read More
Courtia Worth Residence: West Hartford, CT. Occupation: Director of Tennis and Platform Tennis at the Hartford Golf Club. APTA Board of Directors History: Worth’s tenure on the board began in May of this year. Family: My sister was Platform Tennis Hall of Famer Winnie Hatch. Everybody knows me as ‘Winnie’s Sister". [enlarge image to read full profile]
Read MoreDon Helm is mad. Not about anything that went wrong with the Brae Burn Men's B Tournament that he runs. Because usually not much goes wrong. Not about his time this year at the Women's Boston Open, when he commanded a hut that remained mostly empty Because that was just the job. Helm is mad about something that happened back in 1981. In 1981, Helm joined the Brae Burn Country Club with his wife, Judy. And he isn't mad about that. The club has been his home away from home, where the couple has built lasting friendships and enjoyed many sports. But he is very mad that after joining the club, he spent six years playing tennis and golf and not playing platform tennis. Helm is mad that he missed out on six years of playing the game that he now absolutely loves. "I am so thankful that I finally listened to our former paddle chairman, Peter Johnson, and started playing this sport," Helm s[...]
Read More
The initial thrust of the PTMHOFF was to create a “bricks and mortar” facility, but as they pursued this goal they realized that the history of the game could also be told by a "virtual museum". Many traditional museums were moving in this direction as they saw opportunities to deliver content in a more visually exciting and interactive way with the added benefit of attracting “visitors” without the need for them to be physically at the museum. The revised approach was developed during 2011 and comprised three phases: Phase I: Create a “virtual” museum and Hall of Fame with the first step being a dramatic upgrade to original web site. The revised site would have three features – an illustrated history of the game, a completely new look and feel for the Hall of Fame with extensive biographies, and a “Search and Explore” section which would house all of the memora[...]
Read MoreWhile most technological advances in platform tennis take place on the racquet side, David Dodge, president of Premier Platform Tennis, said that lighting advances are becoming increasingly more affordable and preferable for platform tennis courts nationwide. “The big thing right now is the new stadium-style lighting,” Dodge said. “Lighting has made a lot of advances. Some places are still using 1,500-watt court lights, and these new lights are typically 400-watt metal alloys. They reflect light differently, and by reflecting differently, they can put a lot more light on the court.” Dodge said the lights can be retrofitted and installed into most existing light standards, and average six lights per court. “The cost is right around $4,000 per court for six. If you install eight, it’s $5,200 per court,” Dodge said. “On the East and West coasts, we’ll do six-light i[...]
Read MoreWilson has taken the paddle tennis world by storm and introduced a new paddle racquet technology to enhance every player’s game. Wilson understands that in the game of platform tennis achieving maximum spin on the ball is critical to the outcome of the match. With the revolutionary Gator Grit technology, Wilson has tripled the amount of grit on the paddle surface on every racquet for extra bite to provide increased spin and feel of the ball. Gator Grit is now available on all of Wilson’s new paddles. With maximum grit must come maximum protection, so with every Gator Grit paddle the player will receive a free cover. The cover will not only protect the paddle but also a player’s additional belongings carried in the bag from the coarse Gator Grit. [enlarge image to read full article]
Read MoreViking Athletics is proud to officially announce the arrival of its 2011-2012 product line – complete with 3 new lite weight paddles, the re-introduction of the most popular paddle ever made and yet another addition to Viking’s technology portfolio – all added to the existing line of proven paddles and the Viking ball. Viking has done it again! Introducing a new paddle technology application called Carbon Mesh. Carbon Mesh material consists of braided graphite strips of material which are bonded together for extra strength and stiffness. This material will be featured at the 12 o’clock position on two new paddles this season adding extra stiffness and strength to the rim area. Viking continues to be clearly focused on raising the bar on platform paddle innovation again this year as Carbon Mesh follows SpinTex and Triple Threat technologies which were both introduced during th[...]
Read MorePlatform tennis in Chicago is nothing new. Dating back nearly 40 years, organized platform tennis owes its existence to Dick Hornigold, who brought it to Chicago after he was transfered there. He met up with platform tennis entrepreneur Dick Squires, and the two put on an exhibition at the Exmoor Country Club that launched the sport officially in the Chicago market. The pair partnered with Jack Watson and Harry Brown to form the Chicago Platform Tennis Charities organization. Today, the organization is run by Alan Graham, who’s been steering the ship for the past 15 years. Under his guidance, the CPTC has grown by leaps and bounds, and that growth is something that has been studied and determined to be sustainable. “Initially, the region had a lack of resources,” Graham said. “When courts were put in, the very first ones were put in private homes. The next phase were in cou[...]
Read MoreThe first time David Lee played platform tennis, he hated it. New to Fairfield County, Connecticut, after business school, David was invited by a friend to play. Having been a competitive junior tennis player, David figured it should be a breeze. But after faulting endlessly, getting flummoxed by screen shots and hitting the back screens with his drives, David decided it wasn't a game for him. It would be almost ten years before David would venture back onto the paddle courts. In 2003, David and his family joined the Milbrook Club in Greenwich, and he was re-introduced to the game by his club's tennis compatriots. This time, David was smart enough to sign up for some lessons, including the annual Viking clinic. With a better understanding of the game and a newfound appreciation for the strategy, David quickly became addicted. Shortly thereafter, David was recruited to captain Milbrook's [...]
Read More
Mike Stulac Age: 40 Residence: Manhattan, New York Family: Kerri Delmonico Profession: Global Loans Product Controller at JP Morgan Chase Achievements in tennis/platform tennis: Winner of the Canadian Nationals more than 10 times; Winner US Nationals twice; Winner of the 18-and-under Junior Nationals; Winner Mixed Nationals; Winner of Husband and Wife Nationals two times; Winner in Chicago, numerous regional tournaments Hobbies off the courts: Golf [enlarge image to read the full profile]
Read MoreThe following clubs were fortunate to receive grant money from the APTA to help fund new or refurbished courts in the 2012-2013 paddle season. Here are some details of their programs. From the rocky coast of Maine to the peachy state of Georgia, our game is growing! Windward Lake Club, Alpharetta, GA Two refurbished courts were installed. The grand opening event in December had a turnout of almost 100 players. They held a beginner instructional class in the morning and an intermediate/advanced class in the afternoon. In between classes, there was a women's exhibition with Sue Aery, Agata Cioroch, Lisa Teer and Sharon LeRoux and a men's exhibition by Jay Bailey, Peter Lauer, Scott Kaufman and Graham McNerney. Peachtree Paddle League will now include Windward in their functions and organized league play. In addition, the club will offer recreational play on Monday, Wednesday and Friday[...]
Read MoreIn keeping with the stated mission of the APTA to help grow the great sport of Platform Tennis, the Board of Directors of the APTA has recently approved seven different financial grants / loans to help organizers begin or accelerate their efforts to promote local paddle. Projects approved at the APTA Annual Meeting in May spanned from Kansas to Massachusetts to South Carolina. They will all further a quest of the APTA Growth Committee, to open up paddle beyond the traditional private country club strongholds. Peter Lauer, Chair of the Growth Committee, remarked of the overall effort and the various projects approved: “We are delighted by the growing interest in the grant program and in particular the enthusiasm, energy and professionalism of the local champions who seek the APTA’s help in their efforts. They are the key to success and, in many ways, we are making a bet on the peo[...]
Read MoreIn April of 2011, the Fox Meadow Tennis Club celebrated it’s 80th anniversary as the first platform tennis club. The history of the club, located in Scarsdale, New York, has been well documented over the years. Platform Tennis Magazine reviewed the history of the sport and provided insight into how the game saved Fox Meadow from possible bankruptcy during difficult financial times. Origination of “Paddle Tennis” Platform Tennis, or Paddle Tennis as it was originally named, was started in 1898, in Albion, Michigan. At nearby Albion College, a young boy, younger brother to a student, had been enviously watching the on-going tennis matches. The 14-year-old boy’s own backyard was too small for a tennis court and, besides, tennis courts were expensive to put up and to keep up. But the concept of playing a ball back-and-forth across a net would not be refused. If the court were[...]
Read MoreThe 7th Annual "Super Bowl of Platform Tennis" was held October 14-16 in Columbus, Ohio, at the Scioto Country Club. Columbus hosted some of very best men’s teams in the country, who showcased their incredible talents for all to enjoy. Teams from cities and states such as Chicago, New Jersey, Cincinnati, and Richmond, competed for the only paddle purse as well as bragging rights. Columbus’ own Denny English’s and Brian Heil’s fans helped fill the home team’s warming hut. At the same club where Jack Nicklaus learned how to play golf, beginners were encouraged to pick up the game of platform tennis. Kicking off the weekend’s festivities was a free clinic conducted by the APTA. All ages and levels were invited to learn the game and its intricacies and were taught by an enthusiastic group of pros. This is a relatively new feature of tournaments nationwide and is one way that t[...]
Read MorePaddle is her balance. Just back from a weekend on Long Beach Island, and having spent two weeks skiing in Sun Valley, Idaho, it was pure luck to find Helen Garrett with some time to talk. No moss grows on Garrett, the perennial senior tournament winner, with 16 APTA Senior Championships and eight "silvers," as she puts it. She plays both women's and mixed tournaments, enjoying the differences of each game. And she very much enjoyed the team concept of the President's Cup. Garrett played in the very first one in 1986, and was on the Region III team for several years. Garrett and long-time partner Sandy Simmers won the Women's 70+ Nationals in Scarsdale, New York, this past December. Both players are from the Washington, DC area, and Garrett really enjoys the time they spend together, whether in the car traveling to tournaments or on the court. "Neither of us has a big forehand or big [...]
Read More
Rich Green Age: 47 Residence: Chapel Hill, North Carolina Profession: Hedge Fund Reporting and Analytics Achievements in Tennis/Platform Tennis: The most memorable tennis achievements were more than 20 years apart. Winning both team and individual 1984 New England Championships and being awarded the tournament’s Individual Sportsmanship honor while playing for the University of Vermont tops the list. Twenty something years later winning the 2007 North Carolina State 40s was quite unexpected after a frustrating year of hitting forehands into the ground and fence from changing continental to semi-western grip and swing. Bringing paddle to Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 2007 is certainly my greatest paddle achievement. Playing achievements came mainly winning several tournaments in 2003/2004, each with a different partner: Short Hills B, West Hartford B, Long Island B, and the [...]
Read MoreYou two recently paired up as a team. How did you find each other and was it an instant gelling? Warner: “Mark was my junior tennis coach during my high school years. A few years after attending SIUE, Mark and I began corresponding again and soon began to practice on the paddle court. It wasn’t until this year that we seriously discussed pairing up. We are good friends off the court, and we were curious to see how our strengths would complement each other on the court.” What about each of your styles of play do you think make your team strong? Warner: “Through the use of spin on both serves and overheads, we try to keep our opponents neutralized from attacking from the backcourt; as a righty/lefty combo, we find sometimes we can create more pressure on the net team with our forehand drives and blitzes from the middle of the court.” Where do you see yourselves having[...]
Read MoreClose to 100 players took part in seven hours of clinics over the course of two days hosted at the Kingsway Platform Tennis Club in Toronto, Canada. Juan Arraya was joined by Mark Fischl, Brian O’Connor and Newfoundlander Mark Parsons, along with Toronto’s own Paul Stulac on the Kingsway courts and led a series of clinics and exhibition matches on a challenging weather weekend. Adults and juniors who had never picked up a paddle took part along with seasoned level 1 players.Beginners, intermediates and advanced players had only one negative comment about the clinics – WE WANT MORE! [enlarge image to read more]
Read More
Some days you win, some days you lose, and some days... it’s hot – at least by paddle standards. Nevertheless, over 60 players braved the 88-degree temperatures on Saturday, October 8 to participate in an APTA-sponsored clinic and exhibition on the brand new Homestead Country Club courts. Homestead Country Club is located in Prairie Village, Kansas (about 10 blocks from Kansas City), and has about 300 members, many of them active tennis players on Homestead’s 16 hard courts. This summer, with great help and support from the APTA and its grant program, Homestead recently built two new platform tennis courts and began offering an economical seasonal platform tennis membership. To launch the inaugural season, several pros came in for a Wilson-sponsored APTA/PPTA clinic and exhibition. The Kansas City paddle community was excited to welcome Nathan LeFevre, Mark Fischl, Sebastian [...]
Read More
The Chicago Charities tournament has become second only to the Nationals for paddle treasure. Good work and good play go hand in hand every year at the Chicago Charities tournament, where the proceeds benefit a charity chosen by the CC committee. Glen View Club of Golf, Illinois, hosted the highly-touted tournament, known for its quality of play. Teams came from all over—including California, Canada, and Connecticut—to vie for the Charities cup and to support a great cause, The House of Peace Shelter. And no good deed goes undone—everyone received favors of warm picnic blankets and paddle DVDs for their participation. Hall of Famers and former national champions dotted the draw sheet for both the men's and women's events. The women played on Friday and Saturday morning of a golden weekend. The worst element the women had to deal with was bright sunshine. With a field embar[...]
Read More
Amy Halstead
Read More
Camaraderie and Victories on the Courts Despite Wicked Weather by Mark Berton For this year's APTA Junior Nationals, getting there was half the battle. If you were coming from the West, driving and flying into Philadelphia was a relatively benign process. But the draw sheet demonstrated just how hard the traveling was for anyone coming in from the North and the East, as numerous last-minute cancellations whittled away players. At the hosting club, Waynesborough Country Club, workers were out early clearing three inches of snow from the walks, and while temperatures hovered in the low 30s, the wind chill was in the low teens. On the courts, though, you wouldn't know it, as kids who were shivering and putting on layers hut-side, quickly discarded layers as their games warmed up. Boys and Girls 10s Boys and Girls 12s Ben Delaney took his second gold at the Junior Nationals,[...]
Read More
We are proud to announce that Nindy Pike of Haverhill, Massachusetts, will be joining our team as associate editor/writer. This new part-time position has been created because of the steady growth of platform tennis and the increased need for APTA member communication. Pike was chosen from more than 50 qualified applicants from across the country.
Read MoreIn the summer of 2010 Wilmington Country Club built a new platform tennis facility. With four courts and a fantastic hut, the complex sets a high standard for any club that intends to build the “best” new facility. As WCC starts its second paddle season with the new facility, the number of paddle players has soared. This brief history may provide other clubs with a road map for going from “just okay” to great. WCC was founded in 1901. It has always been a premier golf club in Delaware. The South Course (one of two 18-hole courses) was designed by Robert Trent Jones. It is consistently rated one of the top courses in the country. The tennis facility boats 17 tennis courts including the only grass courts in Delaware as well as three indoor courts. Year after year the squash program produces nationally ranked juniors and college players. The sport of platform tennis experience[...]
Read MoreIn December, 2011, Hall of Famer Hank Irvine gave a two-day PPTA certification course at The Villages in Florida, a large 55-and-over retirement community. Their six ground-level asphalt courts were opened in March 2010. Since then, free lessons or clinics were held on Wednesdays and Fridays year-round by resident volunteer instructors who had played paddle before moving to Florida. The certified developmental coaches are now new members of the PPTA. They are now in the process of reviewing their teaching format based on what was learned from Hank Irvine's course, his suggestions and the PPTA manual. This community is in its last expansion, growing from some 86,000 residents to reach about 110,000 by 2017. As more residents desire to learn to play paddle, the plan is for the new certified coaches to teach other residents to become volunteer coaches. Hank's story is fascinating. He[...]
Read More
Tim was the 34th President of the American Platform Tennis Association (APTA) and served in that capacity from May 2009 through April 2012. From an organizational perspective, Tim formally created a Committee structure for the Board to operate within, where a Committee Chair led every key APTA initiative and that Chairperson (and team of Board members/volunteers) was the champion of that initiative. This structure allowed every Board member to be an active member of the Board, lead an area of the sport in which they were interested and stay focused and organized on all projects in our sport. Committees ranged from ‘Grow the Game’, Rules, Platform Tennis Magazine, Branding, Seniors and more. Tim focused his Presidency on 'Growing the Game' and the three primary Committee's committed to this cause were: Grow the Game Committee: Chaired by Peter Lauer, the Board provided o[...]
Read More
Meet the APTA Junior Nationals finalist who plays with great integrity...... One serve. The wires. Playing lets. These are among the most commonly cited features that distinguish platform tennis from similar games. However, as anyone who has played our sport for even just a couple of seasons knows, there is another element that makes platform tennis special—something that is rarely found in many sports today, but is, oh, so essential. It's what I like to call the "Spirit of the Game." Some say it's simply good sportsmanship. Yes, that's part of it. Others say it's nothing more than etiquette and good manners. Agreed, but there's still more to it than that. While platform tennis is a keenly competitive sport, by tradition, good sportsmanship, integrity, and respect for your partner and opponents are key elements of the sport. At the 2013 Junior Nationals, New Jersey fifth-grade[...]
Read MoreZink and Prendergast Win Their Third Women's Open Team Title Last year, Lauren Zink and Cindy Prendergast plowed through the APTA National Championships, in Chicago, without dropping a set. Concluding her victory speech in 2011, Prendergast said, "Lauren and I look forward to next year and trying to repeat." And repeat they did. On March 15th, 80 women's teams, from coast to coast, came out to compete in the 2012 APTA National Championships on Long Island. For the seventh time in the past eight seasons, Zink and Prendergast found themselves battling in the finals for the National Championship. All of the 16 women's seeded teams reached the round-of-16. Seven of those top eight reached the quarterfinals; newcomers Ana Brzova and Viktoria Stoklasova took out the veteran eighth-seeds Bobo Delaney and Tonia Mangan. The ladies were playing with emotion as Bobo's mother (an[...]
Read More
Shorts and T-shirts were what they were wearing on the courts for the 2012 Junior Nationals. That's because unseasonable warm weather shot the mercury into the mid-50s by midday, but that warmth was short lived, giving way to the cold breezes whipping in from the waves of Franklin Lake. And by nightfall, the gas lamp's ignitions were crackling the flames into life for the spectators who preferred to watch outside of the Indian Trail Club. What they were watching was the culmination of a long, hard-fought day of paddle through several age brackets. The younger ones finished up earlier in the day, leaving the Boys 18s finals to continue long into the evening. The participants were Tyler Kratky and CJ Purse of Greenwich, CT, against William Brosnan of Garden City, NJ, and Scott Safford of Malvern, PA. The match was about endurance, and height, as Brosnan/Safford towered over Kr[...]
Read MoreSteve was introduced to platform tennis in 2003 by four friends in New Canaan, Connecticut and learned to play on the town's public courts in Waveny Park. Once beyond the frustration of getting only one serve, he learned to embrace the many unique characteristics of the game, most of all the wonderful camaraderie. That first winter, he became truly obsessed with the game and collected email addresses and telephone numbers of anyone with whom he could arrange a friendly game. This core group eventually grew into what is now the New Canaan Men Paddle League, Inc., a league he formed with a couple of friends in 2004 and today numbers over 250 current players. Steve was fortunate to have benefited from early tutelage and inspiration from Dave and Marina Ohlmuller, David Kjeldsen, Marjorie Hodson, and especially Mike Gillespie, from whom he learned the joy of teaching this wonderful game. [...]
Read More
Katie Bliss Age: 56 Family: Husband of 29 years, Mark, 2 children - Son, Taylor (age 24) and Daughter, Genie (22) both post-college. Residence: Maplewood, NJ Profession: I'm the owner and proprietor of Bliss-Full Gardening Services, a design, installation and maintenance firm with clients throughout Essex County, NJ. Timing is perfect for paddle players! Winters off! Achievements in Tennis/Platform Tennis: I'm the former president of the New Jersey Women's State Platform Tennis League, a league of over 800 women. It's a 14-week season that plays from mid-October to mid-February. I spent 11 years on the NJWPTL board, holding various positions. I've also been the Tournament Chair of the Short Hills Club Platform Tennis Invitational and served on the Tournament Committee for over 10 years. I am nationally ranked #4 Husband/Wife 50+ for 2011. Hobbies off the courts: Gardening, sewing[...]
Read MoreViking has recently announced plans to introduce a new ball which will extend the normal platform tennis playing season worldwide into a year-round sport. The new Viking Low Bounce platform tennis balls are set to arrive in March 2012, just as the platform season usually comes to an end. Platform tennis is a sport played primarily in the northeastern and midwestern United States. Due to the solid rubber core construction of a normal platform ball, which produces a lively bounce during the cold winter months, this same ball becomes too fast and hard to control when the weather gets warm or in high-altitude conditions. Viking has just announced the introduction of a new formula that combines the current construction of the Extra Duty ball with the feel and performance athletes expect from a normal platform tennis ball. Viking has been the Official Ball of all American Platform Tennis[...]
Read More
As a team, how did you find each other and was it an instant match? Keri: Sue and I are both from Long Island and we played against, and with, each other often for practice before we decided to team up. I think we were a good match from the start because of our different playing styles. I tend to be more aggressive, and Sue has the ability to keep us in the points, set me up and also bring some offense when the opportunity presents itself. Sue: Keri and I met through playing in the local women's platform league. She plays for Nassau Country Club, and I play out of the Garden City Community Park. We have mutual paddle playing friends and we played socially on many occasions. When her partner became injured, she called me to fill in as her partner in a tournament. We had moderate success and began to play a few more events together. Her partner never recovered and we decided to conti[...]
Read MoreOn Friday, March 16, 2012, the Huntington Country Club in Long Island, New York, was the place to be as APTA President ,Tim McAvoy received the APTA's highest honor for his outstanding efforts on and off the court. Introductions began with Nationals Co-chairman, Duane Hayden (along with Tim Mangan) welcoming the crowd and introducing APTA Hall of Fame Member and keynote speaker Steve Baird. In attendance were hundreds of players, friends and family members traveling to Long Island to show their respect and appreciation for Tim. The transcript of the induction speech delivered by Steve Baird introducing the 78th recipient is shown in its entirety below. Where do you start when talking about Tim McAvoy's contributions to the game? Well you start with his mom, Lucie Bel McAvoy, who was a pioneer of the game in the greater Philadelphia area and a Hall of Fame member (inducted here 20 [...]
Read MoreIt began with lunch. Two friends at Hajime-Sushi in Harrison, New York, were talking about one of their favorite sports. Nothing unusual in that, right? But then one of them floated the idea of starting a website for like-minded enthusiasts. The other looked up from his Tolcu-Jo and said, "Let's do it." PaddlePlayer.com was born. That was nearly a year ago. Since then, PaddlePlayer.com has become a great website to visit for all things platform tennis. It features articles written by the sport's most knowledgeable players and followers, video tips from pros, and full coverage of all major paddle tournaments and events— all with the goal of promoting the sport and helping players at all levels improve their game. Some of the most recognizable names in the sport—Mark Parsons, Alex Bancila, Drew Broderick and Johan du Randt— share their knowledge, tips, and opinions through inst[...]
Read MoreCongratulations to the 2012 Men and Women of Chicago and the Midwest. The victories marked a repeat of the 2011 President's Cup, in Chicago, where the Region V men and women swept the competition. The victory this year in Long Island represented the Region V men's third straight title — as they were also victorious in the 2010 Philadelphia President's Cup. The President's Cup was established in 1978. In the first few years, the event was held separately from the APTA Men's and Women's Nationals. Since 1982, the competition has been held at the site of the Nationals the day before the start of the tournaments. To qualify for the President's Cup, players earn points for every win they receive in APTA sanctioned tournaments throughout the season. The top point-earners are awarded the privilege to play for their region. Only the top 8-ranked doubles teams are banned from competing. [...]
Read MoreDardis and Shay edged Liz Jaffe and Lisa Rudloff for the #1 Women's slot and Broderick and Gambino claimed the #1 Men's position.
Read More
Live Streaming Video Captivates Audience There is the Tennis Channel. And then there is the Platform Tennis Channel. For anyone that didn't have the pleasure of playing or watching the Nationals from Long Island this year, the next best thing was watching it on the home computer. Ken Packert, a physics teacher and a member of Huntington Country Club, joined the 2012 APTA Nationals Committee to handle all video projects. Fortunately for the Committee and the paddle community at large, he was uniquely qualified to handle the first live streaming ever shown on the APTA website. To make sure Nationals would run smoothly, the group planned a test run at the Long Island Invitational in December of 2011. By Nationals, he knew what equipment he needed (simple webcams) and which wires to string up. He also got the best seat in the house. A tiny balcony above the deck at the paddle hut[...]
Read MoreWeston Golf Club, in Weston, Massachusetts, was the host of the 2012 APTA Board Meeting and Annual Meeting. Despite two warm spring days beckoning, the board was able to tackle its full agenda. As the governing body of platform tennis, the APTA continues to look for ways to improve communication within the sport throughout the country, build the game by making it accessible to all corners, and streamline rules and tournament and Nationals coordination. Hellos and Goodbyes: One important order of business was voting in new board members and saying farewell to those who have served their three-year terms. The APTA Board approved three new members—President of the APTA, Rob Coster, of Region II, Steve Caccam, also from Region II, and Sara Lanthier, of Region IV (the Canadian connection). Tim McAvoy chaired the Friday meeting as outgoing President of the APTA. He will be missed. The Bo[...]
Read More
Ready or not, here comes the 2012/2013 platform tennis season! I'm very pleased to share with you that, due to the tireless efforts of passionate volunteers around North America, the game we love is thriving more than ever. Platform tennis might be relatively small when compared to the more mainstream games we play, but recent revelations portray our game in a different light. While working through bankruptcy reorganization this summer, court documents listed the Viking Platform Tennis division of Prince Sports as the crown jewel, representing close to 20% of Prince's business. At the APTA annual meeting in Boston this past spring, a representative of Wilson Sports stated that platform tennis represented "the single fastest growing segment of their entire company" Many of the platform tennis court manufacturers are using one word to describe their business recently: "crazy!" Maybe our[...]
Read MoreThe PTMHOFF established revised goals in 2011 after an arrangement for housing a physical museum fell through. A significant part of 2012 was spent in pursuing Phase 1 of the new plan: Phase I: Create a “virtual” museum and Hall of Fame with the first step being a dramatic upgrade to original web site. The revised site would have three features – an illustrated history of the game, a completely new look and feel for the Hall of Fame with extensive biographies, and a “Search and Explore” section which would house all of the memorabilia collected in digital formats and allow visitors to browse the artifacts by various search keys (by name, for instance). This phase which is the foundation and heart of the revised mission, was now about 75% complete with the collection and digitization of artifacts, the development of the illustrated time-line history and the revised and e[...]
Read MoreServes Her Right! Anne Flemming Wins the 2012 APTA Service Award The APTA created the APTA Service Award in 2009 to recognize people who have made invaluable contributions to platform tennis. This year, out of ten deserving nominees, Anne Flemming from California was chosen by the board for her truly remarkable service. Tim McAvoy says, "For 33 years, our Service Award winner was the driving force, the official and unofficial ambassador and champion of platform tennis in California and Region VI." Tom Mayes says, "Her infectious and enthusiastic nature got me and many, many others involved in our fun sport. Without her, the face of platform tennis in our local community may not even exist." Christi Hayes says, "It takes a force of nature to promote paddle and grow it where the climate and attitude is so biased toward other sports. It takes unbridled enthusiasm and single mind[...]
Read More
Brad Easterbrook started his two-year reign as President of the PPTA (Professional Platform Tennis Association) this September. Easterbrook welcomes the challenge of his new position and the gratification of working with more than 300 top-notch professionals. A player and pro for over 25 years, Easterbrook currently is the Director of Platform Tennis at the New Canaan Field Club in Connecticut. He has worked as a director of racquets at various clubs in the tri-state area, many of which had platform tennis courts. In 1994, he started playing platform tennis. He credits Steve O'Connell with introducing him to the game and, as with most tennis pros, he picked it up quickly. By 1998, he was playing and teaching as much paddle as tennis. He was drawn to the camaraderie and atmosphere surrounding the game. "The game is tremendous fun. Win or lose, it's always a great time Easterbrook wa[...]
Read More
Jane McNitt Residence: Winnetka, IL Family: Husband, Peter; children: Peter Jr. (19), Johnny (17), Megan (15) Profession: Part-time platform tennis professional Hobbies off the courts: Swimming, biking, rollerblading and skiing Awards/Accolades within the sport: Winner of Chicago Charities (‘05, '10, '12) Illinois State, Midwesterns, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kalamazoo, and Illinois State Mixed tournaments Wendy Shpiz Residence: Winnetka, IL Family: Husband, Dave; children: Jack (4), Charlie (3), Mollie (1) Profession: Marketing Director - Nike Tennis Camps Hobbies off the courts: Spend as much time with my family as possible, skiing and running Awards/Accolades: 1992 Illinois State Tennis Champion. All-American at Duke University. On the pro tennis tour for three years and made Top 250 in the world. How long have you two been playing as a team and how did your team [...]
Read MoreWith Hurricane Sandy leaving one of platform tennis' strongholds reeling, the devastation along the East Coast was more than evident this year at the Women's 2012 Chicago Charities tournament. Many of the nationally-ranked teams that usually come out of the New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia region were eerily absent this year, virtually allowing Chicago women full reign of the tournament. This year's Charities benefitted Family Matters, a group located in Chicago's North of Howard neighborhood that offers children and families individualized personal development experiences that provide opportunities to find their place in the world and to be a force for positive change. The 48-team women's event kicked off on Friday, November 2 at 8 a.m., with overcast skies and mid-50s temperatures that were sustained throughout the weekend. http://www.flickr.com/photos/31584475@N05/81538479[...]
Read MoreJim Dey lets it fly Jim Dey should be called Jim Diehard. The man has been playing paddle since he was 10 years old, for 60 years. He grew up in Short Hills, New Jersey, with platform tennis courts right around the corner. His only time away from the game was during a work stint in the state of Washington, where courts were non-existent. He moved back to the East Coast in his early 20s, and immediately got back into the game. In all those decades, he has basically had two steady partners: Bob Smith in the early years, and John Spears, who he has played with off and on for over 30 years. "Paddle has gotten me through a lot of winters," Dey laughed. "I don't need to get away?' If you have ever had the pleasure of staying at the Shelter Harbor Inn, you would understand that concept even more so. Dey bought the cozy retreat 36 years ago. Replete with outstanding food, a rooftop hot tub[...]
Read More
Cincinnati's hut commander extraordinaire enjoys all the action Cincinnati's hut commander extraordinaire enjoys all the action Jerry Wahl of Cincinnati has found the recipe for a good life. She stays active, playing many sports, including 30 years of platform tennis. She loves the career she established as an event coordinator. She now meshes work and play by volunteering at sporting events, where she often is asked to take on a leadership position. As someone once said, "To work at the things you love, or for those you love, is to turn work into play, and duty into privilege:' So, while Wahl works at a sports event, she really is also playing, and she feels privileged to be able to do so. "Because this is my profession, it is not a burden to do this stuff," Wahl explains. Wahl has been working at the Midwesterns, a three-day tournament with over 150 teams, for so many years, she [...]
Read More
New Jersey Hosts the Best and Brightest in the Game On the shores of Franklin Lake, New Jersey, players from all over the nation converged on the Indian Trail Club (and 17 other area clubs) in early March for the APTA Men's and Women's National Championships. They were met with cheerful faces and crisp lake breezes. APTA Men's and Women's Day One: President's Cup Despite the best laid plans of organizers and Tournament Director Michael Gillespie, a driving wintery mix of snow, sleet and rain welcomed the participants to the Men's and Women's President's Cup on Thursday morning, March 7th. Coming off a two-year winning streak, the Region V (Chicago/Midwest) ladies had high expectations going into the President's Cup. 2013, however, was not to be their year in the six-region match-up. In round-robin play, Region I dominated Pool A and Region III in Pool B. In a four-te[...]
Read MoreAmong an audience of long-time friends, family members, and the best platform tennis players in the world, David Ohlmuller was lauded for his talent and his resilience. The night was filled with laughs and some deep emotions, as Ohlmuller's story captivated the crowd. Tim McAvoy, last year's inductee and a member of the Hall of Fame Committee, introduced Ohlmuller. The transcript of McAvoy's induction speech is printed below in its entirety. Tonight we honor a man who dominated the sport of platform tennis and then came back from a near death accident to reach the pinnacle of our sport for a second time. Born in 1969, our inductee was introduced to the game by his mother, Ginna, who in addition to playing platform tennis was the Executive Director for the American Platform Tennis Association. In fact, in his early teenage days our inductee was bribed by his mother to play—h[...]
Read More
Camille Thoman didn't go to Dorset, Vermont expecting to make a movie about platform tennis, but when she and her mother stepped into the paddle hut at the Dorset Field Club, she found a group of senior players that she found irresistible. "We walked in, and there were these old men there making fun of each other, bantering and sharing laughs around the sport," Thoman said. "My mother said, 'You should make your next film about these guys,' and to be honest, I was charmed to my tippy toes by them." Thoman, an acclaimed director, who has worked with talent such as Tony nominee Mireille Enos, Oscar nominee Melissa Leo and Oscar winner Timothy Hutton, as well as produced her own one-woman theater pieces, flew with producer Elizabeth Yng-Wong to Vermont thinking they would be filming a short. They quickly found that they had something bigger on their hands. "These are special people[...]
Read More
Hellos and Goodbyes The board welcomed four new members and said farewell to three whose terms expired. The APTA membership elected in David Lee, Region II, Shannon Vinson, Region V, Nathan LeFevre, Region VI, and Freddy Goldenberg, Region VII. Juan Martinez-Arraya, Tina Kelly, and Peter Lauer will be missed. Arraya brought great energy and dedication to the Clinics and Exhibitions Committee. Kelly's savvy marketing, writing and editing skills were invaluable for all APTA communications. And Lauer, head farmer for six years of the Grow the Game initiative, boosted a good program into a great program. Financials Alia Main reported that the APTA is in excellent financial health at this time. Revenues continued to increase.[Note: The 2013 990 Form Filing shows that the net assets of the APTA were in excess of $500k, an all-time high] Sponsorship/Branding Viking has deepened its commit[...]
Read More
Sara Lanthier Residence: Toronto, Ontario Occupation: Contributing writer at UrbanMoms.ca and social media specialist at Corns Entertainment Years of Service on the APTA Board: Two Family: Son Will (5), APTA National Champ 2033 Years Playing: I started when I was 10. So *cough, cough* 18? Okay, 34 years! How did you get started playing platform tennis? Our family moved to London, Ontario, where they had one in-ground court. We started playing and taking train trips to Toronto to play the "big city" kids in tournaments. A few years later we moved to Toronto and chose to live where we did because of the ties we had already made with the platform tennis players there. Contribution to the APTA Board/Contribution to the platform tennis community. My unofficial goal with the APTA is to get the name changed to NAPTA (North American Platform Tennis Association). Canada need[...]
Read MoreThe APTA's "Grow the Game" program, now in its seventh year, has offered assistance to thirty facilities so far. This year over forty inquiries were sent in, and eight formal proposals were received. Each proposal is measured on seven criteria and then scaled. The proposals are carefully considered by the Growth Committee and then are approved by the APTA Board. For the 2013-2014 season, the APTA has allocated over $150,000 in grants and loans to eleven facilities…..[Click on image to read more] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 15, Issue 1 Sept./Oct. 2013
Read More
APTA Approved Rules of Wheelchair Platform Tennis (TRIAL PERIOD) 1. RULES OF PLAY The game of wheelchair platform tennis follows the Official Rules of Platform Tennis with the following exceptions: a) The Two Bounce Rule The wheelchair platform tennis player is allowed two bounces of the ball. The player must return the ball before it bounces a third time. The second bounce can be either in or out of the court boundaries and can be after the ball hits the screen. b) The Wheelchair The wheelchair is considered part of the body and all applicable rules, which apply to a player's body, shall apply to the wheelchair. c) The Service The service shall be delivered in the following manner: i. Immediately before commencing the service, the server shall be in a stationary position. The server shall then be allowed one push before striking the ball. ii. The server shall throughout[...]
