Industry Predictions: Fostering Community Through Racquet Programs

How can racquets professionals foster a strong sense of community among members through social tennis events and leagues?

Brock Orlowski

“We might think people only join country clubs for the amenities, but the reality is, people join country clubs for the community that comes along with the amenities. One of the best ways to build meaningful member community is via racquet sport events and leagues.

“Racquets professionals can create dynamic and engaging events that not only draw players but provide a way for members to socialize and interact with each other throughout. The level of play in your events matters, but it pales in comparison to the environment you create and makes sure members are delighted while they are there.

“Members will want to join leagues and participate in events that allow them to rub shoulders with new people, but also to do so in a fun and stress-free experience. Think outside the box and push the envelope. Members won’t remember or tell their friends about events that are cookie cutter and fit inside a tidy box. Bring life to your club through spectacular racquets leagues and events and your members will be left asking the question, ‘when’s the next one?!’”

Brock Orlowski, Director of Racquet Sports
Fort Wayne Country Club; Fort Wayne, Ind.

Taylor Newman

“Building a community among members takes time. First, the staff must earn the membership’s trust. This entails running level-appropriate clinics for members, so they feel comfortable and cared for. The professional in charge should aim to make player introductions, take charge of creating pairings and run team-oriented games. Once members know they can expect a good product and feel welcomed by others, they become more willing to join social events and leagues. You, as the professional, have a duty to foster these relationships by knowing the subsets of people who will enjoy being at an event together and you can even use information about who is registered to get others to buy in.”

Taylor Newman, Assistant Director of Racquets
Chevy Chase Club; Chevy Chase, Md.

Nobu Tanaka

“Socials and leagues provide racquets professionals with the opportunity to create a strong sense of community within our membership. These offerings are the hook that demonstrates that racquet sports go beyond the individual – it is a way to foster deeper connections with others, engage in an entertaining shared experience with friends and family, and triggers the individual’s natural desire to improve. These events offer members and teammates the opportunity to support each other in their quest to progress to the next level, which ultimately deepens the bond between members through encouragement and a shared love of the game.”

Nobu Tanaka; Director of Racquets
Bethesda Country Club, Bethesda, Md.

Luke Helm

“My family and I were new to West Michigan, and I was newly returned to the club world after nearly a decade in college tennis, and one of my first questions about the program I was taking over was “how many adult interclub teams do you have?” As it turned out, despite being only 150 miles from the thriving interclub racquets communities around Chicago, Grand Rapids-area clubs had no such thing outside of junior tennis.

“Over the past two years, together with my counterparts at other clubs in the area, we’ve taken advantage of the wellspring of enthusiasm for pickleball and turned that into the first adult interclub league in recent memory. Our first summer saw a handful of evenings of head-to-head dual matches, and our second summer expanded those evenings and concluded the summer with our first annual multi-team tournament. And almost without fail, as both teams shared drinks or a meal around the host team’s patio, each of those nights ended with everyone asking, ‘when can we do this again?!’”

Luke Helm, Director of Racquets
Kent Country Club; Grand Rapids, Mich.