Jen Walden
It feels great to be back on our beautiful sport courts playing with our SunBird tennis buddies! Our season is now in full swing but, unfortunately, we are down quite a few members. Our Canadian friends cannot join us at this time but, hopefully, we will be seeing some of them return to SunBird in January. In the meantime, this is where we are with our club schedules with our present member numbers:
Monday: Ladies Doubles, 8:30 to 10 a.m., coordinator Holly Benson
Monday: Men’s Doubles, 10 a.m. to noon, coordinator Mel Terechenok
Tuesday; Men’s Doubles, 8 to 10 a.m., coordinator Jack Barber
Friday: Mixed Doubles, 8 to 10:30 a.m. (courts 1 and 2), coordinator Jack Barber
There is a current court schedule posted on the tennis board at the courts that details both tennis and pickleball assigned times. Tennis sign-up sheets will be posted on the tennis board at the sports courts for some of our scheduled tennis activities, or you may email the coordinators directly. You will find contact information for our members on our Member List. If you are playing as a homeowner or resident (not part of the SunBird Tennis Club), please reserve your desired court times on the available slots on the court reservation sheets.
We are excited to have acquired a few new members to the Tennis Club over the past few months: Mona Toms, Roberta Mills, Barb Hall, Nick LaVista, David Vu, and Kenny Nelson. Welcome all! It’s really great to see fresh faces on the courts.
Kenny Nelson has volunteered to be our new Tennis Club newsletter writer beginning January, 2021. He will be introducing himself in his first publication in the January edition of the SunBird News. Looking forward to it! Thanks, Kenny!
Here are a couple of tennis tips that I have found inspiring:
Tip 1: Early Preparation
You cannot prepare soon enough—turn your hips and shoulders before the oncoming ball bounces on your side. Get that racquet back!
Tip 2: Exaggerate Your Follow Through
The majority of all people, no matter what sport they play, can improve by following through when you get a little nervous that your opponent is in control of play and moving you around. Exaggerate your follow through; do not think, “Just hit the ball.” Move your feet!
If you are interested in joining our SunBird Tennis Club, please contact our president, Pam Tiffany, at 567-674-0554. Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 5 p.m., in the Lakeview Room. We will be voting in our new officers for the 2021 season. Merry Christmas to everyone and best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!