By Ken Bomar, Net News Editor For more than three decades, the men?s, women?s and mixed leagues have been the flagship elements of ALTA. The ALTA members who play at Soleil Laurel Canyon in Cherokee County, however, act as if those leagues don?t even exist. Soleil Laurel Canyon is a local example of one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. housing market?a community that caters to senior citizens. In this case, they also happen to be men and women who are crazy about tennis. Because hard-court tennis can result in constant joint pounding that has a 36 May/June 2010

to Take Up Tennis

Soleil Laurel Canyon residents play exclusively in senior day leagues.

negative effect on knees and ankles as the body gets older, original plans for the community, which opened the doors to its first residents in 2007, required only soft courts at Soleil. That decision continues to pay dividends today, as many of the residents say the availability of clay courts was a major factor in choosing the community over others in the area. Soleil has six clay courts and two hybrid sand-over-carpet courts. There are future plans to convert the hybrid courts into two more clay courts. In its third year of operation, Soleil has five ALTA teams?three men?s and two women?s. What makes these teams unique Soleil Laurel Canyon resident Karen Ray (serving) plays doubles with neighbor Brenda Kees.

It?s Never Too Late

is that they are all members of the 55-andover Senior Day League. Tom Cobb, director of tennis at Soleil, is a veteran tennis pro who came to the neighborhood when it opened in 2007. A former pro at Peachtree Tennis Center in Peachtree City, Cobb had taught players of all ages?juniors, adults, high school teams and seniors?but had never concentrated exclusively on the over 50 age group. As players age and mobility slows, Cobb coaches players on the strategy of a seniors game, positioning on the court, changing the way they cover the court and preparing for short shots instead of becoming complacent on the baseline.

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