The 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.

Costs 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.

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 change, the Board approved a second trial year.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1998

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.

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, including the Cleveland Masters 45+ seven times, the last one when he was 68 years old. Then it was off the Nationals, where he won the Men’s 50+, 55+, and 60+ three times, and then the 65+. Chet loves to teach new players and served on many tournament committees.

Yvonne Hackenberg, who started out as a tennis pro, stumbled across platform tennis when she was looking to buy a house and found a court in a development community. She was quickly hooked and became very good at the game, eventually teaching it and providing clinics throughout the Mid-West. When she decided to play in the big leagues, she had to look out East for a partner, as her local partner had moved. She found Linda Wolf and, despite the fact they had never practiced together, they won the 1979 Women’s Nationals. The following year, she teamed with Hilary Hilton Marold and they won three straight. She added a fifth title in 1984 with Robin Rich Fulton. Hackenberg served as an APTA director for nine years, and, at the time of her induction, was the woman’s director for Region V, and had been the chairperson of the Kalamazoo platform tennis tournament for as long as anyone could remember.

Hilary Hilton Marold burst upon the platform tennis scene shortly after beating Bobby Riggs at the real game—paddle tennis. She got a lot of publicity from this and Kim Kimberley, with the backing of the R.J. Reilly Company, brought he out East to shake up how the women’s game was being played. And that she did. She won the second tournament in which she played, the National Women’s in 1975. Marold had considerable success on the Tribuno tour and won a number of international events. She went on to win five more Women’s title, including three in a row with Yvonne Hackenberg, and five Mixed titles with Doug Russell, including four in a row, a record matched by only Elfie Carroll. She retired from active play after her last Women’s win, but continued to be an active teacher and promoter of the game. Marold was a national champion in four different racquet sports over the years. Twice, in the same year, she was the national champion in three separate sports: tennis, paddle tennis, and platform tennis. She had a busy life off the courts as well, appearing on ABC’s Women’s Superstars as both a competitor and commentator, providing color commentary at Wimbledon for NBC, and competing in the CBS World Racquet Championships.

Jack Watson was one the major forces behind the explosive growth of the game in Chicago. At the time of his induction, around 850 men and 750 women were participating in Chicago area leagues he helped to organize and run for more than two decades, He also established a women’s charity tournament in his wife’s name, and chaired or co-chaired numerous regional and national championships, including the 1990 Nationals. Jack was an accomplished player and won the Men’s 50+ and 55+. (Exmore Country Club)

Mark 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

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 car accident two years ago.

On the women’s side, Sue Aery/Gerri Viant took the title defeating Patty Hogan/Cindy Prendergast. Notable was the performance of Nationals newcomers, Sandra Birch/Julie Dodd, who were strong in advancing to the semis.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1998

Thanks 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