There’s more news and information to pass along: landscaping, the spectator deck, court 4 repairs, Master-Athletics, a new website and locking up.
So, here we go ….
Reminder: The work party (painting) is Saturday, Sept. 7th. This will necessitate the closing of all four courts for play for most of the day. We regret any inconvenience, but hope you will appreciate this volunteer attempt to attend to some maintenance items before the season really gets going.
Landscaping: You will notice some landscaping improvements by the main stairs and the area in front of court 2. Belgian block has been installed, boxwood planted and mulch put down. This was accomplished by the team of Connie Brown, Holly Cini, John Chatillon, John DeMarsilis, Todd Pozefsky and John Reilly.
Spectator Deck: As of this writing, the spectator deck has been refurbished. The deck consists of sections of old courts which had significant amounts of old paint. That old paint has been stripped and the deck completely repainted. A second coat will be applied in the not-too-distant future.
Court 4: A number of welds on the underside of the court 4 support system have let go. If you have played on this court recently, you will have been aware of the vibration that is a result of this. CourtPro will be here this week to make the necessary repairs.
Master Athletics: The club continues its relationship with Master-Athletics. Last season, Master-Athletics introduced oval holes to some of their paddles; this allowed players to impart more spin on the ball. This year, they are introducing a Version 2 of that ‘oval holes’ technology: updated hole geometry and more of them. The new configuration has 62 holes (the original oval hole pattern has 45).
We will have demo versions of all the 2024-25 Master-Athletics paddles available for you to try. If you are interested, contact me ([email protected]).
Please note, the club receives all the profits from sales of MA paddles. We are obligated to sell their offerings at list price. However, as a benefit to club members, EPTC will absorb the shipping cost and sales tax. So, by purchasing directly from the club you are supporting The Essex Platform Tennis Club as well as saving yourself some money compared to any of the online sources.
Website: The Board has engaged Chris Kilbourne to completely rebuild the club’s website on a new platform. It is hoped the membership will then use the new website for more than just a vehicle by which to reserve courts. In keeping with the Board’s goal of better communication within the club, there will be content relative to club events and tournaments, an up-to-date calendar, news and other pertinent announcements. In addition, there will be a link which will allow you to purchase club apparel. The new website should be rolled out shortly.
Closing Up: If you are the last one leaving the courts, regardless of the time of day, please make sure the warming hut is locked. There have been a number of occasions recently where members have arrived to play and found the warming open and unlocked. If in the evening, please check that any and all lights are off.
‘til next time,
Jamey Burns (on behalf of the Board of Directors)