Hello
About RacquetMates.net
This website was created by me, Sheldon Rampton. I'm a long-time resident of Portage, Wisconsin. I work full-time as a software engineer/web developer, and tennis is my hobby. I'm not particularly great at the game (USTA ranking of 3.5), but I've played since I was a kid and enjoy it as a way to have fun and get some exercise. For years I've been a member at Cherokee Country Club in Madison so I could use their indoor courts, but I would like to find opportunities to play closer to home, so I started RacquetMates.net as a way of finding other people in the area who also like racquet sports. I'll be showing up regularly (weather permitting) on Sunday nights from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Wayne E. Bartels Middle School tennis courts (255 E Slifer Street, Portage) if you'd like to join me there and hit a few balls. I have my own Slinger Bag ball machine that I bring along and use for practice sometimes, and I'm happy to share it with other people if you'd like to try it out.
Portage and other nearby cities (Wisconsin Dells and Baraboo) have some great tennis courts that are available for public use, and when I visit with my ball machine, there are usually plenty of free courts, so tennis is an activity that anyone can get involved with at very little cost. All you need is a racquet, some balls and the willingness to run around. I also hear there's a new-fangled game called “pickleball” that is increasingly popular, particularly with senior citizens, and there are a number of courts where you can play pickleball in Columbia and Sauk Counties.
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If you're looking for a nearby court where you can play, check out the Find a Court page on this website. We also have a Programs page that lists group playing opportunities in the area. And please use the form below to send suggestions for how I can improve the site, as well as to share your contact information so I can let you know about local racquet sports activities. I promise that I won't give out your information for any other purpose, in accordance with our privacy policy.
Let’s Hit a Few!
Get in touch so we can schedule some play.