By Susie Timm, Head Cheese
When I was a wee 8 years old, my parents took my twin brother John and I to a park in Watertown, Wisconsin for our very first tennis lesson.
It wasn’t long until I was hooked. I played from age 8 until age 18 at least 3x every week. In high school I was a varsity player and attended various clinics, lessons and tennis camps around the southwest. I was a junior ranked player by the time I was 16.
Freshman Tennis: Circa 1993
I never had the head game however to seriously consider playing in college so as I departed for my life as a Sun Devil, I hung up my racket.
I have always been fairly athletically inclined (many friends will recall my fiendish weight lifting experiment from 2005-2008). The past 2 years however, I have found every excuse known to man to avoid any sort of physical activity.
Of course eating for a living has added more than the “Freshman 15” and I have been desperately seeking a way to exercise that I really enjoy.
A dear friend asked me to hit the court with her last December and with the exception of one unfortunate incident in which I channeled Stefi Graf and fell down on the court complete with bleeding and drama, I’ve been hooked.
You can imagine when I was invited to attend a spa luncheon at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess to hear about their new tennis program, I literally jumped at the chance.
The Fairmont has recently brought on Wimbledon doubles champion player John Austin as their in-house pro. In fact they’ve renamed the tennis center “The John Austin Center for Tennis.”
Wimbledon Doubles Champ John Austin
To say I am elated by the programs and level of instruction is an understatement. I haven’t been this excited about anything since I discovered professional BBQ.
In fact…I ask the question: Do I like tennis more than meat?
My hitting partners and I joke that tennis is cheaper than therapy. I would add it’s better for me than a ribeye as well.
Regardless, I am more excited about this sport than I have been in the past 15 years.
The Fairmont has pulled out all the stops with it’s new tennis programs. Here’s a quick sampling of what tennis buffs can enjoy:
Cardio Tennis, Drills & Tequila!
Adults can have a ball at clinics of their own, such as Tequila & Tennis, a round-robin tennis tourney for all skill levels, followed by margaritas, chips and salsa from La Hacienda. Other fun features include Cardio Tennis: a heart-pumping, great exercise class that burns calories and gets players in shape. Classes are underway now and are offered three mornings every week. Other adult activities include “Drills & Skills” and “Dominating Doubles” clinics for the intermediate to advanced players and “Play Days” where players are matched for round-robin doubles. Local residents and hotels guests are invited to participate in any of the Tennis Center clinics or events.
Tennis Membership for Valley Residents
New tennis memberships include year-round access to the John Austin Tennis Center, two-day advance court reservations, special member lessons and clinic rates, priority registration for special tennis events and promotions, a 15 percent discount on Tennis Pro Shop and Willow Stream Spa/Salon boutique items and complimentary, dedicated member parking. The price for tennis memberships are a one-time registration fee of $300, with monthly dues at $90 for a single player or $120 for a family (with children up to the age of 21).
Tennis Instruction for Juniors
Designed for young players and locals, kids can begin their love of the game by having fun while they learn footwork, ground strokes, serves, overhead shots and agility. These clinics, developed by Austin, range $90-$150 per six week session, relative to the class level:
- Pee Wee’s, Ages 4-6: Classes focus on hand-eye coordination and racquet skills using wider racquets and oversized balls to develop proper techniques.
- QuickStart, Ages 7-11: Players may be learning the game for the first time or building on their fundamental work.
- Futures, 12 & Up: This class is for the beginner or advanced beginner, focusing on stroke development, backhand, volley and serve.
- Princess Junior Academy, Ages 12 & Up: Junior Varsity is for beginner to intermediate players looking to play on a high school team or in tournaments; the Varsity program is for intermediate players with some tennis experience and previous coaching.
They are also hard at work planning a food & tennis event for April 2012. I cannot wait to see how that takes shape.
Seems like the Fairmont is well on it’s way to reclaim the title of Valley Tennis Gem.
On that note-let me know if you ever want to hit some balls! Leave a comment! I’m available!
Call the Fairmont Tennis Center at 480-585-4848 for more information or to set up your own lesson or clinic.
