The Martha's Vineyard Times

Adult beginner tennis a success at Farm Neck

By Tony Omer
June 6, 2012

Twenty-eight players, new to tennis, participated in the first of two adult beginner tennis clinics on Saturday, May 19th at the Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs. A local non-profit, Martha's Vineyard Community Tennis (MVCT), organized the event with the help of a grant from the United States Tennis Association New England (USTA).

The all-day event included two hours of tennis instruction with 4 pros on 4 courts, a luncheon, and two hours of round robin play in the afternoon. "The mood was relaxed and fun. It was a beautiful May day with perfect weather." Said MVCT board member Sarah Moore.

She said that Mike Johns, Head Tennis Pro at Farm Neck, was instrumental in bringing in 3 other island tennis pros to teach the clinics. Each pro taught different basic strokes to groups of 7 players, as the groups rotated through the lessons. The pros demonstrated a game, score-keeping, and line calling. Lunch was served before the players went back on the courts to try out their new skills in round robin play. The cost for each participant was $10.

A second clinic will be in the fall according to Ms. Moore.