Weekly Update - Sunday 1/26/2012

Palm Creek Tennis Tournament (February 16-19)– The registration forms are available with hard copies in the bulletin board (“Upcoming Events” section facing the pavilion).   You can sign up for gender specific doubles (ladies or mens) as well as mixed doubles.  The registration fee is $5 per player per event for Tennis Club Members, $10 per event for non club members.  Now is the time to ask one of your tennis friends to be your partner.  If you would like to play and you don’t have a partner, give me or Mark a call (6459) and we will find you a partner.  This event is a lot of fun and results in some good quality tennis.  The single elimination process with a consolation bracket results in almost everyone playing at least twice.  Please get your registration form and monies to Mark or me at Site #459 by February 14th.  The seeding event will be held at 2pm on Tuesday, February 14^th.  This is gives you a good warm up with your partner and makes sure you are playing at the right level.  And, don’t forget to mark your calendar right now for the Sunday celebration awards dinner.  Its free for all players, their spouses and all tennis club members.  Guests are welcome for the most reasonable price of $5 per person!

Cancer Awareness Tournament – The times are now set for the Cancer Awareness Tournament.  As we once again do not have enough courts to schedule everyone in one session, the ladies doubles and mixed doubles sessions are split between a 9:30 start and a 12:30 start.  The session times for all players will be posted on the bulletin board on Monday and I will also send out an email to let you know if you are scheduled in the 9:30 session or the 12:30 session.  As we have split the sessions there are some courts available for scheduled play.  We have made changes to accommodate as many of the existing reservations as possible.  On Wednesday and Friday, Social tennis will have courts 1 and 5.  Therefore they will need to split the groups and have a rotation line up on each court.  On Thursday Social Tennis will only have court #1.  If you have court reservations on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday (2/1, 2/2, or 2/3) please go into www.reservemycourt.com to check on your reservation, check on the status of organized play or make a reservation on any of the available times.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call me or Mark at 6459. 

Remember, the Tennis Club Cancer Awareness Dinner and Raffle/Auction is scheduled to start at 5:30 on Saturday, February 4^th in the San Tan Room.  If you are playing in any session your dinner is free.  Anyone not playing can attend the dinner for the amazingly low price of $5.  Those not playing but attending the dinner need to sign up by Thursday 2/2.   The sign up sheets are inside the tennis club bulletin board.  Jean McConnell and Mary Anderson have done a wonderful job getting some fabulous items for the raffle and the auction.  Please remember all of these monies go to the Cancer Awareness Charities of Susan B. Komen and the American Cancer Society.  So bring some money with you  and in addition to  getting some great deals you support a very worthwhile cause.  Mike Kirsh heads the raffle and auction and if it is half as much fun as last year’s event you will not want to miss it!!

Club Team Tennis had some away games at Mission Royale this week and from the feedback received from the players it all worked out very well.  The Mission Royale teams did a wonderful job and even added door prizes to their event.  Everyone appreciated that all the games started in both locations at 2pm.  The Robson Ranch group reported that they have shared with their management that there are now games at Palm Creek and Mission Royale but with only two courts they can’t participate.  Evidently this has spurred Robson to look into building two additional tennis courts!!

Weekly Update 1/22/2012

As we don’t have enough tennis courts at Palm Creek for all the teams to start at the same time,  we are going to try doing Club Team Tennis this week by splitting the courts between Palm Creek and Mission Royale.  We know we have hit the big time – we are playing “away games!!!”  Play will start at 2pm at both sites.  All players will receive an email letting them know which courts they will be playing on.  As Mission Royale does not have the depth of facilities that we have here at Palm Creek they are requesting all players bring chairs.  Those playing at Mission Royale will have their Happy Hour at Mission Royale and those playing at Palm Creek will have their Happy Hour at Palm Creek.  If you are not playing Club Team tennis please come out and cheer on the teams and stop by and emjoy our tennis club happy hour at 4pm.  This is our last session of Club Team Tennis for the January Session. The February/March Session will start up again on February 23^rd.

