APTA sponsorship of the PTM was a significant financial commitment to grow the game

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 grass roots, straight up through the National Championships. With this publication we proceed with the optimistic belief that our sport is going to grow to a new high, but we need the support of all readers to get out there and make it happen.”

Source: From The APTA, Platform Tennis Magazine, Issue #1, September, 1999

Platform Tennis Magazine (PTM) makes its debut

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 began to kick in.

Over the next several weeks I developed the framework for this publication which would instruct all levels of play, assist those who have a financial investment in paddle, and ultimately provide a forum to attract new corporate advertising dollars to grow our sport. With these goals in mind and funding required, I set out to meet the APTA Board in Chicago.

The APTA understood the same thing that I did in that the only way to advance platform tennis is to involve the beginner and intermediate players more in APTA affairs. Upon completion of my Yo-Yo World story and several hours of other filler, the APTA agreed to fund a significant portion of this publication. As a result, all APTA members will receive Platform Tennis Magazine (PTM) five times per year
at no additional impact on their current dues.

Each issue of PTM will contain several instructional articles, a feature story, an ‘ask the pro’ page, all APTA sanctioned tournament results, and a ‘participating league’ section available to those entities which enroll their entire league into the APTA. Consequently, the APTA is offering this publication and full membership for only $17.50 to each participant of those leagues which enlist. The magazine alone sells separately for as much! Feel free to contact me if your league has an interest in pursuing this offer for the 1999-2000 season.

Finally, I would like to request the assistance of anyone influential in acquiring sponsors for our magazine and/or the 120-tournament APTA circuit. I am currently working on deals with several corporations to provide funds to promote free clinics
for all levels at each tournament site. Furthermore, we hope to offer pro certifications and reduce entry fees as well. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas on how we might enhance our sport. We have much to be excited about!”

Source: From The Editor, Platform Tennis Magazine, Issue #1, September, 1999

FMTC again hosts Viking Adult/Child Tournament

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

Platform Tennis News and PTN UPDATE pass into history

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 something on tips, strategy, or just how to better play the game … “ I could not agree more.

Ever since I became a member of the APTA Board in 1994, and since becoming President in 1997, I have been trying to find ways to enhance the PTN and offer more articles to the non-tournament players who make up a large percentage of our members. However, as Chuck Vasoll, co-editor of the PTN explained, getting someone to write the articles has been the problem.

Early in May, I got a call from Wayne Dollard, a player from Pittsburgh, PA, who had an idea for a platform tennis publication ” in magazine format. I met with Wayne in Washington, DC, on a Saturday afternoon, accompanied by a good friend, Taylor Bowen, who works for a publishing company in Charlottesville, VA.

Wayne gave his presentation for the Platform Tennis Magazine. I gave him the background on the PTN and the problems he would face, and Taylor prodded with detailed questions about the printing and publishing.

After excusing Wayne, Taylor turned to me and said, “I can’t wait to get this thing. This guy really knows what he is talking about.” With those comments I decided that was enough to invite Wayne to Chicago to make his pitch before the entire Board two weeks later.

After lots of questions and discussion, the Board overwhelmingly voted to accept, in principle, the proposal by Wayne Dollard. Pete Mathews, Board member and Region III President, was nominated to negotiate the details with Wayne.

So, ironically, an APTA member from Chicago writes this spring about improving the PTN and, in Chicago, the APTA Board votes to adopt the most significant member benefit since the website.

Of course, we cannot close the last issue of the PTN without thanking those involved in bringing it to us.

Chuck Vasoll and Brian Zevnik have been the heart and soul of the PTN since I can remember (and probably longer than they care to remember). Each issue required many, many phone calls, several deadlines, countless hours collecting and editing articles and layout. Truly a labor of love. On behalf of the APTA Board and all the APTA members, I would like to thank Brian and Chuck for such a wonderful job.

Wayne Dollard provided his view of future with Platform Tennis Magazine:

Two months ago, the APTA held its annual board meeting in Chicago and discussed ways to promote paddle. I was invited to present my proposal for Platform Tennis Magazine, which promises to be the most informative and professional full-color paddle publication in our sport’s 71-year history. As a result of our meeting, the current APTA newsletter, the PTN, has been discontinued and its funding now makes up a significant portion of PTM’s five-issue publication budget. Our #1priority at Platform Tennis Magazine is to provide our readers with instructional content that begins at the grassroots level and works its way upwards. Each issue will contain 8-10 pages of instructional content from 10 instructors who are current/former national champions or finalists.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring & Summer 1999

John Peyton Ware (1921-1999)

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 only slide show presentation on the history of platform tennis which was first shown at the Princeton Club in October 1976.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1999

Hall of Fame inductees – Briggs, Baird, and Maier

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 Directors for six years, and was President for two, from 1982 to 1984.

“Guess who?” Bob Brown asked the audience when he returned to the microphone to award the green jacket to the third recipient. It was obviously the other half of the team with Baird, Rich Maier. His accomplishments with Baird in men’s competition were worth repeating, and Brown did repeat them. He also added Maier’s other triumphs in mixed, and now in the senior 45+ competition. But again, it was not all as a player that the award is judged. Maier is a teacher and much admired as a person by his students and around the country.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1999

National Championships and coverage of Men’s and Women’s Nationals

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 the way to the semis before losing to the eventual champs.

New champs Cindy Prendergast/Patti Hogan proved the queens of the three-setters as their mental toughness helped them prevail in three “overtimes,” including the final over defending champs Sue Aery/Geri Viant, who also went three sets, three times. Robin Fulton/Sarah Kreiger crashed their way to the semis without the loss of a set; Bobo Delaney/Tonia Mangan were one set away from the final slot; Kerri Delmonico/Shelley Morse proved they are a team to be reckoned with by reaching the quarters.

And Sally Cottingham/Wendy Robbins not only just missed the semis by a tie-breaker third set, but garnered accolades from spectators and compatriots alike for their exceptional play and more exceptional easy-going manners and sportsmanship.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1999

25th Annual Super Scrambles Tournament

An 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