By Greg Ellison

(Oct. 29, 2020) The Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors is contemplating reinstating its Racquet Sports Advisory Committee, which was disbanded several years ago.

Board member Camilla Rogers, who introduced a related motion at the group’s meeting on Oct. 17, noted the rapid rate of interest in various racquet sports as a basis for reforming the advisory committee that was disbanded in 2017.

Rogers said racquet sports have been popular in Ocean Pines, with an uptick of activity at tennis facilities in recent years due to the addition of timeless tennis, paddle ball, platform tennis, along with the exploding popularity of pickleball.

Recognizing the need for expanded facilities, the OPA was recently granted approval by Worcester County to launch the permit process to build four additional pickleball courts and a “Net Generation” tennis court used for instructional purposes.

Manklin Meadows Racquet Sports Complex Facilities Manager Tim McMullen is overseeing the proposed court expansion for tennis and pickleball under consideration for inclusion in the next fiscal year operating budget.

Teaming with McMullen to revamp the Manklin Meadows site is licensed U.S. Tennis Association instructor Terry Underkoffler, who said the pair is prepared to work closely with the Racquet Sports Committee when and if it is reinstated.

Underkoffler said past tensions existed between various racquet sports factions.

“In that time period I believe the three groups saw themselves as totally separate entities and didn’t see the importance of being in one complex,” he said.

In the last few years the camps have mixed a bit more.

“Since that time you’ve had more people come to the complex and crossover and want to play more than one sport,” he said. “Now you have people that play a mixture of platform tennis and pickleball.”

Underkoffler said the varying factions have started to recognize the importance of working in unison to address maintenance issues at the increasingly popular racquet sports facility.

“Because of the growing number of people that are coming on site, and the growth of the sport, I think they all see that unity is a better option,” he said.

As colder weather seeps into the region and racquet players lose interest in some pursuits due to frigid conditions, other avenues grow more attractive.

“You’ll see more people playing platform tennis in the colder months then they do in the warmer months,” he said.

Underkoffler said platform tennis gained an audience in the Pines as an option when regular courts weren’t open.

“It also grew out of people that wanted to play more challenging racquet sports with different rules in an enclosed environment,” he said.

Platform tennis uses an enclosed court, a soft sponge rubber ball and a perforated paddle.

“The court is smaller and it doesn’t freeze over as easily as a har tru court would,” he said. “The ball bounces without problems in the colder weather versus a tennis ball.”

Among the committee functions highlighted by Rogers are advising the Board of Directors regarding promotional activities, as well as policy and operations, to improve racquet sports and the Manklin Meadows complex.

The committee would provide input for budget proposals for programs, facilities and staff, while also recommending rules related to conduct and dress code.

The committee is required to have at least three but not more than nine members, with board appointments reflecting a balance of tennis, paddle board and pickleball players.

The motion to reinstate the Racquet Sports Committee still requires a second reading and a majority board vote at a subsequent meeting to pass.