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A growing number of padel enthusiasts were beginning to wonder whether the court built on the site of the Saint-Barth Tennis Club (and financed by the Collectivité territoriale) would finally be opened to players. Since Monday January 27, almost six months after the work was completed, it has been open. Padel, a cross between tennis and squash, has become very popular. Fun and seemingly easier to get into than tennis, it's the game of choice for many racket sports enthusiasts. The SBTC's only court is now open to both male and female players. But under very specific rules, drawn up jointly by the club and the local authorities.
Pay during the week, free on Sundays
From Monday to Saturday inclusive, reservations are made through the SBTC secretariat. "The ground is a public place, accessible to all", is specified in the territorial decree dated January 17. However, it also states: "Residents of Saint-Barthélemy must be licensed with the French Tennis Federation (...) Visitors must sign a liability waiver. "For residents, the fee will be ten euros per person (bearing in mind that padel is played by four people). For non-residents, the rental price will be twenty euros per person. But only from Monday to Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In fact, the local authorities wanted the structure to remain accessible to the general public. On Sundays, therefore, the court will be open to the public via a gate at the rear of the club, to which a path leads. The gate will be open on Sunday mornings and anyone will be able to come and play, free of charge and, initially, without a reservation. The local authority specifies that a sign with keyed badges will probably be installed later to organize bookings. Once again, as from Monday to Saturday, the court will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The official inauguration of the court is scheduled for Thursday January 30 at 4pm, at the Saint-Barth Tennis Club.
