Debbie McGeehan and TJ Duffy
The SaddleBrooke Tennis Club had another fun and successful day at the Activities Fair. We had at least 35 potential members sign up to find out more about our club. They indicated they would like to learn traditional tennis, POP Tennis, or both. Thanks go to all the volunteers and to Cindy Madsen for organizing our tennis/POP table!
Many tennis facilities around the country have benefited from adding complementary racquet sports. There are numerous health benefits that come from playing racquet and paddle sports. The social interaction, competitiveness, and physical challenge are noteworthy and inherent in the sport. Playing racquet/paddle sports also changes the way your brain works. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins and serotonin. Let’s not forget to mention the fresh air, often blue skies, and immune system enhancing vitamin D from the sun. Other health benefits include improving your fitness, flexibility, and balance and reducing your risk factors for cardiac and other diseases!
In 2020, there were 20.64 million tennis players (up 22.4 percent from 2019), 4.2 million pickleball players (up 21.3 percent), and 1.82 million participants in POP Tennis/paddle tennis/platform tennis (an increase of 31.2 percent).
Tennis is an original amenity within our community and was developed with 20 courts. The SaddleBrooke Tennis Club has the use of 17 courts at this time. We have a membership of almost 450 tennis and POP Tennis players. There are eight new pickleball courts with a pavilion being constructed, which will add to the six existing courts. Pickleball players will have a total of 14 courts, with a membership of 650 members. When the construction is completed, pickleball will be a SaddleBrooke TWO-funded amenity.
We are fortunate to live in such a wonderful community with beautiful surroundings and such great amenities that we can utilize year round. Take the opportunity to learn a paddle or racquet sport. You will be surprised at the fun you have and the people you meet.
Traditional tennis, POP Tennis, pickleball—it is all fun! If you are interested in learning tennis or POP Tennis, call the SaddleBrooke Tennis Center at 520-825-0255.