Tennis Warehouse-Central Florida Chapter (Greater Orlando Area) - Page 474

bad_call · 09-07-2012, 05:04 PM

^sent u email.

Jeff Nuese · 09-08-2012, 11:11 AM

Id like to welcome MG Ten to the gang at OTC..looks like he has some nice hits today

mikeler · 09-08-2012, 05:31 PM

I get a rare double header this week against Wicked tomorrow.

stringertom · 09-09-2012, 05:18 AM

Rainy days like today make me long for the real old times here in Orlando when OF&RC (then OTRC) on Adanson had two indoor courts.

mikeler · 09-09-2012, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stringertom

Rainy days like today make me long for the real old times here in Orlando when OF&RC (then OTRC) on Adanson had two indoor courts.

Where exactly was this facility? I thought I remember there being one in Sanford at some point in time too.

stringertom · 09-09-2012, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeler

Where exactly was this facility? I thought I remember there being one in Sanford at some point in time too.

It was a private tennis/racquetball/swim/fitness club off of Lee Rd west of I-4. They hosted the US national 14's (? IIRC) girl's clay court tourney for a while, had 12 or so outdoor Har-Tru courts and 2 indoor HC's. Then, a wealthy racquetball afficionado bought the club and the whole slant of membership went in that direction. They built a few extra RB courts and expanded their fitness gym by using the indoor tennis space, scrimped on the Har-Tru maintenance and voilà, everybody bailed on their tennis memberships.

There were many other factors that helped feed the exodus (limited parking, declining neighborhood) but the place stayed active until at least 2005. Marcelo Gouts (Lake Cane tennis director) tried to ramp it back up but I think the land got too valuable as a commercial building zone so the owner sold and it was to be razed and converted to office space the last I heard of it.

mikeler · 09-10-2012, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stringertom

It was a private tennis/racquetball/swim/fitness club off of Lee Rd west of I-4. They hosted the US national 14's (? IIRC) girl's clay court tourney for a while, had 12 or so outdoor Har-Tru courts and 2 indoor HC's. Then, a wealthy racquetball afficionado bought the club and the whole slant of membership went in that direction. They built a few extra RB courts and expanded their fitness gym by using the indoor tennis space, scrimped on the Har-Tru maintenance and voilà, everybody bailed on their tennis memberships.

There were many other factors that helped feed the exodus (limited parking, declining neighborhood) but the place stayed active until at least 2005. Marcelo Gouts (Lake Cane tennis director) tried to ramp it back up but I think the land got too valuable as a commercial building zone so the owner sold and it was to be razed and converted to office space the last I heard of it.

I played there twice the last decade. The first time, the Har-Tru courts were incredible. About 2 years after that, they were downright dangerous.

bigmatt · 09-10-2012, 06:23 AM

I remember playing on those indoor courts a couple of times. Mikeler is right about the clay: for awhile it was very good, but then the maintenance went south (one of the first things to tell you revenues are down), and there were lines sticking up too high, bald spots and other dangers. They had 2 outdoor hard courts there, too, and I was always hoping to get one when our team played there.
Too bad what happened, because it was a cool club. I remember the Girl's 14s (may have been 12s), Tom, and I saw Stephanie Rehe win there about 30 years ago. she was at least 6 inches taller than all the other girls then!

mikeler · 09-10-2012, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigmatt

I remember playing on those indoor courts a couple of times. Mikeler is right about the clay: for awhile it was very good, but then the maintenance went south (one of the first things to tell you revenues are down), and there were lines sticking up too high, bald spots and other dangers. They had 2 outdoor hard courts there, too, and I was always hoping to get one when our team played there.
Too bad what happened, because it was a cool club. I remember the Girl's 14s (may have been 12s), Tom, and I saw Stephanie Rehe win there about 30 years ago. she was at least 6 inches taller than all the other girls then!

Those were the problems I remembered. Lines sticking up out of the ground and there is no way you could slide on the clay. You would sprain your ankle or knee if you tried. The nets were falling apart too.

Do you guys also remember a club at the east end of Lake Mary Blvd? I played there as a junior. They had maybe 8 or 10 clay courts, it was a nice facility but I guess somewhere along the line it vanished too.

Power Player · 09-10-2012, 07:57 AM

The place Tom is referring too is now an indoor soccer facility. I have played soccer there a few times. I used to play tennis and racquet ball and worked out there as a kid. The place really went downhill pretty fast around 2007. They used to have an indoor hoops court when it was still doing well. I saw Shaq and Nick Anderson in there taking free throw lessons before.

The indoor soccer facility is really cool. I hope it does well.

bigmatt · 09-10-2012, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeler

Those were the problems I remembered. Lines sticking up out of the ground and there is no way you could slide on the clay. You would sprain your ankle or knee if you tried. The nets were falling apart too.

Do you guys also remember a club at the east end of Lake Mary Blvd? I played there as a junior. They had maybe 8 or 10 clay courts, it was a nice facility but I guess somewhere along the line it vanished too.

