Photo: Photos Ron Shillingford
When it comes to sports that encourage lifelong participation, tennis is quite possibly right at the top of the list. From youngsters barely able to hold a racquet to players barely able to make their way across the court, the game can be as athletic or relaxed as you need it to be.
According to Rob Seward of the Cayman Islands Tennis Club, the club’s membership bears this out, with members ranging in age from four years old all the way up to their mid 80s.
Opened in 1978, the club boasts lighted hard courts, as well as three lighted carpet and sand courts.
Due to the wide range of ages and abilities represented in the club’s membership, it caters for players of all abilities, something that Rob is keen to point out.
“Some people are afraid to join because they think they’re horrible or there isn’t someone for them to play, but we have members at all different levels,” he says.
Of course, those who may need a helping hand to improve and have a little bit of time on their hands can always call on the services of the club’s three resident pros, consisting of Rob, the head pro and club manager, as well as assistant pros Dale Avery and Adam Bayley.
The lessons range from private one on one lessons to group lessons for those who have a couple of playing partners who also need improvement.
The club is also home to one of the most popular after school junior programmes on the Island, catering for young players from ages four to 18, Monday through Saturday. The after school programme costs $65 for junior members per six week programme.
In addition to lessons and the junior programme, the club also offers Cardio Tennis, a new programme focussing more on fitness than on technique or strokes, making it ideal for those with a passing interest in tennis but a much more pressing need to work on their fitness, or any player who wants to build up their fitness to improve their game.
However, the biggest advantage of joining a club is the social aspect, as it allows you to meet people who share an interest in the sport and in keeping in shape. It also allows you to meet players who are at a similar level, which is one of the biggest challenges when just playing on a court in your condo complex.
“It’s just a great social club – we offer a mixed singles league, men and women and some more mature juniors, for those who lack standard playing partners. It is a members club, and non profit organisation, so the dues and the fees go towards the club, and a member can, whatever they put into the club they will see as return,” says Rob.
The club also features an on-site pro shop where members can get racquets strung and re-gripped, and can also purchase balls, racquets, and a selection of clothing.
Until the end of March, the club is also running a membership special. New members do not have to pay an entrance fee, with local membership available at $250, while joint membership is $400. Court fees vary between $8 and $16 per game, with evening sessions being the more expensive due to the cost of running the lights.
For more information on the Cayman Islands Tennis Club, visit tennis.ky.