In Focus: Prime Padel

As was mentioned in my first post, Padel is growing at a crazy rate across the world - and Singapore is no exception. It feels like there are clubs opening up every few months which is an exciting prospect for current players, as well as becoming more accessible for those interested in trying the sport. 

So when the newest club in Singapore launched a mere 8 minutes bike ride from my house - I made sure I was one of the first to try it out.

Prime Padel opened it doors to players on 3 May and I booked my first match for 8:00pm that evening. The club is situated on the 6th Floor of the Grand Copthorne Hotel and offers 3 open air courts of the highest quality.

Besides the proximity to my house, another benefit was that during play it felt cooler than most outdoor clubs I have played given how breezy it was on the night, it's location on the river and being so high up. 

A few pics of the club, and their iconic club logo featuring the Calao bird

The club boasts 2 of it's 3 courts being shaded by the surrounding buildings by 1:30-2:00pm which offers players more opportunity to play during the day - a stark benefit to some of the other open air courts in Singapore. Adding to this, because the club is at a Hotel, there are shower facilities, and it even has it's own ice bath.

As a player visiting the club, you can sign it at the concierge desk on the left as you enter the hotel lobby, at which point you're presented with an access card to get you up to the 6th floor via one of the lifts. After my first game there, I thought readers would be interested in hearing from the club itself, so I set up this interview as part of their official launch.

Let's hear from Prime Padel directly:

Tell us about yourself. Who you are, where you are and any other interesting information you would like to share with us.

We are Prime Padel Sports and our goal is to help Padel continue to grow across Asia.  We provide a full suite of Padel development services, including Padel academies. You can find us in Singapore, and very soon in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Tell us about your unique logo - loving the vibrant colors and the bird! How did you come up with it and does it have a meaning?

Thank you, Marco! The Calao bird was once at the edge of extinction but fortunately the species is now steadily growing back, especially in Indonesia. It’s seen as a symbol of freedom, of protection and guardianship. We chose the Calao bird for the spirit of possibility and renewal. It is indigenous to our part of the world and we love the energy it portrays. The iconography reflects Padel through the lens of 4 players 4 rules at Prime:

Live your playground. Meet people. Feel your passion. Reveal your potential.

What type of culture are you looking to foster at the club?

A people-culture and a winsome spirit. It’s not just about the outcome of the game, it’s a journey where every player scores personal victories. Prime Padel is more than a sport, it’s a ‘tude 😎 

That’s ultimately the mojo behind “Reveal your Prime”.

How will you foster a vibrant padel community? Are there plans for social events or viewing areas for tournaments?

Firstly, thank you for being one of the first people through our doors. We are still in the early days of operations and just welcoming people in, taking in their comments and improving our set up. 

Absolutely there are plans for social events, tournaments and innovative experiences for everyone to enjoy time together. Keep an eye on our socials for more information.

Can you share a glimpse into your pricing structure for court rentals, memberships, and coaching sessions?

$90 per hour for court rentals. We want every person who books with us to enjoy rewards and feel that the best way to achieve this is to establish a credit system where you can earn credit for every dollar spent. We have plans to develop a lifestyle membership program to complement our credit system. All other information can be found on our website.

Will you be offering introductory clinics or taster sessions for people curious about trying Padel for the first time?

Yes absolutely. In fact we already have Beginner tasters every week and bundle programs to help newbies overcome the initial feelings of uncertainty so they can gain confidence on the court. 

How will the club gather feedback from players to ensure a constantly evolving and enjoyable experience?

We are hands-on and humble. Your opinion matters. We love that you care enough to share your comments and opinions with us. That you are invested in creating a better playing environment with us. We had feedback on how placement of banners or sand affected play and rectified those issues immediately. We want to be prompt and ready with our responses and ensure an open door policy with everyone.  

How can players stay updated on club news, events, and promotions? Will there be a website or social media presence?

A:  Join our WhatsApp Community chat, sign up for our Prime Padel newsletter, download our mobile app, visit our website and follow our social media (Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn)

“When is the opening?” and “Will the courts be covered” are some of the top questions on the public's minds - can you tell us more?

We are open! Come play!

We are working really hard to get the courts covered. Everyone in Singapore can appreciate shelter from sun or rain. We have a few hoops to jump through presently, primarily GFA compliance and approvals. But I promise you this is a priority for us. For now we are grateful that we have such a breezy site at Grand Copthorne Waterfront (GCW) and that two of the courts enjoy shade by 1:30pm. 

Word on the street is that you’ll be opening a second location in Dempsey - any truth to the whispers?

Yes this is correct. We plan to have 7 courts at Sherwood Road, Dempsey. 6 are training courts and 1 will be a competition open court. It is very exciting and we envisage Prime Sherwood to be a center of training excellence. 

Why did you choose the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel as a location? Was it easy to secure the location? What were the main obstacles you had to overcome (if any)?

Getting locations will be a challenge for all operators in land scarce Singapore. Good properties are hard to come by and definitely never easy to secure. We are grateful to have come across the property and to have finally secured the site. The Kim Seng/River Valley precinct is a wonderfully accessible area. Havelock MRT station is literally across the road. There is ample parking for everyone. You can have a shower to freshen up after your game and you can even order food from the hotel up to the Padel courts! Talk about comfort and convenience. 

While working on this piece, I managed to play at the club for a second time, purposefully booking Court 2 at 2pm to test the shadow theory and I can confirm that by 2pm Courts 1 & 2 were fully shaded, with Court 3 being half-shaded. As previously mentioned, this will go a long way to ensuring players get more playing time during the day which isn't always possible in Singapore given how uncomfortable if can be in the sun. It also means that the club will have more bookings both from external customers and hotel guests - all in all a pretty sustainable business model in what's becoming a highly competitive market our small city-state.

Although the club is a bit 'unfinished' at the time of writing, with the manicuring of the common areas with artificial grass, it's quickly become one of my favorite clubs in Singapore and it's no wonder why it's popularity has grown quickly within the Padel community since launch. Speaking to players, we all agree that overall it's a great place to play and there's something about it that just 'feels good'. It could be the cooler temperature, the surrounding views, the central location, quality of the courts, all of the above, or something else we all fail to describe - but whatever it is, they have created something special and there's no doubt that it'll be a fan favorite.

Let me know in the comments if you've tried out Prime Padel and what you think of the it - I'm always keen to hear from other players!

Finally, a big THANK YOU to the club for being so accommodating and agreeing to take part in this article.

See you again (very) soon!

Top left to right: Andrea, Luca, Me and Michiel
Bottom left to right: Hotel Access Card, Ice Bath and Drinks Fridge