Sign up sheets are posted for the Cancer Awareness Tournament.  Please stop by the bulletin boards and sign up.  This is a very worthy cause and the Cancer Awareness Tennis Tournaments are always great fun!!  You don’t even have to find a partner as partners are randomly assigned to you!!   It really makes for a very fun filled event.  And, all players are invited to the Cancer Awareness Awards Dinner on Saturday at 5:30 pm for free.  Spouses are invited to also attend for $5.  There is a sign up sheet for those who just would like to attend the dinner for $5.  Please note that the tennis club does not participate in the Cancer Awareness shirts/caps/towels.  We prefer to give as much money as we can to the Cancer charities.  As many of us participate in the golf tournament or the walk, or one of the other tournaments we already get a shirt/cap/towel.  If you want a Cancer Awareness shirt or a cap and you don’t participate in any of the other Cancer Awareness events you can go to the Activities office and they will sell it to you.

I heard from Helen Arnold, membership chair, that she is getting calls looking for updated phone numbers. Because I so value all of the tennis club volunteers, I hate to put additional burdens on them.   So I reprioritized The Tennis Club Roster on my “to do” list and I have updated the roster on the tennis club website: www.palmcreektennisclub.blogspot.com.  On the right under the word Menu is the “2011-2012 Tennis Club Roster.”  Please check and make sure your site number is correct.  I have found that many of you have changed sites and did not let me know so I am finding out the hard way how to find you.  Also, the self rating is just that, how you rate yourself as a tennis player.  We use the USTA rating system.  But, this is your self rating, you are the only one who can change it.  Please review your rating and let me know if you would like to change it.  Last but not least, there are no emails included in this roster.  This is a public website and with all the emails posted it would open all of us to unnecessary spam.  Also, someone added in our planning meeting that they believe it is against the law to publish email addresses.   I highly value the use of emails to communicate with you.  Therefore,  I am very careful to send this using the “blind carbon copy”  or bcc.  That way no one can see any of the other email addresses.   Take a minute and print the roster so you can easily look up your tennis friends.

Ladies League is going strong with 7 courts!!!  Connie Emerson advised me that as the 11:00 court has to finish by 12:30 so the rest of the league can play.  The 12:30 group courts 4 and 5 have to be finished by 2pm if not earlier so Hank Olson can get ready for Ball Machine 101.  In order to ensure that the games are all finished in time the ladies league is going to a “no ad” format.  The tennis league members discussed this and voted as a group to go to the “no ad” format.

Tennis Lessons on Tuesdays at 2pm are going strong.  Last week Skip assigned the beginners and some of the newer players to work with Bob McConnell on Court 2 and it seemed like they were all having a great time.  Four of the ladies in this group traded contact info and they are going to start playing together.  This is just outstanding!  If you want to improve your game and have some fun at the same time, come out to the courts Tuesday at 2pm.  Skip, Walt, Rhoda and Bob do an amazing job.  And, its FREE!!!

Also, I need to clear up a possible misunderstanding.  Social Tennis is open to ALL LEVELS OF PLAY.  If you are just starting please know that you will be welcomed.  I have seen Mary Ellen Halm, one of our top lady players at Social Tennis and I have seen some of our newest beginners at Social Tennis.  This is one of the best things about our tennis group -  we welcome all players and all of the people playing social tennis are more than willing to help you out.  It is a great way to learn the rules of the game, get to meet other tennis players, get in some exercise, and have fun!  Social Tennis starts at 9:30 AM Monday through Friday.  To all of our social tennis players, please make sure the lid is placed back on the ball container.  Last week I found balls spilling out of the bin and the lid was off.  If there are extra balls in the bin either throw them away or put them in the can to be used with the ball machine or lessons.   Thanks!

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.

Weekly Update - Sunday 12/18/2011

There is a sign up sheet posted for the January 8^th Tennis Club Soup and Salad social.  This has historically been one of our most popular socials.  The food is always delicious and it is a great opportunity to connect with all your tennis friends as well as a great opportunity to meet some of our new members as well as our members who are returning to the park.  Please take the time to sign up.   I can’t stress enough how important it is and how much it helps our volunteers who work very hard to make this a fun event.    

