Lee County Tennis Association starting pilot program on Pine Island
At 87, many men might be content to sit in a rocking chair – but not Pine Island resident Mack Luten. He wants to play tennis.
“But I can’t run anymore,” he said.
Coming to Luten’s rescue are Hariette Bohannan and the Lee County Tennis Association. It is trying out a new way of playing the game at Phillips Park and looking for more players to participate with Luten and several others already on board.
“As long as the baby boomers have been alive, they have been driving trends,” Bohannan said. “Now they are aging out of tennis because of lack of stamina or mobility.”
The pilot program, Mini Tennis for All Ages, uses lighter racquets, a smaller court and a ball with less of a bounce. Players must serve underhanded.
“These changes slow the game down,” Luten said.
In mid-September, a tennis coach will introduce three sample games at Phillips Park and the two other Lee County parks that are test sites. Participants will be asked for feedback in October. Then in February, a county-wide Welcome Back to Tennis Day will be held with demonstrations in eight parks.
“Our goal is to keep people active,” Bohannan said.
For more information, call 565-5300, email info@lccta.com or visit www.leecountytennis.com.