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PROJECT

The padel courts have tempered glass walls and textured synthetic turf

HOUGHTON PADEL AND PLAY

Two padel courts and a children’s play area have been installed at Houghton Golf

Club in Johannesburg, creating an accommodating facility for golfers’ families and
the general public. Padel is a fast-paced racket sport combining tennis and squash.

adel manager Ben Wilsenach says that • the line markings are similar to those of
the courts were built at the request of tennis, but there are no doubles’ lines;
Pthe late president of the Houghton Golf • the ground was levelled before laying the
Club, who wanted it to be a more family- concrete surface, and has been offset for
focused experience and to provide “a different drainage purposes;
amenity on the premises”. Wilsenach believes • LED lighting allows for nighttime play;
that the game of padel became popular as a • courts may be booked via the Playtonic app.
result of people feeling isolated during Covid
and thereafter, wanting a sociable, outdoor Children’s play area
activity to combat this. “In a way, its popularity This is designed for children aged 1 – 16 years
was a transition away from indoor gyms, and equipment comprises trampolines,
appealing to a wide range of age groups. It is monkey bars, swings, climbing ropes, a see-
definitely the latest fitness trend,” he says. saw, slides leading into a sand pit and two
The courts and play area have been built on ‘foxholes’ around the sand pit. These provide
what was previously a car park for golfers, and a fun aspect for children in which to play
it was decided to make use of the space in a hide and seek.
more productive way. A natural slope, existing on the site, was
incorporated into the design of the play space,
Court design and installation with levels creating interest for children.
Both courts are north facing and have been Houghton Padel Oosie Oosthuizen of Rambrass
designed and built to international standards, International was responsible for the
with dimensions of 10m wide x 20m long. transparent, as padel is a “good spectator installation of the artificial turf and play
The surface flooring comprises a textured sport”, says Wilsenach. equipment. He explains that the turf
synthetic turf, under which silica sand has installation involves preparing the ground
been placed to allow for grip. The sand also Other points to note are that: by levelling it, removing any existing
helps to avoid fungus growth, which could • steel has been placed at the top of the glass vegetation, adding a base layer of gravel,
occur if regular sand was used. walls to keep the ball within the playing compacting it and then laying the turf on
The walls of the courts are tempered glass space; top. When installing the base layer, the area
with a 12 mm thickness, ensuring that no • the net is the same as that for tennis, but is shaped at the same time.
chipping or cracking takes place. The glass slightly lower in the centre (88cm in the Placement of the play equipment was
walls are also playable surfaces and are middle, 92 cm on the sides); determined by factors such as safety

12 Landscape SA • Issue 135 2024 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za