"Growing tennis does not only mean attracting new players to the sport but also keeping those we have and or getting those we have engaged to the point they bring friends and family to the sport," says Riddle.
1. What has been the response from your members since tennis has returned to the court?
"Return to Play" is the buzz and also the question on the minds of everyone in tennis. Not only the players and pros but the part time staff or seasonal coaches, club staff or administrators down the line. In my 30+ years coaching, teaching and running tennis facilities I for sure have never seen a time like this. Despite the pandemic there is a rise in "casual play" or interest in tennis. Is it because tennis is now cool? Probably not! What it does offer is social distancing by nature, for the most part it is easily accessible but more importantly other sports or activities are closed or off for now.
2. Do you have unique programs designed for this season?
For our club, I will stand by that response and bet anyone else would agree if they do a little thinking on the question. Casual play for us is at an all time high at Temple Hills Country Club and I foresee it staying that way for the near future. The real question is what will the numbers look like in casual play once more organized tennis leagues and activities come back regularly.
3. What do you see as the greatest opportunity, and the greatest threat for the near future of local tennis?
The most important piece to our current success in getting people or members playing or on the court has been our addition of the "Court Reserve" online platform. This is hands down the easiest and best low cost online option for managing court bookings, lessons, clinics or any activity no matter the size, day or time. For us, embracing online technology and tools is and will be the key.
4. What advice to do you have for those tennis players looking for a place to play?
Local tennis has been in a "washing machine" for sometime in Music City and by that I mean it is constantly being mixed, tumbled, reinvented, reimagined and in a constant state of revolving which is for sure different than "evolving". Nashville tennis has strong bones but has incredibly weak muscles. We have a great history but lack basic core stability. This current time of pandemic "freeze" on the world can potentially help us locally firm up the loose ends our tennis community has struggled with. Some of our challenges are and will continue to be finding ways to consistently engage and attract tennis players to the sport. We have to secondly come to peace with pickleball and embrace what racquet sports look like going forward and how they coexist. Locally the teaching pros must simply do a better job of communicating while offering a unified front to deliver and grow the sport. Finally and ultimately we must work to build the brand of "TENNIS".