Read More
How do you get platform tennis going in an area where there is so little opportunity? You make the most of every opportunity! The Albany, New York, area is not quite known as a platform tennis hot spot. But since Joan O'Connor entered the game there, things have at least gotten warmer. If you play in Region I or Region II, you probably have met Joan O'Connor by now. She has been "bitten by the bug" and has a blast traveling from tournament to tournament with a band of like-minded women—to name a few, Kathy Kulig, Tracy Welling, Sharon Edwards and Leslie Haskins. The group is somewhat geographically challenged. They hail from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and the Albany area, so obviously league partnerships are out of the question. But they meet up at events as often as possible and have attended some of the renowned platform tennis camps in Nantucket and Telluride togeth[...]
Read More
Technology has been wonderful to our under-known sport. With the advent of the computer, communication has become more cohesive and streamlined. Archived photos reappear for the world to see. And the history of the game, previously existing in just a few books and deep memories, has been given a new place to live. The virtual Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame has breathed new life into the dusty chronicles and is now welcoming visitors. The backstory of The Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation sits on a few shoulders. Bob Brown and Chuck Vasoll were important cheerleaders for a Hall of Fame museum. In 2002, under the guidance of then APTA President John Horine, The Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation finally became a registered 501 (c ) (3) non-profit that has the mission of capturing the history and the great camaraderie of the game and celebrat[...]
Read More
Tim Mangan Residence: Bayville, New York Occupation: Director of Racquet Sports at Nassau Country Club, Glen Cove, NY. I've been teaching platform tennis, tennis, and squash for 34 years. Years of Service on the APTA Board: Six years as of 2014; previous term 1999-2004 Family: Wife Tonia Mangan holds a few national titles; children Brooke (20), Jack (16), and Caroline (13) all have played at the junior level. My sister, Bobo Delaney, holds many national titles and my niece, Corey Delaney won Junior Nationals a few times. My mother, Nancy, and my uncle, John, were both inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. [A bit of a dynasty.] Years Playing: 46 How did you get started playing? I was introduced to the game by family friends in Short Hills, New Jersey. And I was taught by the best, Hank Irvine. Contribution to the APTA Board/Contribution to theplatform tennis[...]
Read More
Standing out in a sea of Chicago Volunteers Volunteering in Chicago is rather easy these days. With the largest platform tennis league in the United State with a great number of tournaments, people are needed! Robyn Cohn loves how many people are willing and able to help. But what makes Cohn such a fabulous Chicago-area volunteer? Because she leads well, she finds the time to be thoroughly involved, and she makes good decisions….[click image to read more] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 15, Issue 1 Sept./Oct. 2013
Read More
There are certain names in the platform tennis world that everyone recognizes. Bob Brown is one. His staying power is impressive—the oldest player to win a National title—but it is his ability to foster growth and change in the sport that is just as impressive. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993 but has been accruing so many titles since then he may need to be inducted again. But just as impressive as his 21 gold and 18 silver National Championship medals is his service and commitment to the game. Brown has always been affiliated with the sport and the APTA in one way or another since he started playing over 40 years ago. His time as the Chair of the APTA Hall of Fame Committee and the Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame is worth noting. All told, Brown has been at the helm of the committee for 20 years total. He spent ten years as the Chair of the Honor Award Commi[...]
Read More
"How cool was that!" Two club players in the Boston area, at different times in one weekend, both used that same expression when they tuned into Live Streaming of the Chicago Charities tournament. Live Streaming For some fans, watching video and listening to the commentary offered access to the best players in the nation playing the best paddle. For some viewers, it was the first time they had ever seen the game. For anyone who tuned in, watching the late rounds of one of the top tournaments of the season provided great entertainment and some education. While this isn't the first time the APTA has used Live Streaming, the quantity and quality of the production was much better and more comprehensive than ever before. Viking's Cort fish connected Charities Chairman John Noble with ENetTV, a St. Louis-based company that has expertise in producing other similar-sized sporting even[...]
Read More
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was the biggest winner of all. The tournament brought in over $3,000 for the cause. The stars of the platform tennis world descended into Chicago for the annual Chicago Charities tournament the first weekend of November. This tournament usually boasts one of the strongest men's and women's fields of any tournament after the Nationals. Last year, Hurricane Sandy laid waste to that claim, but this year the draw was back to its former stellar status. Many new combos were there to compete and the resurrection of some old partnerships created some pop. The women began their play on Friday, and finished up just as the men's round of 16 was shaking out. For the women, it was the story of the inexorable march to victory by National Champions Ana Brzova and Viki Stoklasova. This was their third title in three tournaments this fall and they did not lose a set i[...]
Read More
There is an adage, "The time to make hay is when the sun is shining." Right now, the sun is shining on junior platform tennis, so get out your tractor and baler because the APTA is making some hay. For starters, in September, the APTA appointed Kathy Cramer of Darien, Connecticut, to the newly created position of APTA Junior Tour Coordinator. Kathy will work closely with the tournament directors, tour sponsor Viking Athletics, and the APTA Board to ensure that the numerous events, Junior Nationals, and the year-end ranking process all run as smoothly as possible. The growth in platform tennis among juniors in recent years, along with the renewed marketing partnership with Viking, makes this an excellent time to bring on an individual with Cramer's talents, experience, and passion for our game. A self-described "club player," who was introduced to the game by her father in the 1970s[...]
Read More
John Y. Noble Residence: Lake Forest, Illinois. John Noble was born in Berkeley, California, grew up in Lake Forest, and graduated from Lake Forest High School and Ball State University. Occupation: Noble works, as an Owner and Vice President of Sales, with his brother in a unique healthcare company—PathFinder Health LLC—that focuses on connecting people with doctors, so that more people can engage and follow through to improve their health. Family: He has three beautiful daughters, Susanna, Sarah and Catherine, and a wonderful wife, Susan, who has been and continues to be of great support. Tennis and service have been major influences in his life; his grandfather presided over the Westerns for many years and his father served as president of the Chicago District Tennis Association. Getting into the game: Being friends with a good number of the Chicago-area tennis pros, who t[...]
Read More
Many years ago, a young Delaware lawyer, Barry Snyder, made a discovery far more momentous than any legal writ: Paddle is a lot more fun than most racquet sports. "I was in my 20's when I played my first platform tennis tournament," Snyder explained. "I was used to tennis events where, because I wasn't very good, I would quickly lose my first match and head home. There were no parties, and there was no socializing." But in paddle, he found a sport with tournaments that guaranteed at least three matches, and at which adult beverages were expected to be quaffed after matches, sometimes between matches, and on occasion, during matches. He was hooked. Paddle became a sport that eventually sparked his favorite mantra: "Play paddle! Have fun!" It now adorns a license plate on his car. Every paddle area has its Mr. or Mrs. Paddle - many of whom have been celebrated on this page. He or she[...]
Read More
It's mid-March and the last platform ball has hit the aluminum. The platform leagues across the country are crowning their league champions. But for many of us, we experience a sense of withdrawal that kicks in right after the season is done. The desire to compete more and socialize with friends continues to fuel us. To add to that feeling is the plain fact that the weather in mid-April thru the beginning of June has not warmed up—it's still platform weather. Along with the want for more platform, there is also a sense of wondering among the league champions. A wondering if my teammates and I are the best team in the country at our level….[read more - click on image] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 15, Issue 4 Feb/March 2014
Read More
David Lee Residence: Darien, Connecticut Occupation: Investment Management Years of Service on the APTA Board: 1 Family: Wife, Jenny; Daughters, Isabel, 18, and Julianna, 16 Years Playing: 10 How did you get started playing platform tennis? The first time I played platform tennis was in 1994 at the invite of a friend. I had played competitive junior tennis and thought it would be a breeze. However, many service faults, missed drives, and screen embarrassments later, I thought the game was silly and I didn't play again for almost 10 years. In 2003, I joined the Milbrook Club in Greenwich, CT, which had three courts and a solid core of players. My tennis friends encouraged me to give it another go, and this time I also took some lessons. From there, my playing took off. The camaraderie, sportsmanship, and mental aspects of the game made it addicting. I also realized that while my b[...]
Read More
Recruiter, Captain, Commander, Communicator If you were at the Nationals last year at Indian Trail Club, there is a good chance you saw Peter Dampf in action. He seemed to have all the answers. He knew who was playing and where, how to update the Live Scoring, and where the balls were kept. He also knew about half of the players, having recruited many of them for his Division 1 team in the Westchester League (WPTL) in Greenburgh, New York. Dampf plays platform tennis about three times a week, but has recently had to restrict night match play due to some vision issues. As a non-playing captain, he sets the line-ups and will put himself in for at least one match as long as it doesn't hurt Greenburgh's chances for a top-seeding in the yearend Division 1 tournament. His dedication to his team is note-worthy. And his post-match emails are legendary. With humor and wisdom, he discusses e[...]
Read More
Court construction has come along way from that first deck built in 1928. New technology is being put to work to make them better all the time. PTM had the update. Ideas, Aspirations and Actualities Have you been on a court that seemed different recently? Did you just notice that some courts have different colors? Courts have been changing bit by bit over time, but major changes could be in the future. What does the court of the future look like? What if it didn't have snowboards? Even in the snowy Northeast or the frigid Midwest? What if the courts weren't aluminum? What if the surface didn't have grit since it never got slippery from the snow? Can't you hear the knees and backs out there applauding? All the other elements of the court—lights, door locks, wires, net posts—could be or have been reconceived as well. There are innovators out there thinking aboUt the court m[...]
Read More
Despite the postponement almost 100 teams converged on the Philadelphia area for the 2014 APTA Viking Junior Nationals. Across the board, a fantastic group of athletes and parents. Each age group has earned their special award. Nindy Pike covered the event for PTM. Boys 10 & Under: Where The Wild Things Are What you might see on the court when young boys are on the court: sunglasses, puffy coats, loud high-fives, hunter-safety hats, dance moves. What you will definitely see: topspin drives, low screens, and some fist pumps. The champions, Charles Brossy and Griffin Cramer, have won four junior tournaments this season. The finalists, James Lorenzetti and Trevor Ramirez, have won one gold together, and one gold each with partner Charlie Stuhr. A small but mighty foursome. (Heard in the hut: "They are so cute, I could eat them up!") Girls 12 & Under: Your Smile's So Wid[...]
Read More
A Strong Proponent of the Game in the Midwest A transplant from the East Coast, Steve Webster has now spent more time in the Midwest than where he grew up, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He has embraced the Midwest and embodies the spirit of it. He's not just a really nice guy. He is an important part of the Indianapolis platform tennis scene. Webster started playing platform tennis for fun at the Glen Ridge Country Club in New Jersey at about age ten. It wasn't until he went to college at Lake Forest College, in Illinois, that he really started playing more. He joined the Chicago scene in its infancy, playing at the Onwentsia Club and was one of the masterminds with Rod Workman behind the growth of the game. In the 1980s, there was a "rule" that pros weren't allowed to play in the league. Webster and Workman started the movement to change that rule. The pros then started investing the[...]
Read More
Residence: Petaluma, CA; born in Tasmania, Australia Occupation: Head of Racquets at Lagunitas Country Club, Ross, CA Years of Service on the APTA Board: One Family: Engaged Years Playing: 7-8 How did you get started playing platform tennis? When I was teaching tennis in Greenwich, Connecticut. I was originally taught the game by Jim Kaufman and Bob Kleinart. Contribution to the APTA Board: I am the Clinics and Exhibitions Chair and PPTA liaison. We held nine clinics this season, from New Jersey to Ohio to North Carolina. Favorite tournament win: Lehigh PCQ/NRT with current partner Anthony Cosimano and winning the use of a private villa (thanks to tournament host Chip Morrow) in the Dominican Republic, which was an amazing trip. Past/Future endeavors: I played juniors in Australia, making it to a top ten ranking in the 18 & Under division. After juniors, I started coa[...]
Read More
Ann Sheedy, the Executive Director of the APTA, was deeply involved in running the Nationals which were held in her home town, Pittsburgh. She filed a report with PTM on the activities leading up to the event and some thoughts on when all was said and done. Preparation (March 2013) The 2014 APTA Nationals are only a year away! We have our Executive Committee and we have asked the clubs for the use of their courts. We've made a list of potential sponsors and we have a sponsorship brochure. Looks like we are on our way. Piece by piece we've added to our committee. We found a volunteer to be in charge of but food, then someone to recruit but monitors, then a housing chair and a hotel coordinator. We already had a draw guru on the Executive Committee so we are set there. We need a parking and shuttle committee head as well as someone to be in charge of selling merchandise. Prize[...]
Read More
PTM Covered this popular event. The President's Cup kicked off the festivities at Nationals, with teams of men and women wearing matching outfits and vying for bragging rights for their region. For the women, Region V—the Chicago and Midwest crew—pulled out a victory over the always tough Region III—the Mid-Atlantic group from the Pennsylvania and Washington, DC, area. For the men, Region II held strong throughout the day and prevailed over the Region VIII team. Region V Captain Lisa "Goldy" Goldberg said it best. "President's Cup is our day, and Nationals is gravy." This year's President's Cup, played on Thursday, March 6, filled the courts in Pittsburgh with the best men's players and most of the top women athletes. Walking from court to court—at Sewickley YMCA or Allegheny Country Club—where the women competed, or at the Fox Chapel Racquet Club and Pittsburgh Field Clu[...]
Read More
Ann Sheedy, Executive Director of the APTA, had her reflections on the President's Cup and the Men's and Women's Nationals in her A Nationals Diary printed in PTM. Thursday - President's Cup (March 6, 2014) The women are in Sewickley today playing the President's Cup and the men are in Fox Chapel. Not surprisingly, the Region II men took the title and the Region V women were the champs. Both regions were pretty darn loaded. Oops, we blew a breaker panel and the electrician has to come back and give us more power. As usual, the President's Cup ran late and I had to keep asking the Pittsburgh Field Club to hold off serving dinner as most of the players were still on court. During dinner I heard the news that two women's teams might have to drop out of the Nationals, due to injury and illness. Took a while to confirm the withdrawals but luckily we had some happy replacements[...]
Read More
Six-time National Champions Mary Doten and Susie Keane were inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame during the 2014 APTA Men's and Women's Nationals at the Fox Chapel Golf Club in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania, on Friday, March 7. Hilary Hilton Marold, a member of the Hall of Fame and also a six-time National Champion, introduced both of the players. Among an audience of long-time friends, family members, and the best platform tennis players in the nation, Doten and Keane were lauded for their dominance in women's paddle from 2003 to 2010. In their best season, 2008-2009, they won every tournament they entered. The following are excerpts from Marold's introduction speeches and from the winners' acceptance speeches. Mary Doten Introduction In 1993, some tennis friends of Mary's convinced her to come out and try platform tennis and she became hooked on the sport. They had[...]
Read MoreThe video is a short history of the game from its start in 1928 through to 2014. It highlights the key events in the game's development, the leading players, the role of the APTA and the Foundation's efforts to document the story for the next generations of enthusiasts. The video was produced by Camille Thoman who produced the indie documentary The Longest Game which was inspired by a group of octogenarians at Dorset Field Club, Dorset, NH who met regularly to play paddle and reminisce. Click link to play: Platform Tennis: A celebration of the game, its camaraderie and those that made it happen
Read More
Family and friends gathered at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Tarrytown, New York, on March 14th, 2014, to celebrate Bob Callaway's induction into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. Steve Baird, Hall of Fame Nominating Committee Chair, presented the green jacket to Callaway, one of the first platform tennis professionals. The following is excerpted from Steve Baird's introduction speech. We are here tonight to honor a very special person, a trail blazer who dedicated almost his entire career to platform tennis. No one has ever done as much, on such a full-time scale, with such longevity as Bob Callaway. At his core, first and foremost, Bob was a teacher. It was not about him, it was about his students. He cared deeply about them and their progress. Bob was arguably "the first paddle pro." He began in the late 1960s and retired in 2012 at age 78. Today, there are well over 20[...]
Read MoreThe occasion of the Men's 145+ Nationals and the induction of Bob Callaway into the Hall of Fame provided the Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation an opportunity to create a short video - A Celebration of Paddle. Eric Taylor was the producer
Read More
One of Radley Run's future stars shone brightly at the 2014 Junior Nationals While demonstrating the good sportsmanship, integrity and respect that goes with the "Spirit of the Game" honor, this award is so special because paddle is a game where good sportsmanship is so keenly recognized. Independent but commanders were on the lookout for exemplary behavior during the tournament and, at the end of the day, the tournament committee made their decision. The winner of this year's "Spirit of the Game" Award is ten-year-old Mary Emma Guldi. A fifth grader at St. Agnes in West Chester, Mary Emma has played platform tennis at Radley Run for about three years. Mary Emma lost her partner when the tournament date was changed, due to an ice storm, but still wanted to be part of the event. She created her own rainbow after the storm by signing on as a junior reporter for the APTA. She thoug[...]
Read More
Charlotte Lee was a national champion in the women's and mixed draws in the 1960s and 1970s. She was known as a fierce but unfailingly fair competitor on the court, and an ambassador of the game. The Charlotte Lee Sportsmanship Award is given yearly to the woman who displays the most sportsmanlike conduct on and off the court during the season. In that spirit, Cindy Prendergast was chosen as the recipient of the award by the APTA Women's Players Committee. Prendergast responded: "Thanks to my paddle peers for this award. I've been playing paddle for a long, long time and feel so fortunate to have been surrounded by such a fun, gracious, and competitive group of ladies. The good news is that the game of paddle keeps evolving yet the integrity of the player remains the same. I am so grateful for this sport." Prendergast won the APTA Women's Nationals four times (three times with Laur[...]
Read MoreClick image to enlarge Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 15, Issue 5 April/May 2014
Read MoreClick on images to enlarge Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 15, Issue 5 April/May, 2014
Read More
The Short Hills Club, in Short Hills, New Jersey, hosted the 2014 APTA Board Meeting and Annual Meeting. HELLOS AND GOODBYES The board welcomed four new members and said farewell to two whose terms expired. The APTA membership elected Ray Crosta, Region I, Cooey Lyon, Region III, Jim McCready, Region VII, and Bill O'Brien, Region V. Thanks go to Rich Green and Tim Mangan for their service. Rich Green helped usher in the dynamic growth of Region VII by being the champion of the first APTA "Grow the Game" grant. He will continue as the Region VII President. Tim Mangan was Region I's President and President's Cup Captain, and also is an indefatigable tournament director. ELECTION OF OFFICERS The Board approved the slate officers: Rob Coster, President; Fritz Odenbach, Vice President; Bill O'Brien, Vice President; Aila Main, Treasurer; and Cooey Lyon, Secretary. FINANCIALS Alia [...]
Read MoreI had often taken the path less traveled early on in my paddle life, helping out here and there, volunteering for the APTA board in 1981, and holding the office of Executive Director. But, I hadn't walked that way in decades. It held fond memories and I had a yearning to visit it again. So, I took that road again one day and, boy, how things have changed in 30 years! The new-breed of board members are as passionate as ever but have so many more tools at their fingertips. In 1984, the membership records were on index cards. There wasn't a laptop to be found, just an electric typewriter and a word processor, without spell check. The office staff of one could barely type. The newsletter was black and white and we had to cut and paste the entire issue and send it by hand over to the printer, who was a real person. Ahh, but those were the days. No cell phones. No dot corns. No Facebook.[...]
Read More
Steve Cacaam Residence: Darien, Connecticut Years of Service on the APTA Board: Three Family: Wife Ann, and children, Emily, Blair, and Paige Years Playing: 11 How did you get started playing platform tennis? In many ways, I was very lucky to have platform tennis become a part of my life. Back when I first started playing, we lived in New Canaan, Connecticut, a town with four public courts, which was a stroke of fortune. One cool Saturday in October, I was invited by some tennis friends who needed a fourth for their Saturday morning game………. [Click image below to read full article] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 Issue 1, 2014
Read More
[Click image to read] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol.26 Issue 1, Sept./Oct. 2014
Read More
They aren't Doctors but they have brought many tournaments back to life When the Pinskys moved to West Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1993, from Rochester, New York, one of their first priorities was to find a platform tennis club. Since 1986, platform tennis has been an integral part of their lives, when Ron started playing at Shadow Lake Golf & Racquet Club in Rochester with the support of Fritz Odenbach. Betsy met Ron in 1987 on a tennis court there, and he quickly got her onto a paddle court. After their move, as a couple and as individuals, they have become essential contributors to MAPTA (Metropolitan Area Platform Tennis Association)…………... [Click image below to read full article] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 Issue 1, 2014
Read More
In 2012, Radley Run Country Club in West Chester, Pennsylvania, invested in two paddle courts. An unfortunate "hundred year" flood had washed away the tennis courts, and as the club worked on its reconstruction, it wisely included platform tennis courts. Two short years later, Radley Run has three men's and women's paddle teams each and a junior program bursting at the seams with over 70 active players. How did our club attract over seventy children each week? Here are a few key components………[Click image to read more] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 Issue 2, 2014
Read More
The men's ranking system has been revised for this season. In addition, the APTA has added Live Scoring to more tournaments, so rankings are now updated more frequently. Men's Doubles National Rankings will be published online after Chicago, Hinsdale, Cincinnati, Short Hills, and Nationals. To receive an official end-of-the-year ranking, a team must play 3 events together, with one of those events outside of their home region. Nationals is considered an out-of-region event no matter its location and is the only NRT with this designation. NRT points for a specific tournament exist for 12 months and are replaced by the following year's event. Removal of any earned NRT points due to rules infractions or punishment for player behavior will be enforced as instructed by the APTA Players Committee. [Click image below to read more] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 [...]
Read MoreThe format for the President's Cup has been in flux ever since it started back in the 1970s (Men) and 1980s (Women). There was yet another tweak to the popular Tournament in 2014. WOMEN'S RULE CHANGES Region VIII has been eliminated. This changes the match play format back to a seven-team round robin, where matches are best of two sets to four games. No one ranked individually in the top 16 may play in the President's Cup. There are new line-up and points system regulations. Please see below for the full explanation. MEN'S RULE CHANGES If a player is invited to play for his home region, he is not eligible to play for Region VIII. Line-ups and subs will not have to be submitted prior to the event. A list of participants is still required. The designation of players as "subs" or "Court 1" will no longer be necessary in advance of the event. Captain's will exchange line-[...]
Read More
Moving Region VI Onwards and Upwards Did you know that all of the platform tennis courts in California are in Ross, part of Marin County, about 20 miles from San Francisco? There are three at Lagunitas Country Club, where our volunteer of the month Cam Lanphier plays, as well one public court in town and a couple of private courts. That is it! In the largest state, the other paddle tennis is better known, but our sport is alive and well in Ross and continues to attract high-level players. Cam Lanphier grew up in Pelham, New York, where she fooled around with platform tennis as a teenager when courts were added at her club. She didn't really start playing seriously until she moved to Ross in 1988……….. [Click on image below to read full article] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 issue 2, 2014
Read MoreTwo long-time proponents of the game received the APTA's highest award this year for their impressive involvement in the sport of platform tennis. Both Duane Hayden and Joe Russo were completely surprised when they were given their awards and were feted in their communities. They both have been active in the game of platform tennis for decades and have served the sport in very diverse ways. Avid players each, they continue to be ambassadors for the paddle world in different regions. [Click on images in the sidebar to read full article] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 Issue 2, 2014
Read More
In 1970, with no previous umpiring experience, I climbed into a chair to oversee a club championship match at Fox Meadow Tennis Club. After the first set, I was nearly frozen and climbed down. In 1971, I secured the services of Jack Stahr, a renowned tennis umpire, to do the APTA Men's Finals at FMTC. He later suggested that I get involved in tennis umpiring, obviously not based on my platform tennis performance. Experienced Tennis Umpires Wanted I still remember umpiring a match for Mary Carillo, age 16, at Orienta Beach Club in Mamaroneck, New York. Gradually, I worked myself up to become part of the Men's International Professional Umpires Group and did chairs for John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Chris Evert, and many others at the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, Tokyo, and more………. [Click on the image below to read more of Molloy's experiences} Source:Platform Tennis Magazine, [...]
Read More
Wired into the Game - by Nindy Pike I first met Ken Packert at the 2012 Nationals at Huntington Country Club on Long Island. I didn't know where to set up shop in the limited space. A man stringing up wire on the beams above told me to clear a spot at the table below his ladder. The but was filled with cables. Some were wrapped on the ceiling beams, some were trailing down like sausages in a charcuterie. It looked complicated……… [Click image below to read full article]
Read More
Catching up with and to Patty Hogan is always fun. When I spoke with her, she was driving to Canoe Brook in Summit, New Jersey. She runs the Junior Paddle Academy with host pro Drew Broderick and Dave Broderick, a very successful junior platform tennis program. She had spent the past weekend helping set up the Beacon Hill Junior Open, a Ranking event, also in Summit. "Just this past weekend, with junior events in Beacon Hill, Philadelphia, Essex, and Cleveland, we had way over 220 kids playing paddle in an APTA event," Hogan enthused………. [Click on image below to read the full article] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 Issue 3, Jan./Feb. 2015
Read More
He's Back! Years of Service on the APTA Board: First year of current term; 1981-1985 Region I President; 1985-1988 Executive Director Family: Wife Myra Years Playing: 45 How did you get started playing platform tennis? As a teenager, I was introduced to the game at the Innis Arden Golf Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, by Don White (a previous APTA President). Other people who influenced me were George Schmid, a Senior National champion, who was somewhat of a father image. He helped me learn the classic game. He was from the wood paddle era and believed in defensive strategy. I worked with Bob Callaway in the late 1970s and early 1980s, teaching paddle at Callaway's Paddle Tennis Center and with Doug Russell, at The Manhattan PTC and the Apple PTC, so obviously those men are very significant to me……. [Click image below to read the full article] Source: Platform Tenn[...]
Read More
Interim President Bill O'Bien explains the rational for the decision. "Rob is stepping down from the Presidency for all the right reasons. He has been working to start up a company in the court building business and his efforts are starting to take shape. He saw that being in the court building business while also being President of the APTA could later be perceived as a conflict of interest and so he asked to step down to avoid any potential shadow being cast onto the APTA. One of the really wonderful aspects of this game is the classy way in which most everyone associated with the sport conducts themselves and this is just one more example of that behavior." O'Brien went on to thank Rob for his service to the APTA and the game. "First of all, I want to thank Rob Coster for his service to our game. The energy he brought to Eastern Connecticut, as a player and a force for growth[...]
Read MoreThe candidates for the Board were: Scott Bondurant, Patty Hogan, Sara Lanthier, Mark Parsons and Justin "J" Stanley. SCOTT BONDURANT (Nominated for President) Scott is not a newcomer to the APTA Board. He served as a Vice President from 2003 to 2009. More recently he has been Chair of the Men's Players Committee and President of Region V. He is amazed by the growth of the game in recent years and looks forward to doing what he can to keep it going….. [Click on images below to read full profiles of the candidates] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 Issue 4 March/April 2015
Read More
Aila Main Residence:New York City Occupation:Interior Designer Years of Service on the APTA Board: 6 (Women's Players Committee (WPC) and Women's Ranking Committee (WRC) for longer) Family: Daughter Sophie 11, dog Sam 6 Years Playing: 15 How did you get started playing platform tennis? When I was first married, we moved to Princeton, New Jersey, and they had a paddle team there, which my tennis partners suggested I join. Having just moved East from California, I loved the opportunity to be outside in the winter….. [Click on image below to read more]
Read More
From the northern climes of Toronto, Ontario, to the central south of Charlotte, North Carolina, the APTA Viking Clinics and Exhibitions traveled to eight cities with over 400 participants and 500 fans marveling at the exhibitions. The geography covered and the exposure offered is exactly why the APTA invests so much time and capital into this program. The events continue to draw crowds to public-access courts and reach new players in areas where there is plenty of room for growth……. [Click images below to read the full article] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 Issue 4 March/April 2015
Read More
Steve Faber, a mathematics teacher at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois, and the GBS Paddle Club sponsor (along with Anne Blair and Rosie McManamon), filed this report: Last year, the APTA generously donated four paddles to our program at Glenbrook South. What has happened over the past 14 months since is extraordinary. Our two founding members, Michael O'Connor and Kaden Ignelzi, will be graduating this year, but I'm excited about the future of junior paddle in Glenview. We have had an overwhelmingly positive response from our high schoolers and from the entire community of Glenview….. [Click image below to read the full article]<br. Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 Issue 4 March/April 2015
Read More
MEN'S ROUND OF 16 Johan du Randt and Mark Parsons versus Hall-of-Farner David Ohlmuller and Mark Johnson may have been the quintessential platform tennis match: amazing shots, patience and aggression, wonderful sportsmanship, and obvious enjoyment of the game. In the first game, there was a team overrule on a service call and du Randt was given another serve. After the first two games, the reigning champions had the match easily in hand! but both teams were pulling off shots to impress. Ohlmuller, coming out of semi-retirement of five years to play Nationals, showed moments of brilliance off the screens. As the match got away from the local pros, there was much more heckling and laughing, like a spring social……….[Click images below to read full article] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 Issue 5, April-May 2015
Read More
Fritz Odenbach Residence: Rochester, NY Occupation: Senior VP Sales at The Dolomite Group Years of Service to the APTA Board: 15 yesra; Currently ending six-year term as Vice president Family: Wife Sandra, daughter Mandy 928), son Fritz Jr. (25), stepdaughter Whit (21) and stepson Robby (18) Years Playing: 42 years How did you get started playing platform tennis? I started playing when I was 17. My dad would bring my two brothers and myself out to Oak Hill CC to play with his buddies in a Saturday morning round robin. We would dress in corduroys, cheap Fred Perry sneakers, turtlenecks, and of course a sweet-looking ski sweater.I was hooked from that point on!………….. [Click image below to read full article] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 Issue 5, April-May 2015
Read More
Suzanne Lanthier - BIG PASSION, BIG CONTRIBUTION Suzanne Lanthier recently moved to London. One of her friends, who doesn't live in Canada, told her to enjoy Europe. Getting used to small-town living in London, Ontario (pop. 350,000), compared to the city of Toronto, has been easy in many respects but not having access to platform tennis tortures her. London does have an old single cement court, which is where Lanthier learned to play when she was 13 years old and a 'real court' with no heaters in need of some major TLC. Back then there wasn't a hut, so the Lanthiers, along with the other 20 or so families who made up the LPTC, would tough it out in the frigid cold to watch or wait their turn. The members eventually got a hut put in, Lanthier magically "found" a net to replace the holey one, and the court has become somewhat usable. She is devising a plan to create a platform tennis clu[...]
Read More
Every year a women's player is chosen to be the recipient of the Charlotte Lee award. It is awarded to a woman who represents all that we value in a competitive player: Fairness, honesty, and a positive attitude. This year's recipient, Sally Cottingham, exemplifies all these qualities as well as being a kind, compassionate, and caring person. Nothing says it better than a few reactions to the proposal of her candidacy for this year's award…..[Click image below to read full article] Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 Issue 5, April-May 2015
Read More
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 Issues 5 April-May 2015
Read More
There were many, many exciting firsts at this year's junior Nationals: First ever Champions Dinner, first Pro-Am tournament post-event, first time for Live Streaming of the youngsters} first time for a game tent, and the first time in decades that the two-out-of-three set format was played. Matches began Saturday, February 28th, in New Jersey, using over 5O courts at clubs thirty minutes or closer to the hosting Short Hills Club. All of the age groups) from 10 & Under to 18 & Under, pulled in impressive players from around the East Coast, with a few from the Pittsburgh area. (Players from over 200 miles away were offered a free entry fee.) As the play drew to an end late Saturday, the National Champions were crowned. All three of the girls' events were won by teams from the Philadelphia area. Callie and Catie Burkhardt from Wayne, Pennsylvania, captured their fourth title v[...]
Read MoreThe Childress family racquets dynasty at Fox Meadow Tennis Club included Hall of Fame inductees Madge Childress Beck and Maizie Childress Moore as well as Madge's daughter Susan Beck Wasch. Madge's son, John Childress Beck, a Nationally ranked player in the 1970s won the Mixed Nationals in 1972 with sister Susan and lost in the finals of the following year to future APTA President Mike North and Sis O'Connell (6-1, 14-12). He also teamed with Herb Fitz Gibbon to win the Men's Nationals in 1974. John spent his whole career at his father's firm Beck, Mack and Oliver and was instrumental in growing the company into a leader in investment counseling. He chaired Princeton University's Investment Committee and created the Princeton Investment Company during his tenure as a Trustee of Princeton. In addition to his prowess in paddle and tennis he was an avid rower and was a member of th[...]
Read More
At the time of his election, Princeton graduate John E. Packard, III, of Rockville, Maryland, had been an APTA Director for five years and was serving as commissioner of the men's championship tour. As such, he was the face of the APTA, on the scene for all the major men's events, coordinating, expediting, and resolving issues when necessary. In 1978, he teamed with Gordon Gray to win the National 45s, and he won it again in 1980 with John Brownlow. At the time of his term as President, Packard was Vice-President and sales manager of Adams-Burch, Inc., a restaurant supply business. Source: Platform Tennis, September 1980
Read More
Up until 1973, all National Championships had been held in or around New York City, primarily at Fox Meadow Tennis Club in Scarsdale, which had the most courts. The other two founding clubs of the APTA—The Field Club in Greenwich, CT, and Manursing Island Club in Rye, NY—also hosted, as did the Englewood Club, in Englewood, NJ. In the fall of 1971, the Cleveland Committee, headed by Carrington Clark, submitted a comprehensive proposal to the APTA Board to host the Men’s National Championship. After some consideration, the Board approved the plan to move the Nationals. The 1973 Men’s Nationals in Cleveland were highly successful, and it signified the start of an era when the Nationals moved to a different location each year. It returned to Fox Meadow from 1974 to 1979; Montclair, New Jersey, from 1980 to 1982; New Canaan, Connecticut, in 1983; and Cleveland, Ohio, in 1984. [...]
Read MoreDuring his active playing career Bob Kingsbury's wife keep a scrapbook of tournament records, newspaper article, photographs, etc. The scrapbook also contained information on events at Kingsbury's home club, Fox Meadow Tennis Club in Scarsdale NY. A number of newspaper articles are from local Scarsdale papers and these have been difficult to find as newspaper editions during the 1970s have yet to be digitized. As such the scrapbook provides some valuable historical records not available elsewhere. Source: Donated to the PTMHOFF by Robert R Kingsbury
Read MoreFrom 1980 to 1991, the APTA Board stopped appointing the Honor Award Committee. In 1992, under the leadership of then APTA President Charles Vasoll, and with the urging of Bob Brown, the Board re-activated the program. Historical Factoid: It is a matter of conjecture as to why the APTA suspended the Honor Award which had been a successful program.
Read More
The 1973 Men's Championships, held in Cleveland OH, saw Kingsbury and Mangan capture their second straight title. On the Women’s side, DeBree and Dillenback took their third victory in a row. The Mixed final was a repeat of the previous year, but this time Cecil North and Mrs. Raymond O’Connell took the title, winning the second set over John Beck and Susan Wasch 14-12. In the Seniors, Baird and Swanberg won their second straight 50+. In the Junior’s, Chip Baird won for the fifth time in a row, a remarkable achievement. A full description of the events and drawsheets was given in
Read More
In the spring, the APTA announced that the Executive Committee and a specially designated By-Law Committee were going to revise the by-laws. All member clubs in the Association were sent material concerning the changes, together with a proxy statement and an announcement of a special Association meeting to take place in July or August.
