58 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JANUARY 2026
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again. Then quit.
No use being a damn fool about it." ~ W.C. Fields. But when
nobody can succeed, change the rules. So, that's what we did at our
Thanksgiving Play Day and Fun (?) Day. After more than an hour-
and-a-half of tennis, we had some refreshments and then some
skills contests. The first one was trying to hit any of seven targets,
including a fake pumpkin dressed as a pilgrim, placed on the court
across from the players. After three rounds of everyone missing
everything, though there were some "ooohs" after near misses, we
changed the rules and moved the hitters closer to the targets. Still
no winners. Eventually, all seven targets were smushed together,
and Alex Castanon got the first win and broke a turkey target. More
winners followed him and were rewarded with Lotto Scratchers,
tennis pouches, or racquet dampeners. A couple of other contests
attracted a few players, but mostly people went back to eat again.
On Saturday, Jan. 17, we have the Tennis Club's Annual Dinner
and Meeting. We will be back in The Courts Multipurpose Room
with catering by Johnny Russo. At the meeting, there will be
reports from the Executive Committee and installation of its 2026
members. Membership dues for 2026 will be $25, the same as in
2025. Prior to the meeting, club members can pay their dues to any
of the committee members: Stan, Chuck, Lou, Larry Z, or Steve.
Those dues, along with the proceeds from the recycling project
(thank you, Mike Olson), pay for tennis balls, water and coffee at
Play Days, the cost of activities throughout the year, as well as for
the Annual Dinner for the members.
Jan. 3 is the deadline for registration for the Annual
Dinner and Meeting. There is no charge for dues-paying Club
members. Non-member guests may attend for $25. Email Stan Lam
to register.
Please note time changes: Saturday FUNdamental drills and
gentle coaching will start at 9 am on Court 1 during the winter
months. Regular last-Saturday-of-the-month Play Days will have
sign-ins at 8:30 am and play begins at 9 am during the winter
months. Winter hours for The Courts are 7 am to 8 pm. ~ Steve
Hovey (951) 712-5319, sahovey47@hotmail.com
Tennis Club
Evasive Pilgrim Pumpkin
Alex
hits the
winning
shot.
Eating again
