I can't tell you how many times in my life I have stood on the baseline practicing serves and conjured up the image of being in the finals of the US Open or Wimbledon, the match just 4 points away. The noise of the crowd in what was then Louis Armstrong Stadium, the awed hush of Wimbledon's Center Court. The roar of the crowd and the rush of adrenalin and emotion closing out that final point with an ace up the middle.
I expect when you grow up on the red clay - as 3/4ths of the world does by the way - you cannot help but dream of that magnificent stage being in the city of lights - court Phillipe Chartrier. How many great Spaniards, South Americans, Belgians and of course Frenchmen have flitted through this fantasy? I can only imagine. Most, like me, never came remotely close to attaining those far away childhood fancies. There are a few however that have been right there, on the cusp and yet despite being among the very best at their trade were unable to fulfill a the lifelong dream of hoisting the Coupe des Mousquetaires. Here are the top 5.
5. Alberto Berasategui - Every single one of Berasategui's 14 titles and 8 runners-up came on clay. He reached the finals of the French in 1994 losing to another clay court artist - Sergi Bruguera. Berasategui's success came in no small part because of an outstanding forehand. He used a grip so extreme it was dubbed Hawaiian for being "so far west". In fact he used the same side of the racket for both forehand and backhand. Berasategui's success on clay in his era made him a favorite to win at RG he was not able to replicate the success he had at so many other clay events.
4. Jose Higueras - A consummate professional who understood his craft, Jose Higueras was twice a semi-finalist at Roland Garros. He played high percentage tennis and used a heavy ball and exceptional footwork, speed and balance to maneuver opponents out of position. He was very patient and despised unforced errors. In his career he won 16 ATP titles and was a 12 time finalist. Not surprisingly, all but two of those were on clay.
3. Alex Corretja - This Spaniard was not a flashy player but he was remarkably consistent and a great fighter. Is there any player who played more 5 set 5 plus hour matches than Corretja?! He was extremely solid off both wings and understood how to control the middle of the court with his forehand. He made it to the finals of the French Open twice, the semi's once and the qtrs twice. In fact, in my recollection I can't think of another player that so many expected to win the French in his era yet never did. Corretja won 16 events overall and was a finalist at another 13. 21 of those were on clay. He did have great success on hard courts as well and will, ironically, probably be most remembered in the US for the epic 5 set match he played against Sampras in the US Open qtrs where Sampras threw up on the court.
2. Manuel Orantes - This left-handed Spaniard was patient and consistent and hit with great accuracy. Orantes won 30 singles titles on clay (+3 on other surfaces) and was a finalist in 27 others. He won the US Open on Har-Tru in a surprise upset of Connors in 1975, this after beating Vilas in one of the most incredible comebacks of all time in the semi's.
1. Roger Federer - Can there be any dispute here? He has been dubbed the greatest player of all time. He plays with grace, style and ease. His movement skills rival that of any of the great champions and his shot making ability is second to none. He won his first Masters Series Title on clay in Hamburg, a tournament he won 4 times. He also won Munich and made it to the finals in Monte Carlo and Rome on multiple occasions. He reached the final at Roland Garros three times only to fall each time to the best clay court player of all time, Rafael Nadal.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Dominant on Clay/Winners on All Surfaces - The Top 6 Greatest Clay Court Players of All Time
As I see it we have 5 distinct seasons in professional tennis - slow hard court (Australian – Indian Wells), clay court, grass court, fast hard court (US Open Series) and indoor. Different surfaces and surface speeds lend themselves to different styles of play and call for different sets of tactics. This is why we see certain players thrive during certain parts of the playing season.
Most obvious are the currently-front-and-center, clay courters. There are more clay court specialists than any of the other surfaces seem to draw out. And this does not preclude their success on other surfaces – particularly recently as the other surfaces have been slowed down - but it means that the bulk of their success came on clay.
We are living in the era of the best clay court player of all time. Nadal has never lost a match at Roland Garros and he is undefeated in 5 set matches on clay, winning 45 straight. Just shy of 23, Nadal is and will remain the benchmark for greatness on clay for years to come – perhaps more than just clay when all is said and done. But who else is in his class? Here are my top 5 after Nadal.
