My passion for tennis has been a lifelong journey, a journey that has been part of my worklife and social life. Unlike some children who found their second home in hockey rinks, perpetually shooting pucks, I was the quintessential "tennis rat." My formative years in the sport were not spent in the hushed elegance of prestigious private clubs; quite the contrary. My true tennis initiation began at the now-defunct Clairlea Tennis Club in Scarborough, a humble 3 court public facility where I first learned the game accompanied by my father. It was there, amidst the wood racquets and bouncing white tennis balls, that the seeds of a lifelong obsession were sown. Yes…wooden rackets and white tennis balls - and there were no indoor tennis clubs yet.

My early tennis years were a whirlwind tour of Scarborough's local clubs. From the small 2 clay courts of Scarborough Bluffs, the fancier Tam Heather club to the community spirit of Heron Park Tennis Club. Tennis players, by their very nature, often possess a transient spirit, constantly seeking that elusive "better game" or a more challenging opponent.

This wanderlust led me to play at a variety of clubs across the city, from Don Mills Tennis Club to the competitive North York Tennis Club with its clay courts. I even experienced the unique charm of the grass courts at the High Park Club on being a member on 2 separate occasions, a testament to my dedication. In a particularly memorable moment, those very grass courts served as the backdrop for my wedding, a reflection of how deeply intertwined tennis is with my personal history.

However, my true first tennis home, the club that shaped much of my teenage and adult years, was Kew Gardens Tennis Club. A visiting coach from Clairlea, recognizing a spark of potential, recruited me as a junior, suggesting I come down and immerse myself in the club's vibrant atmosphere. And so, I did. The journey involved a regular bus ride, a pilgrimage to a place where I would spend countless hours with other young enthusiasts. As an adult, my involvement deepened beyond just playing. I embraced volunteerism, eventually serving in a number of positions, culminating as serving as Club President. This journey, from a young tennis rat to a leader within the community, perfectly encapsulates my enduring love affair with the sport.

Like many sports, tennis has its own social hierarchy. I started playing at "public" community clubs, which in Toronto meant hundreds of affordable outdoor community facilities—what I called "courts in a park." These haven't changed much in over 75 years. A step above the basic public outdoor court, these were courts/clubs that offered better facilities, lighting, sometimes a clubhouse, and, crucially, a sense of community. And best of all they are not very expensive. At the top of this pyramid were the "private" clubs. We know them not by their full names but by their shortened names - the Boulevard, the Cricket, Granite and probably the most famous - the Lawn.

I recall exactly my first visit to the Lawn. It was 1968 to watch the Canadian Open. Going through the gates and looking out at the rows of “clay” courts was something I had never seen or knew existed. The following year, I came back again to watch some of the best players in the world play and the Toronto Lawn continued to host players like Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert and Margaret Court.

I became better acquainted with the Lawn over the next number of decades playing in tournaments and in the Toronto Men’s League. It was always a treat to play there - they served beer after the League Matches!!

My journey on the tennis courts was a fulfilling one, though I never quite reached the echelons of the top players. I'd describe myself as a formidable club player, consistently challenging and often besting many in my local circles.

However, there was one season that saw me briefly ascend to the pinnacle of the Ontario Provincial rankings within my senior age category. I managed to win a singles event and finished as a finalist in the Provincial Championship in doubles Looking back, I candidly acknowledge that it might have been a particularly weak year for the competition, and perhaps the nuances of the ranking system aligned in my favor. Nevertheless, the numbers don't lie, and officially, I held the number one ranking both in singles and doubles.

Joining the Toronto Lawn wasn't something I ever anticipated. I didn't grow up in the affluent neighborhoods of Rosedale or Forest Hill; I was just a middle-class kid from Scarborough, and the path to a place like the Lawn was never going to be an easy one. I recall bringing home the membership package multiple times, but we could never bring ourselves to complete it and write the check. Even then, over 25 years ago, it was a significant sum. The family initiation fee alone was $20,000. However, if you could manage that, the actual yearly fees weren't much more than playing indoors at a club like Mayfair (which I did). Okay, it was considerably more, but hey, this is my blog, and I can rationalize as much as I want. Nevertheless, with the CFO Sheila's blessing, we joined as a family.

We became full members and the Lawn became a big part of our family life. My daughter played at the kids club, swam in the pool and of course ate as much butter pasta and chicken fingers she could handle. We made new friends and I gave up other memberships to make the Lawn my home. Because of my background in the sport I was asked to help out with the tennis committee which led to becoming a Board Member.

