Port Macquarie Squash

Last chance to play squash in Port Macquarie. Scan the QR code to enter the tournament!

Empower Port Macquarie Squash Open starting today - all are welcome - come and see some amazing matches today and tomorrow!

Port Macquarie Squash would like to thank all of our members and friends for making 2022 such a memorable experience both on and off the courts. We look forward to making our biggest competitions in history next year worthy of the books. Have a safe (optional) New Year and may your resolution be in ultra 4k.

Entries now open for the PM Squash Open sponsored by Empower Health Services. Enrol today as this is sure to be a popular event!

Here's hoping there are plenty of teardrop shaped presents under the tree tomorrow. There is one under mine but I just can't figure out what it is. A camp shovel, a small guitar or banjo, a short paddle or maybe a single snow shoe. Will just have to wait and see. Have a great Christmas and we will see you in the new year for our next mixed men's and junior competitions.

Registration opening soon for Port Macquarie Squash Open. Mark it in your calendar today and come and see why Port Macquarie is the greatest Squash destination in Australia!

This is sure to be a popular event!

The Port Macquarie Christmas Classic Squash Tournament has concluded and it was a great success! Congratulations to all the winners and everyone involved in making it happen.

Looking forward to the next Tournament in February which will be opening up registrations shortly. Watch this space.

Registrations for the Empower Health Services Christmas Classic Squash Tournament are closing soon.
https://www.sportyhq.com/tournament/view/Port-Macquarie-Christmas-Classic/sign_up
The tournament is being held at the Palm Court Squash Complex on the 10th and 11th December. Visit SportyHQ today for entry details and don't miss out.
All grades are welcome and Juniors are encouraged to enter as well. Bring your friends and family along for a great weekend of spectacular Squash action

Take a minute to help us by signing a petition to present to our local council.

Sign the Petition Your voice matters. Unite to save squash with a simple gesture of support to show you care

Port Macquarie Squash is proud to announce that the court upgrades are now complete and all 5 courts look fantastic. Fresh paint new lines and sanded floors are some of the improvements all squash players can now enjoy. New tin advertising will be available for businesses soon so stay tuned for our new sponsorship opportunities before the Port Macquarie Squash "Summer of Squash begins with the Christmas Classic Tournament kicking off on 10th December.

Thanks to the Australian Sports Foundation we received a grant for some much needed equipment for our Junior players and we would like to thank both the ASF and HART Sport for their generosity. We still need more support for our very important Junior Program so please consider making a donation or buying some raffle tickets at. https://squashpm.com.au/play-for-purpose/

Great news for Squash

Billionaire banker boosts Aussie squash Chuffed officials hope the Australian Open's elevation to become a "grand slam of squash" will lure back a lost generation of players and spark a full-blown revival for the high-octane sport.The Professional Squash Association (PSA) has nominated the Australian Open, the US Open, the World Tour Fina...

The 10 local team members who represented the Port Macquarie Squash Club so well in the last Tournament are warming up to take the title this weekend in the final leg of the bi-annual Roy Frost Tournament. With a commanding 180 point lead, the other competing teams from Tamworth, Taree, Belmont, Muswellbrook and Central Coast will need to dig deep to claim the shield. The Roy Frost event has been contested since 1968. Come down and see some fantastic squash on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd October at the Palm Court Squash Complex.