5. Mats Wilander – You don’t win the French Open 3 times and finish runner-up twice without being pretty good on clay. And to win it the first time as an unseeded player beating Lendl, Gueralitis, Clerc and Vilas along the way is pretty incredible. That trip to the winner’s circle made him the youngest player to have won at Roland Garros at the time.
Mats won on grass and hard as well and he is one of only 3 players in the open era to own a Grand Slam on all three surfaces (note that the grass court slam came in Australia not Wimbledon). His winning percentages on all surfaces except carpet were very good. He played many more clay court events and won 20 clay court titles overall. With a game somewhat modeled after Borg, his exceptional two-handed backhand and ability to outlast and out-guile opponents helped him achieve tremendous success.
4. Ivan Lendl – Not many people think of Lendl as a dominant clay court player but let’s consider. His first Grand Slam came at the French and he played in no less than 5 finals, winning 3 of them. He also won 28 titles on clay, more than he won on any other surface. His style was very much built around clay court strategy. Lendl used a dominant forehand with heavy spin to control points, and his fitness and endurance allowed him to grind opponents down.
Of course Lendl’s success on other surfaces put him in the conversation when discussing the best of all time. Only Wimbledon eluded him, although he played in two finals.
3. Thomas Muster – How could you not admire this guy? In 1995 he’s on the brink of breaking through, making it to the Australian semi-finals and preparing to play Lendl in the finals of the Lipton when he tragically gets hit by a drunk driver and needs knee surgery. He devises a chair so he can practice flogging forehands during recovery and spends hours a day doing so. He is back on the court in six months.
He was gritty and determined and fiercely fit. A lefty with giant spin Muster won the French only 1 time but literally dominated on clay during his entire career and particularly in 1995-96 when he went 111-5, a mark that continues to stand as the best two year record on any surface. Muster also made it to the quarters at the US Open on three occasions.
2. Guillermo Vilas – Vilas experienced success on all surfaces but there is no doubt his specialty was clay. Some might say Nadal is Vilas in younger form as both powerful lefties dominated the surface in their era. Vilas in fact owned the record for the longest winning streak on clay at 53 matches until Nadal surpassed him. Surprisingly though, he won the French only one time (the year that Borg did not compete) but was finalist on 3 other occasions and he won the US Open in 1977 when it was played on Har-Tru.
Vilas won titles on every surface and made it to the Wimbledon quarters twice so he was able to come to net. In fact in his US Open title over Connors in ’77 at Forest Hills he won by surprising his American rival and attacking the net.
1. Bjorn Borg – Winner of 6 French Opens, and likely would have won 7 straight if he had not been under contract with WTT in 1977 preventing him from competing. He practically invented the heavy ball that is now considered a must for success on this surface. He was also a fast, well-conditioned, athlete who understood that it is best not to miss but to wear opponents down.
Of course Borg’s success on other surfaces is legendary, winning Wimbledon 5 times. Although Borg made it to the finals at the US Open 4 times he never could convert the victory there, on Har-Tru or hard courts. He seldom played the Australian
Next up…the 5 greatest clay court players never to win the French Open.
Most obvious are the currently-front-and-center, clay courters. There are more clay court specialists than any of the other surfaces seem to draw out. And this does not preclude their success on other surfaces – particularly recently as the other surfaces have been slowed down - but it means that the bulk of their success came on clay.
We are living in the era of the best clay court player of all time. Nadal has never lost a match at Roland Garros and he is undefeated in 5 set matches on clay, winning 45 straight. Just shy of 23, Nadal is and will remain the benchmark for greatness on clay for years to come – perhaps more than just clay when all is said and done. But who else is in his class? Here are my top 5 after Nadal.
5. Mats Wilander – You don’t win the French Open 3 times and finish runner-up twice without being pretty good on clay. And to win it the first time as an unseeded player beating Lendl, Gueralitis, Clerc and Vilas along the way is pretty incredible. That trip to the winner’s circle made him the youngest player to have won at Roland Garros at the time.
Mats won on grass and hard as well and he is one of only 3 players in the open era to own a Grand Slam on all three surfaces (note that the grass court slam came in Australia not Wimbledon). His winning percentages on all surfaces except carpet were very good. He played many more clay court events and won 20 clay court titles overall. With a game somewhat modeled after Borg, his exceptional two-handed backhand and ability to outlast and out-guile opponents helped him achieve tremendous success.