Read More
Governor Brendan T. Byrne, a stalwart supporter and player of platform tennis, signed a proclamation on February 28 designating March as “Platform Tennis Month in New Jersey.” Present at the ceremony, which took place at the State House in Trenton, were APTA president Robert Kingsbury and executive director Gloria Dillenbeck. Below is the text of the proclamation. PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, the sport of platform tennis is gaining marked popularity as a source of intense competition, fast action and excitement; and . . WHEREAS, several thousand New Jerseyans are among the thousands across the country being drawn to this new exciting game; and WHEREAS, New Jersey has been selected for the first time as the site of the American Platform Tennis National Men's and Women's Platform Tennis Championships, the 1980 Passport event, to be held at the Montclair Golf Club in West Orange[...]
Read More
Koegel came close to disaster and humiliation during his term as president when he realized on a Sunday afternoon a half hour before the traditional Governors'Tea, held each year in April, that neither he nor his wife, Ruth, had bought the ingredients. One does not become an FMTC president without steady nerves and the ability to handle emergencies, however. A liquor store owner was persuaded to rush to his store, open it, and produce the urgently needed ingredients. The Koegels got to the Club and mixed the punch in time. "No one suspected the near catastrophe," Koegel recalled, "and I thus escaped impeachment from the presidency and possible expulsion from membership." Source: Diane Reische, Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read More
Men’s and Women’s singles championships had been held from 1935-1937 but were discontinued in 1938 due to lack of interest. In the mid 1970s when paddle was expanding rapidly singles made a comeback.Doug Russell, then the head paddle professional at the Manhattan Platform Tennis Club was looking for ways to increase participation by players and fans and began experimenting with experimenting with singles play, including varying certain rules to see how they might impact the game. It was concluded that allowing just one serve was too much of an advantage to the receiver, so two serves were allowed. In addition, no-add scoring was adopted. Manhattan Platform Tennis Club began hosting singles tournaments in 1977 and Apple Platform Tennis Club, also in Manhattan followed suit. Doug Russell finally persuaded the APTA Board to reactivate singles and they authorized a National Me[...]
Read More
Gordon S. Gray: Gray discovered paddle in 1965, and right from the start, played to win. He was a fine tennis player and his natural talent, coupled with an analytical approach and hard work, quickly paid off with three National Mixed wins in a row (1966-1968), the third time this had been achieved. He followed up this accomplishment with three Men’s title in a row, from 1969-1972, a feat done only once before by Hebard and Carver. In compiling this record, Gray and his partner, Jesse Sammis, changed the game by introducing a whole new level of aggressive, but consistent, play. (Field Club of Greenwich).
Read More
The team of Hilary Hilton, of Glen Ellyn, IL, and Yvonne Hackenberg, of Kalamazoo, MI, defeated Kit Knight, of Oyster Bay, NY, and Mimi Raney, of New York City, by scores of 6-2, 7-5, to win the Third Annual Manufacturers Hanover Platform Tennis Invitational. The event, organized by Iris Langdon of Promotion Plus Sports and held February 9-10, took place at the Apple Platform Tennis Club in New York City. It offered a $6,000 purse, with Hilton and Hackenberg splitting the $2,000 first-place share. Source: Platform Tennis, March 1980
Read More
During the summer, the APTA completed the incorporation of the Association and a redrawing of its by-laws. The financial records as of the date of incorporation, August 3, 1973 showed a net worth of $17,078 On July 30, at a special meeting of membership in New York City, the Association decided to incorporate under the New York State Not For Profit Corporation Law. The APTA was now the American Platform Tennis Association, Inc. On August 3, the State Department of New York filed the certificate of incorporation of the American Platform Tennis Association, Inc. On August 7, the incorporators met and adopted a new set of By-laws that the By- law Committee had developed and submitted for approval1. Paul Sullivan chaired the By-Law Committee and other members were Edmund Swanberg, Peter A. Thistle, Robert A. Brown and Howard Kafer. The Association engaged James M. Carlisle as cou[...]
Read MoreThe regional championship circuit and its prestigious playoff, the President’s Cup, had a new sponsor. It was Carte Blanche, the international credit card for sportsmen, sportswomen, and all people committed to staying fit. For the third year, the top regional players competed within their respective regions for the chance to vie for the President’s Cup. A regional player, by APTA definition, was any player not ranked nationally after the previous season. Source: Platform Tennis, January 1980
Read More
The Minutes covered the induction of Gordon Gray, the financial status of the APTA, and comments from incoming President, Bob Brown, on the tenure of retiring President Peter Thistle and on the challenges ahead. APTA 1973 Minutes Annual Meeting
Read More
Membership of the APTA as of August 3, 1973 included both voting members (clubs and individuals with courts) and non-voting members (those that did not own a court).
Read MoreThe first indoor event was the 64-team New Canaan Men's Invitational on February 2-3. For the first time in APTA history, from the quarterfinals on, the rounds were played indoors, in the New Canaan High School gymnasium. The R.J. Reilly Company installed a temporary Reillx-surfaced court with an aluminum superstructure.
Read More
Ball quality had been a constant problem, and if anything, it seemed to get worse as time went on. The APTA concluded that either suppliers were not making balls to its specifications, or the specifications themselves were incorrect. The APTA invited sixteen top players to Fox Meadow to spend the day playing with balls in an organized testing program. Bob Brown and Amby Hardwick, who was the New Jersey Regional Vice President of the Association, chaired the project committee. Balls manufactured by Barr, Marcraft, Eagle Seamco and Robinson Bros. were tested and balls that met players’ approval were then further tested by the U. S. Testing Company so that they could draw up a set of specifications. Companies who met the specifications were issued approvals. The APTA encouraged a number of manufacturers in the sporting goods field interested in making balls for platform tennis to[...]
Read MoreThe event was held at Waynesborough CC, Paoli, PA, under the direction of regional president Roger Dietz.
Read More
Platform tennis came of age while Brown was President, and he had a major influence on the APTA’s policies and plans as both an Officer and Director. During his term, the APTA published its first official “Rules of Platform Tennis” booklet, under the lead of Bill Ballard. He hired the association’s first full-time Executive Director, got the APTA on sound financial footing, and instituted detailed record-keeping of National Championship results. He also engineered the transition during 1973-1974 from orange to yellow ball, which was used for the first time in the Nationals in 1975, and authored the booklets “The Etiquette of Platform Tennis” and “How to Conduct a Tournament Draw.” APTA President Mike North noted, when thanking Brown for his service to the organization at the end of his tenure as President, “Brown has just begun his contribution to platfor[...]
Read More
The Nationals moved to the Montclair Golf Club for 1980, 1981 and 1982. This was only the fourth time in the event’s history that the Men’s Nationals had not been held at Fox Meadow. It was the first return to New Jersey since the Englewood Club held the 1939 tournament. New Jersey created a carnival atmosphere and the largest crowd in APTA history ignored a day of horrible weather to turn the Nationals into a classic event. For the second year, Passport Scotch was the event’s sponsor, providing a total of $20,000 in prize money. In the women's final, the top-seeded pair of Yvonne Hackenberg and Hilary Hilton steadied and strengthened their game to turn back the #2 seeds, Linda Wolf and Robin Rich, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Following that match, Steve Baird and Rich Maier, seeded second, upset the #1 pair, Herb Fitz Gibbon and Hank Irvine, the 1977 and 1978 champions in five [...]
Read MoreCalls for help on broadening the game’s acceptance prompted the APTA to develop a “How to” manual. The Rowayton, CT experience in selling platform tennis was converted into an official APTA publication. The November 1979 issue, of Platform Tennis had described Rowayton's serve-and-volley approach to the problem of declining participation. Players in the Connecticut community had come to realize that, for a variety of reasons, no one could afford to be complacent any longer about the sport's ability to sell itself. Rather, it had to be aggressively and intelligently promoted. Source: Platform Tennis, November 1979 & January 1980
Read MoreThe first issue of Off The Wire had the full Tournament Sanction Policy: “The APTA has recently adopted a policy on Tournament Sanction, which is quoted in full as follows: The purpose of sanctioning of platform tennis tournaments by the American Platform Tennis Association is to insure a high standard of quality covering all aspects of competitive platform tennis tournament play. Tournaments which are sanctioned will be included on the APTA ‘Sanctioned Tournaments’ schedule. In order for a tournament to receive official sanction from the American Platform Tennis Association certain established standards and procedures must be agreed to in advance by the local tournament committee. Likewise, tournament play itself and post-tournament reporting must be carried out in accordance with established APTA standards. APTA reserves the right to withhold, or withdraw, sanction if [...]
Read More
Following in Hilary Hilton Marold’s footsteps top-ranked player, Linda Wolf, represented platform tennis on ABC TV's “Super Stars”. She finished in sixth place and made more money than she did playing paddle!
Read MoreSome 240 juniors received top-caliber instruction in the fall of 1979 at four New Jersey clinics. Two more junior clinics were scheduled for early 1980 before the paddle season ended.
Read MoreThis booklet, authored by Robert A. Brown, included suggestions on the makeup of the draw committee; how to determine the byes and where to place them; how to seed and rank competitors; and how the seeds, and the other teams should be placed in the draw. In the centerfold of the booklet, there was a sample draw that showed where each team would go. The procedure for conducting the draw was to be followed by all tournaments on the APTA Sanctioned Tournament Schedule. Source: Off The Wire, Vol. 5 No 1
Read MoreThe Fox Meadow Club had been a great and historic site for the Nationals over the years, hosting all but the 1936, 1939 and 1973 Men’s championships. But platform tennis’ continued growth all around the country had been an impetus to move the sport's key event to a new site. The size of the Championships and the logistics involved were a challenge for the club.
Read More
Dick Squires organized the first truly commercial play-for-pay event. Sea Pines Plantation, in Hilton Head Island, SC, hosted the first Vat Gold Cup Invitational Tournament on November 10-11. It was also the first major platform tennis competition to be played in the Deep South. The marketers of Vat 69 Gold, a brand of scotch whiskey, appreciated the demographic appeal of platform tennis enthusiasts. For the first time, top teams competed for money. The purse was $10,000, and “CBS Sports Spectacular” broadcasted highlights. The New York Times covered the event in an article by Charles Friedman, entitled “And Now a Word for Platform Tennis” in the Sunday, November 18th edition. For the event, the top sixteen men’s teams in the country were invited to participate. The offer included all-expense-paid travel, and the winners received a ten-day trip to Europe courtesy o[...]
Read More
A highlight of the Annual Meeting, held in New York City in June, was a special presentation by William Pearce of a platform tennis painting by artist Robert Sticker. Pearce, Vice-President of Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York (CCBNY), explained that in 1976 CCBNY’s President and avid platform tennis enthusiast, Charles Millard had commissioned Sticker to paint a platform tennis scene at Fox Meadow Club. Prints of that oil painting were then given to winners of the tour, which was sponsored by the CCBNY subsidiary Tribuno Wines. Through the generosity of CCBNY, the APTA was able to offer a limited number of these color prints to its members. Source: Platform Tennis, September 1980
Read More
The rule was essentially the same as in tennis, but because of the shorter distance from baseline to net, and the higher premium on being at the net in paddle, foot-fault infractions were seen as more serious. The problem was two-fold: first, whether the statement of the rule itself should be revised; second, how to enforce the rule. A seven-man working committee formed to cope with this rather controversial question. Chaired by Bob Brown, the committee consisted of Chuck Baird, John Beck, Brad Drowne, Bill Hoffmann, Paul Molloy, and Dick Squires. In addition, the APTA called a 26-member Advisory Committee for the purpose of providing the broadest possible cross-section of views on this delicate matter. The formation of the APTA’s Umpires Committee in 1974 was an outcome of the Working Committee’s deliberations. Source: Off The Wire, Vol. 5 No 1
Read MoreSponsorship by companies like Tribuno Wine, Passport Scotch, and Vat 69 Gold that fueled more than five years of “money tournaments” began to dry up. Sponsors realized the sport was somewhat limited in its exposure and appeal. Conflict loomed within the small community of platform tennis players about whether to preserve the sport by keeping it amateur, or offering money to attract the highest level of talent. Having just experienced several years of professional tour events, the trend reversed to embrace amateur play.
Read MoreDuring the early 1970’s, commercial sponsorship came knocking, raising difficult policy questions for the APTA. The exposure gained by commercial sponsorship would bring the sport to a much wider audience, but critics argued that money would detract from the game’s social aspects. Foreseeing the likelihood of company-sponsored “tours,” the APTA formally established its policy on commercial activities and decided to maintain control over all commercial tournament activities. This decision allowed platform tennis to broaden its horizon. The alternative would have undoubtedly led to the establishment of a separate professional organization.
Read MoreThe APTA worked hard to develop league play around the country. The November issue of Platform Tennis News carried an article on how to build a successful program. “This fall, literally thousands of men and women are absorbed in what has to be the most vital part of paddle: league play. To get a league going, it takes three ingredients: commitment to the sport, organizational ability, and energy.” The article went on to provide detailed advice for those building a league. Source: Platform Tennis, November 1980
Read MoreCorporate sponsorship ended up attracting several professional tennis players to the sport, with Herb S. Fitz Gibbon II, Clark Graebner, and Hank Irvine being the most successful. Fitz Gibbon ranked among the world’s top tennis players between 1961 and 1973, and became the first amateur to beat a professional in the 1968 Wimbledon. Graebner, originally from Cleveland, was on the winning U.S. Davis Cup team and ranked seventh in the world in 1968. Irvine was from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and represented his country on the Davis Cup team in 1968 and 1969, and at Wimbledon from 1970 to 1972. In 1970, he teamed with Helen Gourlay from Australia and made it to the semifinals of the Mixed at Wimbledon.
Read More
Passport Scotch felt that they were not getting their expected value from their level of financial commitment. The APTA President Packard felt it was imperative to replace Passport Scotch with another sponsor for the Nationals and preferably not a liquor company so that it might be possible to get television coverage Source: APTA Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, July 1, 1980
Read MoreTo kick off the 1980-'81 season, 15 couples combined platform tennis with a sightseeing tour in Europe. Bellfires, the European licensee for R.J. Reilly Company, sponsored the October event. The players were on the road for eleven days, wheeling around Europe on a luxury bus. Starting in Paris, the couples played platform tennis indoors and toured the sights. Then the bus took them to the Mediterranean coast, near Perpignan, where two courts had been built. Then, on to Switzerland to compete on the highest courts in Europe (with a little skiing on the side), and to visit Basel where there were courts in town. Source: Platform Tennis News, April 1980
Read More
The lead article in the January edition of Platform Tennis was on the large turnouts for regional tournaments. The Westchester (Rye) Invitational put a 64 team cap on the number of entries to keep it manageable. Despite this the Minutes of the APTA Executive Committee of February 9, 1981 reflected the struggle the APTA was having with dwindling sponsorship and the crisis this was having on Tournament play and the APTA's bottom line. The forecast for 1981 was for a $11,903 loss. [Also see APTA 1981 Annual Meeting Minutes>]
Read MoreThe tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs at the Houston Astrodome on September 20, 1973, captivated America and was a triumph for women’s athletics. Platform tennis benefitted with an increase in participation by women. King entered the Astrodome in Cleopatra style, carried aloft in a chair held by four bare-chested muscle men dressed in the style of ancient slaves. Riggs followed in a rickshaw drawn by a bevy of scantily-clad models. Riggs presented King with a giant lollipop and she gave him a piglet named Larimore Hustle. Rather than playing her own usual aggressive game, King mostly hugged the baseline, easily handling Riggs's lobs and soft shots, making Riggs cover the entire court as she ran him from side to side, and beating him at his own defensive game. After quickly falling behind from the baseline, where he had intended to play, King forced Riggs to c[...]
Read MoreFor the second year, the New Canaan Savings Bank was the sponsor of the women's National-ranking New Canaan (CT) tournament on November 19-20. The event was played at the Country Club of New Canaan, New Canaan Field Club, and Waveny Park. The top 10 winning teams divided the $2,000 in prize money. After winning the Chicago Invitational on November 7-8, Yvonne Hackenberg and Hilary Hilton continued their unbeaten streak with a win against the unseeded pair of Meri Lobel and Allison McCance. Source: Platform Tennis, January 1981
Read More
The APTA endorsed the Swift River “Reflex” court shoe following tests by a Board-appointed players committee. The Swift River “Reflex” court shoe was made in New Hampshire. The sneakers had bottoms made of a gum-colored compound of high-abrasion rubber to assure maximum mobility in any weather, as well as resistance to abrasion.
Read More
See also Membership list as of August 3, 1973
Read MoreMany players liked a more bouncy ball, especially when it became very cold. To accommodate them, Vittert made both a lo-bounce (V-30) and a hi-bounce ball. The APTA had approved the V-30 for all National ranking tournaments and the hi-bounce ball only for singles. The January edition of Platform Tennis explained the APTA position and provided guidance for using the V-30 ball in cold. When it’s really cold, the standard V-30 needs a respectable warm-up, or it will just dribble when you expect a bounce. Nevertheless, cold is part of life on the platform. So, what do you do about ball selection? Well, the “book on bounces” says: • For virtually all doubles tournaments or matches, use the standard, low-bouncing V-30. • Always warm up with two balls. When you start to play, put the second ball in the warming hut, a warm car, a ball-warmer, or perhaps a down jacket -- but ne[...]
Read More
The booklet provided a concise history of the game, tournament results, membership clubs, and playing rules Platform Paddle Tennis 1963-1973
Read MoreVery few women were entering singles tournaments. In order to encourage more to play Mark Bliss, a promoter of singles from the Apple Club in New York, suggested allowing women to participate in men’s tournaments. Following this, Robin Rich Fulton and Linda Wolf played in a couple of the men’s warm-up tournaments before the National Singles championship.
Read More
Herb Fitz Gibbon and Hank Irvine, seeded #2, defeated the top-seeded, 1980 National champions, Steve Baird and Rich Maier, at the Westchester Country Club in Harrison, NY. Frigid weather caused the match to be reduced to two out of three sets by mutual agreement, and Herb and Hank prevailed with a score of 6-4, 6-4.
Read MoreThe APTA had been fielding many requests on age eligibility. A preliminary ruling of a cutoff date of May 1 was repealed in favor of leaving the established calendar year "as is" for the balance of the season. For example, if one attained age 45 in a given calendar year, one was eligible to play in any 45 tournaments during that year.
Read More
In the Men's, Steve Baird and Rich Maier won their second title (the third for Baird who had won in 1976 with his brother Chip). Yvonne Hackenberg and Hilary Hilton won their second title (the fifth for Hilton and the third for Hackenberg). Hilary Hilton and Doug Russell completed their hat-trick in the Mixed and their fourth overall. Doug Russell captured his second straight Singles and the Boy's 18 and under was won by the future 1994 National Champions Art Williams and Pete Gruenberg. Robin Rich Fulton won the Women's Singles1 Chuck Baird won his third straight Mens 55+ with his third different partner, Roger Lankenau. Note 1: There is some controversy as to how many National Women's Singles were played after the APTA had sanctioned a Men's event beginning in 1980. Women were participating in men's singles events because they had difficulty getting enough team[...]
Read MoreAlthough R.J. Reilly introduced the aluminum deck in the early 1970s, many of the courts built prior to the 1980s had wood decks. These decks were relatively inexpensive to install, yet became difficult to maintain as active play and the elements took their toll. Aluminum decking not only extended the life of a platform tennis court, but builders now had the ability to install heaters beneath the courts that would warm the decks and eliminate thin layers of snow or ice that would prohibit play. Aluminum decking revolutionized the court-building industry, yet it had an unforeseen impact on the accessibility of courts outside the more privileged country club scene. Wooden courts around the country that had been decommissioned, particularly in communities, municipalities, and schools, were simply not replaced because, though aluminum courts are less expensive to maintain, they were much [...]
Read MoreDuring the 1980s and 1990s, the APTA sanctioned a record number of events each year around the country, including junior and senior age group tournaments. Major events usually occurred over several days and often included an elegant cocktail party or dinner dance where the social component attracted more league players and filled up draws nationwide.
Read MoreIn addition to APTA sanctioned events, local and regional tournaments, which often supported a charity, and social get-togethers at the clubs became increasingly popular. Playing for recognition, rather than for money, was the order of the next dozen years until the Lineal Group stepped in briefly in the early 1990s to underwrite a series of events called the Lineal Group Grand Prix.
Read MoreThe APTA offered players an opportunity to use January and February as a 60-day trial period to test a two-serve option at different playing levels in various club events. Feedback via Platform Tennis News was requested. The May-June issue of the magazine carried the results. There were 19 yes votes to change to two-serves, and 141 voting no, indicating strongly that the change was not favored. Some of the reasons were: .....it would ruin the game. We don't want it like tennis .....leave the game alone, it is an amateur's game enjoyed as is .....how about two returns? Source: Platform Tennis News, November 1981 and May-June 1982
Read More
Moses was one of the earliest good “young” players of the game in the early 1940s and ‘50s. He had been the #1 ranked junior tennis player in the nation and, at nineteen, he was the youngest person ever to be a finalist in the APTA National men’s doubles. He won the APTA Men’s doubles title at the age of 23, again the youngest ever to attain that distinction. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976. At the time of his death after a long illness, John had retired to East Boothbay, Maine, in the same area where his family had summered for several generations. Source: Platform Tennis News, January 1982
Read More
The Minutes highlights: Financial situation impacted by loss of sponsorship and decline in dues due to poor enforcement of membership requirements at local tournaments. The loss for the year was $11,191 Six issues of Platform Tennis News (PTN) to be published with Passport Scotch to be offered logo identification if they continued sponsorship of PTN ($7,500). More regional results were requested The current crisis in tournament play was discussed and ways to encourage broader participation beyond the "pro circuit". The Presidents' Cup was a key part of this and expanding the number of teams from 4 to 8 was proposed
Read More
The Men’s 60+ started in 1969, but, as these players grew older, their skills became less competitive against younger participants in this age group. However, these men still wanted to compete at a championship level and it was suggested that a National 70+ be held in conjunction with the New Jersey 55+ at the Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes. The event was contingent upon a draw of not fewer than eight teams. The first event was held in 1982. Source: Platform Tennis News, January 1982
Read MoreIn Denver, the “Mile High” city, platform tennis had found a new frontier and was slowly but steadily increasing in popularity. In addition to courts at two clubs and several private courts, more were being planned at a third. All of these facilities were within fifteen minutes of each other, making future tournaments more feasible. Sally Burbank of Englewood, Colorado, had given much of her time to teaching and promoting platform tennis, free of charge. Source: Platform Tennis News, February 1982
Read MoreThe President’s Cup celebrated its birthday in New Jersey where this unique event was born five years earlier. A squad of big belters from Region I eventually took over the party and waltzed off with the trophy for the second year in a row. The annual inter-regional matchup was staged at the six-court layout of the Brookside Racquet and Swim Club in Allendale, NJ. Shearson/American Express put up funds for both the Nationals and the President’s Cup. Part of the money was to cover travel expenses for the Allendale competitors. As a further touch, just as an early spring sun banished the drizzle about 10 a.m., players blossomed forth wearing new, royal blue Shearson/American Express lined warm-up jackets. Source:Platform Tennis News, April 1982
Read More
The reigning men's and women's champions not only retained their National Championship titles, but did it for the third successive time. A total of 101 teams competed in the two open events that were centered, for the third year, at the Montclair Golf Club, West Orange, New Jersey. Shearson/American Express sponsored the March 13 and 14 event as well as the President’s Cup Competition. In a notable achievement, Chuck Baird and George Schmid won three Senior events, the 50+, 55+, and 60+ Championships, the only time this has been done. Platform Tennis News April 1982 - PTN carried the stories behind the results. Source: Platform Tennis News, April 1982 Vittert donated balls, paddles and carry-all bags for the Juniors and the event was considered a great success. Source: March 25, 1982 letter from APTA Executive Secretary, Diane Rinaldi, to Georgann Galik, Ass[...]
Read More
Of the 211 APTA Championship tournaments held for adults through 1982, Fox Meadow players had won 79.
Read More
Baird's comments on becoming APTA President: People everywhere are recognizing that the overall success of a platform tennis program is linked directly to how well those in charge organize the event and promote the social part of the weekend. I think that paddle appears to be finding its niche after a brief period when we may have lost sight of the game's strengths. I'm very optimistic about the next several years because I can see definite signs that we've begun to return to many of the traditions that sparked the tremendous growth of about fifteen to twenty percent per year during the 1968-1978 period. One significant trend is the continued interest in League play throughout the country. Competition for a spot on the club team is stronger than at anytime in the past three years. The northern New Jersey leagues for men and women are probably the best examples of how to organ[...]
Read MoreA platform tennis enthusiast and owner of Peters Creek Paddle Club in Library, PA, F. Jay Smith had given a great deal of study to the subject of the platform tennis serve. The APTA Board decided that his thoughts and his proposal for change merited consideration, and solicited feedback through Platform Tennis News. Smith’s analysis suggested that the service box be lengthened a minimum of 6 inches and perhaps as much as 9-12 inches. He argued that the current size of 12' x 8' was too confining and, since it was possibly arrived at arbitrarily, it should be subject to change. Of the more than 2,500 copies of the newsletter mailed to the membership, seven were returned to the APTA Office: five in favor of lengthening the service box, and two opposed. Based on such an underwhelming response to the proposal, the Board determined that there was not enough interest to warrant further [...]
Read MoreAl Seidel, co-director of Region V, provided Platform Tennis News with the following history of platform tennis in California, and, specifically in the town of Ross. His account also gives credit to those people who were instrumental in introducing the sport to the northern California area, and supporting its growth: “The first court was built by Web and Dottie Otis in 1971 at their home, and they introduced the game to a small but enthusiastic group of friends. Within the next year, both Marilyn and Laurie Carr, and Tom and Marie Terry built courts on the same picturesque Skyland hill setting. The Lagunitas Club followed suit in 1977 when two courts were erected. In 1979, the town of Ross installed the first all-aluminum court, and Marcia and Paul Ginsburg built a court on what most people thought had been an impossible downgrade slope. At present, there are seven tradit[...]
Read More
To recognize the top amateurs in the country in a time when professional events eclipsed the tournament landscape, the APTA (with original support from Hertz) had created the President’s Cup, a round robin that pitted the top five teams in each of six designated regions of the country. The top sixteen nationally ranked teams were exempt. While the Men’s President’s Cup was founded in 1978, the Women’s President’s Cup began in 1983. The New Canaan Field Club was the venue, with final playoffs at New Canaan High School on an indoor court. This event initially ran on a date separate from the National Championships, but as the professional era came to a close, the President’s Cup took its place the day before the APTA Nationals and remains an honored tradition to this day. Many President’s Cup teams have fond memories of playing hotly contested matches late into the even[...]
Read More
The Nationals came back to CT for the first time since 1935-36, when the Field Club in Greenwich had hosted some of the first Nationals. Merrill Lynch was the sponsor and The New Canaan Sports Council, the host. Elimination matches were held throughout lower Fairfield County at area clubs, with final rounds of the men's and women's Nationals and President’s Cup playoffs held indoors at New Canaan High School on a court specially constructed by R.J. Reilly for the occasion. Steve Baird and Rich Maier now had won four in a row, as had Doug Russell in the Singles. Not to be outdone Chuck Baird won his fifth straight 55+. Source: Platform Tennis News, March 1983 Note 1: There is some controversy as to how many National Women's Singles were played after the APTA had sanctioned a Men's event beginning in 1980. Women were participating in men's singles events because they had[...]
Read More
Maier was not content with just playing and teaching the game. He was an innovator, with a US patent (US4379554) as proof. Along with co-inventor Andreas D. Schuyler, they developed a new concept for the platform tennis paddle. The patent, filed on August 24 1981 and issued on April 12, 1983, described an improved platform tennis paddle constructed “with two outer laminated ply structures and inner laminated ply structure there between. The inner laminated ply structure has a central aperture there through which, in the preferred embodiment, is filled with a resilient plug. The edge of the paddle is protected by a T-shaped molding fitted in to the perimeter of the paddle, and to safeguard against de-lamination, the handle is of pegged construction.” The patent was assigned to Skymar Corporation, and Rich and Andreas built the racquet, Skymar Proflight, in a garage in Alle[...]
Read More
The APTA faced a loss of $5,000 due to unexpected tournament expenses and a major effort in the upcoming year would be on increasing membership
Read MoreIn May, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow hosted the 9th annual Eastern Hemisphere Platform Tennis Championships between U.S. Embassies Warsaw and Moscow. The competition began in 1975 and had become a fixture in the spring plans of both Embassies. The results of the previous eight meetings showed Moscow with seven wins against a lone victory by Embassy Warsaw in 1981.
Read MoreDuring the summer, the APTA approved the addition of a new region to be called Region VI that consisted of Canada (lower Ontario) and western New York (Syracuse, Rochester). Fritz Odenbach was named president for the region and had already announced the 11-event schedule for the 1983-'84 season. Source: Platform Tennis News, November 1983
Read More
The club hosted the Men’s 45+ Nationals, chaired by Bob Brown, and awards were presented to 38 FMTC members who had won National Championships. The fact that entries had to be 45 years old or over seemed to give the gallery more empathy for the players, especially in the tense finals, won by Dick Squires and Bill Mimnaugh after tiebreakers in each of the three sets. Although it was disappointing not to have Fox Meadow finalists, many spectators felt the match was one of the most exciting ones they'd ever watched. As former APTA President Cecil J. (Mike) North, Jr. of Bedford Golf and Tennis Club wrote in the program for an earlier Nationals: "As platform tennis attracts greater numbers of players, expands geographically, and becomes increasingly money-oriented, I think it is important to remember why people played it in the first place: because it is informal, because it is fu[...]
Read More
FMTC President Charlie Evans honored thirty-seven Club members who had won APTA National Championships; Next to him are all-time winners Madge Beck and Dick Hebard. Molly Ware and Do Deland received awards for their fathers, Blanchard and Cogswell. In the fall of 1981, Charlie Evans, president of Fox Meadow Tennis Club, proposed to the Board of Governors that the Club celebrate its 100th anniversary in 1983. He recommended that the Club publish a book about its history, and that it should try to host the 1983 APTA national Men's Doubles championship, at which time it would honor members who had won national titles. Lastly, Evans suggested holding a party for past and present members sometime in 1983. The board approved the recommendations, and appointed Walter Close as centennial chairman, and John Ware as the editor of the centennial book. In January 1982, a planning committee m[...]
Read More
In less than three month's play during the 1983-84 season, 50 APTA tournaments were staged. Mixed, 45s, Bs, and men's and women's ranking events were all seeing larger draws and the return of post-play parties.
Read More
Gub Gerrish had served on the APTA Board in the mid-70s and had been the group’s official photographer for many years. A man of tremendous energy, enthusiasm and personal magnetism, Gub was an avid spectator, distinguished photographer and reporter at hundreds of paddle events. He was a true gentleman who epitomized the spirit of paddle--competition, sportsmanship and camaraderie. A permanent trophy in honor of Gub has become part of the annual Rye tournament, with the trophy being presented to the winners of the senior event. Source: Platform Tennis News, February 1984
Read MoreRichart, of Upper Montclair, New Jersey, joined the Board in 1981, and had served as assistant treasurer, treasurer, and vice president.
Read More
In the Women’s, Region IV won with Region I finishing second and Region II in third place. In the Men’s, Region IV again won, their fourth win in seven years, but had to win their last match against Region III to do so. Region III finished in second place and Region I was third.
Read More
Jim McCready filed a report on the Cleveland Nationals in PTN, April 1984 For five days, the heart and spirit of platform tennis were in Cleveland at the National Championships. From March 7-11, the top men and women competed for the titles, as well as the President’s Cup crown. Near-blizzard conditions and 15-degree temperature were the norm for most of the event. In the women's event, which fielded a full 64-team draw, 400 fans braved the icy cold to watch Robin Fulton, the previous year's champion, and Yvonne Hackenberg, four-time champ, pair up to defeat Pat Butterfield and Diane Tucker. On the men’s side, 96 teams competed, including the New York-based team of Steve Baird of Harrison and Rich Maier of Nyack, who were seeking their fifth straight title. In the finals, they got off to a fast and deliberate start by winning the first two sets 6-3, 7-5. However, the four[...]
Read More
The October 1984 edition of the Official Rules of Platform Tennis carried the following Board-approved changes: Doubles and Singles The rules are the same, except for the following: In Singles, the game is played within the standard singles court, two serves are allowed, and no-ad scoring is used*. The no-ad game point is served into whichever service court the receiver chooses. The Hi-Bounce ball is recommended for singles. *(conditional 1-year trial rule - '84-85) Recommended Number of Sets Men's – Nationals: 2 out of 3 to the finals, then 3 out of 5. Fifth set played out Men's – 45: 2 out of 3, all the way Platform Tennis Paddle Standards Total Length: 18 1/16" maximum Width of Head (at widest point): 9 5/16" maximum Play Length (handle to outside edge of rim): 10 7/16" maximum Source: Platform Tennis News, November 1984
Read MoreJerry Manhold, with the help of Howie Sipe in Chicago, Chet Kermode in Cleveland, Jack Wales in Pittsburgh, and Bill Ballard in North Jersey, obtained APTA sanction to explore starting a Senior President’s event. There were some changes in the President’s Cup format used by the Senior President’s Cup players. • Players would be selected from among active league players in the four largest leagues: Chicago area, Cleveland area, Pittsburgh and northern New Jersey. • APTA membership was mandatory. • Play would be along the lines of the Gordon Cup competition in tennis, i.e., two matches at 45+ and 1 match at 50+, 55+, and 60+. • Play would be over one day only, which would provide a senior team with three matches in one day, followed by a fellowship dinner. • The Senior Cup was to be a prelude to a major senior championship; Source: Platform Tennis [...]
Read More
The Men’s Nationals returned to Fox Meadow, the "spiritual home" of Platform Tennis for the 1985 Championships. For the occasion, Molly Blanchard Ware, the daughter of Fessenden Blanchard a co-inventor of the sport, recalled the early days of the game and the camaraderie in an article in the New York Times. Source: APTA newsletters covering this event are missing
Read MoreThough Richard C. (Dick) Squires was a fine player, winning the Men’s title in 1966 and later adding two Men’s 45+ titles, he made his mark on the game as an outstanding promoter who helped take it on a growth spurt never seen before or since. When Life Magazine put paddle on the cover of a 1967 magazine, you could sense that something was about to happen in terms of the game becoming the “in thing.” What the sport needed, however, was a flamboyant advocate and showman who could lead the growth and become a catalyst for opening new frontiers. Squires did exactly that and broke a few eggs along the way. “Mr. Paddle” wrote about the game, published books on the game, produced instruction films about the game, built courts, endorsed attire, conducted clinics and found sponsors for an exciting new tournament that CBS Sports televised for its Sports Spectacular show. He al[...]
Read MoreDiane was credited with re-focusing the APTA after the Passport sponsorship era ended and, in 1987, establishing and organizing the new office in Upper Montclair, NJ. She updated many of the Board procedures to reflect the constantly changing cast of volunteers from a rapidly expanding paddle world.
Read MoreSince 1982, Jim had served as Region I’s APTA President, and was the pro at the Montclair Golf Club. He had become an APPTA instructor in 1977, and was a member of their Pro Advisory Board. Jim had a top 10 ranking in 1981.
