Weekly Update - Sunday 1/16

It was a busy week on the courts.   The 1^st games of Club Team Tennis took place last Thursday.  It was nice having the cloud cover to block the sun from our eyes, but it was a bit chillier at the Happy Hour.  But that didn’t stop us from having a wonderful time.  With team names like: Terminetters, Double Shots, Net Force One, Jolly Volley Gang, Court Masters, Swing Team Ace Kickers, Chip & Charge Barrage, Alley Gators and Diva Force  - Palm Creek was well represented!  Robson had two teams: Road Runners and Rocks & Rockettes.  Mission Royale made their first appearance at Club Team Tennis this year with two teams: Mission Possible and Mission Racq Pacq.    No, the scores are not posted.  That’s because when it is all over we all walk away winners!!  It all about the cheering, courteous trash talking and the chance to play tennis with people you would never get to play with.

 News alert, as if there was any doubt, our past president Char Eicher is now the President of the Mission Royale tennis club.

 We had a wonderful surprise during Club Team Tennis when Carol and Larry Heinz arrived at the courts.  It was just great to see them both back at Palm Creek!

I have a new container to put on Court 2 to hold tennis balls for Social tennis.  It is bigger than the old container and this one has a lid.  When you leave the courts after social tennis please make sure the lid is securly fastened.

Save the date – Saturday February 4^th 5:30 PM - Slight change in plans for the Cancer Awareness Tournament.  We will still be having the tournaments on the same dates: Feb 1 (Wednesday) Ladies doubles, Feb 2 (Thursday) Men’s Doubles and Feb 3 (Friday) Mixed Doubles.  But, as the Park is going to do the Cancer Awareness Walk on Friday evening so you can stroll the streets and marvel at the glowing luminaries, we are going to move our Cancer Awareness Tournament Awards Celebration Dinner to Saturday evening in the San Tan Room.  This way we will not have to worry about the possibility of rain or cold weather.  All participants will get their dinner for free as part of their registration fee ($25 one event and $30 for two events).  There will be a slight fee for non playing spouses or friends who would also like to come to the dinner.  I will provide more details in the future, but please remember to get this new date on your calendar.  We will be having the raffle and the auction at the dinner.  If you were there last year you know just how entertaining this was.  It is an event you do not want to miss!

The pickleball club used Court #1 on Saturday (1/14) for their pickleball paddle demo and I received the following thank you from A.J. Freitas who was in charge of this event.  A.J. was concerned when he first went down to check the court and he saw so much activity on the tennis courts, but I did reassure him in an email that I reserved court #1 for pickleball.  Here is his email:

“Kate, you are right, I did not have a problem...when I went over a little after 11 the court was vacant. Thanks for reserving it for us.

More to the point, thanks for suggesting and for offering us the use of Tennis Ct. #1 for the vendor area. This worked VERY well...we had a lot of people there today, they were able to wander between the four vendors, borrow paddles, wander from there over to the "demo courts" next door and try those paddles in a real environment. It was GREAT and made the day a big success and a lot of fun.

 Additionally I appreciate your volunteering use of your two tables...we did use them, and we replaced them this evening...... please pass on to your club our sincere thanks!”

Helen and Glenn Arnold represented Palm Creek Tennis Club at the Welcome Home Party and got 10 new members.  I know I speak for everyone when I say: A special thanks to Helen and Glenn for doing such a wonderful job for our tennis club.

We are now close to one month away from the Palm Creek Tennis Tournament which will take place February 16-19 (Thursday – Sunday) with the seeding event on Tuesday February 14^th.  Start looking for a partner and join in on the fun.  The winners from the last seasons are etched on the placques hanging in the tennis club bulletin boards.  I will be sending out the entry forms and details in next weeks update.  But, don’t wait, find a partner so you are ready to sign up and participate in a great tennis club event.

The Australian Open has started so don’t miss the great tennis!!

Weekly Update - Sunday 1/8

I just got back from the Tennis Club’s Soup and Salad Social and if you missed it this year, you missed a wonderful dinner.  Lots of soups, rolls and butter and a long table just chock full of interesting salads.  Hats off to our social committee for an excellent event with over a hundred people in attendance!   

