Arundel Paddle Club P.O. Box 850 Kennebunkport, ME 04046 If you are not familiar with the sport, Paddle Tennis, formally known as Platform Tennis, was founded in the 1930’s in Scarsdale, NY as an outdoor winter activity played on a slightly elevated court approximately half the size of a tennis court.  It is enclosed by very tightly strung chicken wire so that play continues when the ball bounces off the screen.  Scoring is very similar to tennis but with only one serve and because of the close proximity of the players, it tends to be a bit more social.  Rallies are long and sometimes very amusing due to the many angles and smaller court size. It tends to be easier to learn than tennis with a shorter backswing and lot of time at net.  Most people can pick up the game and have rallies in one or two sessions and tennis, squash and racquetball players have an obvious advantage.  While there are wonderful social aspects to the game, it is also great for kids – many start playing at a very early age. The Arundel Paddle Club was founded in 1984 by a group of local families who loved the sport and who sought an outdoor activity that would keep them moving and busy throughout the long winter.  The season typically lasts from October to April.  The club has two courts, a maintenance shed and a heated “paddle hut”.  The courts have lights for night play and heaters that melt the snow and ice from the court surface.  Our facilities allow the club to play host to many different social events, offer clinics for members of all ages and ability levels, and hold round robins and events for players from other regional paddle groups. Balls are provided by the Club for use by players.  There are also a few demo paddle racquets that are available to be borrowed / tried out.  Chris Adams represents the Viking line of paddle equipment and can provide additional information about their products. Groups are formed and court times are reserved at the Kickoff Meeting each year which is typically held in early October.  Hour and a half court times are “committed” during the weekdays for the season while weekends remain open for sign up from week to week.  At the kickoff meeting, club members can “sign up” for up to two times per week (weekdays).  Weekend signup is generally wide open. The best way to get a game is to contact existing member(s) and join or rotate into their groups.  Also making yourself available as a sub is a great way to get into a variety of games.  Some years, members have “regrouped” in January to revisit the court schedules as some players depart for southern climates.  This is another great time to join existing games or start new ones. If you are joining after the Kickoff Meeting, to sign up for a court for the remainder of the season, please inquire about available court times by checking the schedule in the Warming Hut.  Then contact Jon Hansen to confirm availability and to get your group added to the published Master Schedule.  Many primetime courts are reserved at the beginning of the season at the Kickoff Meeting. This year, like last, we will be organizing events including clinics, round robins, potlucks and casual tournament(s) that enable all levels of skill to participate.  We are fortunate to have a long time veteran of the game, Chris Adams, available for coaching and clinics as demand dictates.  Furthermore we encourage members to use the club socially and take advantage of the grill, hut and two courts for an evening of fun and exercise. Once you have joined, all new members are asked to participate in a New Member Orientation.  We try to hold these events at least two times per year in an effort to familiarize you with the club’s facilities as well as provide some pointers on the game of paddle. Please contact Jan Auger (chuckjan@myfairpoint.net) for more information about joining the club.