Author: Adrien Fournier

2024 TC Schedule

STOP!!! GET YOUR CALENDAR OUT BEFORE READING. I’M WATCHING !!!

Tennis Talk

By Betty Olsen

Now that we have turned the page (still using a paper calendar) and 2024 looms with blank pages, I am printing the Tennis Club’s 2024 Calendar of Events for you to put these dates NOW in your 2024 calendar.

-Prescott/VMA Tournament/lunch Saturday, March 16 9:00-1:00

-Open House/Jump Start Tuesday, March 26 1:00-4:00

-Rossmoor, April, April 20th, Saturday, Rossmoor 9:00-1:00

-Scholarship Tournament Saturday, April 27 9:00-1:00

-Scholarship Dinner Saturday, April 27 5:30-?

-Golf Tournament/dinner Sunday, May 19 5:00-8:00

-Bocce Bash/BBQ/General Mtg Sunday, June 9 3:00-7:00

-Mixer Tournament/dinner Friday, July 19 5:00-8:00

-Men/Women Doubles Tournament Saturday, Sept. 7 8:30-1:30

-Sunday, Sept. 8 9:00-1:30

-Mixed Doubles Tournament Saturday, Sept. 28 8:30-1:30

-Sunday, Sept. 29 9:00-1:30

-Awards Banquet Sunday, Sept. 29 5:30 to ?

-Rossmoor Tournament/lunch Saturday, October 19 9:00-1:00

-Holly Jolly Party/General Mtg Sunday, Dec. 8 5:00 to  ?

Legends about Legends

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By Phyllis and John Mueller for Publication 01/05/2024

When you ask old members to write an article, you will get old news and memories from the past! In 2003, a miracle happened to the Tennis Club in the form of a Women’s Senior 3.0 Team  who made it all the way to USTA Nationals in Scottsdale, Arizona. Captain Ruth Stiasny, and her team of 14 made it through the regular season as winners. They then won  the Northern California regionals in Napa and qualified to represent Nor Cal in the Arizona Nationals. 10 members of that team made the trek to Arizona . The four members that did not go were: Lynn Leonard, Jean Peters, Rayna Kelley and Marianne Pellegrini.  Many fans and Villagers followed and had a great time doing “fan support.”

Our accommodations left a bit to be desired but the price was right. We had free breakfast and a great Happy Hour which made up for the sad rooms. All of us ended staying there and the togetherness added to the fun.

As we recall, it was around September of 2003 and was warm. The players had schedules and we watched all games but also had time to play golf and sightsee.  Since they started winning everytime they played, we were is a state of  great excitement.  Our local Tennis Pro and Coach Ken Dehart showed up one day to watch! They worked quite a lot with him before they went to Arizona.  All of a sudden they were in the Semi-Finals and lost for the first time to a team from Monroe, Louisiana who ended up winning the whole Tournament! The Village team then played the other Semi team and won ending  up in 3rd Place!  We were all  ecstatic!

The amazing thing is that out of the 10 players, 9 still live in the Villages and only one, Marilyn Jacobs has moved to the Terraces in Los Gatos. Each player received a Pewter Plate which they proudly display and one turned it into a clock!  We were able to , on short notice, find 5 players for a 2023 photo!

If you run into any of these ladies, remind them that you know what they were doing 20 years ago!


Recent TC Amendment

Amendment to Tennis Club Rules

Last Tuesday the Tennis Club Board of Directors passed an amendment to the Villages Tennis Club Rules Section V. – USTA and Interclub League Play. As required in Section X. – Amendments, all 10 members of the Board in attendance voted to approve, representing more than 2/3 of the total Board membership of 13, as laid out in the Tennis Club Bylaws.

The new rule states as such:
“if needed to field a team, a Villages USTA team may have up to six non-Villages members.In addition, a joint or “reciprocal” team between Silver Creek Valley CC or other nearby country or racquet club will be allowed by sharing home court surfaces, one team hosting 3 and the other 2 home matches in a given 10-week USTA season. Opposing teams will host the other 5 weeks. Each joint team will supply players for each of the 10 matches, but not necessarily in equal number. There will be a captain and co-captain as usual, chosen from the team as a whole, including 1 from each club.”

According to Section X of Tennis Club Rules, amendments are to be voted on by the Board of Directors and then prior to implementation 30 days notice must be given to TC members. This message through our communications director serves as notice that this change will take effect 30 days from today, January 4, 2024.