42 YEARS OF PALM COURT SQUASH TO END?
A Long and Successful History - Everybody remembers the infamous “Under-Arm Bowling” incident against the New Zealand Cricket team on February 1 1981 but few know that just 10 days later, another significant part of sports history was unfolding here in Port Macquarie. A group of squash players placed an obscure advert in the Port Macquarie News asking for locals to start a squash competition in the Palm Court Squash Complex. With high hopes and low expectations this ad was the beginning of one of the longest running and most successful sporting Clubs on the Mid North Coast.
Squash has thrived for over 42 years as a Wednesday night fixture for players in the tri-annual men’s competition and almost 20 years for the strong Tuesday night mixed social men’s and women’s competition. From Legal Firms to Landscapers, local business sponsor numbers have grown to 123 as Palm Court Men’s Squash Club looks forward to its 115th Competition in 2023. The Complex plays host to annual events including the Port Macquarie Open, Roy Frost Tournament, the NSW Clinic/One Day Junior Tournament and the Christmas Classic.
Squash Courts Due to be Demolished - In August 2022, the owners of the Palm Court Motor Inn advised members and players that a Development Application had been submitted to Council to transform Port Macquarie’s last remaining squash courts into 10 motel rooms and Port Macquarie Squash should prepare for the closure sometime after mid 2023. The devastating news brought many to the point of tears with the thought of such a vibrant Club of 42 years being destined for the pages of Port Macquarie history.
Life Member and Club Patron Warren Turner has played in over 100 of the 114 Club competitions since 1981. He and other club members have raised concerns regarding the impact the closure will have on the regional squash community, both current and future players of the sport.
With the recent closures of Laurieton and Kempsey courts, the nearest squash centres are now Coffs Harbour and Old Bar leaving an estimated 1000 plus social, junior and competition squash players with little to no alternative but to hang up their racquets for the last time.
Planning for the Future - In 2021 Port Macquarie Squash registered as a Not-for-Profit Incorporation with a vision to revitalise the game of squash on the Mid North Coast. Competition memberships have increased by 45% over the past year as more people discover the health and social benefits associated with arguably, the most cognitively challenging game on the planet.
In 2022, successful grant submissions totalling $20,000 from NSW Office of Sport and Hastings Council were secured to repair and refurbish the Palm Court Squash Complex and launch a grass roots Junior Programme. 27 youngsters aged 6 to 17 signed up for the first Junior Competition in June for a 16-week training and round robin contest. The Junior initiative successfully gained over 100 students from local High Schools to play squash as an elective sport. An even bigger and more exciting junior squash competition starts in Term 4.
The Future of Squash in Port Macquarie - Port Macquarie Squash Club President Glenn Sawtell noted “The tragic twist for squash is its unprecedented and rapid return to the centre stage of sport around the world due to its all weather, all year 24/7 accessibility. Squash is a popular, well represented sport in the Commonwealth Games and the World Squash Federation is continuing its campaign to have squash included as an Olympic sport at the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane. Squash Australia have released a strategic plan with the goal of having 1 million players Australia wide by this time “
“Port Macquarie Squash and its members are dedicated and focused on securing a future for squash in the region and talks will commence this week with Hastings Council. Availability of suitable public land along with the feasibility of Council involvement and contribution towards this project will be among the topics discussed. We are planning a state of the art multi-sport facility designed to attract and host elite level national and international squash events and players. This project will increase tourism and create jobs in Port Macquarie. We plan to continue our efforts to develop local player numbers and promote the considerable opportunities and pathways available for juniors and adults alike,” Mr Sawtell added.
Help make our vision for a world leading multisport Squash facility in Port Macquarie a reality, with a tax deductible donation made through our Australian Sports Foundation fundraising page https://asf.org.au/projects/port-macquarie-squash-incorporated or by purchasing tickets in the Play for Purpose Raffle with 395 prizes and first prize worth $250,000 https://playforpurpose.com.au/portmacquariesquash
Alternatively, you can scan the QR codes in the photo or visit www.squashpm.com.au

Our new Junior Competition starts tonight Thursday 13th October at 5pm. We have an exciting new 10 week training format and competition lined up so if you can hold a racquet, you can have a go. Open to all youngsters aged 6 - 18 regardless of experience. The cost is $100 for the 10 week program and we do accept Active Kids Vouchers so scan to register or visit https://squashpm.com.au/junior-comp/

It's going to be a hot time on the courts at the Port Macquarie Summer of Squash with the Christmas Classic (Dec 10.11) to start the summer and The Port Macquarie Open (Feb 25,26) to bring in the new squash season. Sponsored by Empower Health Services come and have some fun in one of the best squash locations in Australia. Entries open for the Christmas Classic shortly. Get ready its going to be Great!