Read More
The men’s and women’s National Championships culminated at the Fox Meadow Tennis Club in Scarsdale, NY, and crowned new champions in both divisions. Sunny skies and warm temperatures drew large weekend crowds and spurred on competitors. The women's tourney produced the popular team of Pat Butterfield and Diane Tucker as champions. In the men’s draw, the new and legitimate team of Hank Irvine and Greg Moore soundly and artistically beat the defending champions Baird and Maier. Over six hundred spectators shared the surprise as Moore and Irvine stayed even, and then won the big points for the first set. Behind 1-3 in the second, they flicked the switch and won eleven of twelve games to storm onto the popular straight set victory 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. Source: Platform Tennis News, April 1986 Greg Moore in action in the final of the Men’s Nationals at Fox Meadow Tennis Clu[...]
Read More
Stoessel was the former Ambassador to both the Soviet Union and Poland, and was responsible for the paddle courts built at both Embassies. In 1982, he had been appointed Deputy Secretary of State.
Read More
The Fox Meadow Tennis Club, represented by tournament liaison Bob Brown, continued the fine tradition of play and formality that makes a National Championship. Paul Molloy capably headed the Tournament Committee. Fox Meadow's President Dick Warren helped to convey the membership’s love for the game by showing the hospitality on which it always thrived. Hank and Betty Otto arranged housing for the many participants for the second year in a row. The officials were aptly handled by Tournament Referee Paul Sullivan and Brook Kindred. And, last but not least, Hugh and Rose King whose charm and class symbolizes every Fox Meadow member's incentive to do their tournament assignments correctly and in style. Source: Platform Tennis News, April 1986
Read MoreThe APTA moved to shared office space in a renovated building that provided common secretarial services. The move helped contain costs as the organization grew and was still located in the Upper Montclair, NJ, business district.
Read MoreSallie Van Norden McClure moved to Chicago in the 1960's, bringing with her a platform tennis heritage. She was the daughter of Fox Meadow President John Van Norden (1937-1938) during the Depression years when paddle was critical to the survival of the Club. The Nordens were neighbors of the Cogswells who built the first two courts. Norden McClure had been paddle tennis’ greatest Midwest sponsor, right up to her death. While many of her paddle tennis accomplishments are engraved on the trophies on display, it was the unrecorded teaching and organizing efforts that helped Chicago build a program of 57 women's teams (over 600 players) and 63 men's teams (800) players. Source: Platform Tennis News, Nationals 1988
Read More
The Cleveland Skating Club, which was celebrating it 50th anniversary, was the host club for the event. The women’s had a field of 56 teams and saw Pat Butterfield and Diane Tucker, the defending champions, just edged by Meri Lobel and Yvonne Hackenburg, in their semi-final match. In the final, they needed three sets to overcome the first-seeded team of Connie Jones and Gerri Viant. The men’s draw had a 72-team field and the finals were played in 70 degree weather. With very few errors by their opponents, Baird and Maier lost for the second year in a row to Moore and Irvine in straight sets. In the mixed, Jim Kaufman and Connie Jones won an exciting three set final over Tully and Meri Lobel. The pair were down 1-4 in the final set before winning the next five games. Behind The Screens 1987 National Championships - the stories and photographs. Source: Platform T[...]
Read MoreDon was the APTA President from 1942-1944. He began playing paddle in the early 1930s, and became a National Champion in 1943 with Charles O'Hearn as his partner. He was friendly with Blanchard and Cogswell and often contributed to the direction in which the game has evolved. Don was a member of Innis Arden Golf Club in Old Greenwich, CT, and an enthusiastic promoter of the game to the membership. The Innis Arden Mixed Invitational Tournament trophy is dedicated to him. Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1987
Read More
Manhold had served a five year term and was a major force behind the development of the Senior Paddle Scene. A former National Champion, he worked tirelessly as a Board Member to improve the plight of the Senior paddler. "The Legend," aptly dubbed by Howard Sipe, had striven to broaden the scope of competition throughout the U.S., and had introduced and chaired The Manhold Senior Challenge Cup competition.He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004. Source: Platform Tennis News, September 1984
Read MoreAt the annual meeting in May there was some spirited discussion on the following motions: • Allow a let to be taken if a lob, once landing in the court, were to bounce out, over the screening. • Allow a carry or double hit to be considered legal in paddle (currently illegal). • Have the first server in a tiebreaker start from the deuce court ,rather than the ad court, which is now the case. All were denied. Source: Platform Tennis News, September 1984
Read MoreThe Platform Tennis News, Summer 1996 had a summary of the Annual BOD meeting which included looking at the development of a website: …."Looking to the future to provide greater service to the membership, John Horine was directed to look into an Internet site…" The BOD Minutes of Sept 19, 1996 indicated a somewhat luke warm response to the proposal subsequently presented by Horine and funding was not approved… "The Board's reaction was varied, ranging from enthusiastic to skeptical. A motion to appropriate up to $5,000 to fund an adventure (sic) on the Internet was defeated. John, however, was not dissuaded and the website became on eventuality in 1997. The Sept. 24 1997 Minutes of the BOD reflected the reality: "John Horine reported the revised Web site looks good, and it has generated much activity. He asked each Regional President to sell advertising space f[...]
Read More
PTN Spring and Fritz Odenbach in PTN Summer covered the Men's and Women's Nationals Neither rain nor sleet nor 70-degree heat could keep Rochester from hosting the platform event of the year. And no weather anomalies could derail the eventual crowning of Gerri Viant and Connie Jones as national women's champs, and Rich Maier and Steve Baird as men's titlists. Gordon Gray almost achieved a Triple Crown by winning the 50+ and 55+, but lost a three-setter in the 45+ finals to Dick Heverland and Dave Dickenson. In bright sunlight and warm temperatures, patience played a major part in the Viant/Jones victory, as they refused to hurry their offensive attacks, and wore down Butterfield/Tucker with athleticism and soft overheads down the middle. The eventual winners also managed to avoid the crunching forehand of Tucker and patented Butterfield blitzes. The men's final had very [...]
Read More
Vasoll was a platform tennis fanatic, as was confirmed by his vanity automobile license plate, “P T NUT,” and the frame around it that read, “I’m crazy about platform tennis.” After only one year on the APTA Board of Directors, he was tapped to be the Association’s President. He had retired when a large New York City bank bought the community bank for which he worked, and he was able to devote many hours to his new “job.” He commuted from Long Island to the APTA office in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. Vasoll was the first President to serve four years since Fessenden Blanchard in 1934-38. After his term as President, he continued to serve on the Board until 2001. In 2002, he chaired the National Championships on Long Island. He was active in the publishing of the APTA newsletter, Platform Tennis News, and had a web site, PlatformTennisNews.com for five [...]
Read MoreIn 1988, Jim McCready stepped down as Executive Director to return to the teaching court. He had been instrumental in changing over the APTA office environment to the computer age. Jim took the office on the road frequently, as a player visiting emerging paddle hubs, and championed the return of the nationals to FMTC in 1985. He also edited, photographed, and wrote for the APTA newsletter, Platform Tennis News.
Read More
The APTA named Ginna Ohlmuller as the new executive director. Ginna had a long history of platform tennis involvement that included several years as a nationally- ranked player on the women's circuit, with partner Rita Goldberg; paddle chairmanship at the Montclair Golf Club for the previous three years, and a feared partnership with her son, David, in mixed doubles.
Read MoreIn the Summer 1988 issue of Platform Tennis News, the veteran court builder shared the following observations: Head Hunters and Architects In 29 years of building platform tennis courts, you could say we've seen it all—or at least most of it—from: • Lifting a court to the top of a city building by helicopter, to • Having a building crew told not to stray far from the building site in Indonesia, lest they loose their heads, literally, to • Building a six-court complex at the top of NYU's library only to move it several years later because the building's world-renowned architect was insulted that he was not consulted before the courts were put on "his" building. When I first played paddle 30 years ago, I was immediately enamored of the game, but horrified at the poor quality of the courts we all played on. Being familiar with construction, and believing the game[...]
Read More
Walt Peckinpaugh, Region IV President and Board Member led an effort to address issues with the ball – how true it bounces, how long it lasts and how much it cost. The following report was contained in the Fall edition of Platform Tennis News: Late in May, Walt brought our concerns about the ball to our primary supplier, the Hedstrom Corporation, maker of Vittert platform tennis balls. In their conversation, several matters were discussed and plans to implement improvements were on the agenda of the June meeting of the APTA Board. First and foremost, Hedstrom will continue to supply Vittert balls to the market at a competitive price. This is vital because we have no game without a proper ball. We are told, however, that there may be a substantial price increase because the costs of raw material used in the ball have more than doubled since last year. This is due to the demand[...]
Read More
The APTA recognized that the development of the next generation of players had been overlooked in recent years and looked to rebuild interest with a National Clinic Days. The clinics would feature area pros and top players contributing time and expertise in conducting free clinics throughout the US and Canada.
Read More
APTA President Chuck Vasoll reported on progress in the Mid-Winter edition of PTN. We received several responses to our ad for a “Rubber Chemist” to aid us in our search for improvements to “The Ball." We will be following up on them with the hope that it will be fruitful in bringing us an improved product for our game. Speaking of the "ball," I recently delivered a supply to the captain of one our women's teams. As I was descending the steps at the rear of her house, I could not believe my eyes. There growing in the garden were "Platform Tennis Balls." Closer inspection, however, showed them to be yellow gourds. Unfortunately, this picture in black and white is not as striking as the color original, but you can visualize it. When I mentioned this finding and put up the picture on our warm-up hut bulletin board, I was told that it was a great idea to grow the balls, except t[...]
Read MoreIn the Mid-Winter edition of Platform Tennis News, the APTA published a long list of the clubs, schools and municipal facilities that made up its membership. They believed the list contained only half the facilities in U.S. and Canada, and so they encouraged readers to see if their facility was listed and, if not, suggest that it join the APTA.
Read MoreThe APTA Board, sensing that its composition was perhaps a little heavy on youth and losing institutional memory, re-elected Bob Brown, who had served as APTA President from 1973–1975, for a second term. Bob continued this new assignment until 1998, resulting in a total of 22 years of service on the APTA Board.
Read More
After a year’s study and the presentation of several different options, the APTA Board of Directors, at its October 7th meeting, agreed upon a plan presented by Walt Peckinpaugh and Rick Williams, presidents of Regions IV and VI, respectively, to realign the group’s geographic regions. The plan combined their two jurisdictions and created two revamped regions. The change became effective at the start of the APTA fiscal year, May 1, 1990. The new Region IV extended from Syracuse, New York, on the East, into telephone area codes 814 and 412 in western Pennsylvania. It included the states of Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia, the eastern half of Michigan with telephone area codes 517 and 313, and the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Midwest Region, which was given the new designation number V, was anchored by Chicago and the state of Illinois, and the western half of Michigan, with[...]
Read MorePurpose of the study: At the May 1988 meeting of the APTA Board of Directors Gary Horvath was asked to chair a committee to work with Fran Sennas to study the Presidents' Cup. This study will be conducted in several phases. Phase I is the compilation of the history of the APTA Men's and Women's President Cup. This event has developed a tradition as rich as that of the National Championships. The event has had a number of formats, a wide variety of sponsors and at times its share of controversy - primarily in administrative matters. Throughout it all, the events have been characterized by an unparalleled amount of camaraderie, sportsmanship and fun. Hopefully an accurate record of these happenings can be compiled while the individuals who made this event so great are still interested in the great sport of platform tennis. The purpose of establishing an accurate record of [...]
Read More
The event marked the 60th anniversary of the game and was the 55th Nationals. The Men’s was chaired by Bob Brown and the Women’s by Judy Macy. The tournament program carried the following letter from the Tournament Coordinator: Welcome to the 1989 Women's and Men's National Championships and the President’s Cup team competitions: How time flies! It was 20 years ago this month that I first ran the Men's Nationals at Fox Meadow and it seems like only yesterday. I have many vivid and pleasant memories of that event (won by Gordon Gray and Jesse Sammis over Brad Drowne and Bill Scarlett 6-1, 7-5, 3-6, 8 6), as well as the many other exciting championship matches at the club in the years since. In those days, the finals were played on Court #2 before a cozy crowd. During the 1970's, as the game's popularity boomed, the finals were shifted to Court #1 in order to surround [...]
Read MoreProbably the worst match Paul Molloy ever worked was at Rye, between Herb Fitz Gibbon and Hank Irvine against Gordon Gray and Doug Russell that went to 18-16 in the fifth set on a Super Bowl Sunday. After the match, Molloy met with the rules committee and got them to agree to play tiebreakers all the way.
Read MoreWhen Paddle Tennis News asked about the memorable matches he saw, this was his response. These recollections appeared in the March edition of PTN: “I wish I had some vivid recollections of the classic matches involving Hebard, Carver, Pardoe, Harrison, O'Hearn and others. They were all great. Ted Winpenny comes to mind as the cagiest player I ever saw. Very steady and sneaky good. Of the players I have umpired for over the last 16 years, there are several that stand out in my mind. Bob Kingsbury gave the most effort. I wish I had a dollar for every time he scraped himself up going for and usually getting an impossible shot. Greg Brents was the fastest I ever saw. There was no way you could send a ball past him that he couldn't get back and retrieve. Watching Hank Irvine was a joy. He has great style and no one ever covered his partner as he did. Herb Fitz Gibbon's serve retu[...]
Read More
PTN Spring 1989 had the coverage of the Men's and Women's Nationals. The top two seeds never saw the light of day in the Women's Nationals finals, as Bobo Mangan and Sarah Krieger rose from their third-seeded position to lay claim to the title of Women's National Champions for 1988-89. Before a sun-drenched crowd at the “Home of Platform Tennis” at Fox Meadow in Scarsdale, NY, Mangan and Krieger eked out a 7-6, 6-3 triumph over fellow up-setters Sue Aery and Mary Ginnard, who had overcome one of the strongest women’s teams in recent years, Robin Fulton and Diane Tucker, in the semis. After a year beset by change in the world of men's platform tennis, the National Championships changed all that by going according to form. In a grueling, almost three-hour final, top-seeded and six-time champions Rich Maier and Steve Baird overcame the rising brother combo of Bob and [...]
Read MoreThe Spring edition of Platform Tennis News carried the following article from an anonymous paddler from Troy, NY who was obviously unaware that the eminent historian and Old Army Athlete C. Alison Scully had already provided a history of the game to Fess Blanchard in 1935 for an article Blanchard had been asked to write for Esquire (See Tracing the Origins of Paddle Tennis). The History of Platform Tennis: THE EARLIEST SIGNS Carbon dating has fixed earliest known relics of platform tennis around 40,000 B.C. Signs at the tundra town of Jhurk, have unearthed early paddles, probably made of caribou or whale skin, laminated by placing under eskimos. Over what must have been a precipice have been found thousands of round, resilient projectil[...]
Read MoreWood was the second woman president of Fox Meadow, following Hopeton D. Atterbury, later Mrs. William Quaid, who served in 1907 and 1909.
Read MoreIn an effort to extend its services to more paddle players at every skill level, the APTA created a new position on its Board and appointed Mark Allen as its first-ever liaison to platform leagues. Platform Tennis News began carrying information on league activities, and started the ball rolling with a review of the exceptional growth of one of the East Coast's most successful programs, the New Jersey Men's Platform Tennis League. Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1989
Read More
Platform tennis was not only enjoying a resurgence in the United States, but its boundaries were expanding worldwide. Alfred Schulter sent expansion news from Austria. Schulter had built the first two courts in his country with construction information and encouragement from the APTA home office. At the time, he was building new courts for the Sporting University in Graz, in the south of Austria. The Second Open National Championship of Styria (Graz region) was scheduled for Nov. 10-12. Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1989
Read MoreThe APTA moved to a best-of-three sets format for the men's national ranking and National Championship events. Many ranking events had already adopted this format. The 12 point Tiebreak was recommended for all sets except for the third set in the finals of the Men's, Women's and Mixed National Championships which were to be played out. See also 1984 rule change for Men's National Championship Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1989
Read MoreThe APTA had asked Bob Brown, the 1989 Tournament Chair, to loan them his extensive notebook covering planning documents and records as they wanted to reproduce it for use as a guidance document for future events. Brown had been involved in running the Nationals at Fox Meadow Tennis Club for many years and had developed a very detailed play-book. The book was handed over to the APTA at the May 19th Annual Meeting. A week later Ginna Ohlmuller, the APTA Executive Secretary, called Brown to say that her car had been broken into and a silver trophy and the play-book had been stolen. Despite reporting the loss to the police they were never recovered. Source: Robert A. Brown note dated 5/31/1989
Read MoreThroughout the 1980s and 1990s, racquets became more responsive, balls became livelier, and there was a general trend toward tighter screen tension. All these changes facilitated learning the sport and increased enjoyment for the recreational player. The average player could now sustain extended rallies and balls wouldn’t simply die on the screens. At the highest levels of the game, however, long points and tight screens pushed the physical threshold of players further than ever.
Read MoreThe Mid-Winter edition of Platform Tennis News carried this article: “It has been conceived but it is not yet born. If it survives, it will be named ‘PTN UPDATE.’ Like so many publications similarly designated, its mission is to bring current news to everyone while it is still, well, current. In our situation, the principal news will be the results of tournaments around the nation, any schedule changes, and information on competition in various leagues. ‘PTN UPDATE’ will take the shape of a “newsletter’ while Platform Tennis News will move more towards being a ‘magazine.’ It is expected that the new publication will be four letter-size pages in length, with one page being reserved for addressing and advertising. To minimize cost and expedite production, no pictures are planned. These will continue to be used in Platform Tennis News. At present, three issues are be[...]
Read MoreTom Rodgers at Eastern Mountain Platform Tennis built the first court in Stockholm, Sweden in the Fall of 1988. Rick Williams and Fritz Odenbach helped promote the game by conducting an exhibition and clinics. Rick Williams reported on the experience in the Mid-Winter edition of Platform Tennis News: “Our host was Jan Stenbeck who is an enthusiastic player now residing on Long Island but still cultivating many strong Swedish ties. Located on city property near a public tennis/sport facility and in the shadow of the 1912 summer Olympic stadium in Stockholm, the public exposure is tremendous. This could be the beginning of a paddle tennis explosion in Sweden. The climate is perfect for paddle with an average winter temperature a touch below freezing, short days with a long season and the Swedish passion for outdoor sports. It is a natural. A wonderful gentleman named Per Torne[...]
Read MoreVasoll penned an article for the Winter edition of PTN covering an informal conversation he had had with Robert Brown, former APTA President and the President of Region I, who had suggested that platform tennis take the lead in the elimination of the "let" on the serve. No changes were being proposed, but APTA membership was encouraged to provide opinions.
Read More
The growth of regional tournaments required a dedicated newsletter to capture the results. [see also APTA conditionally approves new publication
Read MoreThe Children’s Village (Dobbs Ferry, NY) Tournament, held annually at Fox Meadow, was now in its ninth year and the results had been fabulous. From $900 the first year to over $10,000 the previous year, money was donated to this worthy cause through a slew of sponsors, silent auctions, direct donations and the open hearts and wallets of the women's platform tennis community. Much of the credit for this best run/ most fun tourney went to Fox Meadow member Barbara Rau and her able colleagues Barb Lippe, Yvonne Robinson and Delsa Wilson. There was an anonymous "Super Angel" who kicked in big bucks every year. Home Insurance Co. also received an angel designation, while Family Circle Magazine was a benefactor, and People's Westchester Savings Bank and Hedstrom Corp. were Patrons. As noted in the Winter 1990 issue of PTN, “The list of donors and friends runs the length of the baseli[...]
Read More
Platform Tennis News reported on a 12 & under and 15 & under tournament run by Bobo Delaney at Montclair Golf Club, as well as a Junior clinic at Short Hills featuring Hank Irvine, Paul Quinn, Greg Moore, and Lloyd Ucko. “Junior paddle got off to a bang this Fall in the East as Bobo Mangan Delaney opened the season with a fun tournament for the 12-under and 15-under set at Montclair Golf Club (NJ) in October. Due to the size of the draw, some events were run as round robins. The enthusiasm generated by professionals like Bobo makes all the difference in organizing a successful platform tennis event. Kids love to come out and play – round robins, tournaments, beat the pro-whatever! Get organized so your club can be the next to host a junior event. Another special event occurred in November when Hank Irvine, Paul Quinn, Greg Moore, and Lloyd Ucko instructed children in the fin[...]
Read MoreBob Brown, an ex-President of the APTA, was named Chair of a revitalized committee tasked with evaluating balls and rackets to see that they met standard specifications. The Mid-Winter edition of Platform Tennis News gave the background to this new initiative: “One problem has surfaced: Rackets with holes larger than the mandated 3/8-inch diameter. Some come that way accidentally from the manufacturer. Rumor is that some players have made them wider at home. Bigger holes afford an illegal competitive advantage, giving more spin and better control to the user. THEY ARE NOT ALLOWABLE. If you bought one by accident (just get a 3/ 8 inch dowel to check), take it back to the person you bought it from and get another. Nobody should use illegal rackets at any time, whether it's a pick-up match or the National finals. If a racket is found illegal at an APTA sponsored event, it will be di[...]
Read MoreThe Men's President's Cup was won by Region III, while, in the Women’s competition, it was Region II that took the Cup home.
Read More
The Men's and Women's Nationals were covered in PTN Spring 1990: The 1990 Nationals were an overwhelming testament to the organization and tenacity of the Chicago-area people who ran the show. The strength of paddle tennis was evident by the Men's draw that closed at 128 (more than 40 teams were turned away). Four new Reilly courts were built in a formerly barren parking lot, expanding the court total to eight at the suburban Winnetka Park District facility. The site hosted the men's and women's President's Cup challenges, as well as all the March 11th Sunday finals. “Field of Screens” was the buzzword for the weekend: “If you build it, they will come…” and, they did. More than 600 people, one of the largest crowds in platform tennis history, showed up for Sunday's finals. In the end, odds-on favorites Rich Maier and Steve Baird took their eighth national c[...]
Read More
New bylaws gave voting rights to all members. Previously, only Life Members and representatives of clubs and other court owners were able to cast ballots for APTA leadership. The Spring edition of Platform Tennis News covered the change: “Enfranchisement may be sweeping over Eastern Europe these days, but it's a year behind the ‘one-person, one vote’ move by the American Platform Tennis Association. At its annual meeting last May, the APTA Board of Directors approved a new set of by-laws for the organization that, for the first time gave voting rights to all members. Previously, only Life Members and representatives of clubs and other court owners were able to cast ballots for the organization's leadership. Now it's time to exercise your right. Your personal proxy ballot is enclosed in this issue of Platform Tennis News. Cast your vote for this year's slate of nominees by ma[...]
Read More
The Orange Lawn Tennis Club published a mock version of Platform Tennis News and PTN’s editor Brian Zevnik made a case for covering the human-interest side of the game. “They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. In this case, it's not just flattering. It's funny. The Orange Lawn Tennis Club produced a mock PTN last year and sent me a copy. I wish all of my PTN copy were as ingenious and humorous as theirs. Of course, they also had a fake lingerie ad, which would certainly spice up these pages. But alas and alack, this is a family publication! Anyway, I'm reprinting their lead story below. It's amusing, and I'm sure even funnier for the club members who know the ‘participants’ well. The point is, we can always use such literary help here at the APTA's ‘real’ publication. That's why I'm always drumming up business for us - writers, contributors, idea people, e[...]
Read More
As usual, the composition of the men's/women's President’s Cup teams was the subject of millions of words aimed at change. Various committees had put forth various solutions, none of which enjoyed widespread support. There were basic philosophical differences: Is the Cup meant for the “weekend” or middle-of-the- road player, or should everyone have a shot at it? Many players viewed it as prestigious and an honor to be asked. The APTA Board went so far as to develop a ballot with a series of options. The majority of both the men and women agreed that no top eight teams from the 1989-90 season could represent their regions, whether as individuals or teams. Source: Platform Tennis News, Fall 1990
Read MoreThe Harrison Ford box office hit Presumed Innocent featured platform tennis paraphernalia.
Read More
Arge Platform was formed by Alfred Schuter and two of his friends to build courts and promote the game in Austria. They also ran tournaments at Ramsau in the Austrian Alps. In 1990, Rich Maier and Mike Gillespie were invited to play in a Ramsau event and a second tournament in Vienna, where a new court had been built. Rich and Mike were asked to do several exhibitions, and to teach at the Sporting University in Graz. There they taught a group of young men who hope to be the future platform tennis pros in Austria. One of the most exciting promotional events was an exhibition by the two top Austrian wheelchair tennis champions who were invited to play paddle with Mike and Rich. This was surely a first for platform tennis! During the final awards ceremony, the International Cup was presented to Mike and Rich, along with their prize money, in hefty stacks of single U.S. dollar bills. [...]
Read More
Kathy Reilly in the R. J. Reilly, Ic. publication Behind the Screens, as quoted in PTN, Winter 1991 said: “If paddle had a Hall of Fame, Charlotte Lee would be a charter member. Charlotte Lee first picked up a paddle at age 42 in 1957, and since then has won sixteen National titles, been a runner up seven times, and has won an almost uncountable number of club and state championships in both mixed and women's play.” The winter edition of PTN carried the full tribute by Kathy Reilly, as well as a number of other remembrances, among which was one from Richard J. Reilly, Jr.: “If ever there has been an angel to guide and inspire a sports following morally, physically, and spiritually, it has to be Charlotte Lee.” Charlotte Lee was the recipient of the APTA Honor Award in 1966. Source: Platform Tennis News, Winter 1991
Read More
After an absence of 12 years, the Honor Awards program of the APTA was brought back at the urging of APTA President Chuck Vasoll. The award provided recognition to those men and women who had contributed in an exemplary manner to the game of platform tennis. The last awards had been presented, in 1979, to Peggy Stanton and Eldridge Birmingham. Since the inception of the award in 1965, 24 men and 9 women had been honored. Robert Brown accepted the appointment by APTA President Charles Vasoll to be Chairman of the Honor Awards Committee. Source: Platform Tennis News, Winter 1991
Read MoreThe following lament had been heard all too often, this time emanating from Weezie Lambert in Princeton: “The ‘official’ ball is a round puff which self destructs after one set or less, growing shaggy and virtually falling apart. Who has a new variation? Where is the competition? Everyone in league play is fed up with spending more per ball, knowing it may be lopsided to start. Wish I had a solution. Does someone out there?” Both manufacturers and the APTA had been working on the problem. The association had contracted with the United States Testing Company to assess a sample of balls from three different manufactures to see if they met the specifications published in Appendix A of the Official Rules of Platform Tennis. One of the three balls tested was the then approved Vittert V-30 ball, which was found to conform to the APTA standards and tolerances. The other two ba[...]
Read More
The Board of Directors of the APTA voted to initiate a program that would recognize the winners and finalists in all championship tournaments with the presentation of APTA Championship medals. The first presentations were made to the 1991 winners. The medals were designed with the assistance of the prestigious firm of Josten's Inc., the supplier of many kinds of recognition jewelry, including the Super Bowl rings for the National Football League. Champions would be presented with gold medals with green and gold ribbon, while the finalists would take home a silver medal with green and white ribbon. The presentations were to take place at all 17 doubles competitions, including the three ages of Juniors and the Singles event. Source: Platform Tennis News, Winter 1991
Read MoreThe 1991 Women’s President’s Cup was taken by Region I by a landslide. They received the coveted trophy in dinner ceremonies at the Merion Cricket Club. On the men’s side, the local Region's team was going for its fifth straight men's President's Cup win on its home courts in Philadelphia. They prevailed with 57 points. Region V came in a close second with 54 points, followed by Region I with 52. The competition was very close. Region III had to take six tie-breakers in the last three matches against Region I foes in order to clinch the victory. And they did. Source Platform Tennis News, Spring 1991
Read More
The Men's and Women's Nationals were covered in PTN Spring 1991: The National Championship field included 96 men's and 64 women’s teams, showcasing the top-ranked professional and amateur players from the U.S. and Canada. Due to the size of the field, the matches were played at several different sites. Aronimink Golf Club and Waynesborough Country Club hosted the National Championships. Overbrook Golf Club and Whitford Country Club hosted the Women's and Men's President's Cup play. In the women's event, defending champions Gerri Viant/Sue Aery just couldn't match the firepower of Connecticut's Robin Fulton/Diane Tucker, and succumbed in a tightly-contested straight-set final (6-4, 6-3). The men's event featured an upset-in-the-making for one set, before eight-time Nationals men's champions Rich Maier and Steve Baird turned on the afterburners to overcome a 6-2 first-s[...]
Read More
PTN Update Vol.1, No. 2, February 1990
Read MorePete Mathews posed the global warming question based on his observations over time, and questioned ball specifications His comments appeared in the Spring 1991 edition of Platform Tennis News. “Has ‘Global Warming’ really begun to affect the climate? I'm no expert, but I've noticed one thing for sure. Paddle seems to be played under much warmer conditions than I seem to remember in years past. How many photographs in PTN do you see where the pictured players are in either shorts or short sleeves? Furthermore, with the Nationals played later and later in March, the likelihood for warm conditions is greatly heightened for what is the culmination of our season and the supreme test of the game as played today. Well here's the real issue for discussion. The current V-30 ball produced by Vittert (and the only ball sanctioned for tournament play) has evolved a good bit over the past[...]
Read More
The APTA BOD reinstated the Honors Award which would be awarded at National Championships.The first awards under this program took place in 1992. A "NO FOOT-FAULT" sign had been developed for use at clubs and a proposal was made to let the receiving team call a let instead of taking the point. There was an extended discussion on balls and ball testing and on the presentation by Rich Maier about the ARD ball at the annual meeting
Read MoreAdvanced Recreation Design (ARD) introduced a new platform tennis ball to the sport during the 1991-1992 season, after a significant amount of research and development. Carly Swain explained the journey: “One of the main points concerns the APTA specifications for approved baIls. Those specs include such factors as weight, diameter and rebound or bounce, with acceptable tolerances dictated for each measure. But the specifications do not take into account other factors, such as durability, playability, and color retention. Nor do they address the question of quality control in terms of how many balls are tested to meet the specifications. (Note: The APTA's rules and equipment committee had struggled with the tactical aspects of inspecting balls for some time. There were questions about how many balls to test, how to acquire the balls and where they come from, and who paid for the[...]
Read More
In addition to Reilly's aluminum deck other innovators had been suggesting alternative materials such as plywood, steel, asphalt and Laykold. Courts had to pass a two season test before the APTA would provide approval. The plywood surface was developed by "Mr. Paddle", the Hall of Fame Inductee Dick Squires' company Squires Marketing Associates Company (SMAC). The Minutes note that the APTA expected SMAC to seek approval soon but there had been some issues reported; ultimately the plywood deck proved unworkable. The surface had been used at the VAT Gold Cup earlier in the year.
Read More
The APTA had started the National Championships medal program in 1991. The 1992 medals included those for the winners and finalists of the Women's Senior 60+ Championship, an event that was inaugurated in 1999!
Read MoreG.A.I. Partners had acquired Hedstrom, the manufacturer of the Vittert ball, and the new corporate leader was a platform tennis enthusiast. The new owners had given Hedstrom the funds to provide the innovative leadership the game has requested to enhance ball performance. They hired new technical talent, implemented new manufacturing methods, and started a statistical process control and continuous improvement program. The main thrust of Vittert's efforts was on improving the physical aspects, as the balls had been lopsided, were losing their flocking, and worst of all, wearing out very quickly. Besides the composition of the ball itself, there were other contributing factors. Court surfaces had become more “severe,” as new methods were introduced to keep them rough. Screens, especially the newer and tighter ones, took a toll. Plus players were learning to use more “English” o[...]
Read More
Change had been the hallmark of President’s Cup play over the years and Reb Speare provided some more. In PTN’s Fall 1991 issue, he announced the oranization’s decision to separate the President’s Cup from the Nationals, and offered the following reasons: “First, separating President's Cup from the Nationals will give us two events with extensive inter-regional play. Although there has been substantial progress from an organizational standpoint, APTA's activities/ events are still fragmented. There is a scarcity of interaction between players from different geographic areas. Other than the Nationals, I do not believe there is an event that draws players from all of our regions. Most national ranking tournaments draw players from only two regions (the host region and an adjoining region); any participation from the other four regions is token, at best. Secondly, separatin[...]
Read More
Why doesn't the APTA do something about “foot-faulting?” The APTA had heard it expressed verbally and in writing many, many, many times. Some complaints were quite loud, and some were very strong. They responded to this criticism in two ways. First, by taking up a suggestion that came from Mike Dougherty of Garden City, Long Island (NY), they attacked the problem from a light side. A series of three posters, illustrated below, had been sent to every member Club to display in their warm-up huts, bulletin boards, or locker rooms, to remind players of this violation of the rules. The second step was a directive given to the APTA Rules Committee, led by former President Bob Brown, to look into the problem and make some recommendations. Source: Platform Tennis News, Fall 1991
Read More
It had been unclear for several years where the lines were drawn in upstate New York between the current Region IV that encompassed the Rochester area, and Region I, which appeared to end someplace north of New York City. At it’s May 17th meeting, the Board of Directors resolved the problem by deeding the unknown area to Region II. From testimony presented by Region II president Dan McCormick, it was determined that players in this area, particularly those in and about Albany (NY), were more comfortable traveling east to Vermont and Massachusetts for tournaments than coming downstate or heading west. Thus, a line was drawn north of Dutchess, Ulster and Sullivan counties and east of Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Chenango and Broome counties to define the southern and western boundaries of Region II in New York State. This left areas such as Syracuse in Region IV, but placed Utica an[...]
Read MoreWhen Fox Meadow celebrated its hundredth anniversary in 1983, they almost ran out of numbers in recording Madeline “Madge” Beck's accomplishments on a national ranking level. Madge Beck counted among her accolades the women's singles crown in 1936, and the mixed doubles titles in 1939, 1953, 1954 and 1956. But it was in Women's doubles where she left her greatest legacy, winning the national championship for five consecutive years (1938-42), then again in 1949, then another streak of four (1951-1954), and again in 1959 and 1960. Fox Meadow also cheered its famous women's player with a quiz question: What individual went the greatest span of years between winning National Championship honors? Madge Beck holds that honor with a 22-year span between her first and last women's doubles titles. Source: Platform Tennis News, Mid-Winter 1991
Read MoreHedstrom, the maker of the Vittert ball, stepped up communication to the paddle community about their program to address issues with ball quality and durability. James Braeuing, VP Operations reported on progress: “A. Wobble/out of round - We have isolated the cause of this problem and currently have a program to update our press temperature and cooling water controls to increase the consistency. We feel these changes will eliminate the problem. B. Bounce consistency - As you are aware, we recognized that our bounce adjustment at the beginning of last season was too severe and led to a squishy feeling as well. We adjusted the firmness and bounce in early September. Since that time, we feel we have isolated what we consider to be the most appropriate firmness and bounce. We are revising our producing equipment to target this specification and are also engineering and fabricatin[...]
Read MoreWhen the Long Island Platform Tennis Association (LIPTA) undertook responsibility to conduct the Men's and Women's National Championships in March, it decided to designate the Children's House and the Interfaith Nutrition Network as co-beneficiaries of the net proceeds of the fund-raising efforts for the event. These two recipients were chosen because of the involvement by two of LIPTA's Directors with the organizations. Alfred Devendorf presented the case for the Children's House, and Gloria Grafer represented the INN. Initially, there was great skepticism among the Tournament Committee as to whether a worthwhile sum could be expected to be raised, because the previous championships, in Chicago and Philadelphia, had not made a profit. Once the charities were named, the fundraising and volunteering of services moved ahead quickly. Sport clothing with the logo of the champions[...]
