East Bay Area Tennis

[mionske]

Hi -

I'll be in the Point Richmond / Berkley, CA area for about the first two weeks of March. I'm looking to play with locals and also potentially take some lessons and/or join some clinics while in the area. I'm a 4.0/4.5ish player. Any recommendations for finding hitting partners or teaching pros you would recommend are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[MaxTennis]

Paging @LeeD

 

[LeeD]

Thanks for the head's up, Max
Been checking travel sec since Oct.
Turning 72 in a week, I might be a waste of time and energy for a real 4-4.5.
Don't know my phone number, but I check this site daily.
I can hit weekday mid morning. Gotta windsurf or foil in the afternoons.
Was a 4.0 couple years ago, but getting older.

 

[Papa Mango]

DM me here or papamango @ gmail.

Can hook you up with lessons/hitting but no clinics are happening anywhere. Clubs are members only nowadays no guests even.

Cheers,
Papa

 

[Papa Mango]

Thanks for the head's up, Max
Been checking travel sec since Oct.
Turning 72 in a week, I might be a waste of time and energy for a real 4-4.5.
Don't know my phone number, but I check this site daily.
I can hit weekday mid morning. Gotta windsurf or foil in the afternoons.
Was a 4.0 couple years ago, but getting older.

SPP is open again. Have seen the M & M brothers a couple of times but no lefty J.
The 3.0-3.5 crowd is there in full force all days of the week.

 

[LeeD]

Hey D....
Papa is a real 4.5, and actually can move around the court. A much better hitting partner.
I might be too buried in windsurfing, windfoiling, and wingfoiling to actually practice any tennis again.

 

[LeeD]

2 courts in Pt.Richmond.

 

[Raul_SJ]

SPP is open again. Have seen the M & M brothers a couple of times but no lefty J.
The 3.0-3.5 crowd is there in full force all days of the week.

When did San Pablo Park open back up? San Jose parks have been open since around July but Berkeley is an extreme NannyState.

 

[LeeD]

Actually, the City closed the courts to replace the fencing around, add some landscaping, and make a sun cover for the grandstands....30 people each [2].
They painted the courts, which are cracked again, and construction goes on around with caterpillars, dumptrucks, and bobcats....often literally 20' from the courts.

 

[Papa Mango]

When did San Pablo Park open back up? San Jose parks have been open since around July but Berkeley is an extreme NannyState.

What LeeD said above. Project was approved in 2018 so they just got around to doing it last year. Courts were closed I think Aug to Dec 31st.

Actually, the City closed the courts to replace the fencing around, add some landscaping, and make a sun cover for the grandstands....30 people each [2].
They painted the courts, which are cracked again, and construction goes on around with caterpillars, dumptrucks, and bobcats....often literally 20' from the courts.

I spoke to one of the contractors right after the courts had opened back up maybe 2 or 3 days later and the NW court was already cracking up.
He was asking the players how we liked the courts...
When we pointed to the cracks he said yes they know but to fix these they would have to dig them up just like Rose garden and there aint no money for that.
So fresh paint only it is.
Atleast the benches and trash cans are nice

...and construction goes on around with caterpillars, dumptrucks, and bobcats....often literally 20' from the courts.

and don't forget the leaf blower man! He seems to be there everytime I am there.

 

[Raul_SJ]

When we pointed to the cracks he said yes they know but to fix these they would have to dig them up just like Rose garden and there aint no money for that.
So fresh paint only it is.

It is inexcusable not to repair the cracks. That must be the top priority. Berkeley has plenty of money to do it.

Shut down the courts for six months and do not repair the cracks. Unvelievable. And the job should not take six months. The courts could be done in a month.

 

[Papa Mango]

It is inexcusable not to repair the cracks. That must be the top priority. Berkeley has plenty of money to do it.

Shut down the courts for six months and do not repair the cracks. Unvelievable. And the job should not take six months. The courts could be done in a month.

