Redwood Shores Tennis Club News

Holiday Tournament Recap

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:26:21 GMT

Holiday Tournament Recap – A Fantastic Fall Day on the Courts!

Our last big fall showdown of the season did not disappoint! The Holiday Tournament brought perfect tennis weather—cool, dry, and full of that crisp autumn energy that makes you want to grab your racquet and jump right into the action. With 17 spirited players—9 men and 8 women—our courts came alive with awesome rallies, close matches, and plenty of laughter.

The women took over Shorebird in the first 2 rounds while the men battled it out across two Dolphin courts. To spice up the competition, some men hustled over to Shorebird, and a few women joined the men at Dolphin for a mixed doubles showdown. Men’s doubles on Shorebird courts finished out the tournament in rounds 5 and 6. Spectators oohed and aahed—It was fierce competition from start to finish!

After the tournament, Robin and Steve hosted our annual Holiday Party—We had a blast! The White Elephant gift exchange brought plenty of laughs, steals, and surprises—everyone left with something fun and a smile. The food spread was amazing, featuring brisket, salmon, and a delicious dessert finale of chocolate mousse and key lime pie. And yes…the Christmas punch was a crowd favorite!

We’re excited to welcome John Moyer to the board as part of the social committee. We are still looking for a Tournament Director (all positions are member/volunteer)—Akosua and Robin would love to train anyone interested. Let us know if you’d like to help keep the fun going!

Tournament Results

Men's Division
• 1st Place: Eugene
• 2nd Place (tie): Sandipan & David

Women’s Division
• 1st Place: Tracie
• 2nd Place: Robin
• 3rd Place: Sally

Huge congratulations to our top finishers—and a big shout-out to all players who brought fire, sportsmanship, and good cheer to the courts!

Thank You to Our Volunteers & Contributors

Every great tournament has an amazing team behind it. Thank you to everyone who helped with setup, cleanup, snacks, refreshments, and all the little details that keep our tournaments running like clockwork.

Coming Up in 2026… Membership Mania and Tennis Fun!

• Saturday Drop-In Play…Contiues Every Saturday, 8–10:30 AM @ Shorebird Courts
(Free for the public—bring a water bottle, tennis balls, and good vibes!)

• March – Membership Mania

Want to play in upcoming events or join RSTC? Visit www.rstc.org

Whether you're sharpening your skills, jumping back in at the 3.0 level, or just love the game, we’d love to see you on the courts.

Let’s keep the momentum rolling into the Spring—see you out there!

Turkey Gobbler Tournament

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:23:18 GMT

Turkey Gobbler Tournament Recap – A Fantastic Fall Day on the Courts!

We couldn’t have asked for better conditions for our Men’s and Women’s Turkey Gobbler Tournament! With dry courts, crisp fall air, and plenty of competitive spirit, 13 players—7 men and 6 women—hit the courts ready for fun.

The women played on Shorebird while the men took two courts on Dolphin. Robin joined the men’s side, and Courtney split time between both courts, and everything flowed smoothly. Matches were close, spirited, and filled with great rallies and laughter.

Tournament Results

Men’s Winner: Nagesh
Men’s 2nd Place: Eugene
Women’s Winner: Tracie
Women’s 2nd Place (Tie): Courtney & Rola

Congratulations to all of our top finishers and to everyone who brought incredible energy and sportsmanship to the event!

Thank You, Volunteers & Contributors

A huge thank-you to everyone who helped with court setup and takedown, and to those who brought snacks and refreshments.
Special thanks to Akosua for help with the draw and court assignments, and Mel for organizing the social. We appreciate every one of you—you keep our events running smoothly and make them so enjoyable.

Coming Up Next…

Get ready for the December Tournament & annual Holiday Party! Our next tournament is just around the corner.

· December 6^th: Mixed Doubles Tournament (8:30am start)
· December 6^th: Annual Holiday Party (6pm – 9pm)

Saturday Drop-In Play: 8–10:30 AM @ Shorebird Courts

Join RSTC or register for events at www.rstc.org. Whether you’re a seasoned player or looking to improve your 3.0 game, come join the fun and be part of the RSTC community!

Spooktacular Tennis Fun + Birthday Surprises!

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:16:05 GMT

Spooktacular Tennis Fun

We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful fall day for our Spooktacular Tennis Tournament. The sun was shining, the courts were buzzing, and the Halloween spirit was in full swing!

With 14 players, we adjusted the format from full team play to a mix of men’s, women’s, and mixed matches—and the result was a day of competitive rallies, laughter, and festive fun. Players arrived in creative costumes, adding an extra layer of excitement and color to the event.

Tournament Results

Competition was close across the board, with several matches decided by only a game or two.

Overall Winner: Sandipan – 27 games won in 5 rounds
Men’s 2nd Place: Sundar – 23 games in 5 rounds
Women’s Winner: Sarah – 19 games in 4 rounds
Women’s 2nd Place: A three-way tie between Tracie, Mel, and Robin – 17 games each in 4 rounds

Congratulations to all of our winners and to everyone who brought their best energy to the courts!

Thank You, Volunteers

This event wouldn’t have been possible without our dedicated volunteers. A big thank-you to Steve for court setup and drinks, Akosua and Robin for running the draw, John for providing fruit, and Vanessa for snacks, and all who took pictures. Your teamwork kept the day running smoothly and made it all the more enjoyable.

Spooktacular Social & Surprise Celebration

After the matches wrapped up, players gathered for a Spooktacular Social and Surprise Birthday Party for Bob Evans, hosted by Penny and Bob at their beautifully decorated home. The setting was pure Halloween magic—witches, skeletons, bones, and even tennis balls scattered across the front lawn!

Guests enjoyed dinner outdoors under a warm evening sky. The highlight of the night was the costume contest, where participants strutted the runway to show off their creative looks:

First Place: John Moyer as an evil court jester
Second Place (tie): Sarah as Björn Borg and Nadya as a Lady in Black featuring a hand-painted ghost and graveyard design

A special thank-you to Mel for organizing the social and to Monique and Erwin for helping Penny with decorating, setup, and cleanup. It was a wonderful evening filled with laughter, good food, and great company—a perfect ending to a spirited day of tennis.

Coming Up Next…

Get ready for November’s Turkey Gobbler Open Tournament! A tennis appetite encouraged, fun guaranteed.