Read More
PTN Update Vol.2, No. 2, February 1991
Read More
The Men's and Women's Nationals were covered in PTN Spring 1992: Gerri Viant and Sue Aery returned to the top of the women's paddle heap with a gutsy three-set win over Robin Fulton and Diane Tucker, the year's #1 seeds going into the tourney. On the men's side, defending champ Rich Maier was forced to find a new partner just a week before the tourney when his long-time ally Steve Baird injured his leg. Along came Bob Kleinert, acknowledged as one of the top individuals in the game and a force over the last few years at the top of the men's rankings with his brother, Jack. The veteran, but newly constituted, duo met up in the final with the surprise team of the entire tournament, Tom Houlihan from Region II and Mike Gillespie from Region I. With his usual partner, Ron Erskine, unavailable, Gillespie joined Houlihan and proceeded to knock out seeds #6, #1, and #3, before [...]
Read More
Among the volunteers at the National Championships was Joseph Quintillan, outfitted with a special red cap donated by McDaniel Ford. He rounded up used balls for recycling. Quintillan was a finalist in the 1997 Boys 18 and under, and won the event in 1999.
Read More
Chuck Vasoll, APTA President, who had pushed to re-establish the award had this comment: “I believe the Committee, which was established last year, has done an excellent job in the selection process. I wish to extend my sincere thanks to former APTA president Bob Brown, who served as chairman, and Roger Cole, also a former APTA president, and Brook Kindred, chairman of the original Honor Awards Committee, who served with me on this year's Committee. I hope that now that this tradition has been rekindled, it will not be allowed to burn out.” Source: Platform Tennis News, Winter & Spring 1992 Charles F. Baird: Chuck Baird was introduced to the game when he was in his mid thirties, but only started playing seriouslyin his mid-forties when overseas job postings stopped and he could participate more frequently. He then proceeded to amass an enviable record. In the late 1960 thro[...]
Read MoreZevnik took Vasoll’s accomplishments one step further and developed the successful collaboration with the Lineal Group for their Grand Prix competitions. He broke the barrier of 3,000 in individual memberships, and turned Platform Tennis News and PTN Update into periodicals anxiously anticipated by all members.
Read More
The Board Meeting had an extensive discussion on balls and developing a policy for use of balls in National Championships and Ranking Tournaments. Hedstrom had made a proposal to the APTA regarding the growth and development of the game. The proposal generated quite a discussion as summarized in the Minutes: "Each Director was asked to comment on the proposal. Comments were: money (Passport) destroyed the camaraderie of the game; TV coverage doesn't work; not enthusiastic about playing indoors; against paying a few top professionals; questioned ability to obtain sponsorship; concept of proposal was good, but it lacked substance. Alternate suggestions were: pay travel expenses for President's Cup players; pay top professionals to hold clinics around the country; sponsor Pro-Am events in several regions; Seniors tour; target a program for B level players; Juniors clinics; and, target[...]
Read More
APTA joined with the owners of Hedstrom Corp., the makers of the Vittert balls, and Lineal Group, Inc. to form the Lineal Group Grand Prix Series. Platform Tennis News had the details: “Combined with sponsors like Romana Sambuca and Prince, and guided by a professional sports marketing organization, the goal is to expand the horizons and fuel the growth of the game of platform. That's quite a mouthful. And it's quite an undertaking. It will require quite a lot of support from platform players across the country. But the potential payback will be well worth it. The goal: more enthusiasm, more excitement, more crowds, more players enjoying a great sport. The vehicle: a series of three qualifying tournaments and a grand finale, all spiced by prize money awarded to the top teams. The money lends an air of excitement and competition, and will hopefully bring out the best players.[...]
Read MoreThe first two of the four tournament series were in Philadelphia, PA, and Greenwich, CT, and aroused lots of interest. Platform Tennis News carried the story. “For a new idea, the four-tournament, prize money Lineal Group Grand Prix series seems to have caught on awfully fast. The first two tournaments, Philadelphia and Greenwich Invitationals, aroused lots of interest and sparked extremely competitive draws. Even more importantly, the game of platform received added exposure and publicity to both the general sports public and paddle aficionados at various clubs in the tournament areas. Posters were plastered everywhere, flyers were distributed, ads were placed in local newspapers. Top men's players put on exhibitions on both Friday nights before the weekend draws; and top women players did likewise with youth clinics on Saturday. In fact, the Greenwich exhibition featured Detro[...]
Read More
Twenty-seven club Chairmen from as far as Wyoming attended the program hosted by R.J. Reilly Platform Tennis Courts at Fox Meadow Tennis Club. Platform Tennis News covered the day’s proceedings. “Early in October, a dedicated and enthusiastic group of twenty-seven club chairmen came together from as far away as Wyoming and as close as the Fox Meadow Tennis Club, which donated its facilities for the event to its host, the R.J. Reilly Platform Tennis Courts. They gathered to learn from one another and from expert discussion leaders about improving their programs. Kicking off the day's activities, the attendees heard from Bob Callaway who pioneered a commercial paddle center in Norwalk, Connecticut almost two decades ago and Dick Reilly, an APTA honor award recipient and builder of courts, who sponsored the event. Greg Moore and Buddy Scudder led a discussion group coveri[...]
Read MoreArt Houilhan’s enthusiastic public relations campaign for the Grizzly Affair drew players from neighboring states and Canada. The tournament also officially introduced Reilly's latest innovation: The Lawn Level Court. The concept of the new court was to make it more attractive so it will fit appealingly into any setting. By excavating below the court for the pier and heater installation, the need to install the court three to four feet above ground on concrete piers would be eliminated. The court therefore sat at grade level, making it much easier to watch play. Platform Tennis News covered the event in detail: “In its constant quest to expand, the APTA can now add Montana to its list of states that host tournaments. Without a platform tradition, most Montana residents had no idea what platform tennis was. Thankfully the Grizzly Affair tournament's enthusiastic public rela[...]
Read MoreIn the days preceding each year's men's and women's (and now mixed) National Championships, hardy bands of competitors from each region of our country collide in cataclysmic contests (how's that for alliteration and exaggeration?) to determine who takes home the gold (only figuratively) from the annual Presidents' Cup challenges. Each Region develops its own method for selecting tearns, some calculating individual points, some demanding team scores. All you have to do to be eligible is pick up a copy of the Tournament Schedule, find out which events in your region carry PC points, and then rack 'em up. As evidenced by the pictures on this page, the Presidents' Cup is unequaled for both competition and fun . So start early in the season, and let the games begin. Source: Platform Tennis News, Fall 1992
Read More
Dick Squires was one of the great promotors of the game who helped take the game on a growth spurt never seen before or since. “Mr. Paddle” wrote about the game, published books on the game, produced instruction films about the game, built courts, endorsed attire, conducted clinics and dreamt up and found sponsors for an exciting new tournament that CBS Sports televised for its "Sports Spectacular" show. He also opened the first commercial platform tennis facility on a roof-top in New York City.
Read More
Despite moving the tournament from December to October to ensure better weather, the event was still plagued by rain. But, Detroit still fielded one of the strongest draws, with players battling for a piece of the $5,000 prize money. In the end, nothing mattered to the 32 men's teams and 16 women's duos that congregated from Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Connecticut, Indianapolis, Kalamazoo, New Jersey, and all points east and west. Their paddle was competitive and the hospitality was extraordinary. Frank Willard and his organizers proved that the Detroit area was fully capable of handling a major aggregation, which they would do again in spring of 1995 when the men's and women's National Championships were contested in that area. Source: Platform Tennis News, Mid-Winter 1993
Read MoreJust who was this Lineal Group sponsoring organization? They were part of Ditri Associates, Inc. who also owned Hedstrom Corporation the manufacturers of the Vittert paddle ball The Lineal Group was a leading manufacturer of casual, storable, and commercial furniture. Lineal included Samsonite Furniture Company, Halcyon, Harbour Towne, Pacific Rattan, Fort Smith, Tradewinds and Molla. Lineal was also the largest U.S. manufacturer of folding tables and chairs, and marketed these products under the Samsonite name.
Read More
PTN Update Vol.3, No. 2, February 1992
Read More“Four stars” and “two thumbs up” were the universal reaction to the celebrated Rye Invitational, hosted by Westchester Country Club in Harrison, NY. A slew of platform stars came out to strut their stuff, highlighted by the 1992 men's Nationals champs, Rich Maier and Bob Kleinert, making their seasonal debut. And what a debut, as they roared through the tourney with the loss of only one set, and finished off by topping the number one seeds, Peter Gruenberg and Art Williams, in straight sets. The high-flying women's duo of Robin Fulton and Diane Tucker cemented their role as the leading ladies by also only losing a single set all weekend, and knocking off Patti Hogan and Kate Rogers in a straight -set final. While not quite a cast of thousands, there were more than 240 other players who assumed roles from struggling first-rounders to almost up-setters, as not only the [...]
Read More
These were courtesy of Mark Banford of the Winter Club in Lake Forest, IL.
Read More
The Men's and Women's Nationals were covered in PTN Spring 1993: “It was the toughest one of them all to run,” admitted APTA Nationals chairman Walt Peckinpaugh afterward. "But with the money we raised for charity, and overcoming the bad weather, and putting on the Saturday night show ... well we didn't do too badly, I guess." Almost a foot of snow fell during the tourney, along with hail, sleet, rain and more. Robin Fulton/Diane Tucker solidified their claim as numero uno in the women's ranks with a rollercoaster three-set win over Patti Hogan and Kate Rogers. But on the men's side, Bill Fiedler and Barry Judge took the men's title by knocking off both top seeds in thrilling three-set matches. Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring and Fall 1993
Read MoreThe first prize money series of events on the platform tennis scene in over a decade ended its four-event run with a grand finale at the Brookside Racquet and Swim Club in Allendale, NJ that drew rave reviews and plans for similar future tournaments. Over $10,000 in prize money was up for grabs when the top 16 men's and women's teams from the Lineal Group series collided at Brookside, making for ultra-competitive matches, superb shot-making, and spell-binding watching for the fans. The biggest checks were carted home by Peter Gruenberg and Art Williams on the men's side, and Robin Fulton and Diane Tucker on the women's. But the biggest winners of all were those who participated in the various events surrounding the main show. Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1993
Read More
The Rules & Equipment Committee had been busy with the ARD ball, a new paddle from Marcraft, and had been updating the Rules Book, The Etiquette of Paddle and How to Conduct a Tournament Draw. Bob Brown also provided the Board with a copy of a position statement supporting the change of "playing lets on serve" The Board reaffirmed that the President's Cup was not intended for top ranked players and agreed to eliminate from President's Cup competition any player who had reached the quarter finals of the Nationals in the last two years or who was one of the top eight ranked women's teams or top sixteen ranked men's teams
Read MoreKent Sutton, a freelance writer and teaching professional at Indianapolis Racquet Club, “lost his virginity” at 31—his paddle playing virginity, that is. This article, which originally appeared in the Indianapolis Sports Monthly, was reprinted in the Spring edition of Platform Tennis News. “I lost my virginity recently at age 31. It was a cold and overcast morning in early December, and, though not romantic, it was a perfect setting for myself and four other women as we had our eyes opened to a new and wonderful experience. It was just 25 degrees but after several minutes of "foreplay," my constant movement soon had me shedding layer after layer of clothing. After two short hours it was over. My cheeks were rosy, my lungs full of air, and my legs were sore - but a good sore. I wanted to keep going, but unfortunately other virgins were coming to this sacred place to discove[...]
Read More
Robert A. Brown had more years of service to the game than anyone else. He started as APTA Treasurer in 1969, and was then Secretary, and President (1974-1975) during the time the sport was growing rapidly and expanding internationally. He hired the first Executive Director of the APTA, incorporated the APTA as a not-for-profit corporation, revamped the bylaws, authored the "Etiquette of Platform Tennis," and championed the yellow ball that is today’s standard. If that was not enough, the APTA brought him back on the Board in 1988 as Region I president, and then chair of the Rules and Equipment Committee. He also managed to play while handling these assignments and accumulated an impressive senior record, with a total of 38 National Senior finals, including 21 wins. In achieving his last win at the age of 84, he became the oldest player in the history of the game to win[...]
Read MoreThe first APTA-approved Summer Paddle League began on May 3, 1993, when four teams initiated play at the Morristown Field Club, in Morristown, New Jersey. Play continued every Monday evening through August 30th, with the courts at the Beacon Hill Club in Summit, New Jersey providing the alternating site.
Read MoreCarlisle served as President of the APTA from 1957 through 1959. Prior to that, he was Secretary of the Association from 1955 to 1957. With Richard Herbard, he was a National Champion in 1955 and 1958. They were also Finalists in the National Championships in 1954 and 1959. For his service to platform tennis, and his skills on the court, Carlisle was recognized with the APTA Honor Award in 1966. He also served as President of the Fox Meadow Tennis Club, where he was elected as an Honorary Member.
Read More
The new edition was more than a reprint of existing text. With input from all the directors of the Association, and suggestions from members, Rules Committee, Director Bob Brown did a major rewriting of the text. One of the seemingly simple, but really arduous tasks was to remove all the male pronouns (he, his, him) from the rules, in line with current practice. The second major effort was to clarify rules for certain play situations that were not specified, but were understood to be accepted practice in actual court action. For example, the circumstances surrounding the ball hitting a net post were defined much more clearly than in the prior edition of the Official Rules. Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1993
Read MoreMaier was still not through with innovating (he had founded Skymar in 1983) and started Advanced Recreational Design (ARD) in 1993, along with Gary Whalen, a friend from Rich's college days in Jacksonville, FL. ARD produced three new paddles and introduced a new ball that lasted much longer (six sets was not unusual) than the balls being sold at the time, primarily by Vittert. The ball had been developed with the aid of a manufacturer in Taiwan. Source: Private communication with Rich Maier
Read MoreIn the latest attempt to encourage “average league players” to become APTA members, the Board of Directors approved an agreement with the Long Island Platform Tennis Association, as a one year experiment, to provide all of its members with full APTA membership at a reduced rate. The experiment brought in 700 family members, and other areas expressed interest in the program.
Read More
Despite a century-long period during which the inconsistent rules pertaining to let cord situations (serve or during play of point) had been perpetuated, the recently formed committee came out strongly in favor of consistent treatment - i.e., play should be continuous on all let cords which, after striking the net, land fairly in the opponent's court, whether it be on service or during play after the service. The committee's rationale for this recommendation were: 1. The rules with regard to the play of all lets should be consistent. 2. The recommended change would speed up the game. 3. There would be no further disputes over whether a let on service was indeed a let (heard by one, but not by others). 4. One less official (the let cord judge) would be required in matches that are officiated. 5. Playing the let on service will add interest to the game. 6. Over the lon[...]
Read More
Over the years, the President's Cup event had developed from the proverbial backyard barbecue into an all-out regional holy war. Participants had come from some of the strongest teams in each Region, as opposed to the more “club-oriented” atmosphere that once existed. Each year as well, the APTA discussed how to steer the PC more firmly down its original path, which is explained in the accompanying material from an article written in 1978. To that end, the new restrictions included the members of the top eight ranked women's teams from 1992-93, and the members of the top 16 ranked men's teams. These teams were now ineligible for President's Cup consideration. Also, any player who had reached the quarterfinals of either of the two previous APTA National Championships (Long Island or Cleveland) was ineligible. In order to earn PC points for a region, a player must b[...]
Read More
Top platform tennis players from across the nation vied for a piece of the $35,000 in prize money at stake in the six separate tournaments that comprised the 1993-94 Lineal Group Grand Prix of paddle events. The Detroit Invitational kicked off the season in mid-October, with the Chicago Charities and Greenwich Invitational following in November. The Rye Invitational scheduled in January and Short Hills in February help lead up to the grand finale at Brookside Racquet & Swim Club in Allendale, NJ, at the end of the season. The previous year’s successful format was used again, with a few new twists and turns to spice things up. Each tournament hosted a clinic/exhibition on the Friday evening before the event, with participants, players, and fans all welcome. Pros put their skills on display, offered tips and advice, and played with anyone wishing to test their mettle. In a move des[...]
Read MorePTN Update Vol.4, No. 2, February 1993
Read MoreIn some of the closest President's Cup play in recent memory, Region III snagged both the men's and women's PC crowns for the second time in three years in a prelude to the National Championships, played entirely at Fox Meadow's nine-court facility. The women took advantage of perfect weather to cruise through a smooth all-day event the Thursday before the Nationals. Region III eked out a one-point triumph over Region I. The men, on the other hand, had batten-down-the-hatches weather on the following day during the afternoon that tested the mettle of both participants and administrators. Brushing aside sleet and drizzle and smoky courts, Region III managed to post a two-point win, 40-38, over Region I. Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1994
Read More
Reflecting the nature of the game of platform itself, the 1994 National Championships were a study in contrasts, a series of highs and lows that left everyone with vivid memories of on- and off-court occurrences. While all the champions deservedly celebrated their winning efforts, a shadow was cast over the entire event by the untimely death, during the warm-up for the first round match, of one of the Men’s participants, longtime paddle player and former National Champion Mike Wachob. In a reversal of fortunes, last year's men's finalists, Peter Gruenberg and Art Williams, shook off the memories of their three-set defeat in Cleveland to knock off Ron Erskine and Mike Gillespie in the finals. On the other hand, the dominant women's team and defending champions, Robin Fulton and Diane Tucker, stumbled in the semis and opened the door for new champions Sue Aery and Gerri Viant to[...]
Read MoreThe Exmoor Country Club on the North Shore of Chicago was the site of the tenth renewal of the battle for the Manhold Cup, representing supremacy among the six APTA regions in Senior platform tennis. Region V was the winner, with each member receiving a trophy. Jerry Manhold, “The Legend,” was also presented with an award in appreciation of his efforts for Senior platform tennis. This special event is played as a prelude to the 50+ and 60+ National Championships. Each region sends a team of ten players: four representing the 50+ group, and another representing the 55+ category, with the other two in the 60+ category.
Read MoreIn 1993, court builder Dick Reilly (Hall of Fame 1974) moved west to Montana, put up a court, and ran a small tournament. Moving to another Montana location, the town of Eureka, Reilly erected two courts and brought out professional Hank Irvine (Hall of Fame 1995) to run a paddle camp each fall. Partly because there was little else for campers to do in their off hours in Eureka, Reilly moved the camp to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where it continues. Initially, three courts were erected on a tennis court on a dude ranch to house the camp. After a year, the camp was moved to its present location on courts at the Snow King Resort. At one of the camps, Reilly, Irvine, and Gary Horvath talked about the need to re-institute an organization for teaching professionals. The trio produced the conceptual foundation for establishing the USA Professional Platform Tennis Association (PPTA).
Read More
This was the last Men’s and Women’s Nationals hosted by the club. The Men’s was chaired by Jo Rogers and the Women’s by Roger Lankenau. The game had grown and now hosting the Nationals required access to facilities beyond the club’s capabilities. Source: Platform Tennis News, Winter 1994, and Nationals Program Besides the cheering for the participants, plaudits were heaped on those individuals who never took a paddle in hand all weekend, but without whom there would have been no tournament. Jo and Sally Rogers, in particular, were stalwarts in bringing off the event, ably assisted by a topnotch committee that included Bob and Ann Brown, Roger and Marilyn Lankenau, Jim and Brenda Borho, Joan Marie O'Connor, and literally dozens of other high-effort contributors. From the ladies who so graciously served up the food and spirits, to people like Brook Kindred who could be obs[...]
Read More
The big winners at the season-ending Lineal Group Grand Prix tournament at the Brookside Racquet & Swim Club in Allendale, NJ, turned out to be men’s champs Scott Staniar and Jim Kaufman, women's titleists Robin Fulton and Diane Tucker, and most of all, the Special Olympics of North Bergen County, NJ. In a departure from previous practices at the grand finale, where 32 of the country's top platform tennis teams battled for a piece of the $10,000 in prize money, a raffle was conducted that featured almost $4,000 in furniture and athletic equipment donated by Lineal and Hedstrom Corp. All proceeds went to the Special Olympics. Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1994
Read MoreTraditional equipment manufacturers, like Marcraft, Marox, and Vittert,struggled in the early 1990s and started to leave the game.
Read MoreThe U.S. Embassy had a paddle court on the grounds and the new ambassador Nick Rey and his wife Lisa were avid players, and members of Larchmont Yacht Club in Westchester, NY. Lisa wrote back to her Larchmont friends: “Paddle is terrific and a great release of energy and frustrations. I've got a regular Monday morning game, and we've had one round-robin tournament. People don't play a lot, and it’s mostly teachers at the American school, Embassy types, and a few Brits. All are tennis players and basically play it as tennis. I've convinced at least my Monday group to play it as paddle, and the level of play has taken a huge leap……..” Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1994
Read MoreIt is rare that platform tennis, no less its players, find their way into a national sports magazine, but the "Faces In The Crowd" section in the April issue of Sports Illustrated featured two outstanding champions, the Childs brothers, Bill and Dave. The article documented that they had just successfully defended their 55+ National Championship for the fourth consecutive year. It further noted that they had won the 50+ crown three times in a row. It also recorded Bill's triumph with Birgit Maio in the Mixed Masters Championship, and indicated that he defeated his brother and Alice Duff in a semifinal match in that tournament.
Read MoreThe APTA granted approval to a new platform tennis ball developed by Marox, Inc. of Carteret, New Jersey. The new ball debuted in the 1994-1995 season. Under the auspices of the Rules and Equipment Committee, a sample supply of the new ball was tested in February. When all APTA specifications were met, the Board of Directors gave its approval to this new product in March. Random testing of balls taken from production was planned to assure that the specifications approved for the sample would be met. Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1994 and APTA May 1994 BOD Minutes
Read More
Remarks by Stephens upon taking over the reins from Zevnik: "Generally, the first obligation of a new president is to promulgate laudatory remarks about the accomplishments of his predecessor. As 1 ascend to the presidency, that obligation is twofold and it is not really an obligation, but an ancillary privilege for me to have this opportunity to personally thank, publicly, Brian Zevnik, for his achievements during his term of office as president, and to abundantly heap accolades on our retiring past president, Chuck Vasol!. Without Chuck and Brian heading our organization during the frightening period of paddle decadence, I might not have this opportunity to serve you as president. Their achievements over a six year period have placed paddle in the order of proper ascendancy and will now give me an opportunity to continue their achievements in growth and in contribution to our pad[...]
Read More
The tour was back for a third go-round of the Lineal Group Grand Prix series of national ranking tournaments for men and women. Events would be held in Greenwich, CT; Chicago, lL; Philadelphia, PA; and, Brookside, NJ. Over a thousand players had enjoyed the prizes, favors, and fun spawned by the prize money series in which competitive play and collaborative camaraderie have been the operative passwords. Several new twists were added to the tour as strengths are played up and weaknesses shored up. Approximately $30,000 in cash prizes would be contested, but a third of that would be won out of a special bonus pool that would emphasize expanded play in the four tour events, as well as the Nationals. Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1994
Read MoreGary R. Horvath, a former APTA Director, current tennis and platform tennis teaching professional, and author of many articles and comments about platform tennis, called on his years of experience in the game to write four manuals published by R.J. Reilly. Jr. Platform Tennis Courts. Inc. The manuals were titled: • The Fundamentals of Platform Tennis • Taking Your Game to the Next Level • A Platform Tennis Chairman’s Guide to Running a Comprehensive Program • A Curriculum for Conducting a Championship Platform Tennis Instructional Program Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1994
Read More
The original sub-leased space had worked well, but the impending sale of the building and future ownership uncertainties necessitated a move. The old office had been located on the second floor of a building in Upper Montclair called Thompson Executive Services. It had a unique feature that enabled several business people to use the computer and other equipment and secretarial abilities of the staff on a "shared" basis. This had worked well for the Association. Fortunately, two individuals who worked for Thompson Executive Services had located new space, developed it to their special needs, and invited the Association to be among their initial clients. Serious negotiation brought about an agreement that would lower the cost to the Association, provide several new advances in equipment and services, and a few more square feet. The office moved in the Fall. Source: Platform Tennis Ne[...]
Read MoreJunior tournaments for both boys and girls, while lots of fun for the players, had seen declining participation and the APTA was struggling to rekindle interest. In contrast, the 1993 Toronto Championships had over 100 young people playing.
Read More
The APTA had been given a beautiful sculpture by Jay O'Meilia in the spring and had asked for background information about why the piece was created. Brad Drowne of Short Hills, NJ provided the history. The “First Tribuno World Paddle Championship” was contested on April 3rd, 1976 at the West Side Tennis Club, better known in the tennis world by its location, Forest Hills. The sculpture was commissioned to be the trophy for the event. However, Jay O'Meilia, a noted sports artist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, did not complete the trophy by the date of the championship final. Instead, he was to send a plaster model to Forest Hills for the presentation. Unfortunately, this was lost by the airline. The May 1976 issue of Paddle Talk (predecessor to Platform Tennis News) confirms this account when it stated, “Russell and Gray received a check for $4,000.00 and the promise of a trophy for[...]
Read MorePhilip Jay O´Meilia was born in 1927 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he still resides today. Between military stints in WWII and Korea,serving as a Navy artist, he attended the Art Students League in New York (1945-46, 1947-49) and the Chicago Academy of Fine Art (1946-47). He also attended the Cape School of Art in Provincetown, MA, George Washington University in Washington, DC, and the University of Tulsa. O´Meilia also received special instruction from Eliot O´Hara and Frederic Taubes. O´Meilia's work has been displayed in galleries and museums across America, including the Smithsonian Institution, the National Academy of Design in New York, and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. His sculptures, paintings, serigraphs, and prints are in the permanent collections of more than 500 private and corporate organizations worldwide. A lifelong sports enthusiast, O´Meili[...]
Read MoreBob Brown, reporting for the Rules Committee, requested and obtained approval for an experimental rules clinic at the Fox Meadow Tennis Club in Scarsdale, NY. The most intriguing proposal involved the modification of the court by placing diagonal screens in the four corners. The Board approved an expenditure of $1,000.00 for this program, which included the manufacture and installation of the temporary screens to experiment with this suggestion. Other proposed rule change suggestions, including no-let on serve, and different scoring procedures, were also to be given an experimental test. Source: Platform Tennis News, Mid-Winter 1995
Read MoreThe committee (Robert A. Brown, Walter Peckinpaugh, Charles J. Stevens and Charles E. Vasoll) recommended that the APTA Board consider implementing the “no-let” rule in the 1996-1997 season; that the diagonal corner screens were not a practical innovation the Board should consider further; and, that the no-ad rule, which had been favorably received, should be given further consideration. A full report on the experimental clinic was included in the Mid-Winter edition of Platform Tennis News. Source: Platform Tennis News, Mid-Winter 1995
Read More
PTN Update Vol.6, No. 2, February 1994
Read More
In the continuing struggle to contend with the foot-fault violation, and possibly clarify the foot-fault rule, the APTA Board again considered the matter. The discussion focused on two questions: (1) What could be done to control/reduce the incidence of foot-faulting among players? and (2) Should there be any change or changes in the foot-fault rules? It was decided that, starting with the 1995 season, all National Championships should have a foot-fault judge in all matches from the quarterfinals on, unless there was a chair umpire. While it was recognized by the APTA that this would be a difficult chore for both the committee and the appointee, it was felt that it can and should be done in order to further curb the incidence of foot-faulting. With regard to the second question, the discussion focused on the current wording of the foot-fault rule (Rule II) in the Rules Book. Th[...]
Read More
Over the past few years, Canadians had begun to leave their mark on the paddle scene, and not just due to their long-standing reputation to be the last to close the bar at Shadow Lake (Penfield, NY, near Rochester) at Halloween. Consequently, the Executive Board of the Canadian Platform Tennis Association (CPTA) felt it timely to begin to introduce the members of the APTA to Canadian goings-on. [Note: Hall of Fame inductee Chuck Baird had spent some years in Toronto when he was with International Nickel Company of Canada (INCO) in the 1970s and had served on the Canadian Platform Tennis Association and was instrumental in getting them to join the APTA] The Winter edition of Platform Tennis News ran the report from the CPTA. Source: Platform Tennis News, Winter 1995
Read More
Instead of gala balls and celebrity-studded formals, charities around the country are finding that platform tennis can be an important vehicle for both raising funds and enhancing their visibility and image. Paul Delaney, who played out of Bronxville, arranged a mixed tournament to support the Visiting Nurses Services of Westchester and received lots of positive reaction because of the good cause and the popularity of mixed events in Westchester. He hoped to make this an annual event, and it still is. Source: Platform Tennis News, Winter 1995
Read More1995 marked the first year that the draw was prepared by the APTA office, rather than by the National Championship Committee at the host site. Local input on the ability of unknown teams was still sought by the draw committee, but otherwise the selections were to be made in strict conformance to the guidelines published by the APTA.
Read More
PTN Spring 1995 covered the Men's and Women's Nationals: For one 96-hour period, all platform tennis roads led to New Jersey, as the Garden State Nationals and concurrent President’s Cup events were hosted to perfection by Montclair Golf Club and Short Hills Club. Players and spectators came from every point of the compass, and play reached its usual outstanding levels. But there were differences this year. For one, the Children's Specialized Hospital of Mountaindale (NJ) was the recipient of the generosity of the sponsors and advertisers who supported this year's Nationals, and received in excess of $10,000. Another new wrinkle at this year's event was the presence of the omnipresent eye - television. Spearheaded by sports editor Paul Spychala, Suburban Cablevision taped both the men's and women's finals for showing to some 2.5 million subscribers on its system. The tap[...]
Read More
Bradley Drowne: Bradley Drowne served as the National Tournament director for the APTA for many years and pioneered the rankings system employed today. He was “Mr. Steady” as a player and won the National Men’s in 1968, the Mixed in 1969 and 1974, and his first Men’s 45+ in 1973 over Baird and Lankenau. Hank Irvine: Hank Irvine was a player who changed the game and was always exciting to watch. His shot-making and control of the ball set new standards, and he had great hands and ease of stroke, coupled with economy of body movement and consistency. He started playing and teaching the game in 1973, when he became head pro at the Short Hills Club after immigrating from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). By 1997, he had won his first National Men’s with Herb Fitz Gibbon; they repeated the following year. Six years later, he again won back-to-back Men’s nationals in 1986 and 1987. In th[...]
Read More
The Board had a busy agenda. Paddle manufacturers A2Z (Kjeldsen's company had acquired the assets of Marcraft), Wilson and The Paddle Co. were producing paddles for the upcoming season and these included a few prototypes which prompted some tweaking to paddle specifications as cited in the Minutes: "a. approved a change to paddle length, so total length does not exceed 18" b. eliminated the handle length/play length specification c. retained 87 as the maximum number of holes d. retained 3/8" as the hole diameter e. approved a change to the rim, so the rim may be flush or wrap around within limits noted in revision documentation (attached) f. retained surface finish as "slight texturing" subject to further research (Bob and Charley will attempt to further define "slight texturing" using the sandpaper grit scale as a standard reference by 6-1-95) g. retained surface as fl[...]
Read More
There was a new/old “player” in the manufacturing ranks of the platform world. A2Z, headed by President David Kjeldsen, had transformed itself from Marcraft 's largest retail distributor into a manufacturer/wholesaler of platform equipment, by purchasing the assets of Marcraft Recreation Corporation’s domestic platform tennis division in April 1995. At the time Marcraft was just a paddle manufacturer. They had been a ball manufacturer for a while in the 1970s (Big M yellow and red balls) but had stopped production and had become a reseller of the game's dominant ball, Hedstom's Vittert V30. When Hedstrom sold their ball manufacturing business to Wilson - see Wilson Acquires Hedstrom Ball Business - this created an issue for A2Z (renamed Viking Athletics in 1996) as Wilson refused to allow them to continue selling the V30 ball as they were now a competitor in the paddle mark[...]
Read More
The men's final was almost anti-climactic and the women's final was a big surprise as the Lineal Group Grand Prix series of prize money tournaments ended its third season with an action-packed event at Brookside Racquet & Swim Club in Allendale, NJ. The final on the men's side saw David Ohlmuller/Bruce Kelsey continue their late-season surge by dumping top-seeded Peter Gruenberg/Art Williams in straight sets. But it was the semi-finals that produced the fireworks with Greg Stipa and George Zink pushing Gruenberg and Williams to a third set tiebreaker, and Jim Kaufman and Scott Staniar to three sets against Ohlmuller and Kelsey. Some people were starting to complain that women's tournaments had become too predictable, with the same teams dominating from start to finish. Jersey's Patti Hogan and Delaware's Cindy Prendergast helped squelch that attitude at Brookside by knocking off h[...]
Read More
Map of platform tennis locations in Europe as of late 1995 . Clubs may have had more than one court so this does not indicate the number of courts. The large number of courts in the Netherlands came about because R.J. Reilly worked there in the 1970s assisting a Dutch company to install about 50 courts. [See also Paddle Hits Holland With Gloria Dillenbeck's Help Source: R.J. Reilly Co., Brewster, NY
Read MoreTreasurer Hope Kerr reported at the Board’s May meeting that the revenues of the Association for the 1994/95 fiscal year exceeded expenses by $14,815.81. This was the best year for the Association in some time, and reflected a good increase in membership as the result of the joining en masse of several leagues.
Read More
As the result of new manufacturing techniques, the Equipment Committee, headed by former APTA President Robert A. Brown, was asked to review the APTA paddle specifications. The Board approved a recommended change to make the total maximum length of the paddle 18", and eliminate the separate handle/play length designation. It also approved a change in the edge (or rim) that will allow a 1/8" height wraparound of a maximum 1/2", in addition to the flush-with-face surface that was previously the only one allowed. Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1995
Read MoreResponding to the occasional “bad apple in the bushel,” the APTA released a statement that describes the expected conduct of competitors in its tournaments and the penalties that may be enforced against violators. The "Code of Conduct for Platform Tennis Players" below appeared in the Tournament Schedule as “a constant reminder to participants of what is expected of them when they enter sanctioned events.” Players shall not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct. At no time, but especially during the course of a match, shall a player engage in: a) verbal or physical abuse of any persons connected with the game or spectators; b) use of visible or audible profanity; c) mistreatment of the equipment, the court or its fixtures; d) behavior that reflects a failure to accept the decisions of officials and/or disregard for the rules and spirit of the game. Any officia[...]
Read MoreAfter three years of supporting the game of platform tennis, including the commitment of tens of thousands of dollars in tournament prize money and raffle drawings, the Lineal Group announced that it would no longer be able to sponsor the Lineal Group Grand Prix Series. Several executive, as well as business, changes had occurred at the company and thus it became necessary to end its successful relationship with competitive paddle tennis. Ginna Ohlmuller, Executive Director of the APTA, commented on the development: “The Lineal Group provided a real boost to the game of paddle tennis over the last three years and they were a pleasure to work with.” Ohlmuller made special mention of Arnie Ditri1, head of Ditri Associates, and John Balch, Lineal's senior marketing manager. “Mr. Ditri had a genuine interest in the game of paddle and committed substantial time and effort to help[...]
