Tennis club gearing up for summer

Courts at the Moose Jaw Tennis Club will be filled with the sounds of competition when the 2007 season starts next month.
"We've had quite a few new members come in to register already," said club manager Jim Kirkpatrick. "Some are coming back to the game and some are brand new."
About 70 people, including 15 new to the club, have registered so far. Another 100 to 130 are expected to do so before the end of May.
Mondays are reserved for competitive doubles play from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., while competitive singles play takes place Tuesdays at the same time.
Wednesdays are tennis mixer nights and opened to both novice and experienced players.
"Anybody who shows up will get moved around on the courts to play some games, then stop to have some food, then play some more games," explained Kirkpatrick. "It's all very social."
Thursdays are junior league nights from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. and offer drills, skills and games for players age 17 and younger.
New this year are daily dedicated court times from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for members and per-use players wishing to play pick-up games, practice or use the ball machine to work on skills.
Open court times for non-members are also available seven days a week for a cost of $5 per person per hour. Rackets are available to borrow.
In addition to league play, the club also offers lesson packages for players age seven and over new to the sport.
Each package consists of six hour-long sessions that focus on the fundamentals of tennis. The instructors are Drew Hager, 15, and his grandmother, Joan Buckmaster - both multiple time city champions in the sport.
"Both are excellent players," said Kirkpatrick. "Drew won our men's singles division last year and Joan's one of the best women's players in the city."
The club will also host one tournament this summer, the Moose Jaw Senior Tennis Tournament June 15 and 16 for players age 30 and over.
The Moose Jaw Tennis Club has extended its early bird membership drive to May 15, with a sign-up session this Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the clubhouse.
For more information, call Kirkpatrick at 692-9155 or 694-4399 after May 1.