At National Public Parks 7-27 & 28

Registration was a pleasant surprise and Angel Rodriguez, Director of Tennis at Boca Pointe Country Club, was a superb host.

Arrival : Friday, 7-27-07, 6:00 p.m.

It’s Florida in the summer so you walk with an umbrella if you don’t want to get wet. Arriving at Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale late Friday afternoon to register for the National Public Parks Championships (NPPC), a Category II USTA tourney, my Life Partner MJ (would be “wife” if we were normal) and I broke out the umbrella as we hustled across the parking lot into the large, well-lit welcome area.

Smooth Registration

It was not the nightmare we had anticipated. There were no hoards of registrants, just a few people at the four stations set up to welcome and register players. “No, thank you. We are not paying in advance for the “Player Gala at the War Memorial Auditorium in Holiday Park, featuring live band, fashion show and delicious dinner” because I might not even be here on Tuesday (how’s that for confidence!)” If we’re still in it, we may go. At least players get to attend free.

We felt for the poor senior citizen who at 6:00 p.m. had just about had it after donating his entire day to the tournament. We didn’t mind much that he went to the “medium” instead of the “large” t-shirt box. We enjoyed chatting with the other volunteer who kept us entertained as we signed health waivers and such.

Entertainment A Washout

Unfortunately, I had to cancel my hitting session due to rain, and although the complimentary pizza provided for the players was dry, the Holiday Park Starlight Musical entertainment was definitely dampened by the weather.

Day two: Saturday, 7-28-07, 7:00 p.m.

One reason I love the game of tennisis the people you encounter along the way. I met Angel Rodriguez, Director of Tennis at Boca Pointe Country Club, at the Bush Florida Open where his daughter Alexis had and excellent showing. We talked about hitting when I came over to play the NPPC, and sure enough he stuck to his word.

Angel to the Rescue

We were rained out yesterday, but even after holding an event for his members and needing to prepare for an upcoming trip with his family to CA for the USTA National Championships, he still made time to hit with me at his topnotch facility. I went out there not knowing what my game would look like when I step out there tomorrow, and came away feeling like I might be able to give a decent account of myself and not embarrass the tennis community of Lee County.

Gracias!

Thanks Angel! Next time can we hit on that beautiful stadium court? Solamente un chiste Pana. Game, set, match!