There is also a sign up sheet posted for the very popular Club Team Tennis.  Robson Ranch has two teams and Mission already has one team and may have one more team.  We match the Palm Creek players into teams to ensure everyone has a challenging match.  Each team generally has 3 ladies and 3 men.  Each team member rotates in so no one is playing all of the matches.  The details of how it works can be found on the bulletin board.  We do encourange courteous “trash talk” on the court as well as cheering on your fellow team mates.  You have to experience one of these to get the true feel for this event.  The January session runs on January 12, 19 and 26.  Club team tennis starts at 2pm followed at 4 pm with the tennis club happy hour.  Everyone brings their own “adult” beverage and an appetizer to share.  It is always a lot of fun and  it is so well attended that we at times ran out of chairs.  But, I think I have that taken care of with the additional chairs that have now arrived.   If you are not able to play all three times for this session we do need subs from time to time so please let us know if you would like to be a sub and what weeks you will be available to play.    But, please put these dates on your calendar and if you are not playing, come out to cheer on your friends and mix and mingle during happy hour with this great group of people!  If you want to be certain to get on a team, please get signed up before the January 1^st. 

The water fountain has arrived, but there are some glitches so it is, to the best of my knowledge, not yet operational.  But, they are working on it.

Pickleball club has the layout for their new center and it was presented to their membership at their meeting last week.  They still do not have the final count as to how many pickleball courts will be installed this year but the Pickleball club is pushing very hard to get all 22-24 courts installed.  Right now the construction is not set to start until March.    I will keep you updated.

Remember that the coffee and hot water for hot chocolate and tea supplied by the pickleball club is also offered to our tennis club members.  Please remember to drop some money in the container provided to offset the cost of the coffee and supplies.  Edie Priest (who heads this up for Pickleball) commented that she has not seen any monies in the container so I would like to encourage our tennis players to set a good example and show how much we appreciate their efforts by dropping in some money to help offset the cost.  It is nice to have it available on these cold mornings we have been experiencing!

I got a lot of comments as to how much everyone enjoyed the updates on their tennis friends so I thought I would pass this one along - I recently got an email from Joan and Jack Cashman.  They will not be returning to the park this year but they do expect to come back to the park next year!

Weekly Update - Sunday 12/11/2011

We had a wonderful day for tennis today and everyone appeared to have a great time at our Sunday/Funday December tennis event.  Thanks to Patti Blessen, Social Chair and her helpers: Carol Miller, Sieny Kouwenhoven, Glady Olson and Helen Arnold.  There was lots of tennis with opportunities to hit the ball with club members that you have never played with before.  We did attract an even larger crowd for lunch with plenty of clean plates at the end of the day.  Thanks to all who came out and through their participation made this event such a great success!!

Pickleball Club wants all the tennis players to know that the coffee they have set out is also for the tennis players.  I think they do have cups but they are asking for you to bring a cup and a donation to help offset the cost.  I know that coffee is very welcome on some of the cold mornings we have been experiencing.

Tomorrow, Monday, December 12^th at 10AM  our Court Maintenance Team of Walt Krahl and Glenn Arnold will be putting up the wind screens.  If you have time, please come out to the tennis courts at 10AM and lend a hand.  It is also helpful if you can bring a ladder.    Walt and Glenn have a great process that goes very quickly when they have helpers.

Less than a month away on January 8^th at 4 pm is the famous Palm Creek Tennis Club Soup and Salad Social.  The sign up sheet will be posted on the bulletin board in the Social section  (faces the tennis pavilion).  Please take the time to sign up so our social committee knows how many tables they need to set up!!  This is always an amazing display of great food and a chance to catch up with all the tennis players who are coming into the park in January.

Also coming in January is a return of the very successful Club Team Tennis.  Mark has informed me that he has already heard from our friends at Robson Ranch.  This year we are also expecting a team from Mission Royale.  Club team tennis is played on Thursdays starting at 2 pm followed by the tennis club happy hour at 4pm.  The January session is scheduled for January 12, 19, and 23.  The sign up sheet for this session will be posted on the bulletin board.  So stop by and sign up and we will find you a team.  Club team tennis is for all levels of play and the teams are mixed to give every team a “fighting chance!”  If you are not in the park and want to play club team tennis, please let me know by replying to this email and I will put you on the sign up sheet.  For those of you who did not play Club Team Tennis last year here is a summary of how it works:

1.     Three women and three men per team

2.    All matches are doubles competition, “ad” scoring 

3.    Women will play the first 9-game set

4.    Men will play the second 9-game set

5.    Third set is 12-game Mixed

6.    Divide play equally amongst team members

7.    Only one top male and one top female player per team.  Top players are those that have placed first in A-Division of a tournament or first or second place in league play (or any player that is clearly a top player).

