Tennis
Wesley Bell has joined the Ocean Park community as the new Tennis Manager, replacing Todd Whitney, who retired as Manager at the end of 2009. Wes was selected from a large applicant pool by a search committee comprised of Todd and Kathy Whitney, Ron Houle, Phil Ransom, and Ed Rea.
Wes has been a tennis teacher and pro since 1994. For the past 9 years he was Assistant Head Pro at the Woodlands Country Club in Falmouth, Maine. Wes is a level 5.0 player with a passion for teaching. He has extensive experience in running adult and junior clinics and has directed and coached adult and junior teams. At Woodlands he implemented and directed Cardio Tennis programs.
In Wes’ spare time he likes to camp, hike, mountain bike, and kayak. He has bicycled from Washington State to Washington, DC, and recently completed a solo cycle from Maine to Key West.
Hours
The clay Tennis Courts are open Monday - Saturday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm in June and July, and
8:00 am to 7:00 pm in August; Sunday hours are 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Reservations
recommended.
Season Tennis membership: $140 for OPA members; $180 for non-OPA
members. Half-Season membership: $75 for OPA members; $95 for non-OPA members.
Membership includes round-robin play and all court rental fees. Rates for non-tennis members
are available at the tennis hut.
Children’s Clinics are Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and run ¾ to 1 hour; registration
required ($3 for OPA members; $5 for non-OPA members), limit six children per age group.
Rackets are supplied. Start time for advanced players: 1:00 pm; 10 and up: 2:00 pm; 7 to 9-yearolds:
3:00 pm; 4-to 6-year-olds: 4:00pm.
Round-robin sign up is done prior to play at 7:45 and 9:45 am. Men’s round-robin early start is
8:00 am Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Women’s round-robin early start is 8:00 am Tuesday,
Thursday, and Saturday. Late start is 10:15 am. Limit 24 players/ session.
Round-robin is very popular; round-robin sign-up works this way:
- Please be at the courts at 7:45 and 9:45 am to get into the draw. At those times the pro
will place numbers in a hat and players will draw for the first 24 positions.
- Players 1 thru 12 will play in the first round; players 13 and up will play in the next
round. Each round is one half-hour. All players must be present for the drawing.
- In the event 24 players are present at the time of the drawing, the first 12 players will
play a one-hour 1st half and players 13 - 24 will play the 2nd half for one hour.
- If more than 24 players are present for the drawing, the pro will insert “sorry no play”
cards. The pro will make every effort to encourage these players to make use of empty
court time in the afternoon.
- Players who are not present for the drawing will check in with the pro for a playing
assignment. All players must be present when the pro does the next round match up.
These are done ten minutes prior to the next round going out.
- If players have time preferences they may trade positions - just let the pro know before
match ups are completed at 8:00 am and 10:15 am.
Mixed Doubles mixers: 1:00 to 3:00 pm Sunday, registration is 15 required, limit 8 teams.
Court
rentals, lessons, group clinics, and ball machine rental available from 12:30 pm ‘til closing,
Monday-Saturday. For more info. contact Tennis Manager Wes Bell at the Tennis Hut, 934-
9325, or at wes_bell29@hotmail.com. Wes is a USPTA certified Tennis Professional.
A cardio-tennis program has been added for this summer: Tuesday nights, 6:00-7:30pm. It is
limited to 6 people on one court, based on signups. Open to all persons 18 and over.
Shuffleboard
Stop by the Shuffleboard Courts for an Ocean Park tradition – family fun for all ages. Instruction
available for newcomers.
The Shuffleboard Courts at the corner of West Grand and Randall Avenues are under the
management of Bob Badone. The courts are open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Monday through
Saturday. For schedules and fees drop by the courts for a visit. An open Family Fun Tournament
is held every Thursday morning; register early to participate. Trophies are awarded to the
winners.
Move on Monday
The Move on Monday exercise opportunities will feature T’ai Chi classes July 12-August 9, 9-10
am, Jordan Hall, $5 per session.
Biking and Walking in Ocean Park
There are a number of good biking routes and hiking trails in Ocean Park and the surrounding
area. Guild Park, a 10 acre old-growth white pine and spruce grove off Temple Ave. between
Free St. and the railroad tracks has marked walking trails. Other trails are in the Rachel Carson
National Wildlife Refuge; a trailhead is in the Oceanwood Camp at the end of Royal Street.
More information and maps are available in the Visitor’s Center at 14 Temple Avenue.
