Sports

Paddle Tennis Courts Get a Make-Over

The courts at Colony were resurfaced and the screens were repaired, just in time for the 2012-13 season to get into full swing.

Resurfacing and other repairs at the paddle tennis courts at Colony Pool & Tennis Club are now complete.

The Chatham Township Committee voted to approve $12,790 for improvements to the paddle tennis courts at Colony Pool at their meeting in July. Before that, the courts were so worn in some places the aluminum was bare to the surface, and the screens sustained major damage from Hurricane Irene and the 2011 October snow storm.

Improvements to the courts include a complete resurfacing of the grounds and repair and strengthening of the wire screens along the sides.

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The courts are now ready for the 2012-13 season. All residents from the Chathams and surrounding communities, including Summit, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Florham Park and Madison and surrounding communities are invited to join. Single adult memberships for men and women are $125, and family memberships are $200.

George Foot of Colony's paddle tennis team told the committee that paddle tennis provides exercise and fun for residents during the fall and winter seasons.

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The men’s paddle group plays weeknights and Saturday mornings, and the women’s group generally plays weekdays. Both teams play from October through March, including fall and winter competitive league matches.

Instructional clinics for women will be available for beginners and novice players. Clinics are tentatively scheduled for Mondays from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., but the schedule is subject to change based on optimizing the number of participants. The courts are lighted and are available to members from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

In the 2011-12 season there were 33 members, 18 men and 15 women, and membership fees raised a total of $4,125. According to Foot, major costs each year are kerosene, snow removal/maintenance equipment and electricity. During the 2010-11 season, when the area had a snow storm almost every week, program costs totaled $2,575. Usually expenses are $2,350, he said.

The committee ordered $5,000 in capital improvements to the paddle tennis courts in 2010. The courts had lost their electric supply when the old club house was demolished.

Anyone interested in registering for paddle tennis can contact George Foot at gfoot@verizon.net or by phone at (973) 635-0268.


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