4. Ivan Lendl – Not many people think of Lendl as a dominant clay court player but let’s consider. His first Grand Slam came at the French and he played in no less than 5 finals, winning 3 of them. He also won 28 titles on clay, more than he won on any other surface. His style was very much built around clay court strategy. Lendl used a dominant forehand with heavy spin to control points, and his fitness and endurance allowed him to grind opponents down.
Of course Lendl’s success on other surfaces put him in the conversation when discussing the best of all time. Only Wimbledon eluded him, although he played in two finals.
3. Thomas Muster – How could you not admire this guy? In 1995 he’s on the brink of breaking through, making it to the Australian semi-finals and preparing to play Lendl in the finals of the Lipton when he tragically gets hit by a drunk driver and needs knee surgery. He devises a chair so he can practice flogging forehands during recovery and spends hours a day doing so. He is back on the court in six months.
He was gritty and determined and fiercely fit. A lefty with giant spin Muster won the French only 1 time but literally dominated on clay during his entire career and particularly in 1995-96 when he went 111-5, a mark that continues to stand as the best two year record on any surface. Muster also made it to the quarters at the US Open on three occasions.
2. Guillermo Vilas – Vilas experienced success on all surfaces but there is no doubt his specialty was clay. Some might say Nadal is Vilas in younger form as both powerful lefties dominated the surface in their era. Vilas in fact owned the record for the longest winning streak on clay at 53 matches until Nadal surpassed him. Surprisingly though, he won the French only one time (the year that Borg did not compete) but was finalist on 3 other occasions and he won the US Open in 1977 when it was played on Har-Tru.
Vilas won titles on every surface and made it to the Wimbledon quarters twice so he was able to come to net. In fact in his US Open title over Connors in ’77 at Forest Hills he won by surprising his American rival and attacking the net.
1. Bjorn Borg – Winner of 6 French Opens, and likely would have won 7 straight if he had not been under contract with WTT in 1977 preventing him from competing. He practically invented the heavy ball that is now considered a must for success on this surface. He was also a fast, well-conditioned, athlete who understood that it is best not to miss but to wear opponents down.
Of course Borg’s success on other surfaces is legendary, winning Wimbledon 5 times. Although Borg made it to the finals at the US Open 4 times he never could convert the victory there, on Har-Tru or hard courts. He seldom played the Australian
Next up…the 5 greatest clay court players never to win the French Open.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Officiating Tennis Needs and Overhaul
I believe that officiating in the game of tennis needs to be overhauled. With officiating being near and dear to me, its difficult for me to watch some of these folks out on the court. I know from experience that if I blow a call on the basketball floor or the football field I will most certainly get booed out of the gym/stadium, but not in tennis. There are physical requirements mandated to officiate other sports, but not in tennis. To watch a man or woman come walking out on the court and sit down in a chair just doesn't seem appropriate. Stand up and and appear to be athletic and interested in what is happening on the court. I think tennis needs mandate some level of fitness for the umpires and do away with the chairs on the court. You don't see a new set of officials coming into a baseball game in the bottom of the ninth inning so why are they sending in new officials mid way through the second set?
I can remember growing up as a child and watching Johnny Mac going ballistic on an blown line call. I'm not condoning his behavior, but he certainly set a standard for the officials that were involved in his match that they had better be on top of their game. The only thing that I wish would have been different about this memory is that the chair umpire would have put Johnny Mac is his place a few more times. In no other sport do you see a player act so unsportsmanlike and stay in the game. Wouldn't it had been great to see a chair umpire toss him out of a match? Just a thought.
I think in all sports officiating that the official must look the part, but more importantly they must prepare for the part. Tennis officials don't seem to trained when they walk out on the court and sit down.
I can remember growing up as a child and watching Johnny Mac going ballistic on an blown line call. I'm not condoning his behavior, but he certainly set a standard for the officials that were involved in his match that they had better be on top of their game. The only thing that I wish would have been different about this memory is that the chair umpire would have put Johnny Mac is his place a few more times. In no other sport do you see a player act so unsportsmanlike and stay in the game. Wouldn't it had been great to see a chair umpire toss him out of a match? Just a thought.
