The professional era begins to decline

Sponsorship 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.

Robert Sticker painting presented to the APTA

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

The Nationals move from Fox Meadow

The 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.

Vittert Sports supports Juniors

Some 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.

Linda Wolf on ABC’s “Super Stars”

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!

APTA develops model platform tennis program

Calls 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

National Championships- Men’s and Women’s sponsored by Passport Scotch

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 sets.

Platform Tennis News April 1980 had an excellent description of the matches.

The tournament was staged primarily on a seven-court layout at the Montclair Golf Club. The R. J. Reilly Company installed a seventh court in the parking lot next to the existing platform setup and warming hut and this “center” court was surrounded by bleachers capable of seating 1,500.

Source: Platform Tennis News, February & April 1980

President’s Cup hosted by Region III

The event was held at Waynesborough CC, Paoli, PA, under the direction of regional president Roger Dietz.

Indoor platform tennis

The 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.

Carte Blanche sponsors President’s Cup

The 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