The courts over at Ensworth School are beginning to see more play in the tennis realm. Greg Chambers gives Tennis Nashville the update.
1. What has been the response from your members since tennis has returned to the court?
Our students and programming participants are excited to be back and very positive.
2. Do you have unique programs designed for this season?
Our courts are used by Ensworth School students, junior/adult individual and group programming (instruction, organized league and match play, tournaments). Only students are able to book courts on a day to day reservation basis.
3. What do you see as the greatest opportunity, and the greatest threat for the near future of local tennis?
During Covid, tennis should emphasize the social, mental, and physical benefits by playing a sport for a lifetime. With Covid as one of the top media headlines, tennis should promote that its benefits can be received during Covid since it can be played while using proper medically advised distancing. Local, level based play should be a point of interest to the Nashville Tennis Community whether through UTR or the upcoming USTA level based platform.
The large threat to tennis is the dollars per square foot view by those who are not tennis players. The cost to operate such a large space should also be made aware to tennis players as they are benefiting from that extra space. I speculate that the low number of public tennis courts align proportionally with the unwillingness of the tennis community to pay the extra money for the added space.
4. What advice to do you have for those tennis players looking for a place to play?
Know the mission of the tennis facility. Country Clubs, Athletic Clubs, Swim and Tennis Clubs, Parks and Recreation Facilities, Schools and Neighborhoods all have different missions in the use of their tennis facilities. Players should be educated about the goals of the tennis court owners/directors/managers as most facilities are not the same. While there is some flexibility to the use of many tennis facilities, contact the tennis facility to be aware of their primary mission and the priorities of each local facility.