I think in all sports officiating that the official must look the part, but more importantly they must prepare for the part. Tennis officials don't seem to trained when they walk out on the court and sit down.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Carmel Valley Ranch Play The Clay Event
5-02-09
Once again we dodged the bullet on the weather. The day was a bit overcast at the start but got better and better as the time wore on. There were 8 for the clinic and round robin – two of which had participated the previous day. Clark, Tim and I ran the group through a series of warm up drills where we were able to emphasize sliding and movement, drop shots, angles, inside-out forehands and patience. We then talked strategy, played out singles and doubles points and finished by playing a little up the ladder down the ladder doubles.
One of the highlights of the day for me was getting to meet the great Jean Harris. Not a familiar name? I recognized her from the minute she walked on the court as I have seen her picture and read about her in magazines and on the tennis channel. She owns 16 gold balls. That’s right – 16. She continues to play in the 90’s age division and participates in both singles and doubles. She cannot run and serves underhand but has exceptional hands and about the wickedest drop shot I have ever seen. I think she could have taught the clinic on that shot!
I got to play with Jean as my partner for one set which was lots of fun. Jean is a member at Carmel Valley Ranch and needless to say is rather a celebrity. She has played with and against nearly all the greats of her day at one time or another, men and women as she plays mixed as well. She has had a knee replacement, rotator cuff surgery and a few others but it does not seem to bother her. She is very modest, soft-spoken and engaging. Oh yes, and she was heading to LA Tennis Club next week to play one of the senior nationals on their two new HydroCourts – singles and doubles – and continuing on to La Jolla after that to play the hard courts. She is an inspiration!
After the clinic Dave Houston showed up. Dave is about as well connected in tennis in NorCal as anyone I know. He absolutely loves the game of tennis, is active in the tennis community, grew up in Monterey and taught and coached for many years. He currently provides clubs and tennis facilities with an assortment of products from windscreens to Playmate ball machines. His company is called DH Distribution.
Dave drove down from Half Moon Bay to join us with one of his ball machines on the chance we had any juniors for the afternoon clinic. First we ate lunch together at Earthbound Farms farm stand and café which is just a short, convenient drive from the Ranch. If you buy organic vegetables you have heard of Earthbound Farms and they had one of the best selections of healthful, organic and natural food that I have ever seen for a stand that size and much of it was straight from their fields.
Back at the Ranch we did not have any juniors come out but we did get to try out the latest innovation in ball machines. Playmate has adapted the use of a footswitch pad and a series of indicator lights that will greatly augment training and practice, particularly as it relates to the serve and volley. It is fabulous! There is a footpad that acts as a switch and connects wirelessly with the ball machine. For serve and volley practice, a player steps onto the pad with a ball and lines up to serve. The moment the player comes off the pad the ball machine is triggered to feed a ball to a predetermined location, which for serve and volley purposes can be at the T for singles or to one side or the other for doubles. The feed can be followed up with additional shots to programmed locations, including lobs to replicate the need for closing in and shuffling back for the overhead.
If you have ever used a ball machine, particularly for volleys, coordinating your feet and preparation with the feed of the ball is difficult as you are not quite sure when to split step. This is where the indicator lights come in. Just prior to ball feed a panel of red LED lights that looks almost like a miniature version of what you see in drag racing illuminates in sequence. This is akin to when your opponent would be hitting the ball in a live point, allowing you to learn exactly when to split step. It is a wonderful invention that I think will really help players improve serve and volley and many other skills. We spent about 1 ½ hours drilling on it that afternoon and got just an incredible workout. Dave also set up shot sequences that allowed us to practice poaching and working as a team at the net.
We thought people might be interested in viewing the machine and drills in action so we have placed video on the Lee Tennis YouTube page www.youtube.com/leetenniscourtprod that you can view anytime. I inquired about cost and Dave informed us that this technology will work on ball machines that are less than two years old and both the foot pad and lights together run between $800 and $1,000.
We ended a great day by having dinner with Dave at Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch restaurant, a restored mission overlooking where the Carmel River runs into the ocean, and having a few drinks at the Crown and Anchor Pub in Monterey. Tomorrow is the last day. There is a mixed doubles round robin that will be held on the clay courts from 11 AM – 1 PM.
