Westward Look Resort Gets Kids Swingin’ with QuickStart Tennis
Tucson resort energizes young tennis players with kid-sized equipment, courts
Tucson, AZ (10/04/11) – Westward Look is serving up a new tennis program designed to help young players learn the game and, better yet, stay interested. The resort has implemented the United States Tennis Association (USTA) QuickStart Tennis play format for kids 10 and under, which utilizes modified equipment and courts, as well as specialized scoring, to make tennis fun for the littlest tennis players. In addition to encouraging kids, the modifications also align with updated 2012 USTA kids' tournament requirements. Westward Look will be one of only three Tucson tennis venues that meet the new requirements.
QuickStart Tennis is designed to introduce children 10 and under to the sport and keep them interested by eliminating any frustration associated with playing with adult-sized equipment. With courts and equipment scaled down to their size, children are able to learn the sport of tennis without unnecessary aggravation. Using to-scale equipment, young tennis competitors will be able to continually improve as they grow into adult- sized equipment.
As part of implementing this new play format, Westward Look added graduated lines to their eight championship tennis courts when resurfacing and repainting this summer. The new graduated lines visually scale down the courts for young children first learning to play. Six of Westward Look's eight courts are now lined for children 10 and under, and two courts feature graduated lines to accommodate children 8 and under.
With QuickStart Tennis, children 10 and under play on a 60' x 21' court and use a lower compression tennis ball that doesn't bounce quite as high as a regular tennis ball. They also use 25" racquets, which are slightly smaller than adult-sized ones. Children 8 and under play on a 36' x 18' court using easier-to-handle 23" racquets and foam or very low compression tennis balls that bounce even lower than those used by players 10 and under.
“On and off the court, kids are simply excited about playing tennis," said Tom Lepisto, Westward Look's Director of Tennis. “Customizing the equipment and courts for kids takes away the frustration of trying to balance a big racquet and sprint across a huge court, and allows them to focus on the fun and the sport of the game instead."
Westward Look offers players of all skill levels tennis lessons, clinics and double play throughout the year. This fall, Westward Look will offer tennis lessons for kids age 10 and under on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. and on Saturdays at 9 a.m. Practice sessions for kids 10 and under cost $40 for one session, $70 for two, or $90 for three. Four-week sessions are also available. Lessons and clinics are led by Lepisto and other top-rated Southwestern United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) tennis instructors on staff. For more information on tennis lessons for kids at Westward Look, parents are asked to visit www.westwardlook.com/recreation/tennis or call Pro Shop at 520-917-2466.
To learn more about Westward Look Resort, tennis lessons and more, please visit www.westwardlook.com.
ABOUT WESTWARD LOOK RESORT
Westward Look Resort is set in the foothills of Tucson's Santa Catalina Mountains on 80 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert. It offers 244 suite-sized rooms, two award-winning restaurants, a chef's garden, the Sonoran Spa, eight tennis courts, desert hiking trails, on-site stables for horseback riding and multiple pools. Since 2010, the resort has been named an AAA Four Diamond Award® recipient each year, which honors the hotel for its commitment to excellence throughout the entire property, including GOLD restaurant, the resort's extensive array of amenities, guest services and attention to detail. More information is available at 1-800-722-2500 and www.westwardlook.com.
ABOUT RIVER HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
River Hospitality Management is a hospitality management company that strives for successful management partnerships through offering a unique blend of integrated disciplines, experienced leadership and multiple resources. A focus to improve guest service quality, inspire staff performance and ignite revenue production creates a sustainable model for increased profit margins and enhanced asset value under a variety of ownership structures. www.riverhospitality.com.
