Getting on the court

If you are a new member and would like to familiarize yourself with the Club’s facilities and learn some pointers about the game of paddle, please contact Chris Adams to schedule an appointment.

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The lights in the parking lot are on a timer. They go on at dusk and turn off after everyone has left (unless it is a particularly late one). The lights at the two locations where you enter the deck are triggered by motion detectors (they will turn off automatically). Their switches need to remain on all of the time (there is tape over them to keep people from using them). The other set of flood lights outside the door to the Warming Hut door are on a switch in the hut. Please be sure to turn them off when you leave. They will NOT GO OFF AUTOMATICALLY.

Paddle timeslots go well into the evening. If you find you need lights, please turn them on at the box near the door to the court. Be sure to turn them off when you are finished. The lights on both Court One and Court Two are metal halide and take about 5 minutes to warm up. If you are finished playing and know there is another group following you, please leave the lights on (as long as someone has arrived). Otherwise, it takes quite awhile for the lights to come back on after being turned off.

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Warming Hut

The Warming Hut is available for use by players and their audiences. There is a monitor heater inside that is kept at 46 degrees. Please leave it at 46 unless you anticipate needing it for some extended time. If you need to heat the place up, the directions on how to operate the heater are on the wall. Please turn it back to 46 when you leave. Please make sure the door to the hut is closed so we are not heating the outside.

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Guest Policy

Members may have guests up to 4 times per season. Individuals may be guests up to 4 times per season. You’ll notice there are no fees and no guest police. We appreciate your sincere efforts to honor this policy. Please sign the guest in using the guest book in the Warming Hut.

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Playing paddle in the snow is one of the wonderful experiences of the sport. When it snows there is someone who is responsible for plowing and shoveling the parking area, decks and paddle courts. They are instructed to do so only after it has stopped snowing. So occasionally if you have a game and it is still snowing, then it is possible that the courts may not be cleared.

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IF you are feeling energetic, you are free to clear the courts yourself. DO NOT USE THE SNOWBLOWER and DO NOT USE SALT OR SAND ON THE COURTS! There are shovels and brooms in the Maintenance Hut that can be used. The courts have “snow boards” around the bottom edge that when “unhooked” allow shovels to push through and remove snow from the court. Please re-hook the snow boards when done so no one looses an ankle in them.

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Heaters are used AFTER SNOW HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE COURT. They are intended to dissolve that last (almost transparent) layer of ice or snow that the shovels can’t get. They are not meant to keep players warm – that’s supposed to happen from running around. The heater timer switch for Court Two can be found in the Maintenance Hut immediately as you enter the door on the left (look up high). For Court One, the heater timer is mounted on the large heating unit in the maintenance hut. Turn the timer to the desired amount of time. It will automatically turn off.

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See chart above or refer to the Maintenance Procedures posted on the bulletin board in the Warming Hut.

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Balls are provided by the Club for use by players. PLEASE RETRIEVE the balls that are “hit over” the fence as they cost about $3.00 each. When “warming up” with 2 balls – please only take one new one if necessary (often there are plenty of used balls in very good condition). Use one from the bucket of used balls if you need another.

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There are also a few demo paddle racquets that are available to be borrowed/tried out. They are available in the Warming Hut through the end of November. Please sign them out if you wish to try one, but leave them in the hut when you are finished. If you are still interested in a demo after that, please contact Chris Adams and he will make one available for you. Lee Warner and Chris Adams both represent the Viking line of paddle equipment and can provide additional information about their products.

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While the temperatures may be cold, paddle is a sport that allows you to quickly warm up. Many people find that a turtleneck is adequate even during the colder temps. A fleece top and/or vest lets you peel off your layers as you need to. Some people find jeans to be comfortable while others prefer warm ups. TENNIS SNEAKERS must be worn AT ALL TIMES on the court. PLEASE NO OTHER FOOTWEAR.

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Paddle is a fast sport and generally is played as a doubles game. Groups and game times are scheduled at the conclusion of the Kickoff Meeting each year that is held in early to mid-October. Hour and a half court times are “committed” during the weekdays for the season while weekends remain open for signup from week to week. Prior to the kickoff meeting club members “sign up” for up to two times per week (weekdays). Conflict resolution takes place at the meeting for groups that request the same timeslots.

Weekend court times are reserved by signing up on-line at our website, www.arundelpaddleclub.com . Courts may be reserved 7 days in advance, not before. During the week, some courts are available for on-line sign-up not previously “committed” by the master schedule process. A Master Schedule is maintained on our website so as schedules change, current information is always available. Feel free to sign up “uncommitted” courts using the on-line sign up web site. If you would like your group added to or removed from the Master Schedule, contact Jon Hansen. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE SURE THAT THE COURT TIME IS NOT RESERVED ON THE MASTER SCHEDULE AND TO CANCEL (ON-LINE) COURT RESERVATIONS AS A COURTESY TO OTHERS. It is important to cancel a game even if it is a “committed” weekday slot to allow the opportunity for others to reserve it.

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Our social committee will be organizing some events including clinics, round robins, and some casual tournament(s) that enable all levels of skill to participate. Please check out our web site for information/sign up for these events. We are fortunate to have a long time veteran of the game, Chris Adams, available for coaching and clinics as demand dictates. He plans to offer some events this season for general signup and encourages others to set up their own groups if interested. Please contact Chris Adams.

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We encourage members to use the club socially and take advantage of the grill, fire pit and hut for an evening of fun and exercise. If this is of interest, please be sure to sign up the courts for your desired times. If you anticipate using both courts for at least two back-to-back slots, posting a note would surely be appreciated. We will also try to give plenty of notice of reserved times for club-sponsored events.

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There is a fire pit that is available for Club Events. It must be used with great care and not when it is windy. Please donate wood for its use as the club does not provide it. One specific person needs to be designated to be "in charge" in advance to bring water containers to put the fire out (prior to snow fall), to monitor the fire throughout the night and be responsible for making sure it is extinguished properly. Make sure the fire is completely out before you leave. We hope to eventually create a safer location for it.

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Annual dues/maintenance fees are due on or before the specified due date. Members who have not paid by the due date will be re-invoiced with an additional charge of $50.00 (late fee). Payments not received within 30 days from the due date will result in termination of membership.

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An application must be completed to be added to the waitlist. If an annual member declines to re-join one year but wishes to resume membership the following year OR at any time in the future, they will not be added to the waitlist until a new application is completed.