Once again we dodged the bullet on the weather. The day was a bit overcast at the start but got better and better as the time wore on. There were 8 for the clinic and round robin – two of which had participated the previous day. Clark, Tim and I ran the group through a series of warm up drills where we were able to emphasize sliding and movement, drop shots, angles, inside-out forehands and patience. We then talked strategy, played out singles and doubles points and finished by playing a little up the ladder down the ladder doubles.
One of the highlights of the day for me was getting to meet the great Jean Harris. Not a familiar name? I recognized her from the minute she walked on the court as I have seen her picture and read about her in magazines and on the tennis channel. She owns 16 gold balls. That’s right – 16. She continues to play in the 90’s age division and participates in both singles and doubles. She cannot run and serves underhand but has exceptional hands and about the wickedest drop shot I have ever seen. I think she could have taught the clinic on that shot!
I got to play with Jean as my partner for one set which was lots of fun. Jean is a member at Carmel Valley Ranch and needless to say is rather a celebrity. She has played with and against nearly all the greats of her day at one time or another, men and women as she plays mixed as well. She has had a knee replacement, rotator cuff surgery and a few others but it does not seem to bother her. She is very modest, soft-spoken and engaging. Oh yes, and she was heading to LA Tennis Club next week to play one of the senior nationals on their two new HydroCourts – singles and doubles – and continuing on to La Jolla after that to play the hard courts. She is an inspiration!
After the clinic Dave Houston showed up. Dave is about as well connected in tennis in NorCal as anyone I know. He absolutely loves the game of tennis, is active in the tennis community, grew up in Monterey and taught and coached for many years. He currently provides clubs and tennis facilities with an assortment of products from windscreens to Playmate ball machines. His company is called DH Distribution.
Dave drove down from Half Moon Bay to join us with one of his ball machines on the chance we had any juniors for the afternoon clinic. First we ate lunch together at Earthbound Farms farm stand and café which is just a short, convenient drive from the Ranch. If you buy organic vegetables you have heard of Earthbound Farms and they had one of the best selections of healthful, organic and natural food that I have ever seen for a stand that size and much of it was straight from their fields.
Back at the Ranch we did not have any juniors come out but we did get to try out the latest innovation in ball machines. Playmate has adapted the use of a footswitch pad and a series of indicator lights that will greatly augment training and practice, particularly as it relates to the serve and volley. It is fabulous! There is a footpad that acts as a switch and connects wirelessly with the ball machine. For serve and volley practice, a player steps onto the pad with a ball and lines up to serve. The moment the player comes off the pad the ball machine is triggered to feed a ball to a predetermined location, which for serve and volley purposes can be at the T for singles or to one side or the other for doubles. The feed can be followed up with additional shots to programmed locations, including lobs to replicate the need for closing in and shuffling back for the overhead.
If you have ever used a ball machine, particularly for volleys, coordinating your feet and preparation with the feed of the ball is difficult as you are not quite sure when to split step. This is where the indicator lights come in. Just prior to ball feed a panel of red LED lights that looks almost like a miniature version of what you see in drag racing illuminates in sequence. This is akin to when your opponent would be hitting the ball in a live point, allowing you to learn exactly when to split step. It is a wonderful invention that I think will really help players improve serve and volley and many other skills. We spent about 1 ½ hours drilling on it that afternoon and got just an incredible workout. Dave also set up shot sequences that allowed us to practice poaching and working as a team at the net.
We thought people might be interested in viewing the machine and drills in action so we have placed video on the Lee Tennis YouTube page www.youtube.com/leetenniscourtprod that you can view anytime. I inquired about cost and Dave informed us that this technology will work on ball machines that are less than two years old and both the foot pad and lights together run between $800 and $1,000.
We ended a great day by having dinner with Dave at Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch restaurant, a restored mission overlooking where the Carmel River runs into the ocean, and having a few drinks at the Crown and Anchor Pub in Monterey. Tomorrow is the last day. There is a mixed doubles round robin that will be held on the clay courts from 11 AM – 1 PM.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Carmel Valley Ranch Play The Clay Event
5-2-09
I had artichokes on my pizza Friday night. I followed that up with artichoke chowder and an artichoke and asparagus omelet for lunch yesterday at Jeffries, a cozy and pleasant, bustling restaurant that featured not only good food, but the serenading of the Cannery Rogues, a barber shop quartet. Needless to say, I have tried to get in the artichoke spirit but I think I am about artichoked out!