8.    Required to have a great time at the Tennis Happy Hour after the match

 One more item:  Mary Anderson, co-chair of the Palm Creek Tennis Club Cancer Awareness Tournament  scheduled for February 1-3 is requesting donations from all of our “crafty” players for the tennis club’s raffle.  If you were not there last year the raffle provided some great entertainment and the monies all went to fight cancer.   So this is to give you time to start working on your “creation” to donate to the raffle.

Palm Creek Tennis Club Update 12/4/2011

We have a tennis club event scheduled for this coming Sunday, December 11th  starting at 12:30pm.  This includes a free lunch and tennis.  All tennis club members are invited to attend for free.  Everyone who signs up is assigned to play either in the first grouping or the second grouping.  While the first grouping is on the courts, the second grouping can socialize in the tennis pavilion, enjoy some lunch and/or cheer on their favorite players.  After 20-30 minutes of play, the whistle is blown and the first grouping comes off the court to socialize and enjoy lunch and the second grouping goes on the court.  We go through this process twice so you get to play twice with a different group of players each time.  This is a great opportunity to meet some of our new members as well as reconnect with your tennis friends.  Spouses are invited to join us for lunch and to cheer on their favorite players.  The sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin board on the side facing the tennis pavilion.  Remember to stop by and sign up for Sunday/Funday!

I will have some tennis club shirts available for sale at the Sunday/Funday event.    These are still only $25.   Don’t forget to bring cash or a check with you to the event so you can take home one of these high quality Antigua shirts with a Palm Creek Tennis Club logo.

If you have been by the tennis pavilion, you can’t help but notice all the new tables and chairs!!  Hopefully, this year we will have enough to seat everyone at our tennis club happy hours.  The solar lights are in place to light the walkways and are also located by the switch to turn on the court lights.  This should be very helpful on those moonless nights.  And, the new water fountain, next to the tennis shed, is in the process of being installed.

 Social tennis is in full swing so don’t forget to stop by Monday through Friday at 9:30 and get in line to rotate on the courts.  We do ask everyone to respect the queue so that all players have an equal turn to participate.

 Our membership chair, Helen Arnold will be available at the Sunday/Funday on December 11^th.   Please help our tennis club by signing on as a member.  Membership dues of an amazingly reasonable amount of $15 for a couple or $10 for an individual make it possible for us to offer fun events, repair and maintain the ball machines, purchase tennis balls for events like club team tennis as well as provide for some minor communication needs like the bulletin boards and the white board.   Thank you in advance for your support of our tennis club.

 Update – I just wanted to update you on the status of some of our tennis friends:

Kenny Civielo reports that his achilles is healed and his legs are as good as new and he and Ginny will be back at the park in January

Gwen and Wayne Black have had a wonderful vacation in South America.  Wayne had rotator cuff surgery and Gwen had some back problems but they are hoping to be back on the tennis courts when they get back to the park

Ken Babb had a bad motorcycle accident but Leta reports he is recovering quicker than expected.  He was recently released from the hospital 9 weeks from the day of the accident.  Ken thinks he will recover much better in the sun so they are now planning on making it back to the park before the season is over.

Sieny’s wrist has healed and although it is not perfect she is back on the courts.

Carol and Steve Land built a home in the Robsen Community in Denton Texas.  They sold their RV and they are currently on a 70 day cruise of Asia and Australia (where Carol is from).

Skip and Bev will be back in January and the Tuesday tennis lessons will then begin.

Carol Heinze let me know in August that her chemo treatments did not work as planned but they were working on a “new game plan” and they were planning to return to Palm Creek this winter.   Please keep Larry and Carol in your prayers.

Rick Jaccarino is getting a knee replaced this year so he and Susan will not be returning this year, but we hope to see them next year.

Tom and Diana Langstine are still in Florida.  Diana reports that Tom is getting in some tennis.  They are very much missed here, especially when Mark and I start to work on the Tennis Tournament that they did such a good job in initiating.

