Guernsey causing a racket with biggest padel club in the British Isles

Friday 14 May 2021

Padel is taking the world by storm and Guernsey is no different, with the Guernsey Tennis Centre planning more courts to deal with increasing demand.

The Longcamps centre has applied for planning permission to build two new padel courts, taking its total to five. This development makes Guernsey joint largest padel club in the British Isles, alongside a centre in Stratford, London.

“It’s extraordinary actually because padel has been around for a long time,” said Sara Woolland from the Guernsey Padel Club.

“It’s not particularly new, but in the last few years it has really taken off."

Pictured: The Guernsey Tennis centre opened its first three courts in 2018.

So, what is padel? It’s like tennis in that it’s scored exactly the same way, but that’s where the similarities stop.

Games are always played as doubles matches and the court is two-thirds the size of a tennis court. Players use a racquet that looks more like a beach bat, and glass walls allow you to bounce serves off the sides.

“You can pick up padel in a couple of hours, to a level where you can have fun,” said Ms Woolland. “It’s a much easier game compared to tennis.”

The centre will have a canopy over its one outside court by September, and subject to planning permission, it hopes to have both new courts built by next year.

Pictured: The first padel island championship was held last year, with a second being held on 28 May this year.

The Guernsey Tennis Centre has pay-per-play slots and memberships, but with the courts at more than 95% capacity it needs the extra space to continue catering for new players.

“Lots of people assume that because padel is growing that tennis is declining, but if you analyse the numbers here that’s not the case at all,” said Ms Woolland. “There’s just more people at the club.”

Mens, womens and mixed leagues are held at the centre throughout the year and a second championship will be held at the end of May. As Guernsey’s borders continue to relax, there are future plans for an inter-insular with Jersey as well.