$55,000 for new platform tennis court. Wonder why?
Staff Writer
MICHAEL WESTHOFF THE WASHTENAW VOICE
Club Sports has no use for it, the Health and Fitness Center didn’t know it was coming and most students have no clue about the game, yet Washtenaw Community College is investing $55,000 in a heated, lighted platform tennis court.
Why?
“This had nothing to do with us,” said Greg Hanby, executive director of the Fitness Center. “It coincided with the soccer fields being put up, and the athletic fields.”
Mike Glass, Club Sports coordinator, couldn’t explain why WCC is spending money on platform tennis. “I don’t have any information,” he said.
Nor Damon Flowers, vice president of Facilities Development/Operations, explain the genesis of the project.
“I don’t know where the idea came from,” Flowers said. “I guess (the president) played it before. . . .”
And President Larry Whitworth apparently enjoyed the game so much, he wants to introduce it to others.
“I’ve played it for years,” Whitworth said. “I expect the students to learn it. It’s for anybody to use. Any student who wants to play it can use it.”
MICHAEL WESTHOFF THE WASHTENAW VOICE
The sport, which originated in Albion in 1898, according to The Atlas of Popular Culture in the Northeastern United States, is sparsely played today except for large pockets in New York City and Los Angeles — and some retirement communities in Arizona, Florida, Hawaii and South Carolina.
Platform tennis is built like a miniature tennis court. The major difference is the 12-foot fencing, eight feet behind baselines and five feet out along the length of the court.
It is also raised off the ground, for a heating structure below it that keeps the playing surface clear year-round.
“It’s a cross between tennis and racquetball,” said Whitworth. “You can play it off the wall like racquetball. It’s a great way to stay in shape.”
The scoring is the same as tennis, love to 15, 30, 40 then game. It can be played singles or doubles matches.
The court is up and nearly ready for play, with eight light structures to allow play at night. The surface is elevated. The fencing around it is up. The only thing left in construction is the heating element to help fend off ice and snow and make it playable all year.
“Getting DTE to get gas service is taking a long time,” Flowers said. “It will be playable in November, but without gas.”
And it’s free.
“There will be a sign-up sheet at the Fitness Center,” said Whitworth. “I expect students on break from classes to go over and play platform tennis.”
Whether or not they do is a matter of concern.
“I don’t want to say $55,000 doesn’t sound like much,” said Ian Griffin, director of Student Activities and Development. “I just hope it gets used. We didn’t have a demand for it. I haven’t heard anyone express excitement from students.”
Some seem willing to give it a try. Mitch Stidham, 19, from South Lyon, has never heard of platform tennis, but he said he’d consider learning it.
“I’d like to see people who know how to play, play it,” he said. “Then I’ll play it with my friends who don’t know how to play either — so I don’t get my butt whipped.”
Others say they have no interest.
“I’ve never heard of it,” said Jean Snyder, 18, from Dexter. “I don’t know what it is, so I probably wouldn’t play it. I would play tennis, but it’s not tennis.”
Indeed, Griffin speculated that interest among students may be higher in a regular tennis court.
“We’ve had requests for tennis teams but haven’t been able to explore it,” Griffin said.
When asked why regular tennis courts weren’t built instead, Flowers speculated that space was the issue.
“I don’t know where we could have put tennis courts though since they’re bigger,” he said. “We’re already tight with space.”
The dimensions of a regular tennis court are 36 feet by 78 feet. Platform tennis dimensions are 30 feet by 60 feet.
Contact the Ann Arbor Platform Tennis club for more local paddle possibilities or to see what advance play looks like.
I think you always have to give sports like this a chance. I’ve played smaller sports that have turned out to be some of the most fun I’ve had!
Platform tennis if given a chance is the most addictive sport you will ever try.Anyone can do itand at every level.This is a great thing they have .An oppurtunity I wish all schools and parks had.Enjoy and get a teacher to make sur the greatest sport is taught the proper way.
$55,000 for this? You must be kidding!
I came across this article on the web and have no affiliation with the college. However, I am an avid player of the sport and as a steward of the game, wanted to correct the writer on a few items.
In reference to the origination of the sport, Platform Tennis was invented in 1928 in Scarsdale, New York. The sport you are referencing is likely “Paddle Tennis” which is the formal name of a sport played mostly in Los Angeles and New York and is played in milder climates with different equipment and court arrangements.
Platform Tennis is nicknamed “paddle” but don’t be confused: it is very popular in areas not including LA and other than just New York. In the Midwest, cities such as Chicago and St.Louis have a large contingent of players (several leagues exist with thousands of players) and in the Detroit area, especially Grosse Pointe on the East Side and Birmingham/Bloomfield Hills on the West, many private country clubs have players and facilities and several public courts exist.
It is also a popular “club” sport on the East Coast in communities spanning Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and the like. Platform Tennis is not played in warmer climates such as the mentioned retirement communities in Arizona, Florida, Hawaii and South Carolina- this is likely a reference to “Paddle Tennis” as well.
It has historically been a “club sport” kept for those with the social and monetary means to belong to private clubs but has since grown in popularity. Advocates of the game are working hard in states where winter is felt in full force (midwest and east coast, recently in Colorado and Wyoming) to bring public opportunities for all to enjoy the game and it’s benefits.
Lastly, the sport is played competitively ONLY in doubles format- that is, singles competition only exists in recreational play and is not recommended in the sport’s purest form.
As a recent college grad (in the last 3 years) who was first a college tennis player, I’d like to shed some positive light on my experience with the sport. (1) It’s an active way to be outdoors in the winter months- points are long, you’re constantly moving, cardio capacity rating is high (the colder temps, the better the play… each court has built in heaters and a metal gritted surface to fight ice and snow) (2) it’s great fun, social and easy for any racquet sports person and non-racquet sports person to pick up (I enjoy playing platform tennis more than regular tennis, it is rather addicting!) (3) the game is technical- not power hungry, where finesse, placement and patience are the winning strategies of choice. These elements make it a sport that is conducive and challengeing for all levels and ages, especially when teams are matched evenly.
Anyone wanting to see Platform Tennis played on the web can go to:
http://www.vikingathletics.com. If you have further questions in regards to how to play paddle or the origin of the game feel free to email.
Lastly, I can understand why there may be a fair amount of “head scratching” amongst the student body with the addition of this unfamiliar looking structure. I am curious as to whether or not lessons and/or equipment will be made available so that the student body has full exposure and all the tools to fall for the game as most do after proper instruction and some time on the courts firsthand! This would make sense and it would be a shame if the court was kept only for head school official who knows how to play and his select group of “paddle” playing friends. I would imagine the visibility in choice of location would lean towards wanting to share the sport with all who are intersted- curious to know how it turns out.
Thanks for reading.
CG