That was Bayhead. I played there a bit back in the 80s, and it was a happening place. A guy took it over for a tennis academy and the courts went downhill fast. It's been sitting there empty for what seems like 20 years now; can't believe they didn't sell the land during the "bubble". I know the husband of the lady who was (is?) president of SCC; told him they should snatch it up, repair it and start a tennis program again. Never got anywhere with that one, believe it or not.

mikeler · 09-10-2012, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Power Player

The place Tom is referring too is now an indoor soccer facility. I have played soccer there a few times. I used to play tennis and racquet ball and worked out there as a kid. The place really went downhill pretty fast around 2007. They used to have an indoor hoops court when it was still doing well. I saw Shaq and Nick Anderson in there taking free throw lessons before.

The indoor soccer facility is really cool. I hope it does well.

Guess the lessons didn't take!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigmatt

That was Bayhead. I played there a bit back in the 80s, and it was a happening place. A guy took it over for a tennis academy and the courts went downhill fast. It's been sitting there empty for what seems like 20 years now; can't believe they didn't sell the land during the "bubble". I know the husband of the lady who was (is?) president of SCC; told him they should snatch it up, repair it and start a tennis program again. Never got anywhere with that one, believe it or not.

Too bad, they had some nice courts back in the day. Funny, yet true story. I went there with a buddy of mine to play a junior tournament. In between matches I was watching him play and this was his first time on clay. He fell and skinned his knee bad. As an adolescent "friend" I proceeded to laugh at him. My next match the same thing happened to me. He returned the favor!

stringertom · 09-10-2012, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigmatt

That was Bayhead. I played there a bit back in the 80s, and it was a happening place. A guy took it over for a tennis academy and the courts went downhill fast. It's been sitting there empty for what seems like 20 years now; can't believe they didn't sell the land during the "bubble". I know the husband of the lady who was (is?) president of SCC; told him they should snatch it up, repair it and start a tennis program again. Never got anywhere with that one, believe it or not.

Hey, Matt! How's your Dad? Rob Field texted me Friday and said he just met you. That and your posts reminded me to inquire.

Bayhead had a great junior camp...Amre S. ran it and had some stud juniors. It is very close to Seminole State...maybe they can get a couple of top Swedes like Pernfors and Tobias to relaunch a program.

We used to have a lot of clay clubs...OTRC, Maitland Field Club, Sabal Point (I worked there for Tony Fernandez in the late 80's). At least Azalea finally added their Har-Tru to overcome all that closed.

bad_call · 09-10-2012, 09:27 AM

^ stringertom - reads to be another old geezer.

stringertom · 09-10-2012, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bad_call

^ stringertom - reads to be another old geezer.

Yeah, only 5 weeks and change until I become a SexiSexigenerian My avatar is my passport photo from 1972 (thanks again, PP, for the tech support!).

mikeler · 09-10-2012, 09:40 AM

While we are bringing up now defunct tennis clubs, did anybody here ever play at Greenlefe when it was open? That was another fantastic place to play.

bad_call · 09-10-2012, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stringertom

Yeah, only 5 weeks and change until I become a SexiSexigenerian My avatar is my passport photo from 1972 (thanks again, PP, for the tech support!).

i might know or seen you bitd (back in the day) when wood racquets were the norm.

mikeler · 09-10-2012, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bad_call

i might know or seen you bitd (back in the day) when wood racquets were the norm.

Did you guys fight side by side in the Civil War?

bad_call · 09-10-2012, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeler

Did you guys fight side by side in the Civil War?

think prohibition...

stringertom · 09-10-2012, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeler

Did you guys fight side by side in the Civil War?

I can't remember...Alzheimer's is kickin' in!

09-07-2012, 05:04 PM	#9461
bad_call Hall Of Fame Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,981	^sent u email. __________________ check the facts before believing what you read and hear...or accept blame for not doing so.

09-09-2012, 05:18 AM	#9464
stringertom Hall Of Fame Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 4,951	Rainy days like today make me long for the real old times here in Orlando when OF&RC (then OTRC) on Adanson had two indoor courts. __________________ "I am easily satisfied by the very best." Sir Winston Churchill; ALLEZ ROGI!

09-10-2012, 06:23 AM	#9468
bigmatt Rookie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 318	I remember playing on those indoor courts a couple of times. Mikeler is right about the clay: for awhile it was very good, but then the maintenance went south (one of the first things to tell you revenues are down), and there were lines sticking up too high, bald spots and other dangers. They had 2 outdoor hard courts there, too, and I was always hoping to get one when our team played there. Too bad what happened, because it was a cool club. I remember the Girl's 14s (may have been 12s), Tom, and I saw Stephanie Rehe win there about 30 years ago. she was at least 6 inches taller than all the other girls then! __________________ USRSA MRT Star 5

09-10-2012, 07:57 AM	#9470
Power Player G.O.A.T. Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: On my iPhone Posts: 13,544	The place Tom is referring too is now an indoor soccer facility. I have played soccer there a few times. I used to play tennis and racquet ball and worked out there as a kid. The place really went downhill pretty fast around 2007. They used to have an indoor hoops court when it was still doing well. I saw Shaq and Nick Anderson in there taking free throw lessons before. The indoor soccer facility is really cool. I hope it does well. __________________ 🐐ing

09-10-2012, 09:27 AM	#9474
bad_call Hall Of Fame Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,981	^ stringertom - reads to be another old geezer. __________________ check the facts before believing what you read and hear...or accept blame for not doing so.