Mark Your Calendars:

November 15: Men’s & Women’s Mixed Doubles Tournament
Saturday Drop-In Play: 8–10:30 AM @ Shorebird Courts (open to all)

Join RSTC or register for events at www.rstc.org. Whether you’re a seasoned player or looking to improve your 3.0 game, come join the fun and be part of the RSTC community!

✨ Late Summer & Fall Tennis Fun!

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 23:33:03 GMT

Our club has been serving up some incredible tennis (and celebrations!) these past few months. From August’s US Open Team Tennis showdown to September’s Harvest Mixed Doubles, we’ve enjoyed fierce rallies, festive socials, and plenty of laughter. Here’s the recap:

US Open Team Tennis + Mardi Gras Magic!

What a day! Our August US Open Team Tennis Tournament brought together 21 eager players for six lively rounds. The energy was high, the competition fierce, and the camaraderie unbeatable!

Champions of the Day:
The unstoppable Big Apple Aces, captained by Naghesh, dominated with an incredible 64 games won! Congratulations to teammates Sarah, Don, Tracie, and Eugene. Their prize? Sleek US Open hats—the perfect way to celebrate a well-earned victory!

Second Place:
The Gotham Baseline Bombers, led by Ben, finished strong with 50 games won. Shoutout to Steve, Akosua, Lan, and Sundar for keeping the competition close until the very end.

And let’s not forget John Moyer, who pulled off a feat of his own—he played on every single team! Talk about endurance.

Mardi Gras Social at Barb’s!
After tennis, the celebration rolled on at Barb’s gorgeous lagoon-side patio with a Mardi Gras–themed party. Think colorful beads, Hurricane cocktails, Jambalaya, and plenty of delicious treats. The food, fun, and laughter made the night as memorable as the tournament itself.

Huge Thanks To Our Crew:

Steve – Court setup & prep, Mel – Social planning extraordinaire, Karmele & Robin – Refreshments galore

Ken, Robin & Akosua – Smooth draw management, and of course, Barb – for opening her home and hosting in style ✨

This was truly a day (and night!) to remember—our club spirit shines brighter with each tournament!

Harvest Mixed Doubles + Brewery Fun!

September brought another lively day on the courts with 9 men and 8 women competing in our Harvest Mixed Doubles Tournament. We played 5 pro-set rounds, with plenty of partner and opponent rotation to keep things exciting. Matches were close, competitive, and full of great rallies!

Results:

Men’s Winner: Sandipan, averaging an impressive 6.25 games per 8-game pro set!
Men’s 2nd: Ken, proving he can both master the AI draw and perform on the court.
Women’s Winner: Sally, steady and consistent throughout the day.
Women’s 2nd: A 3-way tie between Karmele, Mel, and Nadya—well played, ladies!

Winners took home bright, colorful new racquet grips—a fun (and useful!) fall prize.

Post-Tournament Cheers:
Afterward, we gathered at Alpha Acid Brewery in Belmont for cold beers, tasty hummus and chips, and plenty of laughs. Lil Bobby’s Kitchen kept everyone well-fed with delicious fare. Big thanks to Mel for organizing the social, Ken for continuing to fine-tune the AI draw (with reviews by Akosua & Robin), and to all of our amazing volunteers who make these events possible.

Coming Up Next…

Get ready for our Spooktacular October Tournament! Costumes encouraged, fun guaranteed. Don’t miss it!

Mark Your Calendars:

October 18: Team Tennis Tournament
Saturday Drop-In Play: 8–10:30 AM @ Shorebird Courts (open to all!)
Join RSTC or register for events at www.rstc.org

Whether you’re a seasoned player or want to improve your 3.0 game, come join the fun and be part of the RSTC community!

Aloha Vibes & Tennis Tribes!

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 01:19:21 GMT

What an incredible day we had at our Aloha Men’s and Women’s Doubles Tournament! The morning started with a gentle layer of clouds, but soon enough, the sun broke through—almost as if Hawaii itself sent us a little sunshine blessing.

Courts were bursting with color—bright floral shirts, cheerful Hawaiian hats, and that unmistakable island spirit. The warm-up was pure paradise, with Hawaiian music setting the mood, and a spread of tropical treats to keep everyone smiling.

The competition was as vibrant as the outfits, with five exciting rounds keeping everyone on their toes. On the Women’s side, Mary and Robin tied for first with an impressive 25 games each, while Mel snagged second with 19 games. Over on the Men’s court, Ken claimed first-place glory, and Naghesh battled his way to second. Winners went home with stylish tennis-themed wine tumblers—perfect for a post-match toast!

After the tournament, the celebration continued with an unforgettable social at Auto Vino in San Carlos—thank you, Mel, for organizing such a gem of an outing! Picture this: a sleek venue showcasing a jaw-dropping lineup of dream cars—Porsches, Cobras, Rolls-Royces, Mercedes, Audis… the list goes on. We enjoyed mouthwatering food, fine wine, and even finer company, all while surrounded by automotive history.

A huge mahalo to Mel and to all our incredible volunteers—whether you brought food or drinks, captured the day in photos, or stayed late to help clean up, your contributions keep our club thriving and our tournaments unforgettable. It’s safe to say—when we play, we play in style!

Mark your calendars!

September 13: Team Tennis Tournament—bring your game face and your team spirit!

Saturday Drop-In Play: 8–10:30 AM @ Shorebird Courts (open to the public!)Join RSTC or register for events at www.rstc.org
Whether a seasoned player or 3.0 rated, come be part of the RSTC community!
Let’s play tennis and have fun together!

RSTC June Recap — Game, Set, Match!

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 03:16:17 GMT

We had an incredible month of June on and off the courts with our Wimbledon Whites Mixed Doubles Tournament and Fundamentals Clinic!

Wimbledon Whites Tournament Highlights

8 men + 8 women brought their A-game in classic white tennis style. Perfect weather, fun matchups (thanks to Ken’s AI-assisted draw!), and a post-match picnic made for a festive day.

Winners:

· Women:
1st – Sarah (29 games)
2nd – Karmele (26)
3rd – Mel

· Men:
1st – Eugene (23 games)
2nd – Don, Kailash, and John (tie, 21 games)

Winners took home Wimbledon hats & towels from Zalles Tennis Shop!