Upon entering the hallowed grounds of the Lawn, I quickly realized that my initial perception of it as a purely social and recreational haven was far from the truth. It was, in fact, a deeply political landscape, a microcosm of power dynamics and resistance to change. Lurking beneath the surface was a persistent, albeit small, faction of members who, with a vocal and unwavering presence, staunchly opposed any significant departure from tradition. I recall when we wanted to implement an online court reservation system you would have thought the world was coming to an end.

After three formative years serving as a Board Member, navigating the intricate web of club politics and learning the unwritten rules of engagement, I was selected as Vice President and then Club President. The period that followed was, to put it mildly, immensely challenging. I once chronicled these experiences in a blog post a few years ago, a piece I ultimately chose to delete, perhaps in an attempt to distance myself from the intensity of that era. Suffice it to say, it consumed a significant portion of my life, demanding 2-3 hours of my day, every day, as I grappled with the Board and management to address a seemingly endless array of difficult issues.

It became increasingly clear that the club was in dire need of a revitalization, a "freshening up" to bring it into the modern era while preserving its cherished heritage. Over a span of five arduous years, numerous presentations were painstakingly prepared and delivered to the membership, outlining proposed changes designed to modernize facilities and enhance services. To get over the finish line we struggled with what was needed? Suffice to say it was challenging and at the end of the day when looking back I take responsibility for not getting to a member vote.

The delicate balance between preserving the past and embracing the future proved to be a constant and formidable challenge. However, in an almost equally highly charged decision we did manage to fix the forever problem with the indoor courts and it was heartening to hear some of the opponents say “we made the right decision.”

My term ended, and I stepped back from the spotlight for a while. It's amazing that although you do make friends you also make enemies. Who would have thought? I’ve lost a few close friends and for that it's very sad.

In one of my volunteer roles at the Club I was involved in interviewing prospective new members, it was evident how the club was evolving. The Lawn once prided itself on being a private club in Rosedale without the hefty price tag. We used to serve ourselves at the snack bar, and a glass of red wine was always more affordable than the more expensive restaurants on Yonge Street. You joined for tennis; if you wanted to get fancy, you went to the Granite Club. But like everything, change is normal, and when you're now charging $40,000 to join, younger new members arrive with different expectations. Worn fabrics on the chairs simply won't cut it anymore.

A few years late the Board decided to bring back rebuilding plans and of course it wasn’t going to easy. I’m not going to re-hash it all but it was certainly interesting and feel free to read about it in Toronto Life.

The campaign surrounding the vote was contentious, with strong divisions emerging between those in favor and those opposed. The outcome of the vote was incredibly close. To the surprise of many, the decision came down to a narrow majority of approximately nine members, or 50.3% who supported it.

Some were hoping that the Board would take a deep breath and come back with something new but the Board said no, we’re going forward. Life goes on.

On a more personal note, I underwent shoulder surgery, which unfortunately led to a prolonged period on the sidelines. The recovery proved to be arduous and frustrating, especially as serving underhand was never an option I truly embraced. Two years of rehabilitation have passed, and I found my initial spark and interest in the sport beginning to fade. As expected, calls from old friends became less frequent—a classic case of "out of sight, out of mind."

It was Ms. Sheila, our practical CFO, who posed the difficult question I'd been avoiding: "Are you really going to play again?" Spending over $15,000 annually for what had essentially become a glass of wine and an expensive hamburger no longer made much financial sense. Furthermore, with a 2-3 year renovation project slated for the club, my usage was certainly not going to increase.

Consequently, on July 1st, I penned my letter of resignation. At the end of September, my membership officially ceased, and for the very first time in my life, I am no longer a tennis club member. I was invited to have lunch there recently and was joined by some old friends. As to be expected, politics of the club have not changed and recently 4 Board Members and the Club President resigned with a call out in Toronto Life again. Sigh…

It feels a bit strange I admit. Kind of like being in a pickle (LOL) I think. You might say - just go join somewhere else but the Covid pandemic created a run on tennis clubs and literally every tennis club in the city has a waiting list - some of them almost 10 years? Crazy.

I get it - reading this for some you might think I’m being stupid. And that’s perfectly fine - it is my blog as I’ve said before. No one died, it’s just a tennis club.

I think it’s a realization that it's the end of the chapter of a long journey that began on the rough hard courts in Scarborough to finishing at a place that seemed very special. To the golfers out there once you’ve hit the ball at Augusta it’s kind of hard to go back to the public course links.

Will I ever play again? I’m not sure. But hopefully, I will and maybe somebody might invite me to the Lawn for a hit and a glass of wine.