Palm Creek Tennis Club Update 11/27/2011

We kicked off the 2011/2012 season with a planning meeting.  The officers and committee chairs met to get everything ready for our upcoming season.   

Organized play scheduled start dates:

·         Women’s League – Court Captains Connie 6030 and Bonnie 6900 - (Mondays 12:30-2pm) Will start January 2^nd.  The sign up sheet will be posted on December 4^th.  If you will not be in the park by December 4^th and want to participate in the women’s league, send me an email and I will add your name to the list.  Cost to cover balls is $5 for the season

·         Men’s League – Court Captain Jim Weaver 7284 (Tuesdays 12:30-2pm) Will start December 6^th.  Sign up sheet has been posted on the bulletin board.  Cost to cover balls is $5 for the season.  New lists will be posted each month.

·         Club Team Tennis –Court Captain Mark 6459 – (Thursdays 2pm-4pm) Sign up sheet Will be played in two sessions.  First session will be 3 weeks:  January 12, 19, and 26.  Second session will be 4 weeks:  Feb 23, March 1, 8, and 15.

·         Social Tennis has already started – Drop in - Court Captains: Monday-Ted Knowles, Tuesday- Roger Jensen, Wednesday- Marion Gavin, Thursday- Jack Hardy (Glady Olsen will fill in for Jack until he arrives back in the park), Friday – Mary Sullivan-Pondell.

·         Couples Open – Court Captains Gail and Hank 7246 – Sundays 2:00-3:30 – Sign up sheet Will start in December 11

·         Round Robin Mixed Doubles – Court Captain Glenn 6865 – Sign up sheet Already started – Saturdays 9:30-11

·         Evening couples round robin – Court Captains John and Patti 6967 – Sign up sheet Already started

·         Ball Machine 101 – Court Captains Hank and Glady 6715 -  Mondays 2:00-Already started

·         Ladies Intermediate – Court Captain Sieny 6687  Wednesdays 2:00-3:30 – Sign up sheet Will start January 10

·         Men’s Intermediate – Court Captain Bob McConnell 7033 – Fridays 11-12:30 Sign up sheet Will start December 9

·         Ladie’s Advanced – Court Captain’s Penny 6603 & Marg 6897 – Mondays 8-9:30 – By invitation

·         Advanced – Court Captain Mark 6459 – Fridays 2-4 – By invitation

·         Tennis Lessons – Court Captain Skip 6583 – Drop in – Will start January 9

Schedule for 2011-2012

·         12/11 Sunday/Funday – (free lunch with players assigned to timed session of play for two session with different partners and different opponents in each session) Sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin board. Non playing spouses invited to lunch

·         1/8 – Soup and Salad Social

·         2/1-2/3 Cancer Awareness Tennis Tournament

·         2-16-2/19 – Palm Creek Tennis Tournament

·         3/10 – Saturday Night at the Courts

·         3/18 – Annual Meeting and BBQ

Court Preparation

·         Wind screens and the court separation covers will be installed soon.

·         The white board has been cleaned and we will be posting the organized play as well as any permanent court times on the board.  Please do not use felt makers on this board as it is not longer erasable.

·         Court captain badges are in and will be distributed

·         Tennis balls in the ball machines are in good shape and balls are available for the organized play events that charge for balls.

Changes for the 2011/2012 season

·         Less pot luck socials/meetings – more focus on tennis related events

·         New position of Ball Captain added.  Zuzana has accepted this volunteer position.  Thanks Zuzana

·         Evening session of organized play added – See above

·         Non Prime time has been extended to start at 11:00 AM.   The online reservation system provides us with the ability to review the usage and it was determined that this change will not cause court availability problems.  Permanent court time may be reserved M-F starting at 11 AM and all day Saturday and Sunday.  Call Kate or Mark 6459 to book permanent court time

Budget Status – Palm Creek

·         Tennis club requested the cracks be filled on the courts – Status: The courts have all been resurfaced.  Thanks to Glenn blowing off the courts they are all in excellent shape!