The day began with some uncertainty about the weather but, in the words of Homer, dawn spread her rosy colored fingers across the sky, and there was sun. Indeed the weather remained very nice until our clinic ended, when it promptly began to rain. This was a positive development as there were 10 people who showed up for the event. They consisted of a mixture of Carmel Valley Ranch members, local residents and a few out-of-towners. About half had played on clay previously but even among those the experience was limited. One relayed that he is really only able to play on clay due to his knees.
I was impressed with the level of talent. All the players knew their way around a court. After a brief warm-up Tim and I started with the most basic and typically the most disconcerting aspect of playing on clay – the footing. Participants learned about sliding – why it’s important and how it’s done. After that we transitioned into strategy. As we had mostly doubles players we discussed the differences between doubles on hard courts and clay courts and after doing some drills to hone these tactics we played out points and then broke into groups for match play. It was awfully fun to be back on the teaching court and sharing some knowledge about clay court tennis. The group seemed to have a very nice time. Hopefully they will want to begin playing on clay more regularly and will share their experience with other tennis players.
After the clinic ended there was time to learn more about the Ranch. First of all, our hosts here are Tennis Director Clark Corey and Head Professional Rick Manning. Clark and Rick know how to make tennis fun. They clearly enjoy what they do and instantaneously put guests and members at ease. They are both PBI pros as the facility is managed by PBI, and they are extremely knowledgeable and definitely patient, as I peppered Rick with questions about the resort and the area.
The facility they manage is beautiful and includes two well-manicured Har-Tru courts and 10 hard courts. It’s called
Development of the Ranch began in 1976 with the golf course completed in 1981. The hotel opened in June of 1987. The entire property sits on what used to be fruit plantations. The last cash crop grown there was pears but when the Great Depression settled in they switched to cattle farming and it indeed became a ranch. The resort has what looks to be a challenging golf course that weaves its way up and down the hillsides. The rooms have been constructed in a modest fashion that suits the surroundings and they are nicely tucked away behind a canopy of trees so as to be hidden from view when you are on the tennis courts and golf course.
As afternoon rain set in Tim and I decided to make our way over to
Back at the Ranch our 3:30 PM clinic was rained out so Tim and I contented ourselves with computer work and catching up on phone calls. Hopefully the weather improves for tomorrow. We are on again at 9 AM.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Carmel Valley Ranch Play The Clay Event
Took the morning flight from Richmond to San Francisco yesterday. Felt a little like coming home when I landed. I spent half of '06 and most of '07 coming to the Bay area to research the market and understand the opportunity for bringing clay to the west coast. Actually looked at northern and southern Cal but at the end of the day we just loved the "community" that exists in tennis in the Bay area. So every other week for 6-7 months of the year I made this trip.
The trip had always felt a little like coming home. My dad grew up in Palo Alto, was a Paly High grad and went to San Jose St where he played water polo for a couple of national championship teams. I had taken several trips out here as a child to visit my Grandmother, who lived in Menlo Park, as well as my dad's sister in Los Gatos and my mom's brother in Apotos. My dad passed away a couple of years ago and my Aunt only two months ago and as I drive away from SFO south to Los Gatos for a meeting at Courtside Club, a flood of emotions best described as a combination of nostalgia, pride and a certain emptiness, invariably washes over me. It is a feeling I embrace and I am very glad to be back in Northern California swimming in memories that otherwise get stored away behind the cares of everyday.
Met up with Tim Beyer and after a nice meeting about Advantage Lighting with Gordon Collins at Courtside Club we head south on 17 for La Selva Beach and the Flora Vista Inn to pick up tennis balls and waters for the weekend. Flora Vista is a beautiful bed & breakfast nestled between fields of flowers and very private Manresa Beach, a lovely beach that is one of the few in the area that still allows campfires. The proprietors, Ed & Deanna Boos, are wonderfully warm and knowledgeable and understand that balance of privacy and company for their guests. The cooking is fantastic and as a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the Bay area it is first rate. And of course la piece de la resistance...there two, perfectly manicured Har-Tru courts there. These courts are a little known secret and in this season of clay - or any time for that mater - how nice it is to spend the day on the tennis courts accompanied by walks on the beach or just sitting, gazing across a tapestry of color with a glass of wine in hand.