Big thanks to Mel (picnic queen!), Ken, Robin, Sarah, Steve, and all who helped and played. The strawberries & cream were a perfect touch.
Fundamentals Clinic Fun

Coach Craig Layton brought great tips, energy, and encouragement. The final game of Around the World crowned PK as the last man standing!

Thanks to Akosua, Robin, Steve, Ken, and everyone who made it happen. Coach Craig called us “a great group of players—and even better people!”

What’s Next?

Summer is in full swing!

Aug 16: Our next tournament + “New Orleans Nights” potluck
Saturday Drop-In Play: 8–10:30 AM @ Shorebird Courts (open to the public!)
Join RSTC or register for events at www.rstc.org

Whether you'ra seasoned player or 3.0 rated, come be part of the RSTC community!
Let’s play tennis and have fun together!

RSTC Weekly Drop-in's, Tournaments & More!

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 01:04:26 GMT

What an incredible time we had at the Roland-Garros Men's and Women's Doubles Tournament in May! With 9 talented men at Dolphin and 9 fantastic women at Shorebird, the competition was fierce and the camaraderie even stronger. The weather? Perfect – a light breeze kept things cool, and the temperature was just right in the Shores for all five exciting rounds of play.

✨ Congrats to Our Tournament Winners! ✨
Women’s Division:
1st Place: Mutka
2nd Place: Sally & Robin (Tie)

Men’s Division:
1st Place: Sandipan
2nd Place: John & Weili (Tie)

After the tournament, we kept the good vibes rolling with beers, pizza, and lots of laughter at Fieldworks in San Mateo. Huge thanks to Mel for picking another top-notch spot, and to Nadya, Robin, Peter, and Weili for bringing the refreshments! Big shoutout to Akosua, Rita, Tracie, and Ken for capturing all the action with their amazing photography.

But we’re not slowing down anytime soon! RSTC has been on fire lately with some exciting events. We had our Wimbledon Whites Tournament and hosted our first Fundamentals Clinic in June. If you missed out, don’t worry—there’s more fun to come! Our July tournament is right around the corner on July 19.

Get Involved:

Register for July's Tournament: www.rstc.org
Join the Redwood Shores Tennis Club (RSTC): Membership is open, and we’d love to have you.
Drop-In Play: No commitment required! Join us at Shorebird Courts on Saturday mornings from 8:00 - 10:30 A.M. It's free for the public to try, though becoming a member is encouraged! Just bring your tennis balls, a water bottle, and sign a release of liability waiver if you're not a member.

Ready to hit the courts and have a blast with like-minded tennis lovers? We’d love to see you there! Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, RSTC is all about building community and having fun on and off the court.

Don’t miss out – join us and be part of the RSTC family today!

Let’s play tennis!

#Tennis #Community #JoinRSTC #TennisLife #TournamentFun

Join the Fun!

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 21:47:32 GMT

Join the Fun with RSTC – Weekly Drop-Ins, Tournaments & More!

The Redwood Shores Tennis Club (RSTC) warmly welcomes all tennis enthusiasts—members and non-members alike—to our weekly Saturday morning drop-in sessions, held from 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM at the Shorebird Tennis Courts, located at the corner of Marine Parkway and Island Drive in Redwood Shores. It's a great opportunity to meet other players, enjoy friendly matches, and get in some weekend tennis!

Thinking of joining the club? Now’s the perfect time! The 2025 season is already off to a fantastic start, and we have plenty of exciting events lined up. Our next tournament is a Mixed Doubles competition, June 21, 2025—a fun and social way to test your skills. And don’t miss our very first Doubles Clinic of the season, June 28, 2025, where you can fine-tune your game with guidance from an experienced pro.

For a full schedule of upcoming tournaments, clinics, and events, and to become a member, visit the RSTC website. Whether you're new to the game or a seasoned player, there's a place for you at RSTC!

www.rstc.org

RSTC Easter Classic Recap!

Sun, 04 May 2025 00:49:32 GMT

A Festive Start to the 2025 Season – RSTC Easter Classic Recap!

We kicked off the 2025 RSTC season in style with the Easter Classic Mixed Doubles Tournament, and what a day it was! The courts were buzzing under a bright spring sun, with a cool breeze keeping everyone on their toes. It was the perfect setting for a day of competitive tennis and community fun.

The turnout was fantastic—12 women and 9 men came ready to rally, serve, and slice their way to victory. Cheers echoed across the courts as fierce matches unfolded, with each player bringing their A-game. But in the end, only a few claimed the top spots:

Tournament Results
Women’s Division
1st Place: Nadya Shirokova & Robin George
2nd Place: Akosua Grant & Rola Goldie
3rd Place: Suzanne Chang

Men’s Division
1st Place: Ben Sergeant
2nd Place: Ken Richied
3rd Place (tie): Nagesh Kittur & Steve George

After the last ball was struck and the winners crowned, the celebration continued at our lively post-tournament social! Fourteen members gathered at Hapa’s Brewing Company in downtown San Carlos—big thanks to Mel for picking the perfect spot. We toasted to a great day of tennis, rehashed some spectacular rallies, and even got wrapped up in a hilarious and suspenseful game of Mafia, hosted by Nadya. It was the perfect way to unwind after a day of hard-fought matches.

A huge shout-out to our amazing volunteers who keep these events running smoothly:
Tournament Draw: Robin, Akosua, Ken
Photography: Steve, Tracie, Ken, Karmele
Refreshments: Rola, Robin, Ben, Pratyush, Steve

Next Up: Men's & Women’s Doubles Tournament – May 17!
Ready for more court action? Mark your calendars for our Men’s and Women’s Doubles tournament. Head to www.rstc.org to register or renew your membership!

In the meantime, join us for our Saturday morning drop-ins at Shorebird Courts (8:00–10:30 A.M.). It’s a great way to meet fellow players and enjoy some casual matches. No registration required—just bring your racquet, tennis balls, water, and a signed waiver if you’re not a member. First-timers welcome!

