A group of Sun City Tall Oaks Tennis Club (TOTC) members would like to have additional court time at Tall Oaks Courts.
Spearheading the current tennis club’s campaign is TOTC member Nancy Fontana, with the main purpose a chance to grow the sport’s initiatives.
“When the stadium club was taken from tennis and converted to solely pickleball use, it devastated many of the TATC club events,” Fontana said. “The court sits empty or underused when tennis needs it. After two years of trying to get the Charter Clubs President’s Council to share the court, the TOTC is asking to share again.”
Fontana and other tennis enthusiasts would like to see tennis have one court added from five to six courts. Tennis is asking for unused-underutilized times. Pickleball is not used 100 percent, neither is tennis, she noted.
“All we (tennis) are asking for is to share,” Fontana said.
Sun City Executive Board Chairman Bill Niemasz issued a press release statement.
“The (Sun City Executive) Board has acted in a very transparent manner regarding pickleball and tennis issues, and everything is well documented in the minutes,” Niemasz said in a press release statement. “The issues which had been raised have been reviewed by our attorney and the advice given to us is that the Board has acted within its scope of authority.”
Sun City Pickleball Club President Pam White said the goal is for both groups to work together.
“I want to clarify that we are good neighbors to the Tennis Club,” White said in a press release statement. “We try and share courts when we can. Pickleball uses these facilities constantly. My hope is that as a community we can all move forward in a positive manner.”
Meanwhile, Sun City Tennis clubs’ efforts to grow the sport include: Masters, POP and Red Ball Tennis and regular tennis.
Fontana stated in an early April letter to MSDN:
“Tennis has no safety spot (for spectators) to watch their sport. Pickleball only needs five feet, but tennis needs 15 feet. Last year a tournament could not be seen except for a few people to sit between the courts where the players normally sit – or stand at a fence. It is unsafe to watch tennis without the distance the stadium court provided. An accident is waiting to happen with these conditions.”
“To have 24 players for team tennis requires six courts. Tennis already forfeited two courts to pickleball years ago – dropping the amount of players from 32 to 24, with now only 20 members are able to play, it became unequal and complaints occurred. A sixth court is essential.”
Fontana said that a pro-am tournament, which assisted two other charter clubs and Grafton Food Pantry, had to be cancelled. Also, socials had to be limited as five courts are filled at 20 participants, as well as classes were impacted.
“Again, we had to make the socials smaller and had to limit people, this is hurting our growth,” Fontana said. “A total of three courts have been lost to pickleball, were all lighted courts. The pickleball club has 12 lit compared to tennis’ two lit courts. This time is rarely filled except for special events.”