On to Carmel. Monterey and Carmel are recognizable by reputation for most. They are exquisite seaside town homes to exclusive resort communities with postcard ocean views and quaint shops and restaurants. As an aside, the 2011 USPTA World Conference has been scheduled for Monterey which I think is a great choice and I am already looking for to. On the drive to Carmel you pass through some of the nation's finest growing areas. Fields of strawberries, almond farms and giant tracts dedicated to nothing but artichokes. Artichokes are grown on spiny looking bushes that are no more than 3' tall. The artichokes open up on the top like a flower. I saw a sign that the Artichoke Festival was coming May 16-19. Although I initially snickered a bit as I considered what the Artichoke Festival could possibly be like, I later learned from Tim that Marilyn Monroe was once the queen of the festival. Go figure.
Finally we arrived at the Carmel Valley Ranch. More on the Ranch in the next blog. After crossing through the gated entrance we wound our way through the community to the lodge, where we were greeted and driven to our room on a golf cart. A quick jog on the golf course as the sun dropped, to shake off the cobwebs of a long day, revealed marvelous old trees, deer and a few turkey, all of which seemed to regard me with suspicion and a bit of disdain for interrupting what I expected is typically "their time". Pizza at Ioli's - where we did manage to recruit some additional players for our clinics and round robins this weekend - and then bed.
First event starts tomorrow at 9 a.m.
The trip had always felt a little like coming home. My dad grew up in Palo Alto, was a Paly High grad and went to San Jose St where he played water polo for a couple of national championship teams. I had taken several trips out here as a child to visit my Grandmother, who lived in Menlo Park, as well as my dad's sister in Los Gatos and my mom's brother in Apotos. My dad passed away a couple of years ago and my Aunt only two months ago and as I drive away from SFO south to Los Gatos for a meeting at Courtside Club, a flood of emotions best described as a combination of nostalgia, pride and a certain emptiness, invariably washes over me. It is a feeling I embrace and I am very glad to be back in Northern California swimming in memories that otherwise get stored away behind the cares of everyday.
Met up with Tim Beyer and after a nice meeting about Advantage Lighting with Gordon Collins at Courtside Club we head south on 17 for La Selva Beach and the Flora Vista Inn to pick up tennis balls and waters for the weekend. Flora Vista is a beautiful bed & breakfast nestled between fields of flowers and very private Manresa Beach, a lovely beach that is one of the few in the area that still allows campfires. The proprietors, Ed & Deanna Boos, are wonderfully warm and knowledgeable and understand that balance of privacy and company for their guests. The cooking is fantastic and as a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the Bay area it is first rate. And of course la piece de la resistance...there two, perfectly manicured Har-Tru courts there. These courts are a little known secret and in this season of clay - or any time for that mater - how nice it is to spend the day on the tennis courts accompanied by walks on the beach or just sitting, gazing across a tapestry of color with a glass of wine in hand.
On to Carmel. Monterey and Carmel are recognizable by reputation for most. They are exquisite seaside town homes to exclusive resort communities with postcard ocean views and quaint shops and restaurants. As an aside, the 2011 USPTA World Conference has been scheduled for Monterey which I think is a great choice and I am already looking for to. On the drive to Carmel you pass through some of the nation's finest growing areas. Fields of strawberries, almond farms and giant tracts dedicated to nothing but artichokes. Artichokes are grown on spiny looking bushes that are no more than 3' tall. The artichokes open up on the top like a flower. I saw a sign that the Artichoke Festival was coming May 16-19. Although I initially snickered a bit as I considered what the Artichoke Festival could possibly be like, I later learned from Tim that Marilyn Monroe was once the queen of the festival. Go figure.
Finally we arrived at the Carmel Valley Ranch. More on the Ranch in the next blog. After crossing through the gated entrance we wound our way through the community to the lodge, where we were greeted and driven to our room on a golf cart. A quick jog on the golf course as the sun dropped, to shake off the cobwebs of a long day, revealed marvelous old trees, deer and a few turkey, all of which seemed to regard me with suspicion and a bit of disdain for interrupting what I expected is typically "their time". Pizza at Ioli's - where we did manage to recruit some additional players for our clinics and round robins this weekend - and then bed.
First event starts tomorrow at 9 a.m.
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