·         Tennis club requested 5 additional tables and 28 chairs to bring the total to 20 tables and 80 chairs in the pavilion.  Status: Some of the tables and chairs from last year are gone.  The new tables and chairs have been delivered

·         Tennis club requested lighting in the walkway.  Status: Solar lights now light the walkway and the area where you turn on the lights on each of the tennis courts

·         Tennis club requested water fountain – Pickleball also requested water fountain in their budget request – Status – Plan is to install water fountain outside tennis shed – Installation is in progress

·         Palm Creek has purchased new score keepers for each of the tennis courts

Open discussion

·         Plan is to build a new pickleball center with build out starting the end of this season.  No decision has been made as to how many courts will be built in the new location and how many pickleball courts they will continue to use at the tennis center. At this time Palm Creek has not allocated any funding to convert any unused pickleball courts to tennis courts.  We understand that the new buildout requires a significant investment in infastructure.  We appreciate the court resurfacing.

·         Last year we had quite a few issues with pickleball players walking onto tennis courts during active play.  Mark Nelson, President of the pickleball club, informed us that pickleball will be installing signage on the pickleball court side as well as the main gate to court one.  Hopefully this will help.  If it continues pickleball will lock the gate.

·         The tennis club’s online reservation system, www.reservemycourt.com,  is being actively updated.  If you forgot your password, call Kate or Mark 6459 and we can reset it.

Weekly Update - Sunday 3/6/2011

The tennis tournament awards presentation and pizza happy hour was an outstanding success last Thursday.  A special thanks to Seiny and Bill Kouwenhoven for all their hard work to make it such a wonderful event for all who attended. 

We had 10 teams filling the courts for the first match of our March Session of Club Team Tennis.  From the laughter and applause coming off the courts it was, as usual, a fun day of tennis.  This session, with many of our men players being on the “injured reserve” list, or having left the park, Mark got creative and put together an all women team called “Chicks with Sticks!”  Bev Argo, Rhoda Zaph and Marg Wildeman played in the  men’s slots in the men’s doubles and the mixed matches.  They did not win this week but from my scouting report, they are going to be one tough team to beat!

The Tennis Tournament Medalist Plaque is in production, the medal winners have received their certificates, and, I am proud to announce (put it this way…I am thrilled to get it off my “to do list”) that the blog has been updated with action photos of all of our winning teams.  You can find this on our website www.palmcreektennisclub.blogspot.com.  Just click on this link and it should take you right to the posting!   Please remember that I also post a copy of this weekly update on our blog so you may have to scroll down past the 3/6 update to get to the tennis tournament medalist photos.

Next session of Club team tennis is Thursday, March 11^th.   If you are not playing, please come out to cheer the teams on and then join us for the tennis club weekly happy hour at 4pm.  Just bring your favorite adult beverage and an appetizer to share (can be homemade or store bought) and meet some of the people that make our tennis club so great.

The secret is out and all of our members should have received an invitation in their park mailbox to the March 19^th  “Saturday Night at the Courts”  event.  The invitation has the details of the draw for the singles tournament which has eight of our finest tennis players competing in a single elimination tournament with a single set determining each match.  The festivities start at 6:30 pm on Court 3 with the Opening Ceremonies and the singing of “O Canada” and “America the Beautiful.”    In keeping with the elegance of our members this is a [Silly] Black Tie event.  We are asking for everyone to wear some form of black tie, ribbon, bow, and entertain us with their creativitiy.  A black tie event of this magnitude would not be complete without fine wines to taste.  We have therefore asked for every couple to bring a bottle of their favorite wine to add to the tasting (with a suggested maximum cost of $10/bottle).   In keeping with this sophisticated black tie extravaganza, we are also asking for everyone to bring an appetizer that fits a “Silly” black tie event.  To complete our evening in style, the club will provide dessert and coffee.  This event is open to all members of the tennis club and their guests (who we respectfully ask to also bring a bottle of wine and an appetizer).   If you are not a member and would like to attend, just call  Helen Arnold at 520-876-6877 and, as you are signing up so late in the season, we will count this year’s dues toward’s next season’s dues as well.

