TENNIS CLUB BUSINESS
August 2021 - Issue No. 92

USTA SOCAL

July 6, 2021

Rich,

I read your newsletter. I was particularly intrigued by your critique of USTA SoCal. It seems to me that what you isolated there is endemic to the whole organization. The differences are a matter of degree. The organization suffers from the decay of any autocratic entity when they focus their energies on rooting out the competition and become self-serving. I could see this in NorCal and I am only a passenger on their train.

The USTA represents the inevitable outcome of a monopoly – their constituencies (clubs and players) are no longer regarded as customers, but rather subjects to be controlled.

Bryan Baker

Mill Valley, California

TENNIS MONDIAL

TENNIS CLUB BUSINESS
We Empower The Powerless

THE GOOD

NEW SOCAL TRANSITION PRO CIRCUIT TOUR

Tour Supervisor says the caliber of play is off the charts

CONTEXT: Aspiring Southern California-based tennis players have few opportunities to earn ATP and WTA ranking points without traveling to South America or Europe. To respond to this player development need, the United States Tennis Association’s Southern California section has announced a unique series of six pro events for men and six pro events for women to take place in Southern California this summer.

The SoCal Pro Circuit is a transitional tour designed to create a path to the pro ranks for up-and-coming professional, college, and high-level junior players (with all main draw and qualifying wild cards to each event going to American players from Southern California or attending university full-time in Southern California). The first three $15,000 tournaments – part of the ITF World Tennis Tour and USTA Pro Circuit – took place in San Diego County, with the final three events in Los Angeles and Orange County.

SoCal Transition Pro Circuit Tour Supervisor Cathy Jacobsen:

"The SoCal Transition Pro Circuit Tour got off to a fabulous start with the completion of the third event of the San Diego swing. We enjoyed a great turnout, and the caliber of play proved to be off the charts! Both the fans and players enjoyed watching and competing in these combined men’s and women's events featuring Southern California’s future tennis stars. The goal of The SoCal Pro Circuit, which launched this year, is not only to showcase some of the most talented up-and-coming Men’s and Women’s players based in and around Southern California but also to prepare these accomplished young athletes for a career in professional tennis. We are looking forward to the Los Angeles swing of events on the Tour, starting July 27 which includes three tournaments hosted by Jack Kramer Club, Los Caballeros, and finishing up at Lakewood Tennis Center. If you enjoy watching professional tennis at its best, come out and see Southern California’s cream of the crop in action!"

USTA GUIDE FOR TENNIS, PICKLEBALL, AND PUBLIC FACILITY

From the Tennis Industry United newsletter

CONTEXT: The newsletter posted that "in an effort to provide assistance to decision-makers at park & rec facilities, the USTA in concert with park professionals recently created a set of suggested guidelines regarding tennis and pickleball courts, intended as a resource for park leaders." This effort needs to be applauded in my opinion.

Go here for the guide.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

USPTA World Conference back in the Big Easy September 18-23, 2022

CONTEXT: Racquet Sports Industry quotes John Embree in their July issue, "We had originally planned to host the 2020 WC at this location but because of COVID, we postponed it until this year. It was helpful that the hotel was ﬂexible to accommodate us this year. We were last here in 2015. And, as you may remember back then, it was a monumental moment in our illustrious ninety- ﬁve years when at that World Conference, the Executive Committee voted to relocate our World Headquarters from Houston to Lake Nona. On so many levels, that decision was transformative."

And the USPTA went all out to provide a memorable event. Besides an impressive lineup of speakers, the event calendar shows specialty courses, merchandise & trade show, general meeting, division parties, awards luncheon, workshops, Creole Queen River Cruise, XGLOSIVE Tennis Party. TE1/TE2 certifications, and (drumroll) two 4-hour sessions of Pickleball certifications.