HAWORTH PLATFORM TENNIS ASSOCIATION

Back in 1974, tennis was all the rage. It was then that a few families in town, led by Ann and Tracy Steglich, Lynn and Jerry Babicka, and Jan and Dick Jamroz, decided to replace their indoor winter tennis times with a healthy outdoor racquet sport. The game of platform tennis was almost unknown in Haworth at that time. In fact, only three members had ever played the game before, but over the ensuing year the founding group persuaded 42 other families to organize the HPTA. The town provided the land, and with a $400 bond per family and $50 per year dues, one court was built and opened on Labor Day, 1975. The sport proved to be so popular that within one year 35 more families joined and a second court was added.  Enthusiasm was fantastic, as the members pitched in to clear the land in preparation for building Court 2.

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With the installation of our second court, both men and women were able to enter teams in state leagues. This was a fairly bold action, since hardly anyone actually knew the fine points of the game. Some top professionals were brought in to give lessons (like World #1 Doug Russell), and gradually a number of members developed the skills necessary to move up in the standings. Although this was nice for individuals who chose to compete, there was always just as much pleasure for those who simply wanted some relaxed fun on a Sunday afternoon.

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