The Sun Sets on Oak Grove

All good things have their time.  Good people, places and things. The Oak Grove Courts have to follow that rule. Sometime this year, the new Oak Grove Courts will be rebuilt to the other side of the park. The courts above will be demolished and a community center will replace it.

To me it's a shame. These courts have been here for decades. They serve a lot of people, year round, 365 days a year.  It's not just the locals that live nearby, it's people around S. Florida and even visitors to the US that use these courts.    I decided to take some photos this weekend . It's more for the historical record, so that people who'll never be able to play here could see how it was. Just good fun times, by a large group of diverse people who love and share the great game of tennis.

Zammy Forehand Setup

Here's Zammy with a decent setup on the forehand. Notice the Iphone worn on the hip and the extended pair of shorts. It's widely known that no one at the  Oak Grove courts has ever seen Zammy's knee caps,this is as mysterious as why Zammy's ancestors the Mayans disappeared  lol

Outside the courts you wait your turn. You play, you win, you stay. You lose, you sit and watch, very simple rules but it keeps order and keeps everyone happy.  

After play, subject matter of conversation is open ended. Oak Grove has people of every background imaginable. These people also are diverse in talent.  Both professional and private, you have engineers, physical therapists, business owners, authors, musicians, mechanics, artists.  It's a positive reflection of how society can get along and enjoy one another's company.   It's very rare in the real world, but that's how a passion for a sport or activity can cancel all that division and squabbling that you see so much of today. 

Here's Javier after 4 grueling sets of doubles, he's one of many ex-college and tournament level players that played at a very high level.

There's no question that like golf, recreational and competitive tennis has dropped off considerably in the South Florida area. For whatever reason, the game isn't played quite as much as say the 1980's, when there was an explosion of popularity in tennis. There were tennis courts and tennis tournaments everywhere. Perhaps during that time, tennis was just at its peak in its cycle. It wasn't as popular in the 1970's either because it wasn't as available. Like golf, it was a club oriented sport, much more exclusive.

Many at Oak Grove are self taught. Many have improved over the years, and play at a very respectable level. Tennis is a very difficult sport to play at an advanced level. It takes years and years of development.  The availability of these courts has made all these things possible.  There's no cost, there's other players who are always willing to play, and there are advanced players that help improving that much easier.