NEWS

Don Helm, the Boston club historian, shares highlights from 50 years of paddle events and key contributors.

With Lucas Parrau

The Brae Burn Platform Tennis Tournament has stood as one of the most treasured traditions at the club, carrying with it decades of history, camaraderie, and competitive spirit. Don Helm, a longtime Brae Burn member, has been connected to the event for over 25 years and shared his memories and perspective on its remarkable history.

Organizers

While the exact origins of the tournament are not firmly documented, Don recalls that early figures like Chip Strapp and Royce Taylor helped establish it in 1975. Don became involved in the late 1980s and eventually ran the tournament for more than a quarter century. Before his leadership, David Dinwoodey, Vince Golden, Chris White were key organizers. More recently, from 2014 to 2018, the event was carried on by fellow member and current APTA CEO Amin Khadduri, who will be a competitor this year.

In its earliest days, the draw featured anywhere from 24 to 32 teams, attracting strong players from across New England and beyond. With no PTI (Platform Tennis Index) system yet in place, Don handled all the seedings. He credits much of the tournament’s success to three factors: the depth of talent in the field, the ample time he was able to dedicate to it, and, most importantly, the lasting relationships he built with both players and paddle professionals.

Community + Top Players

Don reflected on the changing landscape of racquet sports in the mid-1970s—it was a time of great growth in the number of courts and participants in paddle tennis. The tournament thrived thanks to remarkable cooperation among the clubs in the area—Weston Golf Club, Wellesley Country Club, and The Country Club—which volunteered courts and enthusiasm for the game. 

Don also recalls with pride that teams—including a national champion in 1986 and 1987—traveled from as far as New Jersey and New York. Brae Burn’s own Chauncy Steele, himself a national champion in 1975, was among the notable competitors.

The event continued to evolve. In the last 10 to 15 years, Brae Burn member Drew Brosseau, President/CEO of Mayflower Brewery, stepped in as a sponsor, adding a layer of community involvement. One of Don’s most vivid memories is from 2007, when a then-unknown player, Johan du Randt, entered the tournament. At the time, du Randt had only been playing paddle for a few weeks, yet his skill was immediately obvious. In the years to come, he became recognized as one of the greatest players in the game. His very first tournament win, Don proudly recounted, came at Brae Burn.  

Looking back, Don considers it a privilege to have been a steward of this tradition. He takes pride in the caliber of competition, the relationships forged, and the spirit of cooperation among area clubs that built a successful, long-lived tournament. Thanks to the efforts of Don and so many others, the Brae Burn Paddle Tournament remains one of the defining traditions at the club.        

2025 APTA Men’s PTI 20+ Nationals 

The APTA has granted Brae Burn the privilege of hosting the event as the Men’s PTI 20+ National Tournament, bringing even greater outreach and prestige to this tradition. Don Helm will be presenting the awards to the 2025 tournament winners. Everyone is welcome to attend the competition on December 6th! 

Lucas Parrau is the Director of Racquet Sports at Brae Burn Country Club in Newton, Massachusetts.