Read More
This was a sudden decision and likely related to the changes taking place at the Dimitri Associates' group of companies that included Hedstrom and the Lineal Group, the sponsors of the Lineal Grand Prix. This decision provided Wilson Sporting Goods with the opportunity to acquire the Vittert brand and production equipment and started promoting Championship and Cold Weather Wilson balls in early 1996. Source: Platform Tennis News, Mid-Winter, 1996
Read MoreThe announcement by Wilson Sporting Goods Company that it was entering the platform tennis market with a line of paddles and paddle accessories was made at a press conference at the U.S. Open tennis tournament. In a separate news release, it was indicated that development of the new platform tennis paddles stemmed from the technology used in Wilson's tennis racquets. All four paddles would be constructed of molded graphite. The new models were designated Hammer 9, Hammer 8, Pro Staff 6, and Pro Staff 5. The numbers assigned to each paddle corresponded to a specific “Power Series” rating that fit a certain style of play. Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer & Fall 1995 Separately, Wilson had acquired the Vittert V30 ball business from Hedstrom so they now could supply both balls and paddles. This development became an issue for A2Z/Viking Athletics as Wilson no longer would s[...]
Read MoreIn 1995, the APTA Board of Directors embarked on the most aggressive and comprehensive marketing program in its history. The Board had started preliminary discussions with RHB Ventures to assist the APTA in the growth of the game throughout the country. RHB Ventures, a sports marketing firm based in Philadelphia and Washington D.C., had secured corporate sponsors for sports such as tennis, golf, cycling, sailing, basketball and football, and owned and managed The Champions Tour, the 35-and-over professional tennis tour featuring Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, and others. Tapping the extensive marketing expertise of RHB Ventures, the APTA hoped to implement a multifaceted marketing program. Among the major points of this program were: a) sell corporate sponsorships on behalf of the APTA b) complete a comprehensive demographic study of the current membership [...]
Read More
The first step was implementing teleconferencing for Board meetings to make it easier for seven Directors outside of the New York Metropolitan area, historically the usual location of the meetings, to participate. The second step was Board approval of holding the Annual Membership Meeting outside of the New York Metropolitan area for the first time in its history. The next meeting, in May 1996, would be in Baltimore, with Region III Director John Horine, as the host. The thought behind this action was to demonstrate that the game of platform tennis has grown beyond the borders of its roots, similar to the way the National Championships were now staged in different locations each year. Source: Platform Tennis News, Fall 1995
Read MoreThe Board approved a proposal to loan “seed money” of up to a maximum of $5,000.00 to a National Championships Committee for expenses prior to the receipt of entry fees and sponsorship funds. It was anticipated that the funds would be used for the purchase of products for fundraising activities and other deposits needed to secure facilities for the event.
Read More
Jim Reilly recounted the trials and tribulations of building a court at the American Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria. Apparently a diplomat league was in the making
Read More
Snow and frigid temperatures did not daunt paddle's youngest players who traveled from all over the Tri-state area in December to compete in the APTA Junior Nationals, headquartered at the Wee Burn Country Club in Darien, CT. Ranging in ages from 8 to 18, 60 youngsters impressively vied for titles in three categories.
Read More
PTN Update Vol.6, No. 2, February 1995
Read MoreWith the exception of National Championship Events, where the APTA Board makes the determination as to which ball will be used, Tournament Chairs of APTA Sanctioned Events could choose any APTA-approved ball, though only one brand was to be used throughout the tournament. Any player or players substituting another ball would be disqualified. In addition, in National Ranking and Regional Ranking tournaments, no points would be awarded to those players who are disqualified. It was reported that, whenever possible, the choice of ball should be indicated on the tournament entry form. Source: Platform Tennis News, Winter 1996
Read More
Following the purchase of the platform tennis business of the Marcraft Recreation Corp., the name for the platform tennis products manufactured and marketed by David Kjeldsen’s company A2Z was renamed Viking Athletics in November 1995.
Read More
In the mid 1980s he was one of the world's most dedicated couch potatoes. Then one Friday evening his sedentary existence miraculously became a thing of the past. David Kjeldsen was invited to play mixed doubles on a small, elevated court surrounded by chicken wire. With the paddle he was given in one hand, a can of beer in the other, and a cigar between his lips, Kjeldsen was a poster child for sports enthusiasm. He got hooked on the game and started playing more and more, but it was getting expensive with a sleeve of balls costing $10. He found out that Hedstrom, out in Ohio, was selling the Vittert balls he was using and arranged to buy case loads directly from them at a discount for distribution to friends and for use in tournaments. Hedstrom was delighted with the increase in business and offered further discounts. Finally, Kjeldsen began thinking: "Why not set up a di[...]
Read More
Sumner “Killy” Kilmarx, one of the very first national men’s doubles platform tennis champions, died on March 2, 1996, in Scarsdale, NY. He was 96. With his long-time paddle partner, Clifford Couch, he won the first national men's tournament held at the Fox Meadow Tennis Club in 1935. The 1935 final was one of the longer matches in National Men's play, a 4-6 , 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 victory over later champion James Hynson and Charles O'Hearn, who defeated them in the 1937 National finals. But Kilmarx and Couch were victorious again in their return finals in 1939. Kilmarx was recognized by the unusual steadiness of his play and the debonair style of his attire on the court. He was an honorary member of Fox Meadow for many years, having contributed to the development and the popularity of the early game. Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1996
Read MoreThe APTA had been wrestling with a conflict between manufactures. The Mid-Winter issue of Platform Tennis News in 1996 carried a note to readers on the situation.
Read MoreTwo unexpected regions walked away with the President’s Cup Championships. In the Men’s event, Region I edged Region V by five points, despite a makeshift line-up that changed constantly almost up to the last minute. In the Women’s, the “local” triumph for Region IV, which included Rochester, was feted all weekend with numerous cocktails and toasts to the team members.
Read More
PTN Spring 1996 covered the Men's and Women's Nationals: The old Post Office adage of “neither rain nor sleet, etc.” came into full force at the 1996 men's and women's APTA National Championships, and it turned out to be true. Nothing prevented the hardy paddlers from completing their appointed rounds and matches in Rochester. With over 150 sponsors, Fritz Odenbach and his team were able to run a Nationals the way he thought it should be run: with the emphasis not just on the play, but on the playing afterwards. The lunches, the parties, the President 's Cup events, even the informal get-togethers at the Shadow Lake bar, all added up to an unforgettable event. Michigan's Scott Mansager combined with fellow Wolverine Flip Goodspeed to snatch the men's title with a steamroll run to the championship that included not a single lost set all weekend. Mansager's firepower from the[...]
Read MoreJust a couple of weeks before the Men's and Women 's National Championships, and despite altering schedules and expanding play to Friday night for the first time in years, it was realized that one more court would be needed. That's when Jim Reilly of R.J. Reilly stepped into help. His company had put up the extra “stadium” courts at the host Shadow Lake Club, where the main matches were to be played, but it was apparent one more was needed. “Jim really hit a home run for us this time,” said co-chair Fritz Odenbach. “He not only came through with his usual timeliness and quality on the two courts we originally contracted for, but he went out of his way to get us that one additional court that made all the difference in our eventual schedule. To be honest, he and his organization deserve one of those APTA medals for being a winner here at Rochester, because that's exactly wha[...]
Read More
The BOD Minutes reflected the vote to approve designating all present recipients of the APTA Honor Award as Charter members of the newly created APTA Hall of Fame. It was also minuted that: "The current APTA office does not have enough morn to display the memorabilia that has been collected over the years, and which resides in Walt's (Peckinpaugh) garage and various other locations. The idea of a Hall of Fame was considered by the Fox Meadow Terms Club about 25 years ago. The Board passed a motion to designate Chuck (Vasoll) as the point person charged with researching and writing a proposal for a Hall of Fame that will address a site (temporary and long term locations), fundraising requirements and curator arrangements."
Read MoreIn 1996, the APTA Board, on the recommendation by President Charley Stevens, formally established the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame to replace the Honor Award designation established in 1965 to recognize outstanding achievement in platform tennis. At its meeting at Short Hills, halfway through the season, the Board acted to officially change the designation of the “Honor Award” to recognize recipients as inductees into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. All those who had won the award were automatically members of the new “Hall of Fame.” It was the opinion of the Directors that the new name was more distinctive and indicative of achievement, and more easily recognized and understood by everyone. By decision duly made and seconded, the Board unanimously approved formally inducting all previous Honor Award recipients into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. Apparent [...]
Read More
After a lengthy discussion and extensive presentation by Bob Brown at the Annual Meeting on May 11, 1996, the APTA Board voted to modify Rule 13, which called for the replaying of a point when the service touched the net cord, center strap or band, and landed in the proper service court. The rule was modified to eliminate the replaying of the point when this happens, thus putting the ball in play. Several other rules where this situation could be described were also reworded to conform to the new decision. Before the change, a portion of Rule 13 stated: "In all cases where a let is called, the point is to be replayed. The service is a let if: (a) It touches the net cord, center strap or band and then lands in the proper service court; (b) After touching the net, band or center strap, it touches either member of the receiving team or anything they are wearin[...]
Read MoreIn the strongest statement yet on the chronic problem of foot-faulting, the Board of Directors approved a proposal by League Coordinating Director William Jones, that, for one year, leagues and others in casual play may call a "let" every time the server violated the foot-fault rule rather than taking the loss of point. The purpose of the suggestion was that a "kinder and gentler" approach to the violation was needed and would increase the awareness of the problem for the player involved. Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1996
Read More
An Adult/Junior platform tennis tournament was conceived by Robin Rich Fulton following her experience running the National Junior Championships the previous season at the Wee Burn Country Club in Darien, Connecticut. She enlisted the assistance of Bob Callaway in the venture, and had the support of David Kjeldsen of Viking Athletics as the title sponsor. The goal of the tournament was to promote the game among the younger set by giving them an opportunity to play with adult partners; learn from them; enjoy the camaraderie and ambiance of a tournament; and inspire juniors to continue to practice and play. The National Junior Championship would follow the event on the APTA schedule. The concept was to have regional play in as many locations as interest could be generated. Four sites had already signed up and winning teams from these locations would be invited to a central location play[...]
Read MoreAlthough the sport was born and bred in the Northeast, fifty years later the rebirth of paddle was taking place in America's heartland. The Midwest had witnessed a surge in paddle over the past five years, signaling good news for the health and well- being of the sport. Growth in the region's paddle community was evidenced by strength of play and players. As opposed to years past, many of the top-ranking competitors were from points west (Mansager and Goodspeed, men's double champs from Michigan and ranking contender Bill Fiedler from Chicago, to name a few). Tournament participation was up, as well as the number of mid-west-based facilities. The APTA now had five board members from mid-western states. Most telling was the fact that APTA membership in the Midwest had outpaced that in the East. Yet, while the numbers proved a point, they did not tell the whole story. Growth cam[...]
Read MoreDuring his tenure as president of Region V, Hogan was a mover and shaker in growing participation in his home city of Indianapolis and throughout the Region. He saw his role as being “to develop a stronger and wider membership base and provide services to all players, at every level of the game.” Hogan instituted creative tactics to grow the sport locally. Upon noticing that many area players were not APTA members, he incorporated APTA membership into the Indianapolis chapter membership program. The league he started in 1989 with 32 players had grown to more than 200 APTA/IPTA members by 1996. The building of several new courts at the Indianapolis Racquet Club had helped the boom in play. Hogan noted, “Not only do we need to expose more people to the game, at the same time we must provide facilities on which they can play. All those players (especially young people) who can[...]
Read MoreAll the talk as the paddle season opened was about the change in the Official Rules under which play would continue on a net cord service. Some changes in wording were necessary to emphasize that, although many paddle tennis rules were derived from tennis, there were situations where they were different in certain respects.However, there were a few substantive changes in the Eleventh Edition of the Official Rules. The Rules Committee, under direction from the Board of Directors, had been asked to make the calling of lines by players in an un-officiated match, less “hard and fast” and more “forgiving.” This was accomplished by expanding the comment following Rule 10 by incorporating most of the wording from the “The Etiquette of Platform Tennis.” The “Continuous Play” regulation found in Rule 24 had a new paragraph (c) inserted which read: “During a service ga[...]
Read More
A shocked Board of Directors listened in stunned silence as President Charley Stevens made the announcement that, after nine successful years, a serious accident involving her son David had precipitated Ohlmuller’s decision to resign. David, a National Men’s Champion and a three-time Mixed Champion, had been the victim of a “hit and run accident” on First Avenue in Manhattan, NYC. Ohlmuller started as Executive Director in the spring of 1988. She was hired by then President Chuck Vasoll with the assistance of Jean Pine, the APTA Treasurer at that time. Both the President and the Executive Director had little background or experience in the APTA office. However, they became a great working team in a matter of months, and Ohlmuller continued directing the Association under Presidents Brian Zevnik and Charley Stevens. During her tenure the APTA entered the electronic age de[...]
Read MoreJack Randall, a long-time player, coach and supporter of the game had a dream: that a national platform tennis center could be developed. His vision: “I'm convinced people everywhere will love paddle once they have a chance to know what it is and have had a chance to play it. This cannot be done strictly through private clubs. The solution: A National Platform Tennis Center at a public facility is needed to accomplish this. A place important enough to the media to give it some exposure - especially on TV - along with an offer to come down to the center and try the game for free. We make it easy; newcomers try it ‘indoors’ and comfortably. Once they like it, they move with their friends outdoors. It seems natural to locate such a center in the heart of the area where the sport originated ... a place with a large population, in a major media market and in an active area of pla[...]
Read More
The Search Committee, appointed by President Charley Stevens, selected Carolyn Tierney of Montclair to succeed Ginna Ohlmuller as the Executive Director of the Association. At the time, Tierney had been playing platform tennis for almost 30 years. For 25 of those years, she represented the Essex Fells Country Club in Essex Fells, NJ. Three years prior, she changed her affiliation to the Park Lakes Club in Mountain Lakes, NJ. In both clubs she had wonderful experiences with super partners and good friends. Source: Platform Tennis News, Mid-Winter 1996
Read More
PTN Update Vol.7, No. 2, February 1996
Read MoreFor the first time in the history of the game, more than one brand of ball was approved for use in the different National Championships. Three manufacturers were allocated a portion of the designation “Official APTA National Championship Ball” by a vote of the APTA Board. The ball to be used in the Men's and Women's National Championships was awarded to Viking Athletics. The Senior Championship would be played with the ball made by Wilson Sporting Goods. The Mixed National and the Mixed Masters would use the Marox ball. Source: Platform Tennis News, Winter 1997
Read More
The Children’s Village Platform Tennis Tournament was co-founded by Fox Meadow Tennis Club member Sally D. Rogers, and had been run at Fox Meadow since the early 1980s. The beneficiary was the Sanctuary program at Children's Village, which provides a safe haven for young people between the ages of 12-17 who felt they could not go home, or had no home to go to. Besides food, shelter, and clothing, the program was designed to stabilize young people in crisis and help them take control of their lives. The tournament covered a significant part of the Sanctuary’s annual operating budget.
Read MoreApproximately 20 years after the first paddle court was installed at the Fox Meadow Club in Scarsdale, New York (November, 1931), a few newcomers to Sewickley, a suburb northwest of Pittsburgh, were planting the seeds for what was to become the first known paddle court in the Pittsburgh region. The Ramsburgs had moved to Sewickley from New Canaan, where they had been members of the Country Club that housed one of the first few paddle courts in the country. In 1951, Chassie Ramsburg talked Henry Chalfant into allowing him to build a paddle court using the concrete base of a greenhouse that had been torn down. Ramsburg ordered architectural plans from R.J. Reilly in Rye, New York then turned over those plans to a local contractor in Sewickley. According to a report, the contractor used “reject pipe from the Spang Chalfant plant along with some sort of wire.” When Chassie as[...]
Read MoreThe event was held at the New Canaan Field Club with major sponsorship from Viking Athletics, Green Mountain Platform Tennis Company, and the New Jersey Women’s Paddle League, and drew 80 players in four divisions. For the first time, a 10-under division was added and boys and girls were allowed to enter as teammates, instead of holding separate events for each. There were many familiar sounding names in the tournament prompting Robin Rich Fulton, the events chair to comment: “It seems like the next generation of players is going to include a lot of legacies from our times, with names like Slonaker, Marold, Stefanik, Adams, Tucker, Cash, Jones ... the list goes on and on. The dads and moms who have made their mark on the game and passed on those forehand genes to their kids should be especially proud that they're jumping in to carry the torch.” Source: Platform Tenni[...]
Read MoreRegion V reigned supreme in both the men's and women's divisions. Region IV was a close second in the men's division, while Region I accepted "second best" in the women's flight.
Read More
PTN Spring 1997 covered the Men's and Women's Nationals: With 64 women’s teams and 114 men’s teams in the tournament, the field was deep enough to carry the men’s quarterfinals into cocktail hour at the host club, Pittsburgh Field Club in Fox Chapel. The men's semifinalists were defending champs Flip Goodspeed/Scott Mansager who defeated the third seeds, Bob Conklin/Andy Kinney, in a hair-raising three setter (3-6, 6-3, 7-5). George Zink/Greg Stipa, seeded fourth, knocked out the first-seeds Peter Gruenberg/Art Williams in an equally competitive match (6-4, 3-6, 6-4). In the final, in a match that somewhat mirrored their melodramatic, three-set semifinals, Goodspeed/Mansager outlasted Zink/Stipa in a marathon third set that had anxious spectators' Sunday dinner-with-family on hold. Stipa and Zink had convincingly muscled past their opponents in the first set only to[...]
Read More
Pamela Macrae Bermingham grew up in Scarsdale and saw her parents play on the Cogswell court. She started playing at the Manursing Island Club in Rye, NY, and made it to the finals of the Women’s Nationals in 1958. A year later, she found herself living in Sewickley, PA, with no real chance to play. She and her husband, Eldridge “Wooley” Bermengham, (Hall of Fame 1979), changed that and she set about teaching and promoting the game. Her zeal and enthusiasm were instrumental in developing a vibrant paddle community, with active leagues and junior play, and formed the base for one of the” hot-spots” in the country for the game.
Read More
On a Sunday early in March, before a packed house of members and invited guests, the Fox Meadow Tennis Club in Scarsdale New York, affectionately known as the "Home of Platform Tennis," presented a historical review of the sport. Molly Ware, daughter of one of the founders of the game, Fessenden Blanchard, and her husband, John, narrated the photographic slide presentation. Also present was Do Deland, daughter of James Cogswell, also recognized as a founder of the game. Of most interest to the Club's members was the explanation of how the introduction of the game of platform tennis literally saved the Club from bankruptcy in 1932. A question and answer session followed the slide presentation, with many of the Club members present adding their own recollections of the times when the game was begun and the Fox Meadow Tennis Club was the first club to have courts. On display w[...]
Read More
One of paddle's brightest lights, hardest workers and nicest guys, Charley Stevens, who had just resigned as APTA President after a three-year term, died of cancer at the age of 63. During his term, the change in the rules to play net cord services was a controversial step, and he led the Association during an era of new competition in equipment. The Wilson Sporting Goods Corporation entering the market with new racquets, and acquired the Vitteret platform tennis ball line from the Hedstrom Corporation, and Viking Athletics, formerly A2Z Products, rose from the ashes of its purchase of the platform tennis business of the Marcraft Corporation to become a major player. Howard Sipe remembered, “…. he used [his] strength and competitiveness to help build a strong foundation for platform. You could fault Charley for tact, but you could never fault him for passion, especially when [...]
Read More
Each dot on the map is the five digit zip code of a customer but some have more than one court. Court costs at the time could be as much as $40,000 and most were installations at private clubs and schools. Source: R. J. Reilly Co. Brewster NY
Read MoreAt the Annual Meeting in May, the Board of Directors of the APTA voted to continue the rule established at the 1996 meeting, which eliminated the let on a net cord service. The motion agreed upon left the door open for a further review in May 1998; however, the Directors were much stronger in support of the rule change than they were when they first instituted it. Part of the reason for their change in approach was due to the fact that tennis was also moving ahead with abolishing the let. The USTA Senior Father and Son circuit would be experimenting with the "no let" service on a trial basis in its 1997 national championships, and the men's and women's senior divisions of the U.S. Open instituted the change in 1996. The APTA Board was not as "far out" in making this change as some players thought. Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1997
Read More
“Give us more” was the general opinion of the first platform tennis clinic conducted for teaching professionals by Wilson Sporting Goods in Chicago to kick off the 1997-98 season. "It fits in with a lot of trends that we're seeing in the game," said John Embree, General Manager of Racquet Sports for Wilson, because “…..Chicago is a hotbed of the sport, as evidenced by this clinic, the annual Charities event, and this season's National Championships being played here.” What the 30 pros from seven states got was absolutely spotless weekend weather, expert advice on everything from drills to strategy to running programs, and the opportunity to hear two former National Champions and current teaching pros, Rich Maier and Hank Irvine, dispense a wealth of knowledge about what makes a teaching pro good. Source: Platform Tennis News, Fall 1997
Read MoreGreen Mountain Platform Tennis, a leading court manufacturer and maintenance company, released a new instructional video for paddle players, the proceeds of which would be donated to the APTA to support junior paddle throughout the country. “Bring Your Game to the Next Level” featured platform tennis pros Robin Fulton, Connie Jones, and George Zink. In the 45-minute video, these leading players offered up the skills, strategies and drills to help platform enthusiasts at all levels play better. Source: Platform Tennis News, Fall 1997
Read More
Because of the differing size of each region and number of players from which to draw a team, the qualifications differed from region to region, but the top 16 ranked individual men, and the top eight nationally ranked women, were not eligible regardless of their region. The Fall edition of Platform Tennis News carried descriptions of each region’s criteria for qualification
Read MoreMike Dougherty reported from Colorado and Eric Stern from Gaeufelden, Germany. Letter to Chuck Vasoll from Mike Dougherty: “Chuck, Things are moving forward on the paddle front out here (Colorado). I've placed a couple of ads for platform tennis courts, adult leagues and have a junior program January 24th at the Boulder courts. Viking is donating eight junior paddles. We hope to run 96 Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other area youth……” Letter from Eric Stern to Carolyn Tierney: “Dear Carolyn: My father, Harold Stern, has successfully installed the first two R.J. Reilly aluminum platform tennis courts in Gaeufelden, Germany. At the opening in 1996, we had some of the top U.S. players showing us how the game is being played on beginners' and competitive levels. George Zink did a terrific job in demonstrating this new sport. His enthusiasm infected a lot of players [...]
Read MoreDuring October, local tournaments were held in six states at thirteen different clubs. The winners from each tournament—35 teams—arrived at Fox Meadow Tennis Club for the finals in November. Robin Fulton had conceived of the event and was the tournament chair. Viking Athletics was the primary sponsor, and David Kjeldsen, CEO, spent the day at Fox Meadow supporting all the activities. Carly Swain filed this report in the Mid-Winter edition of Platform Tennis News: “The field was very strong on the ‘senior’ side, with many nationally ranked players in the draw, but it was the ‘juniors’ who were the stars. Twelve teams competed in the 12 and under category. The final four were Tim McAvoy/David Hissey, up against Phil/Tyler Gaffney. The final score was in favor of repeat winners, McAvoy/Hissey, 6-1, 6-1. The 15-and-under draw was the largest, with 15 teams and the "c[...]
Read MoreViking had started making balls soon after they acquired the Marcraft platform tennis business in 1995. C0-incidentally, Wilson had acquired the Vittert V30 ball business from Hedstrom about the same time and decided to stop selling balls to Viking, which had been a long-time reseller, as they were a competitor. The New Viking ball was well received and was used in the 1997 Men's and Women's Nationals but later batches were even better! They were on a roll. However the ball manufacturing business was a difficult one and bad batches of balls had a habit of showing up unexpectedly. David Kjeldsen recalls Viking's experience just when he thought he had finally found the "perfect" ball…….. "No matter who the manufacturer was, there always seemed to surface a bad batch of balls. In the Hedstrom days bad would mean excessive "chunking". In the early Viking days it would mean [...]
Read More
PTN Update Vol.8, No. 2, March 1997
Read MoreThanks in great measure to the tireless efforts of Winnie Hatch who reportedly wrote every female senior paddler on the APTA list, and anyone else she could think of, the APTA now has a new senior age group for women, the 60+. The first attempt at a Women's 60+ Nationals was during the 1991-1992 season in Philadelphia. For the next five years Ann Brown at Fox Meadow Tennis Club tried to get enough teams for the event without success and finally Ann Brown and Winnie Hatch gathered together enough participants to hold a National Tournament at FMTC in March 1998. Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1998
Read More
PTN Spring 1998 covered the Men's and Women's Nationals: Chicago brought its own special flavor to the 1998 National Championships. Players beat an early week blizzard and braved exceptionally cold weather on both Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday night party was stylish with a swing band, very special speeches, and even a hand-made sweater for Chairperson Sonja Fischer. The night brought old friends together and helped new acquaintances to form. With a men's entry of 128 teams and an unprecedented women's draw of 96 teams, Chicago hosted more players than any of the previous Championships. All matches were outstanding, with topnotch play from the early rounds on. Flip Goodspeed/Scott Mansager came out on top again in the men's play. The crowd's loudest cheers, however, were for former champion Dave Ohlmuller who returned to action after being severely injured in a hit and run[...]
Read MoreMark the date ...March 27, 1998 ... and the place ... Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, New York . . . as history was made when seven men's teams age 70 and over took the courts for the first recognized APTA Senior Championship for this age group. Henry Markey (age 80) indicated that he had been "hanging around" for 10 years waiting for the creation of this event. And it was fitting that he, with his long-time partner, Stari Sauerhaft, won the consolation (Note 1). Note 1: This Platform Tennis News report was not accurate, as a Men’s 70+ had been held in 1982, but had lasted only a few years. Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1998
Read More
In two separate presentations, the APTA Hall of Fame was increased by four honorees. The first ceremony was held at the Fox Meadow Tennis Club on February 28, at the time of the Men's Senior Nationals, and the surprised recipient was Chet Kermode. The second induction was held on March 14 at the Exmoor Country Club in Chicago, during the Men's and Women's National Championships. The three individuals honored were Hilary Hilton Marold, Yvonne Hackenberg, and Jack Watson, all of whom were also unaware that they had been selected to be honored. Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1998 Chet Kermode was a fine tennis player and had represented the US against Canada on an international tennis team, but had never seen platform tennis until well into his 40s. When he did pick it up, he was competing successfully in regional senior events within two years and won many 45+ events, inclu[...]
Read More
The 1998 Junior Nationals Championships, hosted by The Beacon Hill Club in Summit, NJ, were a huge success thanks greatly to the sponsorship of R.J. Reilly, Viking Athletics, and Wilson. Eighty-eight juniors participated in the four different age groups to make it one of the best attended junior events in recent years.
Read More
More ball issues were discussed but the big decision was the vote on "No-Let" "Also, after two years of trial use, the NO-LET rule on service was voted in as a permanent rule. Prior to the vote, all members were polled, and the results of the APTA survey were discussed. The Board did not act on a suggestion to address the "dribbler" factor, a major complaint against the no-let rule where a loss of point is due to a "dribbler".
Read More
In a major decision that led the way for other racquet sports, the Board of Directors voted 17-3 to make the “no let on net cord service” a permanent part of the official rules. The vote had been taken following a random poll of 10% of the membership that showed support for the change. At the annual meeting in 1996, under the leadership of the late Charley Stevens, the Board of Directors approved, by a narrow margin, the change proposed by Rules Committee Chairman Robert A. Brown, under which serves that touched the net, but landed in the correct service box, were in play. The 1996-97 season was a first-year trial, with a provision that the change would be reviewed again at the annual Board meeting in 1997. At the meeting in 1997, there was a strong sentiment to make the rule permanent, but knowing that there was a group of players who were unconvinced of the wisdom of the[...]
Read MoreCosts of operating the office, including increases in compensation for the Executive Director and a new stipend for the Treasurer, were reasons for the needed action. Individual and family dues were both increased to $55.00.
Read MoreThe length of playing time for the Men's President's Cup matches had been brought up as a concern, and a poll indicated that players from the various regions would like to have an eight game “pro set,” with no-ad scoring and a tiebreaker at eight games all. A trial of this approach was approved for the following season.
Read MoreThe Rules and Equipment Committee submitted a review of the ball specifications and test results from the U.S. Testing Laboratory. Recognizing that many questions about the liveliness of the ball were a result of unusually warm weather during the prior season, the Board approved a change in the rebound specification, increasing that number from 48.0" to 51.0".
Read MoreThough most modifications were grammatical or technical in nature, the new booklet added the revised ball bounce specification and a definition and procedure for no-ad scoring, and a description of scoring in singles. The no-let on serve procedure had already been included during the two-year trial period.
Read More
Just 118 days earlier, Don had won the Men’s 70+ Nationals. The "Hyde Cup" was anonymously gifted to the APTA in his memory. He had been battling cancer for many years, but always found a way to bounce back after various operations to win nine Senior National titles in the 60+, 65+, and 70+ between 1988 and 1999. He had been an outstanding athlete at Lawrenceville School and Princeton, and excelled at tennis. He had been awarded the Bronze Star for heroism in the Battle of the Bulge in WW II. Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer & Fall 1998
Read MoreHope Kerr scored a hole-in-one with a nine iron on the 103 yard 11th hole of the Hendricks Field Club in Belleville, NJ. Most golfers go an entire lifetime without such a feat, and Hope did it after only three years on the links.
Read MoreIn 1998, the APTA launched its own web site. www.platformtennis.org Along with the rules of the game, the tournament schedule and results, the web site established an area where members could subscribe to receive a “News Blast”" from the world of platform tennis. As things developed during the season, they could now receive the "latest" news along with their e-mail. Subscribing was easy to do and it was free! Source: Platform Tennis News, Fall 1998
Read MoreThe concept was a natural offshoot of the APTA attempts to expand the game. "It's a win-win situation for everyone," beamed women's National Champ Gerri Viant of Nyack, as she explained the series of “paddle camps” that she and partner Sue Aery have been conducting under the sponsorship of Wilson Racket Sports. “The whole concept is a natural off-shoot of the APTA's attempts to expand the game, create a larger and more professional teaching core group, and ignite interest in different segments of the country,” she continued. “Sue has been doing it for awhile, and when John Embree and Wilson got behind us, the whole camp thing just sort of exploded. We expected to do a half dozen or so, but we're already in double figures all over Connecticut, Jersey and New York, and we're looking to spread the word in Philly, Washington, Chicago ... anywhere they'll have us.” " The goa[...]
Read More
PTN Update Vol.9, No. 2, February 1998
Read More
Early on it was recognized that a place for players to gather to watch play and socialize was an important part of the game. They started off as simple shacks, but have slowly blossomed into fancy edifices. It didn't happen overnight. And they're still not exactly on equal footing with golf and tennis clubs. But platform tennis facilities were rapidly becoming more than just a few dozen two-by-fours slapped on top of a ring of cinder blocks. “When we first started pushing for warming huts some three decades ago,” claims Jim Reilly, son of platform manufacturing trailblazer Dick Reilly of R.J. Reilly Jr., Inc., “platform still held the dubious distinction of being the poor little sister to tennis at most clubs.While that hasn't completely turned around, we've certainly seen a whole lot of progress toward getting a fairer shake from club administrators and powers-that-be." [...]
Read More
True to one of its stated goals, the APTA held an exhibition and clinic on October 18, 1998, to promote platform tennis in the North Carolina Piedmont. The event, co-sponsored by APTA and Old Town Club in Winston-Salem, was a big success. The event was held in Winston-Salem, a city of some 170,000, and was co-sponsored and hosted by the Old Town Club, one of the few clubs in the state with paddle courts. An enthusiastic crowd of more than 50 onlookers witnessed an exciting match, pitting former national senior champion Bill Childs and APTA President John Horine against nationally-ranked Rob Lebuhn and Region III standout Tad Stellman. During changeovers, the players fielded questions from the crowd and discussed the strategies and techniques of the game. “We couldn't be more pleased with how things turned out,” exclaimed Horine, in his dual role as APTA President and player. [...]
Read MoreCredit went to David Kjeldsen, CEO of Viking Athletics for supporting the event that had become immensely popular and a breeding ground for future top players. Carly Swain covered the event for Platform Tennis News. "There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in."- Graham Greene David Kjeldsen, CEO of Viking Athletics has opened that door for junior paddle players and for the future of the sport. For three consecutive years, David has been the moving force that has turned the Viking Cup Adult/Child Tournament into a major national event on the paddle scene. During the month of October, 10 local tournaments were held in six different states. Two hundred fifty juniors and seniors participated in these local "play-downs." Entries were up 20% from 1997. Each individual who entered received a Viking T-shirt and hat as well as a copy of "How to P[...]
Read MoreAn astronomical 102 teams on the courts. A mind-boggling 200+ people boogieing the night away on the dance floor. Why it must be the 25th Annual Super Scrambles Tournament in Bronxville, NY. One of the highlights of Westchester’s paddle season, the Bronxville event had become a true platform cult classic. Marriages had been formed through paddle partnerships born there. Reputations for partying had been cemented (Peggie Theiss recalls several 3 a.m. closing time barriers). Senior records had been set, as Paul Delaney, at 63, became the oldest Super Scrambles winner. Multiple winners had been declared (among them Peter Sargeant, Brooke Johnson and Leighton Welsh). And best of all, paddlers had been having fun for 25 years, including Sugar Genereaux, who had never missed an event. Source: Platform Tennis News, Mid-Winter 1999
Read More
PTN Winter 1999 covered the Men's and Women's Nationals: “It was all we expected and more,” admitted a weary Bill Taubner after chairing the 1999 Nationals at the New York Athletic Club on Travers Island in Westchester, NY. “But I wouldn't trade all the experiences for anything in the world.” While the headaches were many and the rewards relatively few, Taubner and his crack committee came through like true champions for the platform tennis world. The inimitable duo of Flip Goodspeed/Scott Mansager once again proved themselves kings of the hill , thwarting all efforts to seize their crown, without losing a set in the entire tourney. Steve Baird and Rich Maier proved there is life over 45 as they reached the round of 16 before losing to the eventual champs. The darkhorses of the tournament turned out to be Fritz Odenbach and Mike Stulac, as they fought their way all [...]
Read More
The setting, the Nationals Championship dinner in the clubhouse at the New York Athletic Club’s summer home on Travers Island in Pelham, New York, was perfect and the recipients elite. Elizabeth "Buffy" Briggs, Steven W. Baird, and Richard K. Maier were added to the illustrious roster that is called the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. The first inductee to be introduced by Brook Kindred was Elizabeth "Buffy" Briggs. He extolled her organizational talents for women in paddle, as well as her ability in the play of the game. Steve Baird was the next to be honored. Kindred again stepped to the podium to make the introduction and record the impact that Baird had on the game. It started with two Junior Championships with his brother and then, teaming with Rich Maier, to win 10 Nationals titles and be a finalist in three others. It was noted he also served on the APTA Board of Director[...]
Read More
Ware was elected to the APTA Hall of Fame in 1995 and spent 40 years of his adult life nurturing and promoting the game of platform tennis and was responsible for changing the color of the original white ball to orange so that it had much greater visibility in winter. Ware served as APTA President from 1961 to 1963 and was instrumental in bringing young people into the game when he inaugurated the first APTA Junior Boys National Championships in 1963. He also designed the crossed paddles and ball insignia that was used on stationery, trophies, ties, scarves, and everything that represented the APTA for years. The logo was modernized in the late 1970's, but Ware's original design remains on the crests presented to Hall of Fame recipients and past Presidents. Ware, the son-in-law of Fess Blanchard, became the game historian and he and his wife, Molly, put together the first and onl[...]