Here are some of the items discussed at this meeting:

The Palm Creek Welcome Home Party is this Saturday, January 14^th from 11:30-1:30 at Palm Park.    If you have not paid for your membership ($15/couple $10/single) stop by the Tennis Club Table and Helen and Glenn Arnold will be there to sign you up.   Coupons for a free hot dog and a free ice cream at the Welcome Home party are available in advance in the Activities Office or you can get them the day of the party.  They also have free popcorn but you don’t need a coupon.   As Gwen Black so eloquently stated at our meeting this evening, “even if you are just a social tennis player, the tennis club really appreciates your supporting us by joining as a member.”   

 I know you have heard it before but I am once again asking for your help.  If you don’t have an answering machine on your park phone it would greatly reduce all the phone calls we need to make when we cannot leave a message.  I do most of the communication via email, but when we do need to make phone calls it is very time consuming and your support would be very much appreciated!

 Marion Gavin gave the Treasurer’s report.  We started the month with $1610.83, we had $377 income for the month and $283.02 in expenses resulting in a balance at December 31 of $1704.81.

 There are some tennis club Antigua collared shirt available.  If you would like a shirt, please call Marion Gavin at 7708 and she can tell you if we have the size and color (red or white) in stock.  If we get enough requests I will place another order.  The shirts are high quality and only cost $25.

 Reminder:  Tennis Lessons start this Tuesday at 2pm.  The lessons are free and open to everyone.  No sign up sheet, just show up on the court with your racquet.  There is one court that focuses specifically on beginners  -  those who have not played much tennis, or never played tennis.  The other courts focus on specific skills and you rotate between the courts.  It is a lot of fun and very helpful for anyone who wants to improve their game.  Also remember that ball machine 101 is available every Monday at 2pm.  Come out to courts 4 and 5, the ball machines are set up and ready to “take you on!”

 The Pickleball Club is having a pickleball paddle demo event on Saturday January 14^th from 1pm-4pm.  For all of our tennis club players who also play pickleball, please stop by and demo a new paddle.  The pickleball club will be using Tennis Court #1 .  I have reserved it for them from 11-5.  There are plenty of other tennis courts available at this time,   The pickleball club will also be borrowing the two folding tables that the tennis club owns.

 Club Team Tennis starts this Thursday on January 12^th.  If you have not signed up to play, please come out and cheer on your friends.  Due to the amount of people who signed up we are going to have two sessions.  The first session is 1-2:30 and the second session is from 2:30 – 4:00.   All players will receive an email letting them know what team they are on and what time session they will be playing on 1/12.   Immediately following the last session, at 4pm we will be having the Tennis Club Happy Hour in the Tennis Pavilion.  Please bring a snack/appetizer to share and your own adult beverage.   Last year these were lots of fun with an amazing variety of snacks.

 www.reservemycourt.com is the final resource for court assignments.  We have opened permanent court time to include the 11-12:30 slot.  If you have a group that you would like to play tennis with every week, please call me or Mark (x6459) and we will be glad to reserve a permanet court time for you.  Otherwise the system only allows you to reserve a court one week in advance.  If you have a permanent court time, please go on reservemycourt.com and verify that it is posted correctly. 

 SAVE THE DATE – Here are some important dates for you to post on your calendar:

CANCER AWARENESS TOURNAMENT – Wednesday. 2/1 – ladies doubles,  Thursday 2/2 – Men’s Doubles, Friday 2/3– mixed doubles.  The net proceeds will be donated to the Palm Creek Cancer Awareness Fund which splits the proceeds 80% to Susan G. Komen Foundation and 20% to the American Cancer Society.  On Saturday at 5:30 we will have the celebration dinner in the San Tan Room with a very entertaining raffle and an auction.  The fees for one event is $25 and if you are going to play gender doubles and mixed doubles it is only $30 for both.  The sign up sheets will be posted on the Tennis Club bulletin board.

PALM CREEK TENNIS CLUB TOURNAMENT

Seeding event – Tuesday, February 14^th

Event  - February 16-19

SECOND SESSION CLUB TEAM TENNIS

February 23, March 1, 8 and 15.

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE COURTS

March 10

ANNUAL MEETING AND BBQ

March 18

 The Palm Creek Lion’s Club is doing a fundraiser called “Minute to Win It.”  It costs $1 per team member and each team can have 4-8 team members.  The event will be held Tuesday, January 31^st at 7pm in the Ballroom.  Penny Mason is in charge of the Tennis Club team/s.  If you would like to participate in this fun and very worthwhile event please give Penny a call at x6603.

 We have a new addition to organized play.  Rhoda Zaph is the court captain for Advanced Couples on Wednesdays at 2pm.  If you are interested in playing with this group please contact Rhoda at x7736.

