If you live in Weston, Wellesley or the surrounding towns or if you are relocating to the area, and you are looking to play competitive tennis in the fall and winter, I think I can help…..

For some quick background information, I started playing tennis when I was young, and tennis was always one of my favorite sports. But as I grew older there wasn’t much of a venue to play once I went to college and then entered the “real world.”

Several years ago, I went to a lecture through the Wellesley Mother’s Forum, and the renowned therapist, who was speaking (though I can’t remember his name), said that to be happy in life, you need to do things that make you smile and have you so entranced that you are present in what you are doing.  In other words, you are not distracted by a troubling email you just received, thinking about picking up the children or worrying about a work situation.  I can honestly say that tennis is like this for me – I actually forget everything that is going on in my life and can focus only on hitting the ball, volleying at net and/or tossing the ball in the air to try to make my serve a winner. Given all this, I decided to pursue tennis in my adult life despite the fact that I worked, had three little ones, served on various boards – the normal juggling that we all do.

So about four years ago, I started playing once a week with a few friends and our trainer/pro, Chad. We would play outside in the summer, and when it got cold, we moved inside to the Waltham Athletic Club (WAC).  Over the years, Chad would always encourage us to play competitively on a team.  We would hem and haw about the time commitment and the nerves involved when playing competitively – it was something new and foreign, at least to me.  But this fall, I decided to bite the bullet and do it.  I started as a sub in October – playing with one of WAC’s Division 2 teams.  Then in December, a place opened up on the White team, and I started playing with my partner, Jan, who also happens to live in Weston.  Getting used to the adrenaline rush of playing competitively has been an adjustment, but I love, love playing with my partner, the camaraderie of the team, trying different strategies, and of course, winning is pretty fun too!

So now let me give you the details for which you’ve been waiting…. The league is called the Dorothy Bruno Hills Indoor Tennis League, better known as DBH, and there are 5 divisions – Division 1, 1A, 2, 3 and 4.  WAC has three teams – two Division 2 teams (White and Green) and a Division 4 team.  Our schedule is such that we practice on Monday mornings, and we play our matches on Wednesday mornings.  Other Divisions practice at different times.  For example, some practice on Tuesdays and then play matches on Thursdays.  Oh, and I forgot to mention that we play in an all Ladies League, but there is a mixed doubles league as well.  Here are some of the clubs in the area that have teams in this League:

• Bosse Sports Club, Sudbury – 978-443-4613
• Boston Sports Club, Newton – 617-928-2000
• Boston Sports Club, Wellesley – 781-263-5700
• Dedham Health – 781-326-2900
• Longfellow Tennis Club, Wayland – 508-358-7355
• Mt. Auburn Club, Watertown – 617-923-2255
• Natick Raquet Club – 508-653-4606
• Pine Brook Country Club, Weston - 781-894-3731
• Waltham Athletic Club (WAC) – 781-899-5000
• Wellesley Country Club – 781-235-9654
• Wightman Tennis Center, Weston - 781-237-3324

Questions?  Please let me know….or call Waltham Athletic Club – of course I am biased but I highly recommend WAC.  It’s a very warm, gracious and friendly club with great tennis instructors and an excellent staff.  Hope to see you on the courts soon!