Tennis tournament enhances
community spirit

Homeowners and park district staff have found a way to lessen the geographic obstacles of suburbia.

By Tom Suhs and Juergen Samimy

It is difficult to develop a sense of community spirit in a new area that is divided by major thoroughfares, split among nine school districts, lacking a downtown or uptown area, and fragmented by various home-owners associations.

In response to this situation, the Oak Brook Park District has developed an annual Homeowners' Cup Tennis Tournament. This event utilizes the community's various divisions to promote a spirit of unity.

Team competition

The homeowners' associations compete against each other in team tennis. Each spring the park district contacts the associations. In turn, each participating association appoints a team captain to function as a liaison with the district.

The competition includes a men's doubles and singles team, a women's doubles and singles team, and one mixed doubles team. Teams are composed of four men and four women players. They must be at least 25 years of age and live in the association for which they play. Team makeup is done by the captains.

The tournament takes place in July and August. Teams play weekday evenings on courts located in different areas of the community. One-set matches are played with a 12 point tie breaker at six games all. The games won and lost are cumulatively added, and the winning team is determined by the most games won.

Final team standings are determined on the best won/lost record. In case of a tie, the team with the best cumulative won/lost percentage of matches played will be awarded the higher position in final standings.

Play-offs

The two top teams play in a play-off match. The team with the best/ lost score wins the tournament.

The winning association has its name engraved on the "Homeowners' Cup," which is on permanent display at the park district's Racquet Club.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Tom Suhs is director of recreation for the Oak Brook Park District. Juergen Samimy is the pro-manager of the district's racquet club.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 23 July/August 1986