Let’s keep the momentum going—see you on the courts!
Redwood Shores Tennis Club
www.rstc.org

March PILOT Issue - Membership Mania

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 20:39:39 GMT

We are energized for the 2025 season and looking forward to planning fun and competitive tournaments and socials for RSTC members. We welcome incoming board member Ken Richied as Tournament Director, and returning board members: President Robin George, Vice President Akosua Grant, Weili Chen as Treasurer, and Imelda Mendoza as Social Director. Sundar Venkateswaran will stay on to help Imelda. Akosua Grant is temporarily filling the position of Communications Director. We are always looking for volunteers to help on a monthly basis with courtside refreshments, photography, and shopping for prizes. Please reach out to info@rstc.org to sign up. For more info., or to join, go to www.rstc.org. But first, see what we're about at Membership Mania, 9:00 a.m. to Noon at Shorebird and Dolphin Courts. Let's play tennis!

*Any date change will be posted at the courts.

Membership Mania and 2025 Season

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 23:46:42 GMT

Membership Mania and the 2025 Season:

We kick off the 2025 season (our 36th consecutive year), with Membership Mania on March 15th, 9am at Shorebird Courts on Marine Parkway and Dolphin Park on Quay Lane.

All tennis players are welcome. Feel free to invite your friends! Come meet fellow members, play some pick-up tennis games, and discover your local tennis club. We are looking forward to a great season of monthly tournaments and socials immediately after the tournaments. We will continue Saturday drop-ins, 8:00am - 1030am.

Ken Richied is our new Tournament Director. RSTC is always looking for volunteers to help with refreshments, photography, and shopping for prizes. Please reach out to info@RSTC.org to sign up.

Membership Renewal:

Go to RSTC.org to renew your membership. Click on membership application for membership levels and fees.

PERKS of Membership:

We are announcing sponsorship from Zalles Racquet Sports in Foster City. As a member of RSTC, you'll be eligible for 10% discount for all your purchases made at Zalles (excluding stringing labor or balls). Sign up for RSTC membership before you head out to Zalles, even for pickle ball racquets or shoes or clothes.

RSTC - THE END TO AN AWSOME 2024 SEASON!

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 03:06:45 GMT

November tournament winners: Men's first place prize went to Ken, and second place went to Eugene. Congratulation! On the Women's side, Mary and Lan tied for first place with 20 points won. Amanda, Mel, and Tracie tied for 2nd place with 19 points. The games were very competitive and fun at the same time. The social was held at the new Highlands Sports Bar on Laurel Street. December tournament winners: First place for the women went to Imelda Mendoza. Second place went to Sarah Ehler. Eugene took first place on the men's side and Nagesh Kittur took second. The tournament was followed by an ugly sweater party in the evening at the home of Steve and Robin George. Thanks to Mel for finding such fun spots to celebrate great tennis and friendship and to Robin and Steve for hosting the Holiday party. Shout-out to volunteers for making the tournaments a success, Mel and our Social Committee, Akosua Grant, Sarah Ehler, and Robin George for the draw, Steve George for court set-up, John Moyer for refreshments and all volunteers for great pics and their help with the tournaments.

We had fantastic turnout for our themed tournaments and socials this 2024 season. A small increase in dues helped strengthen our financial position, increasing revenue which helped to provide tournament necessities and prizes along with support for our social events and local donations. Our active membership remains strong at 53, with tournament participation steady, general membership slightly up, and social membership down. We appreciate our relationship with Redwood City Parks and Recreation and their continued support of tennis throughout Redwood City. We look forward to new members and playing fun and exciting tennis in the new year!

Octoberfest Tournament Highlights

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 07:25:06 GMT

RSTC had another great tournament on October 19. Turnout was high. 21 members came out to compete in our Octoberfest team tennis tournament. Teams: Lagers (T1), Stouts (T2), Pilsners (T3), and Ales (T4) led by captains: Kathy, Tracie, Barb, and Sandipan respectively. Some players were in the spirit and sported Halloween headbands! Team captains and spectators cheered on players as they made great shots down the line and awesome volleys! The sun was warm along with a cool breeze—a pleasant day for tennis.

Fun and competitive tennis were served up for the day. Tough matches played but only one team came out on top; the Stouts (T2): Sundar, Tracie, Sarah, Ken, and Luis. Winners received a goodie bag with beer nuts and a tennis racquet bottle opener keeping with our Octoberfest theme. Courtesy of RSTC and curated by Robin George.

RSTC members met at Das Bierhauz in downtown Redwood City for authentic German food and beer. It was so nice to see new faces and OG's enjoying themselves at the social; great job Mel!

Shout-out to volunteers for making the tournament a success, Mel and our Social Committee, Akosua Grant, Sarah Ehler, and Robin George for the draw, Sundar Venkateswaran for court set-up, Shubh Mondal and Mary Bianco for refreshments, and Ken Richied and Karmele Urtizberea for great pics. It was a wonderful day of tennis and socializing!

2024 SEASON WRAP-UP

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 19:42:28 GMT

Dear RSTC Members,

Let's wrap up the 2024 season with a festive holiday party to celebrate our members and show appreciation for our board and volunteers! Please check your inbox for a survey sent on 10/11/24, and kindly complete it by 10/19/24.

This season, we had a fantastic turnout for our themed tournaments and socials. A small increase in dues helped strengthen our financial position, with revenue up by 24.25% compared to the same time last year. Our active membership remains strong at 53, with tournament participation steady, general membership slightly up, and social membership down. We also made a donation to Redwood City Parks and Recreation as a thank-you for allowing us to use the public courts in Redwood Shores free of charge.

We are seeking volunteers for the upcoming 2025 season, with board positions opening and opportunities for ad hoc involvement. If you're interested in contributing your ideas and time, please reach out to Robin or Akosua.

We look forward to celebrating with you soon!

RSTC Board

Happy Holidays and Call for Volunteers

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 01:05:47 GMT

Dear RSTC Members,

As we approach the end of our 2023 season, we want to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers at the club and the board members, especially those vital members taking care of the treasury, social events, court cleaning, communications etc behind the scenes.

The club survived and thrived post Covid pandemic. We had a good year in 2023 with 10 successful and fun tournaments and our active player membership increased 44% vs last year. We are in solid financial footing and even made a donation this month to Redwood City Park and Recreation for their support in allowing us to use their tennis courts for free.

We would also like to take this opportunity to call for volunteers. We have board seats open for fresh blood and new ideas, and are also looking for people to help out on an ad hoc basis. If you are interested in participating in the management and operations of the club, please reach out to Amanda, Robin or Rick.

Happy Holidays.