From the looks of it they don't have the money. The 6 month shut down was not just for the courts, they are upgrading the whole park, children's area close to the courts, new fencing, new wind screens (already ripped), graffiti proof paint, new stands as LeeD mentioned (I don't know why we need them when they have 2 tournaments a year if that), new offices etc etc

 

[Raul_SJ]

Is San Pablo Park one of the best public courts in Berkeley?

 

[Papa Mango]

Is San Pablo Park one of the best public courts in Berkeley?

I would guess so, 6 courts, excellent lights (old school non LED), big community prob the only place where you can get a pick up game any time of day.
Weekends/evenings you can get live music or atleast some guy with a boombox on the courts.

 

[Raul_SJ]

or atleast some guy with a boombox on the courts.

I hate that!

 

[LeeD]

Seems leaf blower walking around the courts twice a week right at the noon hours.
Missed him Thur, but he was looking for dry spots on rainy Friday. Only occasional work....might be trimmer dude.

 

[nyta2]

Thanks for the head's up, Max
Been checking travel sec since Oct.
Turning 72 in a week, I might be a waste of time and energy for a real 4-4.5.
Don't know my phone number, but I check this site daily.
I can hit weekday mid morning. Gotta windsurf or foil in the afternoons.
Was a 4.0 couple years ago, but getting older.

it would be a dream for me to be a 4.0 at 70y old...
feels like i'm 4.0 now with an elbow injury (ucl,... can't serve).
can't even imagine keeping this up for another 25y+ and staying the same level
i'm waking up can't-get-out-of-bed-sore from hitting with the youngsters.

 

[LeeD]

FYI, I am NOT a 4.0 right now.
I have been on a tennis court less than 15 times in the past 2 years.
One reason is windfoiling and windsurfing.
Another is that I am almost able to run at 1/2 speed after not being able to run since 2007.
I did spider drill around 19 seconds around 4 years ago. I'd cut 1.5 seconds off now.
Hitting should be back in 10 practice days. And I'm still at 156 lbs.

 

[Papa Mango]

it would be a dream for me to be a 4.0 at 70y old...
feels like i'm 4.0 now with an elbow injury (ucl,... can't serve).
can't even imagine keeping this up for another 25y+ and staying the same level
i'm waking up can't-get-out-of-bed-sore from hitting with the youngsters.

I hear ya. I guess we are around the same age, and I am dealing with elbow issues atm too.
It feels like injuries that used to heal in 2-3 weeks now takes 6-8 months and don't get me started on the random aches and pains that show up out of nowhere in the mornings.
And now my eyesight seems to be going too...
Stay healthy man!

On @mionske news, He did get to play a tourney while here in the bay area and took 7 games of a legit 5.0.
Think he had a pretty good trip for tennis atleast.
And I sent him into the black hole of strings and racket customization... sorry!

 

[LeeD]

Good I didn't waste his time on a tennis court.
Haven't been on court since I saw you at SPP.

 

[dodgethis]

Is there still drop in doubles for 3.0/3.5 people at San Pablo Park? I used to do this some years ago. Back then I think it was Tuesdays & Thursdays starting ~ 10am. Trying to get my game back after little to no play during Covid. Thanks.

 

[Papa Mango]

Is there still drop in doubles for 3.0/3.5 people at San Pablo Park? I used to do this some years ago. Back then I think it was Tuesdays & Thursdays starting ~ 10am. Trying to get my game back after little to no play during Covid. Thanks.

Yes, Mon/Wed/Fri. 9:30/10 on....
But it's a big group now so you might have to wait your turn

 

[dodgethis]

Great. Thanks.

 

[LeeD]

Drove by maybe 5 times in the past month.
Too crowded. 4-5 courts singles, 1-2 doubles with a total of 15 doubles players.

 

[dodgethis]

Wow. That's a lot. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Papa Mango]

Wow. That's a lot. Thanks for the heads up.

FYI, SPP courts are going to be closed for 2 weeks in May. I think the original date was 5/10 but they were open on monday. Might be closed now. But the group usually moves to Grove if SPP is closed.

 

[dodgethis]

Got it. Thanks for the info.