The new, OLD CHATHAM TENNIS CLUB
105 County Route 13
Old Chatham, NY 12136
518-392-7966
email:
Welcome It’s our 17th season. We begin Monday September 27th. We have old favorites and new faces.
Our Prices. Court rates are the same as last year. Junior development classes are a bargain for the 10 week sessions at $155. We’ve lowered the class size to no more than four students.
Al Pilate. We love Al. He’s the best with kids. Al is a certified USPTR Pro who taught privately for five years before coming to Old Chatham fifteen years ago. From the start Al has been the most popular pro who has ever taught at the club. His drills classes have waiting lists. So sign up early. Al teaches Monday thru Thursday and by appointment on Saturdays.
Jack and Judith Curry. Although not technically brand new (they did a few drills classes about three years back), Jack and Judith will be teaching at the club for the coming season. Jack will be available for lessons Mondays,Wednesdays,Thursdays from 4-7pm and all day on Saturday. Judith will be available for lessons on Saturdays. Both Jack & Judith have been teaching and coaching tennis for many years. Currently, Jack works for the PTR as a National Clinician and Tester for the tennis teacher certification program. He has earned top level teaching certification from the USPTA and was formerly the head pro at the Country Club of Troy for twelve seasons. Judith is entering her eighth year as tennis coach at the Emma Willard School for girls. Judith is a certified by the PTR and spent six summers as the associate pro at the Country Club of Troy
Jeff Bloomberg. Jeff has been teaching and coaching tennis for years. He too is a certified USPTR Pro. In the past he has coached teams for Chatham High School, College of Saint Rose and Siena. He has been teaching at Old Chatham on and off for the past five years. Last season he introduced some of our younger players to Quick Start tennis and hearty adults to Cardio Tennis (I survived!). Jeff teaches Monday thru Thursday and by appointment on Sunday afternoons.
End of Season Doubles Tournament. It’s back…the oh so popular end of season doubles tournament is coming out of the closet and getting a new date. Instead of having the tournament in June we are scheduling the tournament for the first weekend in May. Find a partner, start practicing and you may be the next Champion of the Old Chatham Tennis Club.
Email Blasts. If you are not on our email blast list you aren’t aware of open spots in drills classes, newly open court time, cancellations for junior classes due to weather, scores for our JTT teams, players looking for a match or any of the last minute fun things that happen at the club. It’s easy. Go to and enter your email address. It’ painless and will keep you in-the-know so you can take full advantage of your club membership. We protect the privacy of emails. Don’t worry. You won’t get an ad for Viagra – unless you need it. Just kidding.
USTA Junior Team Tennis. This will be a second indoor season after just completing a very successful outdoor season. We will definitely be having an 18 and under division and hoping to get enough players for a 14 and under division. This season each team will have an adult coach. If you are interested in coaching one of the teams please contact Jill.
Front Desk. Oh yeah, you didn’t see this one coming did you! We are moving the front desk downstairs to the main lobby (thanks for the suggestion Kevin). The wonderful and talented Spencer Hall from Austerlitz will be building it for us. Now you don’t have to wear yourself out climbing those stairs.
New Neighbors. Shortly after opening this season our new neighbors the Tri Village Fire Department will be moving in. Give them a wave; welcome them to the neighborhood! They are already proving to be great neighbors. Thank you to Jack Lanphear for not only brush hogging our field but he also brought over fill and cleaned up the back side of the tennis club. You’re the best Jack! If your tennis game gets too hot, Jack can rescue you. (We wish.)
New Junior Development Application. We are trying out a new application this season. Hopefully it will streamline the process of putting classes together. Also, new is the student teacher ratio of 4:1 unlike the past when it was 6:1.
Picture Wall. Still deciding on just where it will be but there will definitely be a wall at the club dedicated to pictures of our members. We will christen it with a wonderful picture of our own Harry Newton. This is a priceless photo taken at a past Columbia Memorial Tournament. Check out his feet. He has yet to serve without making a foot fault.
Friday Night Parties. One Friday every month we will be having tennis parties. Remember, you need to receive the email blasts to find out about the parties. Keep an eye on the announcement board downstairs.
Before we finish. Congratulations to the Wolves. They were our number one team in the USTA 18 & Under Junior Team Tennis League this past summer. The Wolves beat teams from Saratoga & Ithaca in the regional matches to move on to sectionals in Schenectady. They didn’t win in Schenectady but they sure played great and we were very proud of them. The team consisted of: Taylor Patzwahl -Ichabod, Bethany Meyers -Chatham, Amanda Geiger -Ichabod, Adam Super – Maple Hill, Zander Bowitch – Maple Hill and
JJ Ciampoli – Chatham.
At the last minute we had the opportunity to send a 14U team to Schenectady. They were: Colleen Curry, Samantha Downing, Jimmy Hollister, Spencer Perry, Greg Roe and Pierce Reilly. The team did a great job and really learned a lot. It was the first time for most of them to play at such a big event (teams from all over the state) and they were very impressive. Thank you to Bill Roe for coaching the team at the last minute, you were great!
Remember to try out the HarTru. It’s playing well. Good on the old bones.
SEE YOU ON THE COURTS!
Jill, Al, Jeff, Jack & Judith, Harry, Francis, Alan and George