Redwood Shores Tennis Club

November 11th Tournament

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:59:55 GMT

The Fall continues to be perfect for tennis. The November tournament was a combination of men's, women's and mixed doubles using all 3 courts. The winner for the women was Mudta Sood with 29 games and second place went to Monique Seibel with 26 games. The men's winner was Sandipan Samaddar with 29 games won. Second place went to Eugene with 26 games.

The tournament was immediately followed by a social at Blue Oaks Brewery in San Carlos on Cherry Lane. About 20 people attended. No host beer and Brazilian food was enjoyed by all, along with lots of laughs.

Special thanks to Rick and Bob for the draw. Sundar and Barb for arranging the social, Barb for refreshments, Tracie for photography, and Steve for court set up and blowing leaves off the courts.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

October Tournament Results

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:46:34 GMT

The October tournament was a combination of men's, women's and mixed doubles played at Preserve, Dolphin and Shorebird courts. The women's draw ended in an unusual 3 way tie of 25 games won by Penny Chin, Angela Yang and Mukta Sood.
The men's winner was Michael Lui with 29 games. Second place went to Sandipan Samaddar with 26 games won. Congratulations to all. The tournament was immediately followed by pizza and drinks hosted by the tennis club.

Survey Results

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 04:15:17 GMT

Hello everyone,

Here are the results from our satisfaction survey!

Redwood Shores Tennis Club - Admin 2.pdf

Thanks for participating!

2024 membership enhancement

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 22:58:15 GMT

Membership in the Redwood Shores Tennis Club allows you to attend our tournaments, clinics, drop ins and socials. Members also get access to an online directory of fellow members and access to the RSTC members-only section of the website.

Please note that membership below is for through 2024 tennis season -- that is, your membership will be valid from the day you register until the end of 2024. So register now and get extra 2 months coverage from now to December 2024.

The Social/Supporter Membership is available to non-playing spouses/partners and our community sponsors who generously support the club and/or enjoy our socials. Social/Supporter Members who play in tournaments will pay the $19 non-member (guest) fee.

The General membership is for occasional tournament players (1-4 tournament a year) and participants in our drop in program. Discounted tournament fees of $12/person/registration is available to this group.

The Tournament Membership covers the cost of all of the tournaments individually and is a good option for members who play in at at least 4 tournaments a year.

General public can participate in the tournaments by meeting skill requirement and paying the non-member $19/person/event registration fee.

2024 RSTC Membership Information(covers remaining 2023 too)

RSTC offers 4 participation levels in the club. Please contact info@rstc.org if you have any questions or want more information.

Membership Level	Pricing	Event price
Tournament Membership	$95/year	All tournaments and social events are included.
General Membership	$50/year	Discounted $12/event fees. Drop Ins are included.
Social Membership	$35/year	Social events are included.
General Public – Nonmembers	A la carte	$19/event. Free access to, yet with less drop ins priority

program enhancement 2023-2024

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 22:35:50 GMT

The RSTC board has approved the following enhancements to our program:

1. Will add one more tournament on Dec 9th, 2023.

2. Any new members signing up for membership in the remaining of 2023 will get coverage all the way to December 2024 - that's 14 months coverage for a 12-month price.

3. Any existing members(General or Social) upgrading to tournament membership for 2024 during the remaining of 2023 will get the remaining tournaments in 2023 covered by the new membership.

4. Will add another clinic taught by professional tennis coach in Feb 2024.

5. Reasonable price increases for 2024, 1st since 2019.

See you on the court.

Redwood Shore Tennis Club

September 16th Tournament

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 06:57:23 GMT

The September tournament was a hit with 24 players spread across Preserve, Quay and Shorebird. A combination of mixed, men's and women's doubles was the format. Mary Bianco was the winner for the women and Steve George came out on top for the men. The evening social was a Margaritaville theme, a tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett. It was held at Steve and Robin home. It was a fun evening filled with music, margaritas, good friends and awesome food!
A big thank you to Bob Evans and Rick Chou for the tournament draw, Sundar and Barb for social arrangements, Barb and Sandipan for tournament refreshments and Amanda for prizes.

tennis clinic on August 26, 2023

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:33:19 GMT

The RSTC board has approved a pilot program to add periodic tennis clinics to our program. We'll engage local professional coaches and our own ex D-1 player Bob Evans to instruct the players on various techniques and game plans.

RSTC is sponsoring the 1st tennis clinic exclusively for RSTC members. We are inviting associate tennis Pro Robert Garcia to run a tennis clinic. This is a 2-hour tennis workout that features skill development, live ball drills and competitive play.

When: August 26 (Sat), 9 am to 11 am

Fee:

Tournament Member: $5

General Member: $10

The clinic is limited to 12 participants.

RSTC half-year updates

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 01:32:19 GMT

It's July - time for a semi annual update for RSTC:

Since our March kickoff, we have welcomed 32 new participants with 25 joining as members. In the last 30 days, we welcomed 15 new participants with 9 joining as members.
We got fresh blood - new people range from 20s to 60s, split equally between men and women.
We got quality players - most new players are already at 3.0-3.5 or above.
The drop-ins on Wed and Sat @ Shorebird are big hits and are well subscribed.
Our July 15th tournament has the strongest player quality of the last 18 tournaments. Still some slots for signup before Tuesday deadline.
The board in its next meeting will consider some new programs, such as skill clinics for members with professional coaches.
We are in a very sound financial footing and plan to provide more snacks, sandwiches in the future tournaments.

Let's play tennis!

Redwood Shore Tennis Club

Membership Mania

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

On Saturday, March 11th we kicked of our 2023 season with a very successful Membership Mania. Despite a few sprinkles, the weather decided to cooperate and we were able to meet 10 new players that were interested in finding out more about the club. Everyone was apparently ready to play some tennis, both Shorebird and Dolphin were busy with great tennis and lots of laughter. The season if off to a great start! Check your emails for the first tournament on April 15th. Sign up early! Everyone is rearing to go!

Redwood Shore Tennis Club March 2023 News

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 23:20:03 GMT

RSTC is back! We kick off the 2023 season—our 34th consecutive year—with the annual Membership Mania on March 11 at Shorebird Courts on Marine Parkway and Dolphin Park on Quay Ln.

All tennis players are welcome. Come meet some members, play some pick up tennis games, and discover your local tennis club. RSTC has a new board this year, and they are raring to go. It will not only bring back invigorated tournaments. but also add weekday drop ins and all the fun activities that had disappeared during the pandemic, like evening socials.

