Play-off Matches

All 9 HPD teams made the play-offs. We've even got one home match!
2005%20Playoffs%20First%20Round.xls

Tuesday (March 1):
HPD2 (1st) home against Hinsdale Golf Club (8th)
HPD5 (4th) at Saddle & Cycle (5th)
HPD11 (1st) at Westmoreland (8th)
HPD14 (4th) at Skokie (5th)

Wednesday:
HPD1 (1st) at Exmoor (8th)
HPD7 (3rd) at Glenview (6th)
HPD14 (3rd) at Lakeshore CC (6th)

Thursday:
HPD3 (3rd) at Winnetka-2 (6th)
HPD9 (2nd) at North Shore (7th)

Semi-final matches will be played on Monday, March 7. Locations TBD.



Finals will be held on Wednesday, March 9. Series 1 and 2 at Glenview. Others TBD. Attendance for all HPD players is required at the Glenview finals! Superior competition and superior nutrition are calling!



Note: The League web site shows some of the locations and matches differently than what's listed here. Apparently those postings are incorrect.

Burr Ridge Neighbors Speak at Parks Commission

The Parks Commission listened for well over one hour on Monday night to the comments of a dozen residents of Burr Ridge. The neighbors nearby the KLM paddle courts were asking for many things: additional landscaping, enforcement of noise rules, formal notice of changes, reduced operating hours in the morning, reduced operating hours in the evening, and others.

Bill O'Brien responded as HPTA President in his usual friendly and encouraging manner. He offered help with many of the requests with the exception of reduction in hours. Bill explained that with constrained court capacity, players need the opportunity to play matches on occasion as late as 10:30 PM.

The Parks Commission ultimately took two steps:
1. A 6-1 vote (with Keith Medick objecting) to enforce an 8 AM start time at KLM for paddle. Dogs (and their owners) will continue to be welcome in the park at 5 AM.

2. A sub-committee consisting of two neighbors, two commissioners, and two HPTA representatives will meet to discuss the details for landscaping.

The next step in the political process may be with the Village Board or its ACA sub-committee. More to follow ...

Hinsdale Invitational Tournament, March 19-20

Send in your entry form and check by March 14.
HinsdaleTournament.doc

Letters to the Parks Commission about Lights & Noise

Paddle players have kicked off a letter-writing campaign in advance of the February 21 Parks Commission meeting. The HPTA has provided 10 recommendations intended to address neighbors' concerns about light and noise from the KLM facility.

HPTA10Recommendations.doc

Ed Usher Elected HPD Club Representative for 2005-06 Season

The captains of the HPD teams voted unanimously in favor of making Ed Usher the Club Representative for the 2005-06 season. Ed takes over for Paul Wiggin effective April 2005.

Pittsburgh Nationals on March 10-13

For information, see: Entry Form

Agenda for Traveling Team Captains' Meeting

Sunday, February 13, 2005
8:30 PM
KLM Paddle Hut



1) Approval of minutes from previous Captains’ Meeting.

2) Guests are invited to speak about any issues of interest.

3) Clean-up requirements for home matches.

4) Volunteerism for CPTC Tournaments.

5) Follow-up discussion on challenge match procedures.

6) Adjustments to rosters prior to the play-offs.

7) Adding teams for the 2005-06 season.

8) Election of club representative for 2005-06 season.

Illinois States Tournament on February 26-27

The state tournament is the last of the four big men's tournaments for the Chicago area each season. It draws the top players from the CPTC league, but as you would guess from the name, none of the east coast pros are eligible.

2005 States - Entry Form.doc

League Standings

Four of the nine men's teams are in first place in their series, two are in second, two are in third, and the remaining team is fourth.

In first place*: series 1, 2, 7, and 11
In second place: series 5 and 9
In third place: series 3 and 13
In fourth place: series 14

A bunch of over-achievers!

* Series 1 has a make-up match to play, but assuming they get 5 or more points they are ahead of Glenview and Lake Shore Athletic Club. Series 7 is in a tie for first place with Hinsdale Golf Club.

Leave It Better Than You Found It

You may notice that the HPTA has donated a red-n-chrome beauty:



Please make a point to leave the hut in better shape than when you arrived.

Plaque for KLM Donors

Here's a first draft of the plaque to commemorate the community's contributions to making our new courts and hut at KLM a reality. A full-sized version will be posted in the hut. If you'd like to see any changes, please send word to paulwiggin@yahoo.com soon -- before any mistakes are cast in bronze!

Village of Hinsdale Reacts to Burr Ridge Complaints

The Parks Department mailed a letter to passholders encouraging players to observe rules to be courteous to the Burr Ridge neighbors close to KLM.

Village of Hinsdale Letter January 2005.pdf

Further discussion is planned for the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting which will be held at 7 PM, February 21, 2005.

Visit the Pro Shop

All Paddlewear embroidered with "Hinsdale Paddle" except pants and backpack. To order click here: Paddle in the Parks Clothing Order Form



Sizing Chart

Full-color brochures (clockwise from upper left):
Microfleece Pullover Fleece Pullover Matrix Jacket Windshirt Navigator Jacket Pants Powerpack

Paddle in the Parks Racquets Pricing

Court 1 Lights Back On

The Village arranged for an electrician to inspect the lights and heaters on court 1 on Tuesday morning. We understand that the lights and heaters were working, but the short circuit with the heaters was not discovered.

Burr Ridge President Asked to Address Noise Concerns

Hitting Some Snags at KLM Court 1

Last Thursday night the heater on court 1 failed, leaving the court unusable for the series 3 league match. We had been able to run it for 20 minutes and chip away the ice, but as the melting proceeded, some sort of electrical short caused the breaker to trip. We were left with a frozen tundra on court 1, as you see below:



The Village had told us Friday that an electrician would be out on Tuesday. Before that day came, the lights on court 1 also wouldn't work on Monday. It doesn't appear to be a circuit breaker this time. But it was certainly a little too dark to play:



Let's hope the electician can find whatever faults are occurring in time for the series 2 home match Tuesday night.

St. Louis Tourney on February 5-6

Entries are due on Ground Hog's Day, February 2.

St Louis Paddle Tournament 2005.doc

NY Times Article

Platform Tennis: Bring Your Racket. Dress in Layers.

Patty Hogan was interviewed by the NY Times about her favorite winter pastime.


"... Good players can keep a point going for 200 hits or more ..."

NY Times on Platform Tennis January 2005.doc

Hinsdale Invitational Tournament

Save the dates: March 19-20, 2005

Donating Used Paddles and Children's Movies

Do you have extra paddles from last season gathering dust at home? We've noted that the ones donated by Mary Doten are getting a lot of use by children who drop by the paddle hut. There are times when there are a lot more kids wanting to play than available paddles. If you have one, please let me know(paulwiggin@yahoo.com). We'll stencil "HPTA" on to the face of the paddle so that it's clear that the paddle is supposed to remain in the park.



The new hut is a nice place for children to play or to watch a movie. If you have some DVDs or VHS tapes that are no longer of use at home, please bring them by the KLM hut for others. Happy children may mean a few more minutes on the court for the parents.