Category: News

Tennis Talk

By Betty Olsen

Meet Tennis Club board member Marty Funcell, our new court manager who is doing an awesome job taking care of our courts.

Marty tells me that before moving to the villages, he only played tennis once or twice a year with a friend over 30 years ago, but after moving here in 2020 he signed up for the Jump Start program and is playing regularly. He also enjoys pickleball and golf, but states tennis gets priority.

Marty was born and raised in western New York in a small town called Kennedy, New York. He is from a family of 6, 3 boys and 1 girl, Marty being position number two sibling. After high school Marty joined the US Air Force and learned electronics stationed in Montana. After his discharge, he stayed in Montana and attended the University of Montana in Missoula.

With the electronics boom in California, Marty moved here in 1977 and worked as an electronics engineer. He was married for 24 years and has one daughter who lives in southern California. After his divorce in 2005 he moved to Santa Cruz to enjoy the beach life. Then Marty retired in 2007 and enjoyed surfing and hiking, but calls this first retirement an unpaid sabbatical. Then he unretired and worked for Apple. Again retired, Marty moved to the Villages during the pandemic in 2020.

Marty is currently exploring the art of writing, enjoying the writer’s group here at the villages. He also has written many songs, has published two CDs, and has written a children’s book. Check out his website: MartyFuncell.com. Take a look!

Yes, thanks Marty for choosing the Villages. We are hoping it is your last move!

Tennis Talk 5-18 

By Betty Olsen 

We had a new activity added to our tennis club calendar this year thanks to Roy and Kathy Pennington. They had 20 years of experience with club league tennis at their club in New Mexico and it was very successful, so they introduced club league tennis to The Villages! And we are so grateful. 

First of all, it takes a lot of organization time and effort to set it up. It takes scheduling know-how, willing captains, and committed players. And I am happy to report it ran smoothly for the most part. Roy selected six women to be captains (very smart). Since Roy introduced the program at the Tennis Club’s Christmas dinner meeting, many players signed up to play. A committee divided the players into two categories – A and B as best they could. 

A captain’s meeting met, pulled numbers from a hat and took turns choosing their team members. Some of the new players were not known, so it was a bit tricky choosing teammates. However, that is what league tennis is designed to correct, by mixing players and tennis abilities.  

We played two matches a week, a weekday either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, and for folks still working, either Saturday or Sunday. No matches were scheduled for Mondays and Fridays. All matches were played at 1:30 p.m. when courts are generally empty. We played nine weeks skipping the weekends of Prescott, Easter, and Rossmoor, and concluded on Thursday, April 27 with a potluck party at the viewing stands.  

Please see the photos taken by Marty Funcell of all the happy club members celebrating the final day. Thanks to Brett Foreman for presenting Roy with a large tennis ball signed by everyone and gifting the hard-working captains with goodie bags. 

Roy Pennington  

 Brett Foreman presenting a gift to Captain Sherry Benz 

 Tennis Club members enjoying the potluck celebration party. 

Tennis Talk’s Take on the Latest Gear

by Wendy Ferguson (oh, so tongue-in-cheek)

   If you squint your eyes, you’ll notice that The Villages men and Silver Creek boys in the photo have the latest gear. They battled it out last week in their annual tennis match. So if you are in search of the latest gear and either a newby or seriously-seasoned tennis player, trust me, this is for you.

Let’s check out the newest rackets and shoes to improve your game. These descriptions reside on the Tennis Warehouse website, I kid you not.

Babolat, which I cannot even pronounce but sounds like one of those overpriced drinks from Starbucks, has many interesting, intellectually-stimulating tennis weapons.

   The cheapest one I found is the “Boost Drive” series for $99. It is described as user-friendly and speedy, and has an easier path to pace, with extra plow-through. So perhaps you can also use it to dig up your garden or maybe take if for a spin around the block after drinking your morning “Babolat.”

   For the Rafa purest with big pockets wanting a weapon, there are dual Aeros for just $599. A pittance for the explosive player who wants a ticket to speed without the speeding ticket. This surgical member (I guess for a doctor) has a more flexible beam when you make bigger cuts with this stick that uses flax inserts so you can fully engage with your targets. Take it for a spin on the racetrack or to shooting range, whichever you prefer.

   I would love to be opposite Isner when he serves with his Babolat at 135 MPH, like a velocity seldom seen outside of a Wile E. Coyote cartoon. So call me chicken, I don’t care, but in reality I’d have to hide behind the fence while someone else gets hurt. And besides, he’s 5 feet taller than I.