For more info, or to join, go to www.rstc.org. But first come see what we’re about at Membership Mania on March 11th, 8:45am-1pm.

Let’s play tennis!

RSTC NOV 2017 NEWS

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 07:56:21 GMT

OCTOBER

I canceled the October tournament due to projected unhealthy air quality levels. We had 3 players that were already or potentially having respiratory issues so it seemed like the safest bet. The social at the Jordans, however, was held as expected.

John & Natalie had just finished their remodel and treated us to tours of their lovely new home. Everything was thoughtfully and elegantly designed. My favorite room was the master bath and closets ... so gorgeous! The living areas were perfect for RSTC socials as there was plenty of room for all of us to mingle, move, sip, and dine.

The social theme was “Fall Colors” and it set the table for a feast that was dazzling to our eyes. Bright greens (salads) and golds & oranges (carrots, sweet potatoes) were in the palette. Penny Chin’s chocolate trifle was bright white layered with dark brown and crowned with red accents. A delicious and warming beef stew, earthy potatoes, caramel apple and pecan pies brought plenty of fall flavors.

Everyone enjoyed the dinner and it was a very relaxing evening. Thank you to the Jordans for hosting. An extra thank you to Penny for making and Bob Evans for delivering the trifle even though Penny was sick and unable to attend; we hope you feel better!

NOVEMBER

Our final tournament of the year is November 11 and will be Team Tennis. Format subject to change if we don't have enough players registered. Cross your fingers it is not rained out! Register now.

Rain is currently forecast for November 4, but, if it doesn't rain and the courts are dry, feel free to use them for November Open Play. RSTC does have the courts reserved.

The social is November 4 and will be rain or shine. The theme is "Signature Dish". Bring a dish that people have asked for the recipe of (especially RSTC people), raved about, or you always make (e.g., for the holidays). Whatever is your "signature dish". Bring a card with your name/story and the recipe to share.

If you have past RSTC recipes that you aren't making for the social but you would like to share, please bring them too. We'll post them up on our Wall of Fame!

RSTC OCT 2017 NEWS

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 19:17:35 GMT

We are in the final stretches of our 2017 season. Remaining events are

the October tournament & social, coming up this weekend
the November tournament & social on November 4 with a final open play on November 11
the holiday party in January

Interest in the October Fixed Mixed tournament has been unusually light this year. We are changing the format to Mixed Scramble so, if you like that format better, please register ASAP! For those that have already signed up with a partner, your first match will be with your partner and, after that, your partner will change. The deadline to register is still Tuesday as we need time to do the draw and send out court assignments.

The social is at the Jordans’ newly remodeled home. Parking is limited so we’ll email the registrants on Friday to help recommend carpools.

A brief look back at the summer:

I was unable to attend the July events. Barb hosted the Fruity social. It was Barb’s second time hosting this year as she stepped in to save our May social. Double thank you, Barb! Someone left a pair of prescription glasses at Barb’s house. If you have not yet done so, please contact Barb to claim it.

The August BBQ tournament & social were popular and fun. Cynthia Hunton ran the tournament (thank you!) and opted to change things up: From playing 8 games to playing 1st to win 6 and from 6 to 9 rounds. We liked the format but after 6 rounds got tired and decided to go eat BBQ: The “1st to win 6 games” part had already given us more tennis play than usual and worked up a mighty appetite! The feast was delivered from Armadillo Willy’s by Ruth & Phil Waters (thank you!) and augmented with member appetizers, sides, and desserts. Due to the fact that we didn’t actually finish the tournament (and that we forgot to buy prizes), we decided to dispense with prizes. Everyone had a good time and nobody was (or ever is) in it for the trophy.

The September tournament was Mixed Scramble (also lightly attended) followed by a social at Micki Carter / Mike Venturino’s (thank you!) with a Russian theme to celebrate Micki’s new book “From Under the Russian Snow”. Members rose to the challenge with many delicious dishes. Yes, some of them involved beets! I happen to love beets but beet-disliking Bob totally agrees the dishes were delicious. RSTC Chefs are the best! Prizes were Russian vodka!

Pajaro Dunes was spectacular with great weather, lots of high quality tennis, and amazing food. Irene Muzio simplified the Friday progressive and got lots of comments that it was an excellent change. It was less time-consuming to set up (and thus more time available for enjoying ourselves on Pajaro Dunes beaches or tennis courts) and we had more time for conversation during dinner. Thank you to Irene and Michael Garb for a wonderful weekend.

Finally, I am thrilled to announce that we have a 2018 RSTC Board for next year.

Nicola Tidwell will be president
Kathy Miles will be vice-president
Cynthia Hunton will join John Hogan as tournament directors
Jennifer Dickinson will join Sundar Venkateswaran as social directors
Irene Muzio will be treasurer

Thank you to Nicola, Kathy, Cynthia, Jennifer, Irene, and John and Sundar for keeping the club running next year. We will begin the transition in December so that the new Board gets to set the 2018 calendar and prepare for Membership Mania 2018.

Michael Garb & Irene Muzio have volunteered to continue running the Pajaro Dunes Weekend Away. Monique Seibel has volunteered to continue doing flyers and posters for the Club. I will continue to maintain the website.

Announcing the launch of educa2

Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:41:00 GMT

[by Ivan Quinones, Founder and Executive Director of Educa2]

We are excited to announce Educa2, an organization dedicated to strengthening our community by helping Latino students reach their full potential. Over half of the Latino students currently enrolled in Elementary schools are performing below proficiency level statewide, including close to 5,000 of the 10,000 Latino students the San Mateo and the Redwood City Elementary School Districts alone. This problem has reached crisis proportions as Latinos are now the largest and fastest growing ethnic minority in California and in the US.

The foundation of Educa2 is a partnership of mentors, teachers, parents and community members creating a nurturing environment for Latino elementary school students to instill motivation and mindset for long-term learning and acquire skills that will help them through school and life experiences. Under the leadership of members of the Stanford University Graduate School of Education with knowledge and experience in addressing the challenges of Latino English Language Learners, our goal is to develop a scalable model that can eventually be applied in other schools and geographies where Latino students face similar challenges. We are launching our first after-school program at an Elementary School in the Peninsula in September 2014.

