Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

Despite earlier reports the Ocean Pines Association was a year or more away from a single racquet center sports membership option, the board of directors has agreed an updated pricing system should be implemented immediately.

The decision was made at the Wednesday, Jan. 9 annual budget review meeting. OPA Board President Stuart Lakernick said the racquet sports governing group “want(s) to do one membership for the racquet center for the family at $495 and individual at $295.”

This upgraded pricing structure would replace the current individual membership choices with one racquet sports rate. Lakernick also added the board wanted OPA General Manager John Viola to come up with an individual drop-in rate that would cover another $10,000 in revenue.

Terry Underkoffler, the community’s director of racquet sports, recommended the single membership rate, saying the “bold change” would address increased operating costs. Labor costs have risen significantly with the rise in minimum wage, and the courts constantly need maintenance and repairs.

Because the center is located in a marshy area, Underkoffler said the cracks in the courts are a constant safety concern.

“I brought out a very reputable playing surface company to do an estimate on the new cracks and the cracks that have come back on courts nine and 10, which are hard courts shared by tennis and pickleball, and the lower pickleball courts,” the racquet director said.

“I didn’t even take them to the platform. The repair costs for those surfaces are $70,000. If you look at the budget, we have allocated $36,000. So now, what am I saying? Which courts am I doing, and which aren’t I doing? We have to be on top of this. These repairs are major. It’s a safety issue we have to budget for and plan for.”

Additionally, the renovations to the racquet center sports building, including upgrades to the bathrooms and the main pro shop, are scheduled to be concluded this May.

Underkoffler said if the association addressed these cost concerns while keeping the current individual memberships model, the pickleball rates would increase dramatically. The single choice allows for a more balanced method for the center’s financial needs.

Director Elaine Brady agreed with switching to a single, all-encompassing membership price, arguing the individual options are an “operating nightmare” to track. She also added the new structure could encourage members to try their hand at all the facilities’ other sports.

“It may introduce people to other sports they didn’t try out because they didn’t want to pay those extra fees,” she said. “We keep kicking that can down the road. It is going to continue being a controversy over the years. I just think we have to bite the bullet.”

Not everyone was initially on the same page, however. OPA Board of Directors Treasurer Monica Rakowski argued the proposed fee structure might eliminate some memberships, specifically the senior crowd who only play one sport once a week and would not be interested in paying for all sports.

Director Steve Jacobs was also hesitant to support the one-sport membership. His biggest concern was when the association tried to introduce a sole combo rate last year, the residents objected, and the board had to reinstate the single-sport options.

“The community does not want only a three-sport membership,” Jacobs said. “I think we have to give them as much choice as possible. That’s what we do for customers.”

Still, the board consensus was that a single racquet center sport membership should be introduced into the upcoming budget.

A budget town hall is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 5. The budget will be approved shortly after that.