 Activities office has asked me to remind you to please have your badge with you if you are not wearing it when you are on the tennis courts.  If you have a guest visitng you, please make sure you get a visitor badge for your guests.

 Last year Betty Scofield recommended that we do something to try and reduce the glare when we are using the tennis pavilion.  Four umbrellas are due to arrive at the pavilion sometime this week.  We will put the four umbrellas in four of the tables and tilt the umbrellas to block the sun.  Hopefully, this will reduce the glare in the pavilion.

 Last but far from least, I recently received an email from Wendell Johnson, General Manager of Palm Creek which states “You and your team are giving us the confidence to go forward with plans to make the Tennis/Pickleball complex a Tennis only complex in the future.”

Weekly update - Sunday 1/2/2012

We are enjoying some wonderful weather and the courts are getting extremely active.  I noticed the Sunday couples tennis and champagne celebration sign up sheet for this week was packed and last I checked the Wednesday night couples sign up sheet has also filled all of our courts.  Saturday round robin also had full sign up sheets.  It is great to see a lot of activity on our courts!  Please remember, if you would like to set up a permanent court time you can call Mark or me at 6459 and we can set it up for you.  Permanent court times are available starting at 11 AM  except for times when organized play has been scheduled.  And, as always, you can reserve a court at www.reservemycourt.com one week in advance.  If you are having any problems getting registered or getting your court reserved let me know.

Important – Walt Krahl informs me that he and Glenn Arnold will be putting up the wind screens this Tuesday, January 3^rd at 9AM.  As always, this goes very fast when we have lots of volunteers.  So, if you can help us out, please show up at the tennis courts at 9AM with a ladder if you have one.  It will be very much appreciated and with more people the job will go a lot faster.

All of our court separators have new sun screen covers installed which provide better sun blockage than the old covers.  Thanks to Walt and Glenn for getting this taken care of.

Soup and Salad Social 1/8 in the San Tan Room 5:30 PM- Time Change  -  I am double booked and, as I don’t ask much, I do have to ask your understanding that I need to move the Soup and Salad Social start time to 5:30 pm.  I will probably not get there until 6 pm but please start without me.  Patti Blessen, our Social Chair will get you started.  We will have tables for the salads ( whatever side dish/salad you choose, even the ever popular deviled eggs fit in this category).  The soup crock pots will be located on the counter top so we can use the outlets. Please bring enough to feed 6-8 people.   The club will provide bread and dessert.  Please bring your own plates, bowls and utensils.  As always we will provide coffee but if you would prefer another beverage please bring it (byob).   The sign up sheet will be posted until Saturday morning 1/7.  Please help our volunteers and at least let them know you plan on attending by signing up.   If you decide to go at the last minute please call Patti Blessen at 6967 (520-876-6257).  This is a great opportunity to connect with your tennis friends who have just arrived as well as a chance to meet some of the new players.  Also, if you have yet to pay your dues, this is your chance to get this done.  Dues are still only $15 per couple or $10 per individual.  We appreciatel your support of our tennis club.  I look forward to seeing everyone as well as some of our newer members this coming Sunday.

Upcoming events

Tennis Lessons will be starting in January – Every Tuesday starting at 2pm and they are FREE!!!  As soon as I hear from Skip I will let you know when this will get started.   

Club Team Tennis – The response for club team tennis has been amazing.  We also have teams coming in from Robson and Mission.  The Thursday tennis club happy hours will take place at 4 pm after club team tennis and is open to those playing in club team tennis, spouses and tennis players who are not playing in club team tennis.  Please plan on bringing an appetizer to share and your own adult beverage.  The sign up sheet for club team tennis is still posted but get your name on the sheet soon as it will soon be coming down.  If you are not yet in the park but would like to participate in the January session (January 12, 19 and 26) please let me know by responding to this email.  If you want more information on club team tennis, please see the attachment.

Cancer Awareness Tournament [February 1st (ladies), 2nd (men) and 3rd(mixed)] – Jean McConnell and Mary Anderson are already starting to plan for this wonderful charitable event.  The dinner afterwards will include a raffle and for some of the larger items, an auction.  Please let Jean (7066) or Mary (6259) know if you are artistically talented and have something you created to donate, or if you have an item you would like to donate to this extremely worthwhile cause.  This tournament is always a lot of fun so keep your eyes open for the sign up sheets which will be posted this month.