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The Westmounter
encounters. The sting of the annual Tradition Charity
tournament’s loss was cushioned by the throngs of new
tennis talk and returning players to our beautiful courts.
We started to see full court
sheets and a masked buzz
BY: DAVE MITCHELL began its crescendo. Tennis, it
HEAD TENNIS PROFESSIONAL would seem, was on the rise.
YA MAN!
In normal years, tennis slowly wakes alongside the The staff, in a word, were exceptional. Sincerest thanks
myriad trees that breathe life into Westmount’s to Sam Malawi, Nick Kopylec, Jon Taylor, Jacob
Miles, Dylan Hall, Matt Gartner, Andre Prpa, Bailee
unparalleled landscape. Until mid-May, it was McDermott, Zoe Channer, Chloe Taylor, Meredith
unclear if we would even have a season. A McCorkel, Emily D’Agostino, Peter Brecht and
glimmer arrived with a Phase 2 inclusion from William Aurini. You helped create something special
the government, and the staff sprung to action in unusual times. We shall be ever grateful for your
efforts.
and prepared for new abnormal operations. We hope all of these staff return in 2021.
The superb state of the course, the courts and
the grounds greeted enthusiastic members Club Championship weekend seemed the summit
of an endless summer. Champions and ‘victoriously
upon their return to paradise in late May. challenged’ alike gathered, at a distance, to cheer
each other on, and to be reminded of how strong,
PLAY ON
welcoming and cohesive our tennis community is. The
Singles only play, no changeovers, bring your own can of balls, no memory of blanket-wrapped spectators, shuffling foot
scoreboards? New protocols seemed burdensome, complicated, and to foot, in the chill wee hours of Friday lending support
foreign. Many of our members hadn’t played singles in years (if ever). I was to late-night combatants will endure. Night-separate
inspired by the ease, poise and attitude exhibited by players who quickly championship categories were up for grabs, but all who
adapted to new rules and a new game. Singles play forces one to hit twice attended were rewarded in the form of good times,
as many balls, and therefore improvement was evident and obvious to an great friends and warm memories.
attentive and impressed pro staff following a month of 1 on 1. After months FALL FELL
of lockdown, the opportunity to safely play and reconnect outweighed any
minor inconveniences. There is always a sense of melancholy as the leaves
turn and the wind changes direction. So much has
BRING ON SUMMER
changed in the wake of COVID-19, and I fear there
It’s difficult now to recall how hot and humid it was from the beginning of are still challenges ahead. From the ups, downs and
June through August. Doubles play arrived mid-June to rescue reluctant uncertainty that harkened a foreboding spring, as fall
singles players from exhaustion, if not a sweaty end to otherwise friendly rolls on I find myself wishing this magical season would
never end.
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