Outside of the community of Palm Creek Resort and Residencies the City of Casa Grande offers weekly tennis competition with drop in tennis at Carr McNatt Park.
CG Tennis Sunday Morning
L-R Standing: Dave Hannon, Rob Windham, Steve Hardesty, Will Updyke, Rodney Nelson, Peter Lin, Hezekiah, Zack Wilson.
Kneeling: Tim Barber, Savannah Jobman, Danny Dela Cruz
Missing: Jose Mann, Leo LaPane, George (Tony) Ivins, Brian Lawton
Lessons are offered on a pay basis from various local tennis players and professional. A summer youth program is offered through the Parks and Recreation department. Drop in tennis is offered on Sunday at 8am, Wednesday at 4:00 Pm and other times as designated by Whatapp - Casa Grande Tennis App.
“Temperature means nothing to most of us”
The Unofficial Casa Grande Tennis Club /
Dan Hopkins (USPTA Master Professional)
I am newly retired from Terre Haute, Indiana. Now, I am a winter resident of Casa Grande, Arizona. I come from a community where I used to say, “tennis never died.” Prior to leaving, it did. Beyond an failing indoor club, and an exhausted and expired non-profit adult club, tennis had basically gone to a non-organized status for adults. I purposely chose Casa Grande because Palm Creek Resorts and Residences has a seasonal club of over one hundred and forty people. There was organization and active participation, including regional leagues and competition availability. Little did I realize that Casa Grande had its own “Gem” of a tennis group.
No official organization, no club name, no desire to have one, only the sheer enjoyment of the game. A whole group of twenty or more individuals, devoted to each another for several hours weekly recreation, camaraderie, and pure enjoyment of the game of tennis. Thus, the reason for an article about them- the non-official tennis club of Casa Grande’s Carr McNatt Park.
I actually found this group five short years ago when asked to play by one of the members of our park and a former member of our park who played with the group. I played maybe once with them and then continued with my retirement community and some limited tournament play. In the past two years, I’ve played several times more and have been a part of their “WhatsApp” CG Tennis application. My WhatsApp CG Tennis is how the group communicates and arranges their individual and group matches. My limited participation has been due to the schedule that they have verses my obligations to the Palm Creek Club. The same thing that limits my participation is what makes the group unique. CG Tennis plays, depending on the time of the year, 6AM on Sunday’s, and 4PM on Wednesday’s. It doesn’t sound strange but it sort of is. Basically, sun up on Sundays, and sun down on Wednesdays. It might also be temperature related, cool or cold on Sunday, and warm or scalding hot on Wednesday. I thought to myself that they were worth of an article and highlight for what they do weekly all year long. Hopefully, I don’t spoil this pure aspect of what tennis used to be for me and what it still is today to them. Sunday and Wednesday are there play days. 6AM and 4 PM are the play hours. Weather? Doesn’t matter, they will be playing.
Another thing unique, but shouldn’t be, is that each of these people care about each other. I’ve noticed if someone has a difficulty, the whole group, I mean, the whole group comes to their aid. There have been several tragic events that have happened to members and they, the club, come to the rescue. They are tight bunch and do a great job promoting tennis in Casa Grande.
Our facilities include 4 beautiful hard courts with lights. We on the other hand may not look as good as the courts but can play the lights out of the place. We're looking forward to meeting you.
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