Read More
At the APTA Board meeting in Glenview, IL, in May, Wayne Dollard of Dollard Publishing Co. proposed a professionally-produced four-color magazine format publication that would have content and scope beyond APTA capabilities with their newsletters. The new publication was seen as a significant enhancement in member value. The summer editions of Platform Tennis News and PTN Update would be the last ones and Platform Tennis Magazine would debut in the fall. APTA President John Horine explained the decision process: It is with heavy heart and reserved excitement that we say "good-bye" to the Platform Tennis News and "PTN Update” and say hello to Platform Tennis Magazine. This is an exciting time for platform tennis players everywhere. Matt Wood of Chicago wrote in the winter issue of the PTN " … I think a small section of the Platform Tennis News should be devoted to some[...]
Read More
18 and-under winners Patrick and Pat Nowlan from Philadelphia (R) are congratulated by David Kjeldsen and Caryl Swain, as are runners-up Ben and John Holskin, also from Philly. Fox Meadow is known as the "home of platform tennis" and it seems to have now also become the "home of the Viking Cup.” Source: Caryl Swain, Platform Tennis News, Mid-Winter 1999 Dear Mr. Kjeldsen, Mrs. Fulton and Mrs. Swain: Thank you very much for sett ing up and inviting us to the Viking Cup. I had a really good time. I enjoy playing paddle a lot. My mom and I had a lot of fun playing, and meeting new players. Thanks again. Margot Ellis Source: Platform Tennis News, Mid-Winter 1999
Read More
Issue #1 arrived in mailboxes in September. Wayne Dollard, the editor and publisher of PTM recalled how he decided to pursue the endeavor and his vision for the magazine: “Ten minutes prior to catching my flight for the'99 Nationals, my father-in-law and I were brainstorming over what he might do with his upcoming retirement. Out of nowhere he said, "Maybe we should create a paddle magazine."Having no publishing experience and a 60-hour-perweekjob I replied, "good luck." Over the next couple of days his idea grew on me. Why don't we have a publication for ourselves? The clincher came in the Westchester airport before my flight home when, out of the corner of my eye, I couldn't believe what I saw on the news stand shelf: Yo-Yo World! How ridiculous! Surely, paddle is more popular than Yo-Yo-ing or whatever you call it, right? At that moment the reality of Platform Tennis Magazine [...]
Read More
APTA President, John Horine, explained the benefits of the new magazine in helping grow the game: “Platform Tennis season is around the corner so now is the time to start getting in shape. Eat right, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and all that, you know. What are the latest and greatest paddles? Are there new tennis shoes that will hold up better under the stressful conditions we place them under? What’s the scoop on the ball for casual play as well as the tournaments? What are we wearing this year to fend off the chilly winds of winter? Now, you don’t have to remember all these things to get yourself ready. The source of answers is right here in your hands, the new Platform Tennis Magazine. Take some time to check it out from cover to cover. There's something here for everyone. The APTA sponsorship of PTM is a sign of our growing commitment to promote paddle from the gra[...]
Read More
The second issue of PTM carried some positive feedback and some complaints on delivery timeliness. In the From the APTA ... section APTA President John Horine had this to say: “Our first issue was a smashing success. A heartfelt thanks to Wayne Dollard and APTA Board members Pete Mathews and Mark Holtschneider. Your summer efforts have resulted in a fantastic magazine. Wayne must have put 10,000 miles on his car this summer crisscrossing the country collecting pictures and articles for this seasons issues.” Horine’s comments were echoed in the Letters to the Editor section: “Just read your first issue cover to cover and wanted to congratulate you on a wonderful job! Forty-eight pages of interesting paddle reading...who could ask for anything more? Wishing you continued success in this worthwhile venture!” Sally Rogers / Scarsdale, New York “Thank you for t[...]
Read More
PTM carried the following story on the new development: How strong are your powers of observation? Have you noticed a different look on some platform tennis courts recently? If you attended the 1999 Nationals at the New York Athletic Club, you saw it on the showpiece courts, which R.J. Reilly provided for the event. The traditional quartz iodine lights, which have sat perched atop the twenty foot light poles for as long as most players can remember, are slowly being replaced by slightly larger metal halide fixtures. Why the change? Energy efficiency and advanced optics are the main reasons. The 400 watt metal halide fixtures only use about one third of the energy that the traditional 1500 watt quartz iodine fixtures use. This provides a cost savings to the owner and is easier on our environmental resources (paddle players are conservation minded too). Furthermore, only a 110 amp po[...]
Read More
APTA President, John Horine, made the point in the From the APTA section of PTM “At our teleconference in September, the APTA Board decided to put our foot down on foot faults. This season there will be roaming foot fault judges at each APTA sanctioned tournament. PLEASE read and abide by the rule book. Do not foot fault. You have been duly warned.”
Read MoreThe From the APTA ... section of PTM provided the details: “The APTA office has a new publication to assist tournament directors. From running a club event to coordinating a national championship, we have compiled some tools and tips to make sure your event runs smoothly. Whether you are running your first tournament or if you are a seasoned director (in need of some help) please call the APTA office so we can assist you.” Source: From the APTA, Platform Tennis Magazine, Issue #2, November, 1999
Read More
Viking and Wilson provided some insights into how paddles have evolved over the years: “Paddle technology has come a long way. When platform tennis was first played in 1928 the paddles had square, wooden faces, had no holes and were lightweight (about eight ounces). As the sport grew in popularity, the paddles changed. Stronger woods were tried, but the extra strength resulted in added weight. Holes were then added to reduce weight and created the added benefit of allowing ‘spin’ to enter the game. Metal edges were added in the 1960s to reduce wear. But, with the introduction of the metal edge came the "paddle rattle". In the 1970s, manufacturers experimented with Lexan and aluminum paddles. The first open throat paddle appeared and was made with an aluminum yoke. Fiberglass and acrylic skins were added to reduce warping, increase power, and reduce weight. The new surface mat[...]
Read MoreAPTA President, John Horine, reported: “I would like to relay an exciting experience I had in early November. On November 12th, 11-time National Champion Bill Childs and I flew to Kansas City at the request of APTA member Peter McHugh for an exhibition and clinic. When we arrived at the Carriage Club on Saturday morning we were greeted by the tennis/platform pro Kirkland Gates. Both Bill and I were amazed at the enthusiasm of the players we met that day. All of the players that we met were eager to learn more about the game and how they could improve their skills. We were on the court for over seven hours! The program in Kansas City is admittedly small in comparison to other areas of the country, but their hearts and excitement for the game are as big as anywhere! Before the call from Peter McHugh, few people knew platform tennis was played in Kansas City. Now, hopefully the[...]
Read More
The final Chicago Charities Tournament of the decade/century/millennium was played on a perfect autumn weekend and showcased the top talent in the game. Over 150 teams, competing in four divisions, converged to do battle in one Tournament of the decade/century/millennium was played on a perfect autumn weekend and showcased the top talent in the game. Over 150 teams, competing in four divisions, converged to do battle in one of the most competitive fields ever assembled at an APTA tournament event. Headquartered at Glen View Club's new "paddle palace", the tournament provided some upsets and some near upsets. David Ohlmuller and Chris Gambino, the nation's number one ranked team, came in from the east to defeat Chicago's Bill Fiedler and Scott Bondurant (two-time defending champions) in a three set men's final, displaying some of the finest driving and net play ever. The Chicago team h[...]
Read More
The Viking Cup adult/child paddle tennis tournament is quickly becoming the APTA's largest paddle tournament! This year over 230 adults and children participated in playoffs at 13 sites over an eight state area.The Viking Cup adult/child paddle tennis tournament is quickly becoming the APTA's largest paddle tournament! This year over 230 adults and children participated in playoffs at 13 sites over an eight state area. David Kjeldson, CEO of Viking Athletics and the primary sponsor for the Viking Cup, has continued his support of junior paddle development across the country. This adult-child format has been well received and has been well received and has been a great goal for the children. In October, the local play-downs determined the draw for the national competition at the Fox Meadow Tennis Club in Scarsdale, New York. All participants received a Viking t-shirt and hat, as wel[...]
Read More
PTN Update Vol.10, No. 2, February 1999
Read More
The January/February edition of Off The Wire covered the event held at the Town Tennis Club in New York City. “Thirty-two card carrying reporters were invited to come and see how our game is supposed to be played. The better to understand that Platform Tennis is not ping-pong, is not paddleball, is not deck tennis. Allowing for no-shows, crashers, ancillary invitees, etc., a good time was had by 73 people. Bob Brown introduced the matches, the players, and the celebs, and set the stage for our audience.” Celebrities included Sid Wood, Chuck McKinley and Stan Smith. Source: Off The Wire, Vol. 5 No. 2
Read MoreDecember saw the publication of the first edition of Off The Wire. President Robert Brown’s letter read, in part: “As you can see, with this issue of the Newsletter there are a number of changes -- new title, new format, and, since the Annual Meeting, some new people on the APTA Board. The Board has been expanded to 13 Directors, and we are pleased to have wide geographic representation. Four of the Directors are from regions other than the New York Metropolitan area -- and we have a good balance of experienced and ‘new blood’. The Newsletter is our main communications medium with the membership. We're trying, under the guidance of our new editor Bill Ballard, to make it informative and interesting and to keep you posted on what's going on in the world of platform tennis.” Ballard wanted Off The Wire to be more than just a compilation of draw sheets, minutes and offi[...]
Read MoreBrendan Byrne had a calendar conflict, a speech to the New Jersey Education Association at their annual conference and a date to play in the National Senior Men’s 50+ at Englewood, NJ. He chose to play paddle, lost his first round match and advanced as far as the semis in the consolation. A newspaper covering the event characterized his game as “a conservative style bent on returning the ball.” Source: Off The Wire, Vol. 5, No. 3
Read More
Men's Doubles returned to FMTC and, with 127 teams entered, it was like old times. Half the defending championship team of Kingsbury-Mangan belonged to Fox Meadow, and half the team that won, John Beck and Herb Fitz Gibbon, grew up there. Big John Beck played for the Bedford Golf Club, but around Fox Meadow, he was still Madge and Ted Beck's boy, a local kid who made good. The five-set final lasted more than two and a half hours before Beck and Fitz Gibbon overwhelmed Keith Jennings and Chauncey Steele. It was not a complete Fox Meadow victory, but it felt terrific regardless. In the Senior events, Charles Baird and Ed Swanberg completed their hat-trick in the 50+ and Baird teamed with Roger Lankenau to win the 45+. In the 60+, Walter Frese and Ken LaVine won their second title. See APTA Newsletters listed as sources for drawsheets Source:
Read More
The APTA newsletter, Off The Wire, reported on the APTA’s position on the tiebreak. “The tiebreak is being used more and more in platform tennis tournaments. The APTA takes the following position on use of the tiebreak: (1) For National Championships – The APTA will decide prior to each tournament whether the tiebreak will be used and, if so, for how many rounds. (2) For all other Sanctioned Tournaments - The decision on whether to use the tiebreak or not is up to the tournament committee. Where the tiebreak is used, the APTA recommended the nine-point tiebreak.” Source: Off The Wire, Vol. 5 No. 2
Read More
The tiebreak was to be played at 6-all. The APTA newsletter, Off The Wire, carried the details: “1. The nine-point tiebreak is played when games reach 6-all. 2. The player whose turn it is to serve the next regular game is the first server. This is always the same player who started serving the set. 3. The team that wins 5 points is the winner of the set. The set is scored 7-6. 4. Each player must serve from the same end of the court in the tiebreak that he or she has served from during the set. (Note that this alters the sequence of serving by the partners on the second serving team.) For illustration, with the serving team designated as Players A and B, and their opponents as C and D, the service order is as follows: Points 1 & 2 are served by player A. Player A is always the player who started serving the set. TEAMS DO NOT CHANGE COURTS Points 3 & 4[...]
Read MoreThe thriving growth of the game resulted in a rapidly rising management load for APTA officers. The scope of activity and responsibility of some of the key functions, such as Tournaments, Treasurers, Secretarial, Equipment, Public Relations and the President, had increased to the point, in some cases, of exceeding the limits of "volunteer" or “spare time” effort. President Robert A Brown summarized the decision in the Mid-Summer issue of Off The Wire: “The Board has therefore decided that the APTA will hire an Executive Director. Provision will be made in the 1974-75 operating budget for a salary for the Executive Director and secretarial and other expenses in connection with the job. In our budgetary planning, a number of income-generating steps are being considered, including the tournament sponsorship item discussed below. The duties and responsibilities of the Executive[...]
Read More
The APTA named Gloria Dillenbeck as the first full-time Executive Secretary. Raised in Montclair, NJ, Dillenbeck began playing platform tennis in 1966 and had been a star varsity tennis player at Swarthmore College. With her partner, B.J. Debree, they were the first team to challenge the dynasty of Charlotte Lee and Peggy Stanton (National Champions 1967-1970) and won the Nationals in three successive years—1971, 1972, and 1973. Gloria Dillenbeck Dodd was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.
Read MoreThe APTA adopted a policy of receptiveness to proposals for commercial sponsorship of tournaments other than National Championships. A committee studied the issue and developed a detailed policy statement that was approved by the Board. The policy broadly provided for an APTA review of a proposed sponsor's tournament format and, if approved, APTA assistance in locating a site, scheduling, tournament organization, and officiating. The APTA would receive a fee from the sponsor, a portion of which would be passed on to the host organization, to assure that it remained in the black. Source: Off The Wire, Mid-Summer 1974
Read More
The Board approved the recommendation of the Ranking Committee to expand the National Rankings to include all nine categories in which National Championships were played. Previously, rankings had been determined only for the Men's and Women's categories. The Mid-Summer edition of Off The Wire provided the expanded list of rankings, and details on the ranking procedure used for the 1973-74 season. Source: Off The Wire, Vol. 5, Mid-Summer 1974
Read MoreThe APTA Newsletter Off The Wire reported that the most controversial issue during the previous season (and that included foot-faults!) was the differences among the four APTA approved balls. The article continued, “This one bounces too lively, that one warms up too slowly, the next one comes apart at the seams, etc. etc. etc. The Marcraft ball seems to have won high marks for playability, and some of the women's tournaments actually publicized that ‘by popular demand’ the event was using Marcraft balls. Well, hold on to your prejudices, because we're about to start a whole new ball game. Don Macrae, Grand Vizier of Equipment, has tightened up the specs for the coming season, and the manufacturers have all been advised to make a ball that is both lighter and less bouncy. Several of them have already submitted new batches for testing, and Don reports that the suppliers are being [...]
Read MoreIn 1974, several letters to the editor of The New York Times surfaced about the name confusion between platform tennis and paddle tennis. Burling Lowrey of Washington, D.C., and Dick Squires exchanged pecks as proponents for their respective games. The exchange, however, was broader in scope than just the name conflict. The Mid-Summer edition of the APTA newsletter, Off The Wire, had this to say: It is not the intent of the APTA to enter the crossfire, but simply to set the record straight for our readers who may have read one or both of the letters, because both gentlemen are guilty of errors of fact. Mr. Lowrey referred to the invention of platform tennis by a “group of Scarsdale millionaires,” one of the standard forms of jabs at platform tennis' supposed snobbishness. In fact, neither Blanchard nor Cogswell were millionaires. Far from attempting to foster[...]
Read More"This season," APTA's President Robert Brown reports enthusiastically, "our Association, with 265 member clubs and about 1,000 individual members, is sanctioning nine national championship tournaments and another thirty-nine regional tournaments- a record for us." These tournaments are being held not only in the Northeast, the longtime bastion of platform tennis, but in such far-flung places as Hilton Head, South Carolina, Chicago, Cleveland and Denver. The APTA estimates that there are now 2,500 to 3,000 courts in the United States, with more than 100,000 devotees of all ages. Courts are also springing up in Japan, Germany, Italy, Puerto Rico, Canada and Poland. NOTE: There were also courts in Russia - see articles referenced below. Source:"It's Platform Tennis", John P. Ware, Travel & Leisure, March 1974. See also: Moscow thrashes Warsaw and US Ambassador to Poland, Wa[...]
Read MoreThe APTA reported that all four of the approved ball suppliers met the new, tougher standards and that they now had their own testing capability, so if any balls became sub-standard during the season they could be “unapproved.” The new balls were lighter and less bouncy and a yellow ball was approved for night play. The approved suppliers were Barr, Vittert, Beconta, Inc. (a division of Puma), and Marcraft. The APTA set forth the new ball standards: I. BOUNCE TEST FOR REBOUND Balls are conditioned at 70 degrees for 24 hours, then dropped from 90 inches to a concrete slab, and the rebound is measured. Standard Rebound: 40 inches; Acceptable Tolerance: 38" to 42" II. WEIGHT TEST Standard Weight: 72.5 Grams; Acceptable Tolerance: 70 to 75 grams III. DIAMETER TEST Measure diameter along two perpendicular axes of the ball. Both readings must be within tolerance. [...]
Read More
Bill Ballard spearheaded this initiative with assistance from Bob Brown. Prior to the publication of this book the guidance on platform tennis rules simply stated: “The rules of platform tennis are the same as for tennis except for the one serve rule and play off the wires etc.” The new Rule Book provided a comprehensive review of all the rules and regulations governing play. The book was so well received that the first printing run of 6,000 copies quickly disappeared, necessitating a second printing in 1975. The rules allowed a let to be played if a ball hit the crossbar, the angular beam between the side screen and the back screen which were standard on courts at the time. Eagle-eyed umpires who spotted an apparent ambiguity on this position involving Rules 2, 13, and 19, were informed that the overriding ruling was to be found at 13 (d), to wit, if the ball hits a cross[...]
Read MoreIn order to discourage foot-faults, the partner of the receiver was now empowered to call them against the server. This experimental rule was based on a Jack Stahr "Decisions" column from the July 1973 issue of World Tennis. The intent of the APTA was to evaluate the rule over the coming season to see if it should be confirmed or discarded. The appropriate section of this ruling was as follows: Question: “…who is entitled to call foot-faults?” Ruling: " …..simply call a few of those services 'faults' under a broad interpretation of the official Explanation under Rule 8, which says that 'it is customary for the Receiver to determine whether the service is good or a fault.' (If it is illegally delivered, it is a fault.) This might not be the most sociable thing to do, but consider the unsociable effect that legal servers experience upon seeing their opponents take unfair[...]
Read MorePreviously, when a ball went over the screen, the point had been played as a let. Under the new rule, approved by the APTA Board in September, the striker lost the point outright. The Board intended to evaluate the rule over the coming season to see if it should be confirmed or discarded. It was later confirmed.
Read MorePrompted by increasing concern about line calls and foot-faulting, APTA President Robert Brown formed a committee to advise and recommend steps to cope with these matters. The committee recommended the establishment of an Umpires Committee, whose function would be to post line judges to make out calls and any foot-fault calls. The APTA concurred with the recommendation. Paul Malloy, Paul Sullivan and Brook Kindred, from Fox Meadow formed the nucleus, along with renowned tennis umpires Jack Stahr and Mike Dunne.
Read MoreForeseeing the likelihood of company-sponsored “tours,” a special Committee on Commercialization chaired by Mike North, was formed., By mid-1974, the APTA formally established its policy on commercial activities and decided to maintain control over all commercial tournament activities, as not doing so would have undoubtedly led to the establishment of a separate professional organization. Bob Kingsbury was appointed director of commercial activities, while Gloria Dillenbeck, Executive Secretary, assisted him.
Read MoreRichard J. Reilly, Jr. was a major force in developing the game through his innovations in court construction and his unwavering support for the game over many years. Among his many improvements to court engineering was the pioneering of the aluminum deck in the early 1970s Reilly’s contributions helped make the game what it is today and was a factor in expanding the reaches of the game across the U.S., as well as to Canada, France, Poland, Bulgaria, and Japan.
Read More
Edited by Dick Squires, this was one of a number of books he edited or wrote. Squires was a great promoter of the game. Squires was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.
Read MoreHeld in Mid-November at Amelia Island Plantation, FL, the tournament consisted of eight of the top nine nationally-ranked teams. The winning team of Mangan and Kingsbury received $2,000, while the runners-up, Steele and Jennings, earned $500. Highlights of the tournament were shown on the CBS show Sports Spectacular on Sunday February 23, 1975 Even though most of the players on the tour had full-time jobs outside of platform tennis, with the majority of them working in the finance industry, the prize money added another enticement to the game.
Read More
Welcome to the best location in the nation - Cleveland, of course. To all our old friends its super to see you again, and to you new faces, its great to see you guys as well. For the men it is a historical occasion! Who would believe we would be pounding the pill for the long hard green. For the first time in the history of our favorite sport, dollars are replacing the firm handshake and the clasp on the back
Read MoreIt didn't take long before a committee consisting of tournament level players and headed by APTA President Bob Brown re-visited the nine-point tie-breaker adopted in early 1974. The nine-point tie-breaker rule stated that if two teams reached 4-all the next point decided the set. This was considered unfair. The APTA subsequently adopted a 12-point tie-breaker of its own, one in which the first team winning 7 points takes the set. If the teams reach 6-all then it takes a margin of two points to win (e.g. 8-6 or 12-10) The sequence in the APTA 12-point tiebreaker is as follows: Assume the last point of the set has ended, and the game score is 6-all. The players stay on the same side of the net and the next player in the regular service rotation serves once from the ad court. When that point is over, the players change sides and the normal serving rotation continues with ea[...]
Read More
Born in 1924, Jack Davis is one of the best-known American illustrators of the past fifty years. During his illustrious career, he created art for magazine covers, film posters, record jackets, advertisements, and books. Perhaps he is most admired for his work in MAD Magazine. In the platform tennis world, he is famous for his zany drawings that feature outlandish characters on the court. During the 1970’s, he created twelve widely distributed platform tennis prints. A former Scarsdale resident, Davis played platform tennis socially at the Scarsdale Golf Club. Although he claims that he didn’t base his characters on anyone specific, it is hard not to identify with each of them. The Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame inducted Davis in 2003. Interesting factoid: Jack Davis had Fox Meadow Tennis Club member Karen Reuter (1943-2008) do quite a bit of coloring for his cart[...]
Read More
Handling the crowds at the Men’s Nationals created some challenges. With the growing popularity and spectator appeal of the game, the APTA decided to limit the crowds and defray tournament expenses by charging admission into the Fox Meadow grounds. Also, for the 1975 event, Fox Meadow Tennis Club planned to install a large tent in the parking lot, in order to provide creature comforts and food for spectators at the semis and finals. There would be a general admission charge of $2 for adults and $1 for children. Super-fans could purchase a clubhouse pass, entitling them to lunch for $10. Under this new format only pass-holders, officials, semi-finalists and their wives would be permitted access to the clubhouse. Source: Off The Wire, Vol. 6 No. 3
Read More
Mike O'Hearn, National Tournament Director, made the call. Source: Off The Wire Vol. 6 No. 3
Read More
In the Men’s, the previous year’s finalists Jennings and Steele, emerged as the champions over two-time winners Kingsbury and Mangan. In the Women’s, the California duo of Hilary Hilton and Annabel Lang, who excelled in paddle tennis, were imported to break the dominance of the East Coast and did just that. In the Senior events, Chuck Baird and Ned Swanberg won their fourth straight 50+ title, establishing an unrivaled record. Baird and Lankenau won their second straight 45+ and Do Deland, daughter of the co-founder of the game Jimmy Cogswell, won the Women’s 50+ with Deborah McIlwaine.
Read More
A native of Los Angeles, Hilary Hilton Marold, became the only person to hold national titles in three different racquet sports in the same year – platform tennis, paddle tennis, and tennis. Source: Hilary Hilton Marold, personal communication
Read More
The APTA initiated a Life Membership for a fee of $100. Buffy Briggs became the first Life Member by putting up her money on the very night the APTA created the new membership category.
Read More
APTA President Robert Brown explained the reasoning behind the change: “The reason for this change is to place the officers who will be responsible for the affairs of the Association during the next season in their functions at an earlier date than in the past. This new management team will then have the spring, summer, and early fall to prepare for the coming season, and we feel that this will have real management benefits.” Source: Off The Wire, Vol. 6 No. 3
Read MoreUnder the guidance of new editor, Ann V. Cosstick, Paddle Talk added an Issues Column to allow a dialog on issues of concern to the platform tennis playing population. Source: Paddle Talk, No. 1
Read More
The North years led to the emergence of a meaningful Junior Development program; the beginnings of regional management, including an international region; the formation of the players' committee; the upgrading of communications with the APTA membership; and the beginnings of solid financial based planning in APTA Board activities. In the first issue of Paddle Talk in September, New President Cecil North Jr., expressed his views on the issues facing the APTA. Source: Paddle Talk, No. 1
Read More
John Ware (1921-1999) was born in Chestnut Hill, MA and was a graduate of the Brooks School and Princeton University. He served as a first lieutenant in World War II as well as in the Korean War where he received the Bronze Star. Before his retirement in 1987, he was director of industrial sales and professional development at John Wiley & Sons, publishers, and served on the national committee of the American Society for Training and Development The wooded paddle courts were always difficult to maintain and the club began experimenting with an aluminum deck in the early 1970s. After some trial usage, and with the Board anguishing over the cost, the decision was made during Ware's term to convert all the courts to all-aluminum. The new courts now had heaters under them to melt snow and ice and this extended the available playing time. Ware served as APTA President from 1961-196[...]
Read MoreThe APTA Board accepted the Equipment Committee’s recommendations to update the standards at their June meeting. Only balls and paddles certified by the Equipment Committee as meeting these specifications could be used in sanctioned or ranking tournaments. However, it was now not necessary for balls and paddles to be formally "APTA Approved"; this designation was awarded to equipment at a later date. The rapid growth of the game the high expectation for its continued expansion had encouraged a number manufactures to produce paddles and this drove innovation. This innovation forced a change in the APTA paddle specifications, specifically with respect to the number of holes allowed. Up to late 1974 the had been a requirement that the paddle should have 63 holes with a tolerance of 52-74. the developments of the Play-morTM paddle which used an aluminum honeycomb core and had just[...]
Read MoreIn recognition of the growth of interest in on-grade courts in warm-weather areas, the Board confirmed that a court need not be built on a platform to meet APTA specifications.
Read More
Ambassador Walter Stoessel, a keen player and lover of the game, had introduced platform tennis to both Moscow and Warsaw, and had courts built in both capitals. The Warsaw Chapter of the APTA sent the association a report on an inter-embassy tournament played on April 26 and 27 between them and a team from Moscow that included Stoessel, the American Ambassador in Moscow. The Moscow Chapter claimed the title of Champions of the Eastern Hemisphere based on their triumph in the tournament, in which they won eight of the contests. Source: Paddle Talk, No. 1 Paddle World Vol. 1 No. 2 Mid-Winter 1976
Read More
The spring edition of Paddle Talk carried this story. “If the Dutch haven't heard of platform tennis yet, then they soon will, or so at least hopes Cees Cuppens of Bellfires BV in Holland. Recently he visited the U.S.A. and met with Gloria Dillenbeck of the APTA to discuss his plans for marketing courts in Europe. The Dutch are already tennis-mad, inspired by the success of their national tennis heroes, Betty Stove and Tom Okker. And the tennis twosome just happened to be paddle freaks, too. Bellfires BV makes fireplaces, but recently decided to expand the business. They have chosen to go into the leisure industry, ironically one of the few areas that have benefited from current adverse economic conditions. The path that has led Mr. Nico de Wal, President of Bellfires, and Cees Cuppens to see the potential of platform tennis was determined by conditions specific to a tiny count[...]
Read More
In November, Tennis Trade started a new publication, Paddle World, devoted entirely to platform tennis. All APTA members received one year's free subscription.
Read MoreThe University Club hosted the meeting on October 27th with close to 200 in attendance. In a summary of the year's developments, President Mike North stressed that transition was taking place, both in the internal organization of the APTA, and in its relationships with other organizations. Platform tennis was transitioning from game to sport to business. The responsibility of the APTA was be to ensure that the organization could handle the transition smoothly, while protecting the traditions, the essential character of the game, and the informal quality which made it attractive to players in the first place. The highlight of the proceedings was APTA Chairman of Commercial Development Bob Kingsbury's presentation of the relationship between the APTA and Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York. From an Igloo Cooler, he pulled product after product, from Tribuno Vermouth, through Rumbl[...]
Read More
In 1975, the Saddle & Cycle Club, under Platform Tennis Chairman Frank Klimley and the initial subscriptions of 110 members, constructed two wood courts. The initial warming facility was in the north end of the main clubhouse with views out toward the courts, thirty meters away. In 1979, the 'Saddle' had two Men's and one Women's team playing in the highly competitive North Shore Platform Tennis League. Then in 1985, not only were new aluminum courts with heaters and improved lighting installed, but the original Sportshouse 'warming hut' was constructed adjacent to the courts, both adding to increased play and member enjoyment. In 2015 club member Jim McCormick, a long-time player of the game at Saddle and Cycle, purchased an original racquet (circa 1930) and had it framed along with the description of the origins of the game at the club. Source: Racquets Committee (Heather Mont[...]
Read MoreThe Dr Pepper Junior Development Program consisted of two aspects: educational, which covered the Exhibition-Clinic program and the printing of 10,000 rules booklets, and the tournaments. Dr Pepper sponsored the two-part program for the 1975-76 season to the tune of $50,000. This funding was to be spent on mounting the Exhibition-Clinics, providing prizes at the tournaments, and advertising and promotional materials. At the tournaments, Dr Pepper would provide prizes, supply sweatshirts and travel bags, and have coolers with refreshments at each court location. A representative of the Company would present the winners of each tournament with a check for the cost of their transportation to the 1976 Nationals. Miss Teen New Jersey would present the prizes at the Nationals. Jim Gollhofer, New York Metro Manager for the Dr Pepper Company, commented that the program offered the Company[...]
Read More
The first meeting of the newly established council took place on October 13, 1975. The Minutes reflected the discussion on the Council's Charter (Membership, Purpose and Functions) and an emblem to be awarded to past presidents
Read MoreFormed in the fall, the Association had the objective of establishing standards for playing and teaching. Founding members were: Doug Russell, John Brownlow, Bob Callaway, Peter Chase, Hank Irvine, Dave Jennings, Craig Mielke, Steve Nycum, Chuck Saacke, Robin White and Joan Silbersher. The Paddle Tennis Center in Norwalk, Connecticut held the first training and certification session on the weekend of October 25 and 26. Source: Paddle Talk, No.2
Read MoreAs the game expanded and the APTA added more and more tournaments, they recognized the need to establish more direct communication with players. The Player’s Committees served as forums to discuss issues of concern to players, such as equipment and tournament regulations. The Committees liaised with the Tournament Committees and the APTA Board (John Mangan was the first head of the Men’s Player’s committee and had to deal with his old partner, Bob Kingsbury, on the APTA Board; they got along so well they never had a meeting!). Source: Paddle Talk, No. 2. Personal communication from Robert R. Kingsbury.
Read MoreThe “pro-circuit” had made those who could not compete feeling left out. The ‘B’ events were designed to address this issue.
Read More
Court builders started cropping up all over the country. And they brought innovation - different deck materials (aluminum, steel, plywood) and on grade construction. You could even build your own court from a kit for $6,000!
Read More
The court deck was very tough on the tennis shoes of the day. Shoe Goo was the answer!
Read More
Platform tennis had come to the Deep South in resounding fashion. Two courts were being built as part of a recreational complex and the game was to be incorporated into the intramural program for both men and women with the courts available from 7:00 am to midnight.
Read More
In 1976, for the first time, stringent qualifying criteria were applied to entrants to limit the Men's draw to a manageable number. The event could be followed on television as PBS, courtesy of Tribuno, filmed it. Commentary was by Billy Talbert and Dick Squires The gang's all here to watch as Chip and Steve Baird, receiving, win the 1976 Nationals. Note the cameraman with his overview from the cat bird's seat! By 11:30 on Sunday the ticket allocation of 2000 had been sold. Most spectators found seats in the stands on three sides of the Court 1 and others climbed tress or hung from the roof and pipes of the clubhouse. In the Men’s, the Baird brothers defeated defending champions Jennings and Steele in four sets that included a dramatic ending when Steve passed out for a moment. This was the first of ten Men’s titles for Steve Baird. Wendy Chase and Linda Wolf defe[...]
Read MoreThe World Championships [Tournament Brochure] were the culmination of the Tribuno Men’s Circuit and included a women’s event. Forest Hills hosted the event on April 2-3. Tribuno Wines raised prize money to $82,900 for the 1976–77 Tribuno Men’s Circuit, which consisted of nine events in Cleveland, Hartford, Rye, NY, Short Hills NJ, Chicago, New Canaan, CT, Washington, DC, and Scarsdale. The prize money for each of the first seven tournaments was $4,200, while the Scarsdale Nationals prize money was $6,500. On April 1 and 2, 1976, the tour culminated at the Tribuno Platform Tennis World Championship, held at Forest Hills, Queens, NY. Tribuno put up $15,000 for both the men’s and women’s events, with the winners earning $5,000, the largest purse in the sport. Without a doubt, this event was the pinnacle of commercially-sponsored platform tennis competition. On a clear, be[...]
Read More
A big step forward for the traditional warming hut which was so important for the social aspects of the game. Happy Hour in the Happy House. You could even build it yourself
Read More
Paddle Talk head-lined the finals: To cries of "Whoa-ho, Gordo!," Russell and Gray became the First Tribuno World Paddle Champions, coming back from 4-6, 3-6 down after the first two sets to beat National Champions Steve and Chip Baird, with scores of 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in the later sets. Russell summed up the match afterwards, "Patience and power have given us the edge. The power is Gordon's and the patience is mine." In a season in which Gordon Gray and Doug Russell had vied with the Bairds for the top spot, it was indeed a tremendously popular victory. Between 2,500 and 3,000 spectators were at Forest Hills to watch the semifinals, finals and pro-celebrity tournament on a cold, blustery but sunny day. Russell and Gray received a check for $4,000 and the promise of a trophy1 from Charlie Millard, Chairman of Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York, for their victory in the climact[...]
Read MoreFinding experienced umpires and linesmen was a challenge and cold weather made it worse. Paul Molloy reported on the challenges. He wrote the following article for the May edition of the APTA newsletter Paddle Talk: “The APTA created an arm known as the Umpires Committee approximately three years ago. Bob Brown, the APTA president, called a meeting of players interested and experienced in paddle and tennis officiating. Two of those in attendance were Paul Sullivan and myself, both members of the Eastern Tennis Umpires Association (ETUA). A committee was formed for the purpose of providing consistent and experienced officials at all APTA sanctioned and ranking tournaments. Paul Sullivan as Chairman and I as Secretary, sought out qualified Chair Umpires in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Hartford, Long Island, and the other sanctioned tournament locations. We also recruited some ETUA me[...]
Read MoreSource: Paddle World Winter 1975/1976
Read More
Read More
Carl S. Forsythe III sounded off in the Issues section of the May edition of Paddle Talk about a system that appeared to be creating incentives and recognition for a small group of elite teams at the expense of the broader tournament playing population. “If the game of paddle tennis is to maintain a healthy depth and broad base of interest, a number of changes should be made next year in the manner in which the men's tournament schedule is set up. Generally, the current procedures discourage all but the top 15 or 20 teams, to whom they accord such a position of honor that teams below this group tend to become discouraged and drop ‘off the circuit.’ This causes a lack of depth in APTA draws and is, to some extent, responsible for the regularity with which the top teams march into the 16's and quarters of the draw. In the long run it is neither in the interests of the top [...]