Last but not least, I hope to see you at the Tennis Club Annual BBQ on Sunday, March 13^th  at 4pm in the North Pavilion.  The sign up sheet has been counted, but if you forgot to sign up, please give Sieny a call at 6687.  The club provides the hamburgers and the hot dogs and we ask our members to bring either an appetizer, a side dish or a dessert.  And don’t forget to bring your favorite adult beverage.  This is also the election of officers and committee chairs for the 2011/2012 season.  Past Predident, Char Eicher, as her “swan song” before she moves into her new home in Mission Royale, has voluteered to head the nominating committee.  If you got a call from Char I hope you stepped up to be of service to our great club. 

Weekly update - Sunday 2/27/11

The Tennis Tournament has finally finished with the last match played on Saturday.  We look forward to seeing all of our members and all of the tournament players and their spouses at the Tennis Tournament Awards Presentation and Pizza Happy Hour on Thursday, March 3^rd at 4 pm in the Tennis Pavilion.  This will start immediately after the Club Team Tennis that is scheduled from 2pm-4pm.    Please come out to cheer on the club team tennis teams and then stay for the Awards Presentation and Pizza Happy Hour.  You don’t need to bring an appetizer to this happy hour but you can bring an adult beverage!

Speaking of club team tennis, we are still looking for people to fill out the teams, but we plan to announce the full lineup no later than Tuesday, March 1.   Our March session starts this Thursday, March 3^rd and lasts 4 weeks until March 24^th.   If you are interested in joining this fun event, please let us know as soon as possible.

Annual Meeting and BBQ is scheduled for this coming Sunday, March 13^th at 4 pm in the North Pavilion.    I know you may be tired of hearing it, but please sign up so we have plenty of food and chairs.  This event is open to all tennis club members and the hamburgers and hotdogs being provided by the tennis club with the members bringing either an appetizer, a side dish or a desert.   Please help our social committee by signing up by Thursday, March 10^th.

SAVE THE DATE: MARCH 19^TH 6:30 PM-9:00 PM FOR AN AMAZING “CLOSE OF THE SEASON” TENNIS EVENT.    I can’t share the details but I can tell you to watch your mailbox.  Its shaping up to be quite the evening event.  So, clear those social calendars and block it out for something that will be the talk of the tennis community!!

Ken Civiello does have a ruptured achilles but he is feeling fine with his fiberglass splint.  He and Ginny are scheduled to pull out on Tuesday and has an appointment to see his orthopedic surgeon as soon as he gets home.  He will probably be off the foot for a few weeks and he will not be able to play tennis or pickleball for about 5 or 6 months.  We send our wishes for a speedy recovery and if all goes as planned we expect him back in the park with his tennis racquet in hand, ready to take on the competition…he said it in far more colorful words!!!

Just a reminder the Annual Pickleball Tournament is here at Palm Creek on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 4, 5 and 6.  They will be using courts 1, 4 and 5.  You can still schedule play on courts 2 and 3.  Friday Social Tennis is scheduled on courts 2 and 3.  If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call.    Some of the top pickleball players in the country will be here so feel free to stop by the courts and watch the play.  They will also be serving lunch for $6.   This is going to be a huge event, so lets show them the professionalism and courtesy of our tennis club.

Weekly Update- Sunday, February 20th

The tournament matches postponed due to the rain have been rescheduled as follows:

Monday 8:00 AM – Mixed A – Bronze medal match -  Bob Gibson/Penny Mason vs. Pete McGannon vs Penny Jacobsen Court 5

Monday 9:30 AM – Mixed A – Gold/Silver medal match - Ken Civiello/ Rhoda Zaph vs. Ken Swanson/ Mary Ellen Halm – Cour1 1

Saturday 11:00 – Mixed B – Gold/Silver medal match - Steve Allen/Carmen Allen vs. Dennis Dahlen/Mary Sullivan Pondell – Court 5

Please feel free to go out and cheer on our players. 

The tournament awards presentation and pizza has been moved to Sunday, February 27^th at 4pm, but I still need to confirm the availability of the tennis pavilion with Ann Lykens in activities.  Assume it will be happening as scheduled and if there is a problem, I will let you know.

The 2011 tennis tournament, despite the weather problems, was an outstanding success.  We filled all of our brackets, and everything went very smoothly.   We did have nice weather for the tournament on Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning.  The men’s medal matches were played Saturday afternoon but they really had to play some great “wind tennis!”  We had lots of spectators, hot coffee, muffins and banana bread, and lots of fruit not to mention some great tennis matches.  I don’t know how we do it but this now makes three years in a row we have managed to get rain at the tennis tournament…and this is the Arizona desert!!

