In part two of the December racquets series, paddle (or platform tennis) takes center stage.
At Shaker Heights (Ohio) Country Club, Walter Oden CPA, Director of Racquets, revitalized a dormant paddle program by integrating it with tennis, connecting members to league play, and positioning the sport as a winter solution that keeps the club active when other amenities pause.
Paddle celebrates winter
At Shaker Heights Country Club, paddle was nearly dormant until Oden stepped in and began rebuilding the sport from the courts up.
His approach was simple: Instead of treating tennis and paddle as separate lanes, he reframed the program as a full racquet experience. Members learned tennis in the summer, then rolled those skills straight into paddle once the weather shifted. 
Oden says the sport clicked quickly with the club’s younger, family-driven membership. Couples with kids make up most of the paddle participation. And the ease of scheduling, shorter court time, and built-in social element fit the way many families use the club today.
He notes that paddle carries its own culture. Players often bring a beverage onto the court, the games move fast, and the atmosphere stays relaxed—even when the competition heats up.
Its winter personality is part of the appeal. Paddle courts sit a few feet above ground with heaters underneath, melting snow and keeping play going through the cold months. Golf winds down, tennis pauses, and paddle takes over.
“I see paddle as fitting in the gap in Northeast Ohio weather,” Oden says. “It gives members something to look forward to and rounds out the overall racquet experience.”
To strengthen participation, Oden tied Shaker Heights CC’s paddle program into the Greater Cleveland Platform Tennis Association. Instead of treating outside leagues as a burden, he positioned league access as a membership benefit. The move worked. Participation surged across men’s and women’s paddle, and the club became one of the most active programs in the region.
The courts were fully rehabilitated last year, and Oden hopes to add two more in the future as internal leagues and holiday events continue to grow.