   Now let’s review must-have tennis shoes. Still on the racetrack, check out the Babolat Jet, which is a speed-oriented shoe with a Michelin rubber outsole that gives you an explosive feel. Vroom!

   Meanwhile, Roger’s ON shoe has 100% carbon fiber that supplies energy return  and a more stable ride. Now we’re into horses, so giddy-up.

   After ordering and receiving your gear, be  sure to heed the warning on the package: Do not open the box if the contents are missing or broken as this will invalidate your warrantee.

After throwing away the box, ride your Babolat Jet on down to Starbucks and enjoy an iced Babolat.

 

TT Publication 5/12/2023

By Wendy Ferguson

The Villages Tennis League finished in a heat wave; so much so that some matches stopped. However, the warm weather did not deter the final matches and get-together that included a pot luck. Lucky players all. The women captains did a fine job leading their teams and scrounging substitute players. Women rule, right? Betty’s Bees, a stunning title I might add, stung all but one team winning the bragging rights as champs. Heat or no heat, look for the league to start up again in the fall.

The match between the Silver Creek High School boy’s tennis team and The Villages men was rescheduled, so mark your calendar for Tuesday, May 16. And last week I said something about our marvelous men teaching the boys the fine art of the overhead smash. The key, I’m told, is to keep my eye on the ball and my head up. Oh, well, so much for the smash part, I’m lucky to see the ball as it’s dropping at the rate of 32 feet per second (per second). So I start my motion as my eyes are trying to find the ball way up there, and thinking all the while: the seconds it takes to drop, multiplied by the number of birds swooping above, divided by the speed of the beautiful white cloud and oops… I’ve missed it completely.

Speaking of overheads, if you want to hone your tennis skills try Jump Start held on Tuesday afternoons at 5:00 PM. In fact, the Tennis Club’s coaches are there to tune you up and provide skills for improvement, as well as fun for all. I’m heading down there now.

Here’s a fun fact: The scholarships were started before the recipients were even born. And they grow ‘em big these days, because when I talked to Vittal, one of the winners, I had to have neck surgery from gazing up at his 6 foot 6 inch face. Nice kid, though. Vittal stayed to clean the Foothill floors after our Scholarship Dinner. Quite a joy, for those of us tuckered out from all the festivities and fun. The recipients in the photo are the ever-so-tall Vittal Vasudevan, Sophia Vo, and Ryad Do.

You’ll most likely enjoy a short excerpt from the M. A. Sridhar Scholarship winner, Veda Garigapati, who is not pictured as she attended her senior prom; can you imagine that? She’s majoring in computer science/electrical engineering at UC Berkeley—not surprising given her gumption and great grades.

“As a recipient of the Villages Tennis Scholarship, the stress of paying full tuition would be alleviated and I could have more time to focus on my courses and extracurricular activities. In addition, this scholarship can open up new opportunities for me, such as study abroad programs, internships, and research opportunities, all of which I hope to experience during my time in college.” Indeed, this year’s four seniors have hopes and aspirations far beyond my wildest dreams (and I won’t even go there). I’ve a gumption that I should stop while I’m ahead (hopefully) and turn this over to Kory and The Villager.

TT 4/14/2023
By Betty Olsen

Well the rains stayed away and the sun finally came out and the postponed Tennis Club Open House finally happened Tuesday, April 4.  All Villagers were invited to experience meeting club members, trying out demo racquets with the ball machine and participating in the drills and thrills run by tennis pro Brett Foreman and his member helpers.

 
Villagers signed-up for the club’s Jump Start program that begins Tuesday, April11 at 5:00-6:00pm.  The Jump Start program is free and runs for 10 weeks run by Mike and Gail Tuft and their helpers.  The program is for “rusties” to get back into the game and take advantage of our 6 beautiful tennis courts.  Questions about the program email Sherry Benz, sabenz@sbcglobal.net.

At the conclusion of the court activities, strawberry shortcake with whip cream was served and raffle prizes were given out to those who registered and held the lucky numbers.
 _____________________________________________________________________________
For our next tennis club activity, mark your calendars and be sure to sign up for the Tennis Club’s Scholarship events on Saturday, April 29.
The “handicap” Tournament starts at 8:30 AM. You’ll play with three different partners on 3 different courts. It sounds crazy, we know, and it’s crazy good fun.
 
Following the crazy tennis tournament, there will be a catered Mexican Dinner that includes margaritas or beer and starts at 5:30 PM at Foothill. You’ll meet and hear from the Silver Creek High Scholarship winners and have a chance at the now famous Wine Locker. The evening promises to be a lot of fun. So be sure to sign up for both events.

