Pick any nice summer night during any day of the week, and odds are you’ll find all sorts of action taking place at the Moose Jaw Tennis Club on the east end of Crescent Park.
With around 80 members currently signed up with the local organization, folks of all ages can be found at the five-court outdoor facility, taking lessons, playing matches and just in general having a good time getting exercise and plenty of fresh air.
Club organizers are hoping to see even more folks taking up the game in the coming months, and with that in mind are holding a special in-person registration session at the indoor court in the Golden Ticket Sports Centre on Saturday, Apr. 22.
“It’ll be a chance for people to come and find out more about the club and sign up and get ready for another fun season,” said Tammy Kleisinger with the MJTC.
The upcoming season will mark the first full summer with the brand-new resurfaced courts in play, with the work having been completed last June. The Australian Open-blue surface received rave reviews in the first few months of operation, offering a huge improvement over the old and worn surface.
“There are no cracks and the ball bounces better, that’s for sure, and the nice vibrant blue is really nice,” Kleisinger said. “They’re also more even and level, we used to have lots of bumps and humps and cracks, and now they’re very, very nice to play on.”
Members have the option of playing at any time, with special round robin events taking place every weekday morning to give players a chance to meet other potential playing partners.
“It’s a nice social and friendly event, and it’s a great chance to come out and meet other members of the club and maybe someone you might want to play with,” Kleisinger said.
The club will also begin offering lessons for youth and adults beginning in May, giving players a chance to learn the basics and intricacies of the sport for even more enjoyment on the courts.
And once you’ve picked up the game, you’ll find no shortage of places to play given the continuing growth of the sport.
“I’ve found that tennis is a great sport for families, too,” Kleisinger said. “When you go on vacation to Mexico or Florida or wherever, there’s usually a tennis court around. And if your kids know how to play a bit of tennis and the parents know how to play, it’s a really nice activity. Then even some of the campgrounds in Saskatchewan have tennis courts, so there are a lot of places to play if you just want to get in a game or get some exercise.
"Once you know the basics, you just need a racket and ball and some running shoes and you’re good to go.”
The competitive side of things will see a pair of events this summer, with the Provincial Senior Open July 7-9 and the Club Championships from Aug. 25-27. There are also regular Ladies and Men’s League Nights for those looking for a bit more competition.
The Moose Jaw Tennis Club is also planning on holding free-to-play nights early in the season to give folks a chance to come out and try the game. Be sure to keep an eye on their website and Facebook page for more news on those events,
Memberships for the 2023 season -- which is expected to being the first week of May -- are now available on their website at www.moosejawtennisclub.com, and you can find about all their other programs up for offer there as well. For regular updates, visit their new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/moosejawtennis and if you have any questions, send along an e-mail to moosejawtennisclub1@gmail.com.
