(Contributed by Chris Howard)

If you are one of the many people who have moved here in the past 10 years from somewhere else and want to play tennis, or a local who now has the time and inclination to get back at the game, then you might enjoy reading this to find out what options are available in the Prescott area to give you some exercise, meet some new friends and smack the little green ball around with the fun game of TENNIS!

Tennis players in Prescott have quite a few options from public parks and recreations courts, subdivisions, Yavapai College and a very nice private club called the Prescott Racquet Club.

There is also a local tennis association, the Prescott Area Tennis Association that you can access information from by going online: www.pataonline.org.

The public courts available to the public on a first come, first serve basis are currently:

• *The 4 Armory courts on Gurley Street: Surface is synthetic grass and sand/lighted.
• The 6 Prescott High School Courts on Ruth Street. (These are hard courts that are to be completely replaced fall, 2006.)
• The 5 courts at Granite Mountain Middle School on Williamson Valley Road are also hard courts. (Not in very good condition, can be a bit wind blown at times…but hitable.)
• The 6 lighted hard courts at Yavapai College just off of Sheldon Street. Excellent condition. Yavapai College classes have first preference. A full array of tennis programs, drop-in, etc. 928-778-7071.
• The Prescott Racquet Club has 7 hard courts, 5 lighted with an array of tennis programs. You can pay for membership, or pay the non-member rate to join in their activities. 778-0708.

Subdivisions with tennis facilities:

• Timber Ridge (off Iron Springs Road): 2 hard courts.
• Hidden Valley Ranch (off White Spar Road): 4 hard courts.
• Haisley Homestead ( off White Spar Road): 2 hard courts.
• Yavapai Hills (off Highway 69 in east Prescott): 2 hard courts
• Prescott Canyon Estates: 1 hard court.
• Prescott Resort (off Highway 69): 2 hard courts.
• Prescott Ranch (off Highway 69, east Prescott): 1 hard court.
• Granville (off Glassford Hill Road in Prescott Valley): 2 hard courts.
• Hassayampa (off Thumb Butte Road): 1 hard court.

…….and there are other new subdivisions with a court or two as well.

In my opinion, if you are looking to get in the swing of tennis in Prescott, you have five good options to seek out:

1. Call and set up an appointment to talk with one of the pro’s in the area. Either at the Prescott Racquet Club (928-778-0708) or at Yavapai College (928-778-7071). They’ll find out your ability level and give you all the information you’ll need to know to get started.
2. Get in one of the year-round Yavapai College Tennis Classes. They are very cost effective and you’ll meet many new tennis friends and branch out from there. 928-445-7300…ask for registration.
3. Come to Drop-In-Tennis at Yavapai College. It’s on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and all you have to do is show up and bring a can of balls. You will play in three 34-minute rotations of mainly doubles. (Winter times 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.)
4. If you live at one of the subdivisions listed above, call their subdivision management or homeowner’s association and see who the tennis chairman is and talk with them about what programs are going on.
5. Get on-line with the Prescott Area Tennis Association and access the programs and players list. Join their organization and become a part of the process of keeping tennis vibrant in the area.

There are monthly tournaments and activities for juniors/adults and seniors of all ability levels, but it takes YOU to initiate the process.

By Chris Howard, USPTA Tennis Professional