To learn more about us, please visit our website at www.educa2california.org and donate generously to help improve the future of these children and of our whole community.

Thank you !

Iván Quiñones
Educa2, Inc
Founder and Executive Director

Rick Urrutia

Fri, 06 Sep 2013 19:09:00 GMT

It is with great sorrow that I am sharing the news that Rick Urrutia passed away on August 27^th. Rick was a long-time member of the Redwood Shores Tennis Club. He was a really nice guy: always ready with a joke and a laugh; a tennis player who was fun to play with, and a great friend.

When he was diagnosed with myelofibrosis, Rick fought back with everything he had, and he maintained his optimism, sense of humor, and enjoyment in life the entire way. Rick was so full of energy, it was hard to believe he was facing such a serious disease. It is hard to believe he is gone.

You may send cards to Barb at 423 Bark Dr., Redwood Shores, CA 94065. In honor of Rick, please consider signing up at BeTheMatch.org at no cost to be in the stem cell registry. Also, contributions can be made to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula (bgcp.org.)

A tribute to Rick is planned on Friday September 20 at 2pm at Skylawn Memorial Park. There will be an open speaking section for a portion of the service that those close to Rick can speak at. Due to the large gathering of friends and family who are attending and limited time, please keep your comments to 1-2 minutes. Feel free to write any thoughts you might have and to bring a copy as the family would appreciate any memories of Rick you might have, even if not spoken.

A reception will follow from 3-6pm and there will be time to share stories in greater detail. We hope it will be a special time to remember an amazing father, husband and friend to those who attend as well as those who can't.

Donate used tennis shoes to ROPES

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 07:12:39 GMT

[by Louie Bulka, who participates in the SVTA Juniors Program]

My name is Louie Bulka and I am doing a project in school called “Ropes” and I am collecting shoes for children and adults in Haiti.

Just to let you know there is a bin at Arguello Courts for donation. There is also one at Central Middle School (San Carlos) right next to the office. It will ONLY be up until April 1^st!

I just want you to know that some schools in Haiti won’t let kids in school without shoes. And, the rubble from the 2010 earthquake is dangerous and can infect barefoot children and adults.

Thank you very much in advance for your donation.

Louie Bulka

Redwood Symphony Orchestra event

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 05:03:26 GMT

[by Kristian Nergaard]

As many of you know, RSTC’s Doug McCracken is the principal bassoonist in the Redwood Symphony Orchestra. They are currently enjoying a very interesting season, playing music such as Beethoven’s 7^th Symphony (as realized by Gustav Mahler); music by Harrison and Debussy; and Sweeney Todd, including a full cast and chorus.

But a concert they’re particularly excited about is coming up November 17^th, when they’ll be performing a composition for three Bassoons and Contra-Bassoon called Hell’s Angels (a Contra-Bassoon is basically a Bassoon that’s about twice as big). Doug will be performing the first solo Bassoon part in this rather boisterous work.

The orchestra performs at Canada College in Redwood City, and there’s more information available at http://www.redwoodsymphony.org/ . Some RSTC members are already attending these concerts, and this time we hope to see even a few more of you there.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“I have been attending the Redwood Symphony’s concerts for several years, and they are wonderful. The director/conductor (Eric) is young, energetic, very creative, and has a good sense of humor. Their performances are lively and interesting and the musicians are clearly enjoying themselves. The venue is a fairly small auditorium, so all seats are “front row.” Canada College auditorium is just off of 280, and it’s easy to get there from just about anywhere.

Although we also attend the SF Symphony, the Redwood Symphony performances are a lot more fun.”

Anita Stewart

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

April News

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:12:00 GMT

Well, I hope we will be able to avoid April showers for our next tournament. March was all wet! Membership Mania and the Tournament were both canceled due to rain. We said “NUTS!” and went to the RSTC social to kick off our year with good wine and amiable company.

There were a plethora of nut appetizers to start with – mixed nuts, spiced nuts, apples and creamy peanut butter dip, and much more. When we chose the theme, we did not, perhaps, remember that nuts are very, very filling. By entrée time, we were already rather full. But, showing the same determination with which we pursue tennis balls, we did find room for chicken, pork, and more, basted and roasted under various nut-based sauces. Thank goodness there was chocolate for dessert!!!

Oh my. I think the next social theme needs to be skinny food. Many thanks to Annette Vernon and Paul Reinhardt for a terrific evening. And many thanks to our army of volunteers who did the work for Membership Mania and the Tournament even though the events were canceled. A special thank you to Shane Dickenson who organized his first tournament and agreed to do it again for April.

Speaking of April, it is going to be Team Tennis. (If we get rained out in March, we try, try, again.) Team Tennis is a great format for new members, and we like the start the year with it. You get to spend the day on a team with 3-5 other players playing against other teams. That gives you more opportunity to get to know some other members of the club. May will be Women’s and Men’s Doubles (changing partners). If you are not a member of the Redwood Shores Tennis Club and would like more information about the club or joining, please check out our website www.rstc.org or contact us by email at info.rstc@gmail.com.

Pilot Article: RSTC FAQ

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 23:53:00 GMT

Redwood Shores Tennis Club’s 2011 season has just about ended. Our final tournament was scheduled for November 12 – unfortunately, rained out. The last social of the year was held in the evening at the home of the president and we enjoyed a theme of “Home Sweet Home”. Everyone brought a family favorite, reminiscent of the upcoming holiday season. We watched the Stanford-Oregon game with everyone groaning over the outcome (the San Jose Sharks game didn’t cheer us up either.) Desserts were the highlight with bread pudding and cranberry bread pudding earning raves from everyone. Our final event of our season will be our holiday party, held in January. A new season will start in March 2012 with our Membership Mania event.

Over the year, I’ve had a lot of inquiries regarding tennis opportunities and tennis lessons in the Bay Area. Here are some frequently asked questions and my answers. Please visit www.rstc.org for more information about our club and joining next year!

What is the Redwood Shores Tennis Club? We are a non-profit, volunteer neighborhood club located in Redwood Shores. We hold friendly tournaments once a month on the public courts in Redwood Shores and we have fun potluck parties in the evenings after the tournaments. We have other events as well. Please visit www.rstc.org for more information about our club.

