PHOTO GALLERY

The largest public clay court facility in the United States, Cooper Creek Park in Columbus, Georgia at the Roger and Judy Pearce Tennis Center, was the site of the first combined National Women’s Tennis Organization and National Senior Men’s Tennis Association event. Originally scheduled for September of last year, and rescheduled to mid April of this year due to Hurricane Ian, the tournament attracted seven teams from across the country of nine women and nine men to play in men’s, women’s and mixed doubles in 65, 70 and 75 year age groups. The teams were separated into two groups and after three rounds, two teams from each group earned a place in the semi finals. In each of the semi finals the winning team won five to four, determined by a close third set tie breaker. This pattern continued to the finals where Lisa Musgrave and Doug Barrow’s Eastern team defeated Jan Kirkland Cochran and Danny Carlsons Georgia team five to four in another close third set tie breaker in mixed 65 doubles. All in all 119 doubles matches were played over three days on 19 excellently maintained courts in good weather. 

The Columbus Regional Tennis Association was our host and made us feel welcome. Lunches were provided under a large tent by Carrabba’s and Mello Mushroom and there was a spectacular dinner at a local high end restaurant, Warehouse 9, Sunday night. There was a daily happy hour with beer, wine, hors d’oeuvres and ice cream. Amenities included, for the women, a nice white long sleeve players shirt with the NWTO logo, a green quarter zip with logo and a Navy blue vest with logo. For the men it was a players long sleeve shirt, a blue long sleeve quarter zip and a NSMTA hat. All of this came with a $100 dollar entry fee and spouses and significant others were welcome for free. This was another great event demonstrating the NSMTA at its best.