TT 4-7-2023
By Betty Olsen

Meet our new vice-president of the Tennis Club.  Her name is Ruth Domingo Liu and she was born and raised in San Jose, a hometown girl.  She went to Overfelt High and graduated from San Jose State majoring in business.

Ruth has had a varied career in business, but found her specialty in HR.  When she and Robert moved to the villages in 2021, she was retired, but when sister Nancy Domingo, a Special Ed teacher, said “Help, education needs people who care,” Ruth answered the call.  Ruth admits she was getting bored in retirement.  So now Ruth works at Evergreen College in the HR department full time.  She admits the ten minute commute was enticing and she was hired in one day!
Ruth is from a family of seven, 3 girls and 4 boys.  Her family’s story is one of many immigration stories.  Her Pilipino father came to the US at age 16, worked hard  and was able to purchase a house.  He then traveled to the Philippines to find a bride.  He was successful and  returned to San Jose to raise 7 children in that house, Ruth being the oldest.  As the oldest, Ruth  was given early responsibility and remembers standing on a stool in the kitchen helping her mother probably at age 5.
Ruth recently returned from a European birthday trip with family and friends to Paris and Barcelona.  She traveled with a group of 10!  What an organization feat that must have been!
I asked Ruth when she started tennis and she said she and sister Nancy were on their high school team along with close friend Mila who is often seen on the village courts.  I believe Ruth and Nancy were part of our Rusty Jump Start program.
We are lucky to have her as our VP.                                                                                                                                      
And don’t forget the upcoming Scholarship Tournament and dinner Saturday, April 29 at Foothill.  Please mark your calendars and watch for more information in the Villager and Fast Lane.

Tennis Talk
By Sherry Benz

The Tennis Club’s annual Open House is right around the corner and you don’t want to miss it! Join us on the courtsTuesday, March 28th at 1:00-3:30 PM for an afternoon of exciting activity planned by our Villages Tennis Professional, Brett Foreman. He describes it as “Tennis Olympics with a Carnival Theme.” Not sure if there will be medals or stuffed animals!

Tennis Anywhere in Los Gatos is providing demos of some of the newest racquets for you to try and they are offering discounts on equipment. Come shod in tennis shoes for “on the court” fun. There will be prizes, games and the traditional strawberry shortcake!!! No reservations required. Questions: Call Harry Soin (harrysoin@gmail.com) or Nancy Spisar (nancy.spisar@gmail.com)

Jump Start kicks off at the Tennis Club Open House. Thanks to our Villager “experts” Gail & Mike Tuft, Jim Murphy and Peggy Siedel who are returning to help you learn and improve your strokes. They are some of the best players in our club and have a wealth of information to share with you. Jump Start will meet on successive Tuesday afternoons beginning April 4th for 10 weeks at 5:00-6:00 PM. Don’t have a racquet? No worry, we have racquets donated by our members and would love to give you one. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn, meet others at your playing level and … all free of cost! Questions: Call Sherry Benz (408-223-6882 or sabenz@sbcglobal.net.)

The Prescott charity tournament was held Saturday, March 18 and the results will be reported next week.

Also, League Tennis is off to a rainy start, but be sure to come watch Saturday & Sunday, March 25 and 26, and Wednesday, Thursday, March 29 and 30……all at 1:30pm

Tennis Talk 2023-02-17
By Betty Olsen

V.T.L.

Roy Pennington is bringing his Albuquerque Tennis Club experience to our Villages TC starting March 1st. If you recall, at our Christmas holiday party, Roy explained Team Tennis amongst our own club and some 40 players were interested and signed-up. Since then additional sign-ups brought the total to 81 members interested and ready to play.

Roy, Jim Murphy and Peggy Seidel formed the committee to separate the 81 players into approximate categories so that each team would have members with a variety of abilities and matches would between equal abilities. Six women were asked to captain this first Team Tennis schedule.

On Thursday, February 2, the 6 captains plus the Team Tennis committee met to choose teams. The team captains are:

#1. Akiko Giordono . #2. Betty Olsen #3. Sherry Benz #4. Julie Hawkinson #5,. Joy Rem #6. Suzi Hathaway

Each match will consist of 6 players: #1 – A man + A woman, #2. A man or woman + B man or woman, #3. B man + B woman.

Villages Tennis League schedule is from March 1 – April 27. Mark your calendars and come out to cheer on the players. We may even schedule a playoff.