This amendment was prompted by considerable interest expressed by members in potential cooperation with nearby clubs, such as Silver Creek Valley Country Club, to share teams hosting 2 or 3 matches at each of the two clubs during a 10-week USTA season. It is anticipated that teams of various levels for men and women and mixed doubles play, in daytime hours, could be formed under these changes to our rules. It is expected that The Villages will maintain equal or majority membership on all teams.

XMAS Message from the Muellers

By Phyllis  and John Mueller for Publication 12/22/2023

2023 marks the end of our 51st year of having the Villages Tennis Club available to us. We again anticipate our visit from Santa to celebrate the holiday season. His Reindeer love to rest under the Eucalyptus trees and munch the grass. The Elves hang out in the Bistro while Santa sometimes changes shoes and hits a few with locals. If he makes it on Sunday, he can play with the “music” drop in!  He for sure will measure beards with his cousin from Canada! (Initials A.F.) .

It again has been a great year for the Tennis Club. Almost 300 members continue to play in Tournaments and the Rossmoor challenge twice a year has been in existence for over 35 years!  Golf and Bocce Tournaments balance out our exercise routine. Jumpstart has been a great program for re-entry of new tennis players. Having a Pro available adds to our expertise!  Our members really clean up for the Holiday Dance and “Trip The Light Fantastic.”

2003 was a big year for the Tennis Club!  Wendy Ferguson started the Scholarship program with Silver Creek High School and 20 years later is has developed to many more Scholarships awarded each year. Donations fund this program! Silver Creek tennis teams come every year to play with members of the Tennis Club.

Also in 2003, our 3.0 Senior Women USTA League made it all the way to Nationals in Arizona.  They came in 3rd in the Nation!  This was the 3rd USTA Senior Team from the Villages to play at the National level. The other two teams from the Villages who went to Nationals were the 3.0 Men’s teams who played during the 90’s!

So lets give a great thanks to all the involved members who participate and support this great Club of ours. Lots of work goes into a great organization! This great sport has given all of us the satisfaction and enjoyment that we put into it.

As Santa “lifts off” lets say a great “CHEER” for another great year!

The Holiday Party and Meeting

Tennis talk

By Betty Olsen

It was a magical evening at the Tennis Club Holiday party at the clubhouse Sunday, Dec.3. The clubhouse was decked out in full holiday mode enhanced by Tony Loiacono’s donated balloon creations and Tina Parsley’s donated individual center pieces. A big shout out to Linda Dumont and her committee for providing us with such a fun kick-off for the holiday season.

Randy Shaw, outgoing president, called the tennis club meeting to order to vote on the incoming Tennis Club Board members for 2024. They are: President-Ruth Domingo, Vice-President-Gene Mariani, Treasurer-Tina Parsley, Secretary-Roy Pennington, Master Scheduler-Akiko, Communications-Don Clarke, Social/Hospitality-Nancy Domingo and Andrea Alvarez, Tournament Director-Karen Hillis, Membership-Cheryl Diltz, Court Manager-Marty Funcell, Members-at-Large-Jamie Dickson and -Lolivic Shaw, Past President-Randy Shaw. (See photo.)

Randy also acknowledged 2 of our senior, senior members and we all sang Happy Birthday to Art Lind-97 and Delores-95. This seems to document that tennis is good for your health.

Following the meal, the dance floor became crowded as the DJ provided the music. What a fun way to end 2023 and to look forward to lots of TC plans for 2024.

Pickleball??? Hmmm!!!

Tennis Talk 

By Adrien Fournier 

PICKLEBALL!!! Hey, that outta rile a few people up, reading a Tenns Talk article that starts with the “P” word. Of course, most don’t feel that way because they’re often seen on both courts…and I’m one of them. It can be painful! Here’s my takeaways on playing both. 

1-The PB[Pickleball] court is too small. I get claustrophobic. Take a few steps and you’re into the fence. I’m currently pursuing mental health therapy to fix this. 

2- The PB balls. Holy Cow, YELLOW ??? Didn’t the PB powers know the color of tennis balls, or did they just think, “Oh well, it works for them?” Switching from the spacious tennis surface to the cage-like PB court I see tennis balls with holes in them, closer than they actually are, yet further to get to. Think about that a minute! 

