It was just by chance that Gary and Judy Stene found their way to Arizona and decided to stay. “We’d wintered in Texas. On our way back to Canada, we stopped at The Resort,” she says. “We’re golfers. There are tons of courses around here. We decided this was a good place to be, so we purchased a park
model and went on home.”
The next November, they were back. Gary took a walk down by the tennis courts. “A guy told him to come down later and he would teach us to play, along with another couple,” Judy says. “Gary was enthusiastic. I just couldn’t imagine it. I thought I was too old.” Nevertheless, Judy decided to give it a try.
“We became very good friends with the other couple,” Judy says. “We’ve since met so many fun and energetic people through the tennis club. Learning to play was one of the best decisions we ever made.” Judy and Gary have been part of The Resort for three years now. It’s safe to say, they’re hooked on tennis, the weather and The Resort.
Tennis photos from Jim David (various events)
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”14″ gal_title=”2016 – February – Tennis”]
The Resort tennis club is one of 16 members of the East Valley Senior Tennis League, the largest senior league in the country with over 3,000 members. The Resort’s tennis club has 110 members. “We have room for a whole lot more,” says Dan Bloom, president of the club. “You have to be at least 50 years old to play in the league. Most people are in their 60s and 70s, with a few older than that.” While the league play is winding down for the season, it will start up again in the fall, and you can still watch the post-league tournaments.
Make New Friends
Some days there’s as much talk and laughter as there are good shots. “It’s not all league games. We have members who only play socially,” Dan says. “We have all levels of ability, from beginner to really good.” All games are doubles. Tennis is a year round game for those in residence, although during the summer play often starts as early as 6am to beat the heat.
My Team Can Beat Your Team
With Silveridge and The Resort being so close in distance and size, you’d expect a bit of rivalry. “A few years ago, we used to keep track of which teams won each level. At the end of the season, whoever won the most games got to keep the Traveling Trophy until the next season,” Dan says. “We haven’t done that in the last couple of years. It was kind of an ugly trophy!”
There’s also an invitational with Silveridge, with two Silveridge and two Resort players on the court. “That’s social time,” Dan says. “We play and then go out to lunch.”
| How to Get Started
Don’t worry if your game is rusty or if you’ve never held a racquet. The Arizona Tennis and Golf Academy provides lessons for new players at the 1.5 and |
JOINING IN
Tennis is good for mind and body. In a friendly game, tennis players burn more calories than golfers or skaters would in the same amount of time. During
competition, calories go up in flames even faster-more than you’d melt during an aerobics class. Burning those calories builds stronger muscle and bone.
Tennis improves balance and coordination. Being agile on the court gives you a better chance of staying on your feet if you do trip or slip. An hour’s play
can burn 600 calories for men and over 400 for women.
It’s not just your body that benefits. Working out in the gym means you can watch TV as you exercise or just let your mind wander. Not so with tennis which
works the body and mind simultaneously. Tennis requires creativity, planning and quick decisions as well as being quick on your feet. Scientists believe
tactical thinking during a game improves cognitive thinking on and off the court.
Tips for the Intimidated
In baseball, you only get a skinny stick to bat at the ball. In tennis, you get a racquet which has a greater surface area, increasing your odds of
connecting with the ball and getting it over the net. Tennis is a great way to improve eye-hand coordination while moving your feet at the same time.
There are people willing to teach you the how-to’s of tennis. Once you get the hang of it, you can learn ways to improve your skills.
If you play with somebody who’s just a little better than you are, it will encourage you to step up your game too.
You can start at any age. Why not now?
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For more information or who to contact, go to: http://www.evstl.net/