I spoke to the pickleball club about the problem we had during our tournament when they moved their lessons to the courts next to court 1.  Next year they recommend that we take over the four pickleball courts adjacent to court 1 for our staging area – to post scores, place for refreshements, etc.  They will also put up signs so that the pickleball players do not hang their bags on the tennis court fences during tournament play. 

Save the date – Sunday, March 13^th  starting at 4 PM is the Annual Tennis Club BBQ in the North Pavilion  (that’s the big tented area adjacent to the North Pool).  We cook up loads of hamburgers and hot dogs and we ask our members to bring a dish (appetizer, side, dessert)  of their choice to share.   A sign up sheet will be posted on the tennis club bulletin board tomorrow afternoon (Monday Feb 21^st).  Please sign up if you plan on attending so we know how much to buy and also so we have sufficient tables and chairs.   Even if your not 100% sure you will be able to make it please sign up.  This event is free to all members of the tennis club.  If you have not signed up as a member yet, now is the time to call Helen Arnold 6877.  This is also the last meeting of the tennis club and will include the election of officers.

Weekly Update - Monday 2/14/2011

Happy Valentines Day!!

We had a wonderful Sunday Brunch Social  and it just seems that for every tennis club social pot luck I go to the array of food just keeps getting better and better!!!  

I forgot to hand out flyers for a fundraising dinner the pickleball club is having at Chipotle Grill on Florence Blvd on Tuesday, February 15^th from 4pm – 7pm.  If you show them the flyer, 50% of the proceeds will benefit the Palm Creek Pickle Ball Association.  I think these proceeds will go to the charities they donate to like abused women, food bank, humane society and pickleball equipment for the children at Ironwood Elementary school.    If anyone is interested in getting a flyer, please let me know and I will figure out how to get it to you.  I will also bring the flyers to ladies league on Monday.

The Cancer Awareness Tournament is already a memory and we are now getting everything ready for the Annual Palm Creek Tennis Tournament.  We have a record number of teams already signed up and we have just about hit our limit in all categories:  Men’s, Ladies and Mixed.  The seeding event starts at 2pm on Tuesday, the 15^th.  If you are not playing in the tournament, please feel free to come out on Tuesday  to see the teams as they hit against the ball machine.  The tournament will start this coming Thursday, February 17^th and run through Sunday, February 20^th.  All courts will be used for the tennis tournament and organized play is cancelled from Thursday through Sunday!    For all of our “die hard” social tennis players that means you as well.  Sunday, February 20^th after the medal matches for Mixed doubles are complete, we will have our Awards celebration to hand out the awards and celebrate with free pizza for all of our players and members.  So, if you are a member, please come out at  11 AM to watch the mixed doubles medal matches and then stay for pizza and share in the celebration.

Schedule of Play for Tournament:

The evening prior to the matches the exact time and court for each match will be posted on www.PalmCreekTennisClub.blogspot.com.

 

In general, play will be as follows:

MIXED DOUBLES:

All mixed doubles teams will play on Thursday and Friday Mornings.

Mixed doubles teams playing for a Gold, Silver or Bronze will play mid-day on Sunday

MEN'S DOUBLES:

All men's doubles teams will play mid-day on Thursday and Friday (top seeds may have a bye on Thursday).

Men's doubles teams playing for a Gold, Silver or Bronze will play mid-day on Saturday.

WOMEN'S DOUBLES:

All women's doubles teams will play Thursday and Friday Afternoons (top seeds may have a bye on Thursday).

Women's doubles teams playing for a Gold, Silver or Bronze will play on Saturday morning.

Club Team Tennis will be starting up again on Thursday, March 4^th.  This is the last session of Club Team tennis for the season and it will go for 4 weeks ending on March 24^th.  Club Team tennis has proven to be a major step in enhancing court utilization.  We need your support for the continued success of this event.  This provides a chance for all of our members to get to know the other tennis club members.  And, it is has made a definite impression from all of the comments I have received from people outside of the tennis club!