Bill Saunders of Ramsey is an avid platform tennis player. Competing in several county and state leagues, Saunders' home court is Brookside Racquet and Swim Club in Allendale, where he has been a member for the past 13 years. Brookside's platform tennis program has long been one of the most successful programs in the State. Saunders, who grew up in Tenafly and was ranked as the No. 1 junior player in the nation when he was a teen, discovered the sport at the Englewood Field Club.

"I took it up because I grew up playing tennis at the Englewood Field Club and they offered it as one of their many sports," says Saunders. "It was a natural progression in the fall to move from tennis to platform tennis. The sport has been historically played in the colder month, yet today you can find many players playing throughout the summer as well."

There are many true tennis players that have been introduced to platform tennis over the past 20 years," says Saunders. "They were initially invited to play 'friendly' tournaments (member-guest tournaments) and have picked up the game and strategy very quickly. They are phenomenal players and adapt to the sport very swiftly."

Platform tennis makes for a fabulous workout. Most players are on the court for 90 to 120 minutes per match -- including warm-up and playing the match -- some can go longer. "It's a very deceiving sport," says Saunders. "The court is significantly smaller -- might even fit on one side of a tennis court. It doesn't seem like that much running, but it's just the opposite. A point can go on and on for several minutes -- with a lot of lobbing and strategy, and plenty of moving around within the court anticipating the next shot."

Tournament play cranks up the intensity even further. Platform tennis tournaments are very different from tennis tournaments. Tennis players get more rest between matches. In platform tennis, it is not at all uncommon to play four or five matches in one day to get to the semis or finals. As a general rule, platform tennis is played at private clubs, though public facilities are available. Tournaments are open to non-members, but participants must be members of the American Platform Tennis Association.

Platform tennis requires a fairly fit body. "Tennis is played on a softer, more forgiving surface, but platform tennis is played on a "deck" of sorts," says Saunders. "The deck is not nearly as forgiving -- your body can really take a pounding and your knees and back have to be strong and well conditioned." For competitive play and longevity in the sport, pre-match stretching is an imperative.

Courts and Cubs in Bergen

• Brookside Racquet and Swim Club, Allendale
• Englewood Field Club, Englewood
• Hackensack Golf Club, Oradell
• Haworth Platform Tennis Association, Haworth
• Indian Trail Club, Franklin Lakes
• Knickerbocker Country Club, Tenafly
• Ramsey Golf and Country Club, Ramsey
• Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus
• Upper Ridgewood Tennis Club, Ridgewood