Onix Pickleball Pure Outdoor Ball Yellow - Walmart.com

 

WHICH ONE IS BIGGER ???

3- I took a beginners class a couple of years ago. Nice fella! He points to the area a few feet either side of the net and says “That’s the kitchen” Needless to say, my eyebrow (the left one) raised a fair bit. I asked, “Where’s the stove and fridge, or is this some kind of a modern kitchen?” Turns out, on the smallest darn court in the world, they designate a further area of restriction! I mean, come on! I’m hyperventilating. Multiple therapy sessions lie ahead. 

4- The people are nicer at the Pickleball courts. Oh, I kid. I only play PB with Tennis Players. 

Well, these we’re my thoughts when I first started playing PB. I did pursue therapy and after 31 sessions my demons were eradicated. Now, I’m at the envious position where I am working on both my Tennis and PB games and enjoying each muchly, and equally, with people in the know helping me out.  

See ya on the…ya know…courts’s! 

Sunday Tennis, aka; Trash Talk Sunday

By Betty Olsen for Publication 12/1/2023

If it is Sunday, you will find most of the people in the below photo on the courts between 8:30-10:30am.  Sunday morning tennis evolved from a Sunday group called Trash Talk Sunday.

 

Jay Desai has volunteered to organize a group of 60 or so players every Sunday.  He sends out an email invitation in the middle of the week and the first 24 who respond with several alternates get scheduled to play.  He tries to find new members to invite to play as this is a great opportunity for new members to become active.

The format is for everyone to choose cards from Jay which tells you what court you will be playing on.  Your partner will be a random choice of his picked card.  Therefore, you never know each week who your partners will be or who you will be playing against.  First match is a set.  The winners move up a court and change partners.  So, essentially this is a mixer every Sunday.

Speaking of mixers,  I hope you have taken the opportunity to mix with fellow tennis players and signed up for the Tennis Club’s Holiday Party on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 5:30pm.  It is also our 2nd club meeting of the year where we vote on 2024 club officers.

 

New Member Srini Srinivasan

Tennis Talk

By Betty Olsen

Meet new Tennis Club member Srini Srinivasan who moved to the Villages last year from Atlanta, Georgia. Srini was born in Bombay, India, but came to the US for graduate studies in Birmingham, Alabama. He graduated with a degree in computer science and immediately started his own software company.

Srini Srinivasan

Srini met and married Padma, a girl from India living in Dallas, Texas and settled down in Atlanta, Georgia. They have two children, a boy and a girl. Their son graduated from UCLA Medical School this year and presently started his ER residency at Johns Hopkins. Their daughter graduated from USC as a business major and is working for Spotify.

Srini has 3 sisters and 1 brother and growing up was involved in any sport with a ball. He plays tennis, pickleball and table tennis and would play basketball if we had a court.

While their 2 children were in college in California, they would make many trips west to visit, so became familiar with California’s many attractions. They especially like the outdoors and spend most weekends exploring hiking and wine tasting trips. Srini said they almost rented a house in Silver Creek, but when they drove into the Villages and saw both the tennis courts and pickleball courts full of active people, they were sold. So welcome Srini and Padma to the Villages.

VTL Wrap & Other Goodies

Tennis Talk

By Betty Olsen

It has been a busy fall for the Villages Tennis Club. Roy Pennington, Peggy Seidel and Jim Murphy organized our second VTL (Village Tennis League) for October and November. There are 4 teams captained by Jim Murphy, Roy Pennington, Sherry Benz and Betty Olsen.

The final match for each team is on Sunday, November 12 at 1:30pm. All 4 teams will be playing, so come down to see your fellow tennis members play their final match.

A celebration party is planned for after the last match on Sunday, November 12 which should be around 3:00pm. Bring something to share.

At the same time…September, October and November…the Villages Women’s USTA 6.5 team played their last match on Tuesday, November 2. Again, we almost came away with a win. Sherry Benz and Lolivic Shaw won in a 3rd set tie-break and Joy Rem and Betty Olsen lost in a 3rd set tie-break 10-8. However, we do have one distinctive win over the number 1 team.

It is now time to embrace the holidays. You don’t want to miss our Tennis Club Holiday party on Sunday, December 3 at the clubhouse. Linda Dumont and her committee is planning a special holiday dinner and dance. Stay tuned for future announcements with details and how to make your reservations but put this date on your calendar now!

Signup for Holiday Party, HERE!