Our new Junior Competition starts this week Thursday 13th October at 5pm. There are limited places due to the overwhelming popularity so be quick to register. We have an exciting new 10 week training format and competition lined up so if you can hold a racquet, you can have a go. Open to all youngsters aged 6 - 18 regardless of experience. The cost is $100 for the 10 week program and we do accept Active Kids Vouchers so scan to register or visit https://squashpm.com.au/junior-comp/

Congratulations to all of our junior members on your successful training & completion of your very first Competition. We hope you all enjoyed your time on the court as much as we did and look forward to our new and exciting 2nd competition starting this week on Thursday 13th at 5pm at the Palm Court Squash Complex. If you would like to participate please register at https://squashpm.com.au/junior-comp/

Our first Junior clinic was a huge success yesterday with visitors from Coffs Harbour and local juniors all enjoying their time on the courts. NSW Coach Jemma Wratten put the youngsters through their paces in preparation for their Tournament today. If you would like to support your local juniors or just help out with some scoring, the Tournament starts at 10am today and will conclude at 3pm. Hope to see you down there.

This Saturday 17th September presents a wonderful opportunity for all juniors interested in playing Squash to come along for our Free Junior Clinic. NSW Squash Coach Jemma Wratten will be holding this event at the Palm Court Squash Complex from 2pm to 5pm and all are welcome to attend. A Junior tournament is also be held on Sunday 18th September for those who have registered and includes players from Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour. Please come along and support our local Juniors in their first Tournament event.

Would you like to help us raise money and have the chance to win not 1 but 2 brand new electric cars.
https://playforpurpose.com.au/portmacquariesquash
The major prize in this raffle is a BMW iX xDrive40 SUV and a MINI Cooper SE Hatch. In addition to that there is $32,000 worth of gold bullion to boost this amazing first prize up to a massive $250,000. There are also 4 major consolation prizes worth a combined $30,000 and 390 additional prizes. The best part of this is that $5 of every $10 ticket sold is given back to our Club and will help support our efforts to reach our ultimate goal. For more information, follow the link above and remember that every ticket sold will help build our Club.

Come down to Palm Court Squash Complex this weekend and watch some fantastic Squash at the Roy Frost Tournament. Join in the fun and help support our 10 strong team from Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie Squash would like to sincerely thank those dedicated squash players who generously gave their time and their effort over the weekend to help with the first stage of our court upgrades. New lights have been fitted on all 5 courts as well as the spectators area, gallery and foyer. The improvement is remarkable and brings a much needed uniformity to the entire squash complex. The new lights will provide a consistent competition environment for all players. The scaffold was put to additional good use with further upgrades being made to the wall adjacent to court 1, affectionately known as the Wall of Shame where ruined, wrecked retro and retired racquets can rest in pieces.
Well done to everybody involved.

Congratulations to our adopted champions James and William Slade with their very proud father and member of Palm Court Men's Squash Club, Paul. James def. Will 3-2 in the Under 17 Boys Final at Coffs Harbour Squash. Both Boys have now been selected to represent NSW in Perth in The Australian Junior Championships in September/October.

Calling all Port Macquarie Squash members.
On Sat/Sun 16/17 July we will be installing new lights and could use some help to get the scaffolding up and down on each court as our fearless sparky installs the new lights. With close to 30 pieces of scaffold per rig (x2) some extra hands will make this process a lot easier and quicker. Follow the QR link below in the graphic or let us know if you are available for any amount of time

Some of our younger juniors chillin on Court 4 with DJ Drop-shot aka Marky Mark Shoesmith while the older crew were being taught the finer points of Squash by Roy Ollier. There are still spaces for Juniors aged between 8-18 so register today at https://squashpm.com.au/junior-comp/

Thank you to everybody who attended our Open Day last Sunday.
I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did