Read More
In early September, the APTA and Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York announced the start of an exciting new relationship. Discussions between Mr. Charles E. F. Millard, President and Chief Executive Officer of CCBCNY, Jack Cantwell of their advertising agency, Jack Cantwell Associates, and the APTA resulted in the agreement that covered a men's tour, the production of educational materials, and a junior development program. Millard was a keen player and loved the game. Source: Paddle Talk, No. 1
Read More
Paddle had special challenges for the TV producer. The chicken wire screen made it a challenge to film for one thing, and with continuous play, it was difficult to find time for slow motion replays. To tape the Nationals at Fox Meadow, cameras were placed at two corners of court #1, on top of the screens, and on a scaffolding structure on a hill behind the court. A mobile camera completed the setup. It was also necessary to place a dark green backcloth at the end of the court. The Nationals aired on March 28 in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The first time that Al Steele, Executive Producer at Connecticut Public Television, and his team covered platform tennis was for the Mixed Nationals at Hartford in 1975. “Public television is always looking for new and different sports,” said Steele, “and as I'm an enthusiast myself, it was easy to decide on platform tennis. [...]
Read More
Paul Malloy, Chair of the APTA Umpires Committee reflected on recent deliberations in the August edition of Paddle Talk: A very controversial subject in the game of paddle is the “foot-fault rule.” Everyone understands that a player may not touch the baseline or step into the court before making contact with the ball. Most people also are aware that a player may swing his foot over the baseline during the service as long as the foot doesn't touch the court prior to striking the ball. Gordon Gray, during his championship years with Sam Sammis, used to give foot-fault judges fits because the swinging foot was practically on the deck as he struck the ball. He has since modified his delivery and no longer swings the foot over the line. The most troublesome area of the Foot-fault rule comes under Rule 7 (a), which says ,”The server shall throughout the delivery of the service: No[...]
Read More
Read More
The APTA authorized the formation of this body in June 1976. Its mandate was to foster the development of platform tennis outside the United States and to coordinate international activities.
Read MoreBurns Park in Massapequa, NY, installed the first public platform tennis courts on Long Island's south shore. The plans for the park included the community courts after Gloria McLoughlin of Harbour Green collected 500 names on a petition to the town board.
Read More
Hilton was one of twelve female athletes, and the first platform tennis player asked to compete on ABC’s Women Superstars. The following year she was asked to provide commentary alongside host Al Michaels.
Read More
As President of the APTA from 1939-42, winner of one of the first Honor Awards in 1965, and inventor of the Scrambles tournament, Ken Ward's contributions to platform tennis were many and various. He was a friend of all the pioneers of the game in the early days and maintained his interest throughout the years. John Ware said, "Ken Ward was kind of a special man. He was a great advocator of platform tennis. He had, you might say, an acute case of the game. I remember him as being a presence at close to 40 Annual Meetings. Every year, he would get up and give the Board his personal vote of confidence and thanks. He had a graciousness and dry wit and a wonderful way of expressing himself." Ken Ward had this to say in a letter to Bob Brown, Chairman of the Presidents' Council, after the last Annual Meeting: "I thought the meeting went off very well. Everyone was well prepared. I [...]
Read MoreThe organization grew from the original five clubs in 1967 to seventeen clubs by 1976, and now included the Sewickely YMCA and the Mt. Lebanon Community Courts. The first five years saw a formation of a men's League, followed by women's A, B and C Leagues. In 1976, there were plans for an informal junior League.
Read More
Bob Callaway & Michael Hughes, Jay Iseman, George Sullivan, Doug Russell and Ernest Chu, Bill Ballard & Jim Hevener all had book published
Read More
In the fall, the Suburban Indoor Tennis Club in Randolph, Massachusetts held the inaugural tournament. Draws were held for both boys and girls in the 11 & under and 15 & under categories.
Read MoreAPTA struggles with balance between amateur and professional play. At the Annual Meeting, APTA President Mike North reflected on the issue: The key question is this: How should the APTA cope with growth and commercialization? These are the conclusions I have come to: There should be a clear-cut division between commercial and non-commercial activities within the APTA. Commercial activity should continue to come under the aegis of the APTA board so that the “sound development of the game” can be controlled, but, because of the time demands, the APTA office should be split into two function areas, with the commercial headed by a second paid Executive Secretary. There should also be a separation of commercial and non-commercial tournaments, with the tournaments, at least initially, held on the same weekend at the same location, as is being done at Cleveland this year. This has[...]
Read More
Source: Paddle World Vol. 1, No. 5, Fall 1976
Read More
Charles Millard, President of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York and a key supporter of the game, commissioned the painting1. Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 2 No. 2 (December) Who are the players? “My guess is that Sticker drew the players from scrap art - several pictures that he patched together with his brush. He must have visited FMTC for he beautifully and accurately portrays the Club, snow, court, bleachers, and spectators. As to the players, I've always related to the guy hitting the overhead. I recognize the posture, the pants, the green socks and the sweater. But who knows. The other player in the foreground court sure looks like the back of Paul Sullivan's grey head. And it makes sense that he would be there. Too bad Bob Brown isn't on the other side of the net, because he was usually in that FMTC group. The guy with the hat looks like Dave Jennings. It doesn't[...]
Read More
APTA President Mike North expressed his view at the Annual Meeting as part of a discussion on the growth of the game: “The second necessary development is for the rules to be changed to encourage spectator interest. I agree with Dick Squires' excellent article in a recent issue of Paddle World that urged reconsideration of the rules as proficiency increases. For instance, we should consider returning to a less lively ball, introducing the return of serve before the ball hits the screen, and the provision of a winning shot.” Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 2 No. 2 (December)
Read MoreThe circuit proved almost as popular as the men’s. The 1976–77 season kickoff was the Tribuno Platform Tennis Tournament of Cleveland, followed by Canoe Brook (New Jersey), Norwalk (Connecticut), Bronxville (New York), Detroit, and the World Championship at Forest Hills, New York. The prize money for the Women’s World Championship was $15,000. Because Tribuno offered equal prize money to men and women for the World Championships, the women voted to play three out of five sets, like the men did. In the semifinals, the spectators got their money’s worth as they watched Gengler and Hilton beat Wendy Chase and Linda Wolf (7–6, 6–3, 4–6, 1–6, 6–4).
Read More
The PRO-Keds Classic, held in New York City, was one of the game’s greatest marketing ideas. The event was the brainchild of Dick Squires, and was co-sponsored by Uniroyal and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. A court was erected in midtown Manhattan, at the site of the fifty-story Burlington House, on 54th Street and Avenue of the Americas. The area in front of the skyscraper was offered rent free, in exchange for $5,000 worth of PRO-Keds sneakers for the New York City Urban League underprivileged children. An integral part of the tournament was the junior program. Ninety-six children were chosen from the city's boroughs to participate in lunchtime clinics on the court, given by Bob Callaway. General Sportcraft contributed paddles for the kids and Burlington Industries provided socks and lunch. And, of course there were free sneakers for the children from U[...]
Read More
Phoebe Creamer became the first woman to serve on the Board since the early 1900’s: "I think they thought that if they had to have a woman on the board they would take an old-time conservative person who wouldn't rock the boat too much," she said. The club's constitution had been re-written in 1913 and women were excluded from the governance of the club. Prior th the change Hopeton Atterbury had served as President in 1907 and 1909. Source: Diana Reisch Fox Meadow Tennis Club - The First Hundred Years, 1983
Read More
John R. Moses was an exceptional tennis player, earning a number one ranking in Interscholastic doubles, and a number five ranking in singles. He was captain of the Yale tennis team, and was a finalist in the National Men’s at nineteen in 1943. Four years later, at age twenty-three, he won his first title, and a second followed ten years later, in 1957. John also won the Mixed in 1955. His record could well have been extended, but he moved to Kansas City where there were no courts. Blanchard thought that, at his best, Moses had few equals with quick hands and remarkable court coverage. (Fox Meadow Tennis Club). Susan Beck Wasch inherited her mother’s racquet genes and grew up playing both tennis and paddle. She had played Junior Wightman Cup tennis for two years when a serious illness interrupted her racquet career, and there was thought that she might not play again. [...]
Read More
1976 Annual Meeting Minutes
Read MoreRead More
[click to enlarge]
Read MoreThe draw was limited to 64 teams and all teams had to be invited to play by the APTA. Qualification was based upon team performance in at least three APTA ranking and/or sanctioned tournaments during the 1976/77 season. The guidelines were as follows: A team will qualify to enter the National Championships if it achieves the following: (a) Reaches the round of 32 twice or round of 16 once in a ranking tournament in which more than 60 teams compete. (b) Reaches the round of 16 twice or quarterfinals once in a ranking tournament in which less than 60 teams compete. (c) Reaches the quarterfinal round in a sanctioned tournament in which more than 60 teams compete. (d) Reaches the semi-finals of a sanctioned tournament in which less than 60 teams compete. (e) Is a finalist in the National 18 and under championships or in the National 21 and under championships. (f) Is[...]
Read More
The courts overlooked New York University and Washington Square and was probably the best university platform tennis facility in the world, and certainly its most dynamic setting. Reilly erected the courts in two weeks in May and they sat 115 feet above ground, atop the Bobst Library. The total cost of the courts was $118,000. The facility was open to students and faculty—173 students signed up for the first season—but not to the public. Mike Muzio, Chairman of Recreation and Intramural activities had plans for a series of clinics to teach the players and stimulate further interest. A keen supporter of the project was Professor Charles Bucher, Professor of Education. He had been an avid paddler for 25 years and had won the Senior Veterans Championship in 1976. Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 2 No. 3 (February)
Read More
Art Houlihan reported in the February edition of the APTA newsletter Paddle Talk: The pied pipers of paddle have wandered to at least twelve countries outside of the U.S. Canada is, of course, the mainspring of non-U.S. activities with hundreds of players and a full spectrum of tournaments and activities centered around Toronto. Hopefully this year we will be able to provide a better opportunity for Canadian players to participate in U.S. events including our championships. Ambassador Walter Stoessel brought paddle to Poland and Russia with courts at both embassies. The ever-present Reilly's sent courts to France, which are now in Switzerland. Without being able to give proper credit, there are also courts in Austria, Bahamas, Bermuda, Germany, Great Britain, Indonesia and Italy. The courts in Japan atop the American Club deserve some special recognition for ingenuity. The club[...]
Read More
In the Men’s, Herb Fitz Gibbon and Hank Irvine won the first of their two titles over Gordon Gray and Doug Russell. Hilary Hilton was back in the Women’s winners circle with a new partner Louise Gengler (her previous partner had returned to California), and with Doug Russell in the Mixed (the first of five titles). In the Seniors, Baird and Lankenau won both the 45+ and 50+, and Dick Hebard won his final title in the 60+ with George Lowman. The lucky one's have seats at the 1977 Nationals at FMTC. Rear: Martin Bowen, Vail Traina, Lois Hebard, Bette Otto, Mike North, Hank Otto. Middle: Molly Ware, Al Traina, Judy and Ron Durning (following man in cap), Bob Rau. Front: John Ware
Read MoreThe First Annual Hudson River Invitational, held in March, was an example of a new concept in club paddle competition, one that served as a model for other clubs interested in promoting tournament play. The Sleepy Hollow Country Club hosted eight men's teams from each of eight neighboring clubs. Utilizing over 20 courts in the Hudson River Valley, the 64-team draw played main draw, consolation, consolation reprieve and championship reprieve matches. This enabled each team to play a minimum of three matches. Each team got a single point for each match won in any of the four tournaments. The dinner dance that followed the tournament featured the Dixie-land music of APTA Board member Bob Kingsbury and his band. The day's events were an enormous success and, according to Chairman Richard Lombard, helped a great deal to promote tournament play in the Hudson River Valley. Source: [...]
Read More
Forest Hills held the event on April 1-2 in heavy rain. Maintenance men brushed puddles off the decks between games. The Women’s Final was a soaking wet scene on Saturday, April 2nd. The winning team was Hilary Hilton and Louise Gengler (6-2, 7-6, 7-6), title-holders for every Tribuno event of the year. The women contestants had made headlines by playing three out of five sets in the semis and finals: "Equal prize money, equal play," stated the women. The heavy rain necessitated postponement of the Men's Final until Sunday. Herb Fitz Gibbon and Hank Irvine ran through Doug Russell and Gordon Gray, after a tight first set, with the loss of only four more games, ending their season with four straight Tribuno victories. Media Guide and Program Booklet Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 2 No 5 (July-August) During one of the Tribuno Tour events, Hank Irvine hits a service volley while[...]
Read More
On May 10 and 11, the Manhattan Platform Tennis Club hosted the Doug Russell Invitational Singles Championships. Doug Russell and Linda Wolf captured the titles. APTA Singles would not restart until 1980, but this event put singles back on the map for the first time since 1937. See also: Singles grows up
Read More
Louis Gillespie (Gil) Erskine (1921-) was born in New York City and spent his early years in Larchmont, NY, and nearby Scarsdale. Following graduation from Salisbury School, he attended Princeton University. Erskine left after his sophomore year to become a glider pilot in World War II, stationed primarily in Rome. He received the Air Medal for his service. Following the war, Erskine received a law degree from New York University, which, taking his war experience into account, accepted him as a student despite his not having graduated from college. He was happy to pass the Bar exam on the first try. The last 25 years of Erskine's business career were spent as president of Financial Institutions Retirement Fund, located in White Plains, NY. He retired in 1986, having growing the business very successfully. The Fox Meadow Tennis Club has been an important pa[...]
Read More
Cecil J. North, in his closing speech as APTA President, pinpointed the principal theme for the coming season: “The APTA must provide more service to member clubs and amateur player-members and by so doing, enlarge the broad base of APTA membership.” He announced that the Board had already taken steps to separate the "commercial" game from the "amateur" one for the next year, and they anticipated an even more clear-cut separation to come. Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 2 No. 5 (July-August)
Read More
APTA President Mike North’s remarks: “At the Annual Meeting last year, I said that I thought that one of the APTA's most important objectives should be to develop a program for the players who do not participate in major tournaments. These may be players on the way up, on the way down, or people who love the game but do not have the ability to compete at the top level. We have not yet come up with the right name for this group. It is not ‘amateur’ because the distinction we are trying to make is not based on playing for money, but on the caliber of play. Neither is it truly ‘weekend players’ because many people play during the week. But the term ‘weekend player’ somehow comes closest to capturing the spirit that many of us want to retain. The Western Platform Tennis Association (WPTA) under Dick Hornigold, George Black and, now, Dick Hall, has made great progre[...]
Read MoreThis award was an outgrowth of the APTA’s efforts to appeal to non-tournament players and grow Regional interest. APTA President Mike North’s vision for the Cup: “We want to make the President's Cup the high point of the season for the weekend player. The top teams from each Region will compete to determine the Regional Champion. The trophy will be a beautiful bowl that, over a period of time, we hope will become the Davis Cup of platform tennis. It is even possible that a sponsor will pay the travel expenses for the regional teams and contribute toward the cost of the weekend itself.” The first President’s Cup event was held in 1978. Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 3 No. 2
Read MoreEleven different cities hosted open tournaments in the 18 and 15 and under categories for boys and girls, including the Nationals. A sizeable increase in the number of teams over last year was evident in all age groups. Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 2 No. 5 (July-August)
Read More
Philip E. Beekman, President of Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc., announced that Calvert Distillers Co. & Passport Scotch would be the sponsors of a tour for men and women during the 1977-78 season, offering prize money of over $140,000. In October, the Seagram Building on Park Avenue in New York City held two days of matches. Platform tennis enthusiasts in the New York metropolitan area were encouraged to stop by and watch the top teams in action. Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 3 No. 1 (September-October)
Read More
Calvert Distillers Company, the producer of Passport Scotch, agreed to sponsor the Passport Platform Tennis Playoffs, which consisted of six men’s events and five women’s events, all leading up to the $50,000 Passport Platform Tennis Classic in March 1978 at the Orange Lawn Tennis Club, South Orange, NJ. The Platform Tennis Playoffs were announced at a series of exhibitions at the Seagram Building on Park Avenue in New York City to start the 50th anniversary celebration of Platform Tennis.
Read More“Me? You gotta be kidding! What's it gonna do for me? I'm just a cannon fodder type!" Sound familiar? It sure is! But the answers to those questions are easy. They are "Yes." "No!" and "Lots!" In other words, yes, you ought to join. No, we're not kidding. And joining the APTA will do a lot (a) for you and (b) for this 50-year-old sport. The APTA entered the 1976-1977 season with 3,589 members. In 1973, it had 810. The goal for the next season was 7,000. That didn't seem unrealistic for a game that had blitzed the landscape from San Diego to Georgia, North Carolina, and the entire northeast. Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 3 No. 1 (September-October)
Read MoreCharles Millard of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York approached the APTA with the idea of Tribuno Vermouth becoming the title sponsor of the professional circuit for the 1977-78 season. This idea was an enormous success and brought platform tennis to an even wider audience.
Read More
Hicks started playing platform tennis at the Manursing Island Club in Rye back in the 1930’s and in 1940 he captured the APTA National Men's doubles title with Witherbee Black. He had been featured in a 1940 Life Magazine article of the game that had been arranged for by Ken Ward. The photographs for the article were by the noted Albanian-American photographer Gjon Mili who was a pioneer in the use of stroboscopic instruments to capture a sequence of actions in one image. Hicks died suddenly at his home in Rye, NY, on September 24, 1977. The 74-year old insurance executive, a paddle pioneer, was a member of the Class of 1926 at Princeton and had enjoyed many tennis triumphs. He captained his college team in his senior year when his doubles partner was sophomore John Van Ryn ('28). Van Ryn gained later fame on the courts by winning both the Wimbledon and U.S. Open doubles champions[...]
Read More
The APTA Concept: A Grand-Prix tour of Men's and Women's APTA sanctioned tournaments leading up to a Grand Prix playoff Championship. Players would earn points at each tournament during the season to become eligible to play in the Grand- Prix event at season's end. Each tournament would have a purse with a larger purse to be apportioned at the Grand-Prix Championship. A "leader-board" would be posted at each tournament to show the current standings of the competing teams. For the men's tour, the number of qualifying tournaments might be as many as eight - for the women, as many as five. They might be selected from the following markets: Chicago: November 5 & 6 Philadelphia: November 12 & 13 Cleveland: November 19 & 20 Boston: December 3 & 4 Rye: January 7 & 8 Short Hills, N.J.: January 21 & 22 New Canaan, Conn.: February 4 & 5 Washington: February 11 & 12 The proposed bu[...]
Read More
The APTA established the relationship with Hertz to stimulate interest in the “Amateur” regional circuit of tournaments that had been conceived as competitive opportunities for the “weekend player.” The Hertz Corporation, the largest vehicle rental and leasing company in the world, agreed with the APTA that these players deserve support. The agreement called for Hertz sponsorship of the four Regional Championships and the Presidents' Cup. Prize money was not a part of this tour, but the cost of the trophies for the Regional Championships was to be underwritten by the Hertz Corporation. In addition, travel expenses for the regional teams to the Presidents' Cup, as well as a reception honoring all former APTA Presidents, would also be paid for by Hertz.
Read More
The Manhattan Platform Tennis Club on East 48th Street in New York City was the venue. Eight teams competed for $4,000 in prize money. Tournament Brochure
Read MoreThis event grew out of the support from Hertz for the "week-end" player. The event was initially just for Men and was to become one of the highlights of each season with great competition and camaraderie. The Women's President's Cup was started in 1983
Read More
The publication was designed to keep players up-to-date with tournament activities and results in the different APTA Regions. The first Off the Wires
Read MoreFormer paddle champion and Hall of Fame member Bill Pardoe died on February 10 at his home in Stratton, VT, at the age of 62. A graduate of Brigham Young University and Fordham Law School, he was senior vice president and senior financial officer for the Union Carbide Corporation. Bill Pardoe and his partner, George Harrison, won the National Men's Doubles championship in 1956 and again in 1960. He won the National Mixed Doubles with Charlotte Lee in 1965. In the Senior Men's Doubles, he and his partner George Lowman won the championship three years in a row - 1966, '67 and '68. In 1969, William Pardoe received the APTA Honor Award given to those individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of platform tennis. Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 3 No. 5 (April-May)
Read More
British Open International Platform Tennis Tournament - February 3, 4, 5. An invitation International Tournament under the joint auspices of the International Platform Tennis Association and the BPTA, to be held at Silvermere Country Club, Redhill Road, Cobham, Surrey. Sponsored by Racquet Sports International Limited. Teams from the United States, Holland and the United Kingdom. The First European Open Championships - February 10, 11, 12. Hapert, Holland, the site of last year's Dutch Open Championships. Sponsored by Bellfires Corporation and its President, Nico de Wal. Teams from the United States, United Kingdom and Holland. Program and Drawsheets British National Platform Tennis Championships Sponsored by En-tout-cas Limited, it involved regional competitions at a number of centers for all entrants, culminating in a National Final for regional winners. Men's, women'[...]
Read More
FMTC hosted the event (its 41st National Championship) commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of platform tennis. The highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of sterling silver trays by APTA President Dick Hornigold to members of the “first families” of platform tennis, Mrs. Fessenden Blanchard and Do Cogswell Deland. In the Men’s, Herb Fitz Gibbon and Hank Irvine won their second straight title as did Hilary Hilton and Louise Gengler in the Women’s. Paddle Talk covered the event Clark Graebner (Russell’s partner in the Men’s final) and Louise Gengler (Hilton’s partner in the Women’s) won the mixed over Russell and Hilton. In the Senior’s, Bob Brown won his first of many Senior titles with George Reynolds over the winners of the past two years, Baird and Lankenau. Source: Paddle Talk Vol. 3 No. 5 (April-May)
Read More
The event was chaired by Joan and and Paul Doyle, with assistance from Roxanne and Rodman Zilenziger and twenty-two other members. Charlie O'Hearn—who with his wife, Ginnie, won four national Mixed Doubles championships— recalled the game's origins: "No paddle tennis player in the early thirties could have dreamed how far the game would develop over the ensuing fifty years. And yet it was such a great, fun game that perhaps we should have known. With one court in Scarsdale, at Jim Cogswell's, only a handful of players were available and many a weekend I can recall Fess Blanchard phoning to say, 'It’s stopped snowing. Come on over and help shovel, and we can be playing by two o'clock'—and we were. I haven't played for years, but I still owe the game a lot. I'll always be in its debt for the pleasure it gave to Ginnie and me." Source: Diana Reische Fox Meadow - The First [...]
Read More
Orange Lawn Tennis Club in New Jersey hosted the $50,000 Passport Scotch Platform Tennis Classic event. [Official Program] The first-year team of Clark Graebner and Doug Russell won the biggest money prize in platform tennis history by capturing the men's division. They defeated the Baird brothers, Chip and Steve, and split a prize of $8,000. The 1978 national champions, Louise Gengler and Hilary Hilton, took the women's title, and a record $8,000. They defeated the second-seeded team of Wendy Chase and Linda Wolf. Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 3 No. 6 (June-July)
Read MoreThe top 20 “weekend player” teams from the APTA's four regions gathered at the Montclair Golf Club in New Jersey on April 1 and 2 to compete in the first Presidents’ Cup Championship. The format was a round robin, with teams positioned one through five in each region playing comparable teams from every other region. Each victory was worth one point toward the region's total score. Region IV (Mid-West and West) captured the first President’s Cup with a resounding record of 13 wins and 2 losses. Region III (Mid-Atlantic and South) finished second. While the competitive play provided the focal point of the tournament, the social aspects were equally important. A genuine team spirit developed among the players from each region. They scouted the opposition for each other, practiced between matches, and shouted encouragement to teammates during lengthy matches. The dinner[...]
Read More
Kingsbury was active in the APTA and served as President when paddle grew from a game to a sport to a business. He was instrumental in developing sponsors for the game when many top players were tennis and platform tennis professionals. He knew that prize money was essential for growth, but he also knew that the health of the game relied on keeping the average player involved and interested. This was a difficult balancing act, which he handled with perfection. Kingsbury managed to get Coca Cola and Seagrams to make financial contributions to the game at the national ranking level. Following that, he enlisted the Hertz Corporation to underwrite events for club level players, culminating in a two-day President's Cup that was extremely popular. Source: Gannett Westchester Newspapers, January 1979
Read MoreHilton was invited by CBS to compete against five world-class racquet athletes in the World Racquets Championships.
Read More
The APTA/Hertz publication Off the Wires covered the Presidents' Cup and Regional tournaments
Read MoreThanks to creative marketing, ample prize money, and the foresight of the APTA Board, platform tennis continued to grow. By 1978, it was estimated that four hundred thousand enthusiasts played platform tennis across the United States.
Read More
Calvert Distillers, a division of Joseph E. Seagram & Son. Inc., renewed its sponsorship of professional men's and women's platform tennis for the season. The 1978-79 Passport Scotch Grand Prix of Platform Tennis featured the highest prize money in the sport's 50 year history, a total of $169,400 for both men's and women's circuits.
Read MoreThe APTA had been asked many times why the singles game never developed in platform tennis. Singles offered certain advantages: it was more physically demanding; it appealed to the younger player; and, matches were easier to arrange. The APTA held National Singles Championships from 1935-1938, so the idea of singles play was not new. They based the decision to abandon singles on the severe physical demands involved. However, since APTA ball specifications now allowed for a livelier ball and wire tension was greater, it was easier to reach an opponent’s shot. As a result, the APTA Board decided that the time for singles had come. As a first step, the APTA held a singles workshop at the Apple Club in New York City on September 23. A group of top-ranked men and women players tried out several suggested formats. Two formats emerged as the most popular types. Both would be tested dur[...]
Read MoreOn September 29th, the Region IV Board approved the change of its title from the Western Platform Tennis Association to the Midwest Platform Tennis Association. The new APTA Region V designated the Western Platform Tennis Association, included Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 4 No. 2 (Jan 1979) and Paddle World Vol. 4 Dec/Jan 1978/79
Read More
[click to enlarge]
Read More
The Men’s National was again by invitation only and limited to 64 teams based on qualifying criteria. Graebner and Russell captured the Men’s title over the 1976 champions Steve and Chip Baird. Yvonne Hackenberg won her first of five Women’s titles with Linda Wolf (1976 champion) over Hilary Hilton and her partner in their 1975 win, Annabel Lang Rogan. Doug Russell and Hilary Hilton won their second Mixed title. In the Senior events, Charlotte Lee won her final championship in the Women’s 50+ and St. John Bain and Bill Schneebeck beat the previous year’s champions, Bob Brown and George Reynolds, in the Men’s 50+.
Read More
This alliance between one of the country's fastest growing sports and the newly owned and managed Paddle World magazine gave real promise of accelerating the game's growth through high-quality communication. In early December, APTA president Bob Kingsbury and Paddle World editor Marilyn Nason announced the naming of the magazine as the APTA's official publication. Commenting on the step, APTA's chief executive said, "We're delighted with this move. We've been hoping for months to improve our communications program. This is going to assure us of being able to give better service to our members, as well as telling a lot more people about the game." Through this alliance, the APTA would have regular access to the magazine's 16,000 subscribers; would save a substantial sum annually on publishing their Paddle Talk; planned to have a free page in each issue for membership solicitation; and[...]
Read More
Manufacturers Hanover sponsored a prize-money tournament on February 10 and 11 at the Apple Platform Tennis Club in New York City. Those eligible to compete were the top eight pro teams, both men and women. The previous years tournament, also sponsored by Manufacturers Hanover, was limited to women. Its success opened up the event to men.
Read MoreThe previous year’s events had been highly successful. The agreement again called for Hertz sponsorship of the APTA Regional Championships (this year with the addition of the new Region V), as well as the Presidents' Cup. Once again Hertz agreed to underwrite travel expenses for the regional teams to the Presidents' Cup and the cost of a Presidents' Reception. The Minutes of the APTA Executive Committee August 22-23, 1979 reflected the fact that Hertz decided in the summer not to continue sponsorship for the following season (1979=1980) because of the gas crunch.
Read MoreThe E.L. Wagner Company introduced the world's first indoor “un-platformed” platform tennis court named “The Innovator." Their advertisement explained the benefits: “Now you can really enjoy your favorite sport, all year long, in any weather. Wagner's inexpensive, new indoor court provides you with an ideal year round recreation center - perfect for your company, club or school gymnasium. Without a raised platform, Wagner's indoor court can be installed quickly and easily, for considerably less than the cost of an outdoor court. Its special ‘Innovator’ playing surface assures you of a sure-footed grip and uniform bounce. And its superstructure is made of sturdy aluminum, to maintain taut, true wires.” Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 4 No. 2 (January)
Read More
Three years earlier, the Statutory Annual APTA business meeting was moved to May from October so that newly elected officers and Board members would have time to plan and execute programs for the following fall season. In addition, the APTA was now operating on an April 30 to May 1 fiscal year. It was only natural to turn the May meeting into the APTA Annual Meeting and free up the fall event for Regional APTA planning. APTA President Bob Kingsbury remarked: “This will be an honest-to-goodness Corporate Annual Meeting at which members, players, enthusiasts, suppliers, the general public and the press will be warmly welcomed.” Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 4 No. 2 (January)
Read More
The October Issue carried the announcement: “We're pleased to introduce PLATFORM TENNIS NEWS, another element in the APTA's expanded communications program.” This development had come about because the arrangement with Paddle World had not worked out as Paddle World was facing financial difficulties that precluded them from publishing enough issues each year to satisfy APTA needs - see APTA Newsletter merges with Paddle World magazine PTN was aimed at getting pertinent information as quickly as possible to APTA members—tournament write-ups and results, updates on APTA Board actions that affected the current season, and policy decisions on national tournaments, equipment, and rules. Compared with its companion, Platform Tennis, PTN would have a shorter cycle from copy deadline to mail delivery, and short, punchy articles. Passport Scotch decided to underwrite PTN, because [...]
Read More
Passport Scotch continued its support in the 1979-1980 season. The sponsorship provided $20,000 for prizes as sole sponsor of the APTA men's and women's National Championships. At the same time, Passport underwrote the publication of the new member newsletter, Platform Tennis News. PASSPORT SCOTCH TO AWARD JACKETS TO TOP TEAMS This February, look for a new crop of colorful Passport Scotch warm-up jackets on the backs of the top national and regional players. The ten top national men's teams will receive jackets during that month. So will the first ten teams in each of the five APTA regions. The awards will be made on the basis of standings reported to the APTA by January 30, 1980. Another set of Passport Scotch jackets will be given out in April, based on March 31 standings. The president of each region will decide how to allocate this second batch of windbreakers, to avoid dupl[...]
Read MoreRegion IV did it again. For the second year in a row, a five-pair team from the Midwest won the APTA President’s Cup. The Mayfield Country Club in Euclid, OH, hosted the tournament.
Read MoreThe first formal tournament with a no-ad, two-serve format was held October 20-21 at the six-court Apple Club in New York City, where Doug Russell was the pro. This was a non-ranking Men's Doubles Open that reflected a direct APTA response to requests from many for a trial of two new dimensions. For some time players had wanted to see how tournament play would be affected by giving the server two tries rather than the traditional one. They were also intrigued with the implications of having the first point after deuce determine who won the game. Some of the participants liked one or another of the options and several quickly saw that the changes could heighten interest in the sport for the new player, the spectator, and even potential sponsors. The two-serve proposal proved more popular than the no-ad format, but on balance, there was not enough enthusiasm to warrant any changes of[...]
Read More
Eldredge L. (Wooley) Bermingham and his wife, Pam, had been enthusiastic players while living in Westchester County, NY, but moved to Sewickley, PA, in 1958 where they found just one primitive court on which to play. Wooley went to work to change this and finally, over considerable opposition, was able to convince the Edgeworth Club to build a court as a way to keep the club active in winter. That was the start of building considerable interest in the game in the region. Bermingham also founded the Western Pennsylvania Platform Tennis Association, which became the first region of the APTA, and served as the regional vice president. He also served on the Board of the APTA from 1973-1975. (Edgeworth Club, Sewickley, PA). Margaret G. (Peggy) Stanton won four straight National Women’s with Charlotte Lee from 1967-1970, and the Women’s 50+ in 1974 and 1977. She was active i[...]
Read MoreAmong its bizarre ways, Team Tennis allowed the carry, or the catching or letting the ball come to rest on the racquet. This led to confusion on this point. But Team Tennis died, while the more enduring racquet sports continued and still disallowed this bobble-hit. Source: Platform Tennis News (October & December)
Read MoreThe APTA's freedom to set standards for platform tennis equipment could have been in trouble as a result of a regulation, proposed by the Federal Trade Commission, that would have affected all sports associations in the country. The FTC argued that having sports associations set standards was a violation of the anti-trust laws. The Chamber of Commerce discussed the issue in their Washington Report ("Does Arnold Palmer Need Golf Lessons from the FTC") The U.S. Golf Association objected strenuously, even on national TV, with Arnold Palmer as their spokesman and the APTA Board planned to join the protest. The proposal generated so much opposition that it was dropped. Source: Platform Tennis News (October), APTA Executive Committee Minutes August 22 and 23, 1979
Read MoreFor the last several years, the draw for this event has been below 64 teams and, to break even financially, this tournament had to have at least 90 teams participating. APTA Directors John Packard and Bradley Drowne volunteered to study the issue and recommended a change that they felt would get at least 96 teams participating. Their suggestion was to allow those who had reached the third round of an APTA-sanctioned tournament to be eligible to play. Mr. Drowne, a five-year veteran of the men's tournament committee, wrote a carefully considered explanation of the circumstances involved in this issue. “The APTA introduced qualifying criteria for entering the Men's Nationals in 1976 and prior to that the Men’s Nationals had always drawn 128 teams. There were three reasons why this was so: • In the 1950's and 1960's, the Men’s Nationals were "virtually the only tournament ope[...]
Read MoreHank Irvine and three associates responded actively to the needs of the Junior Development program. Irvine, the pro at the Short Hills Club, Short Hills, NJ, went on the road with Steve Nycum, Mark Allen, and Tom Smith, and put on exhibitions and clinics at the municipal center in Princeton; the Pleasant Valley Paddle Club, West Orange, NJ; Wilson Park, Summit, NJ; and the Brookside Racquet Club in Allendale, NJ. The chairman of the APTA's junior program, William Dodd commented: "Hank deserves an awful lot of credit. He took the ball and organized the whole thing. He really wants to give something back to the game, and he knows that the juniors are its future. This way, they're going to be getting ready for intercollegiate play later on."
Read MoreProduced as an aid to promoting the game, the slide show “Platform Tennis 50 Years and On” was produced by Rich Lombard’s company, Cal Industries, with financial support from the Fessenden S. Blanchard Memorial Fund, the APTA, and John and Molly Ware (Blanchard’s daughter and son-in-law). The March 27, 1979 Minutes of the APTA BOD Meeting covered the background: "Mr. Brown reported on a meeting held in New York City with John Ware, Mr. Kingsbury, Mrs. Dillenbeck and himself at which the suggestion was made to produce a slide show depicting the fifty years of platform tennis. Mr. Ware was asked to oversee the production, Vicky Cosstick would script it, and Thornton Gerrish would film. The total cost of production is estimated at $2,500. and Mr. Brown announced that the Blanchard Memorial Fund would contribute $1,000 of this total. The APTA would have to make up the differe[...]
Read More"Warmth, fun, tradition, standards, camaraderie, friendship, an oasis in the middle of Scarsdale."—Bob Lee, president, 1979-80.
Read MoreThe Christian Science Monitor covered the annual platform tennis battle between Moscow and Warsaw Embassies first started by Ambassador Walter J. Stoessel, Jr. The US Ambassador to Moscow, Malcolm Toon, was looking to sweep the Warsaw contingent but had to settle for a 13-2 win, much to his disgust. To read the complete article Click Here Source: Christian Science Monitor, July 3, 1979
Read More
© 2024 Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation, All Rights Reserved.
