SMASH! Table Tennis Recreation Centre is quickly gaining popularity.

“It feels like we’ve filled a need in the community and we’re happy about that,” said owner Jaymo Durham, who runs the new, 3,800 square foot facility along with Lynwood Richardson, the facility manager.

The centre officially opened on August 4 and has been buzzing since then with day camps for children and plans in place to organise table tennis leagues.

“A few years ago we established a Bermuda Table Tennis Association, and we were kind of frustrated at not having a place to play on a regular basis,” Durham said.

“It was frustrating, in terms of not being able to train on a regular basis and also develop and coach youngsters. We began looking for a place that we could facilitate full-time table tennis, with the hope of having kids come and get tutorials and coaching in table tennis, and this facility presented itself.

“I happen to have a law office upstairs from the facility, and the landlord was gracious enough to allow us to utilise the space.

“I took the opportunity to lease it in the hopes that we get the support from the community and people will come and be interested in playing table tennis.”

The gamble paid off for the facility, which has attracted a wide variety of customers to use it’s seven Pro-Grade tables:

“We didn’t realise how many people enjoy playing table tennis,” added Durham.

“People that work in the city can come and have good, clean, wholesome fun with colleagues and just de-stress and hit a ball to get some tension out.

“We’re trying to foster family fun as well, we’ve had a number of families come in. A lot of fathers and sons have come by and played and its been a place of bonding for them.”

Another focus of the centre has been to develop young talent on the Island.

Durham, who won a title in the North American Teams tournament in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2012, is a certified International Table Tennis Federation coach and was excited at the prospect of having a facility where youngsters could train.

“The vision for the facility is that it be a training ground for grass-roots talent,” he said.

“The appeal of table tennis is that it can be enjoyed by all ages and all fitness levels.

“It’s one of the most widely played sports in the world, it certainly has one of the strongest Olympic viewing supports. It’s recreational fun, it’s exercise, and it’s a life sport, so it appeals to a wide variety of ages and demographics.”

“We’re looking at the organisation of a corporate league, as well as a youth league, and also contemplating a church league. We’re really focusing on trying to get some feedback from the community.”

Beyond table tennis, the facility acts as a community centre and offers a wide variety of activities, including video games and board games for children. Richardson, a radio personality, offers DJ mentoring and lessons.

The centre is located on the Lobby Floor of the Commerce Building at 54 Reid Street in Hamilton. For more details contact 296-4141, email getsmashed316@gmail.com, or visit the SMASH! Table Tennis Facebook page.