What level do you have to be? We welcome players of all levels but most of our players are 3.0 or 3.5 with some 4.0s. It is more important that you are more interested in having fun than in winning every point. In order to enjoy the tournaments (and have others enjoy playing with you), you should be able to serve the ball into play and rally a moderately paced ball.

Where do you play? We play primarily on the public courts in Shorebird Park and Dolphin Park. There are two other tennis court sites in Redwood Shores, at Marlin Park and Preserve Park.

How often do you play? We have 9 tournaments a year, from March to November. In addition we have Open Play opportunities and a Tennis Weekend Away event.

How much does RSTC cost? Basic membership is $35 a year; tournaments are additional $10 per event and socials are free for members. A tournament membership is $75 and includes all tournaments for no additional cost. The social membership at $25 is for a non-player (such as a spouse) to attend the socials.

Do you have a USTA team? RSTC does not have USTA teams. It’s difficult to host USTA matches in Redwood Shores as we do not have a site with at least 3 tennis courts. Nearby clubs that do have USTA teams are the Pacific Athletic Club, the San Carlos Tennis Club, and the Foster City Tennis Club. PAC (recently renamed to the Pacific Sports Resort Redwood Shores) is a for-profit private club located on Redwood Shores Parkway. In addition to lighted tennis courts and indoor courts, they also have a full fitness facility, swimming pool, etc. SCTC and FCTC are non-profit neighborhood clubs like RSTC and they play on public courts. More information on all three groups is available on their respective websites.

Do you offer lessons? RSTC is not a teaching organization. Sports in Action is a non-profit organization that offers tennis clinics to Redwood Shores children at Preserve Park. Redwood City Parks & Recreation Department offers tennis clinics at Red Morton Park. PAC has excellent private and group instructions for adults and children. The Silicon Valley Tennis Academy offers tennis clinics and private lessons to adults and children at their San Carlos location.

How do I join RSTC? Membership Mania will be in March and we will publish the date on our website, in the Pilot, and on the Redwood Shores Community Board (announcement board on Redwood Shores Parkway) once it is determined. You can come meet us and pick up an application. We usually offer refreshments and an opportunity to play some tennis as well. Alternatively, you can join at any time by submitting an application on www.rstc.org.

I hope this FAQ helps you find the right venue for you to enjoy some tennis.

Karen Brodersen, President, Redwood Shores Tennis Club

Recap: July Team Tennis Tournamet & Burgers & AMAIZEing Sides Social

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 21:13:24 GMT

The weather was absolutely delightful for our July tournament: Hot with a touch of cooling breeze, sunny but not glaring. What more could you ask for?

We squeezed 28 players into the draw (the limit is 24 but some players played half days). I’m thrilled that our tournaments are so popular.

We had a very good time! Even those of us struggling with our games a bit had fun, which is the whole point of RSTC tournaments. The winner on Quay Courts was newcomer Nicola Tidwell. Welcome to the club! The men ended in a 3-way tie with Jim Schwartz, Ivan Quinones, and Shane Dickinson earning top scores. We chose the winner at the social via our version of trivial pursuit. Jim was a master of tennis trivia, and won with answers to “Which Grand Slam Tournament did Bjorn Borg win six times?” and “Bjorn Borg never won a U.S. Open; he lost two finals to lefty Jimmy Connors, and two other finals to this lefty: ___?) Congratulations!

For the Shorebird Court men, it was a very close contest but Dennis Murphy squeaked it out to earn the win. Robin George was a clear winner amongst the women.

The prizes in keeping with RSTC’s grand cooking tradition (and the BBQ social theme) were a paella pan (Jim), hamburger slider kit (Robin), cast iron grill press (Nicola), and cast iron/griddle (Dennis). Hope they make us something yummy at a future social with those!

The Burgers & AMAIZEing Social (such corny title!) took place at Irene and Jay Muzio’s home. We had burgers – beef burgers, lamb burgers, turkey burgers, veggie burgers, and more! We had corn appetizers and side dishes, some non-corn appetizers and side dishes, and non-corn desserts (thank goodness). Everything was great! Even the water was delicious – it was steeped in piles of sliced lemons. Thank you Irene & Jay for a wonderful evening!

Trivia Answers: French Open (Bjorn Borg also won 5 consecutive Wimbledon titles) and John McEnroe.

Recap: May Men's and Women's Doubles Tournament and Red, White, and Blue Social

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:57:45 GMT

May was our very popular Men’s and Women’s Doubles. Cynthia Hunton created a great tournament with many close sets decided by tiebreaks. In addition, many players were either inspired by the beautiful day or had been taking lessons over the winter because the quality of play was great. In one of her service games, Barb Urrutia was hitting winner after winner, saying with disbelief, “I can’t believe I did that!!!” It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person – Barb and hubby Rick brought the refreshments for the tournament AND were the social hosts for the evening. Thanks to Cynthia, Barb, and Rick for a great day!

The #1 Woman was Annette Vernon and #2 Man was Bob Porter. In a very tight tournament, June Walker, Laurie Coleman, and Cynthia Hunton tied for the Women’s 2^nd place prize and Sundar Venkateswaran and Bob Brodersen tied for the Men’s 2^nd place prize. Prizes were gift certificates to Safeway (to get fixin's for a Memorial Day BBQ.) Thanks to John Hogan for getting the prizes and to Janice Carter, Sundar, John Hogan, and Bob B for photography.

We celebrated Memorial Day a week early at RSTC’s evening social. Barb told us to be creative with Red, White, and Blue and we did our best. Blueberries were a popular ingredient in the salads. Janice made a lasagna (white ricotta and red sauce) and topped it with blueberries (just a few!) to complete the color scheme. “Red, White, and Blue Burgers” incorporated red onions, white ranch dressing, and blue cheese into the patty. For dessert, there was a beautiful American flag cake (red raspberries, white frosting, blueberries) and a fluffy cheesecake by Laurie Merrill which my 5 year old declared to be “the best cheesecake EVER!” And many more delicious items that I cannot recall.

Sundar joined Cynthia in washing up dishes. Thanks Sundar and Cynthia! And thank you again to Barb and Rick for opening your beautiful home to us. The new landscaping was lovely!

April News

Mon, 16 May 2011 17:26:01 GMT

I'm pleased to announce that the April Team Tennis tournament went off without a hitch, nary a drop of rain in sight. It was a full tournament with the number of men and women pretty even though one team had only 2 women. The social theme was April in Provence and the team names were, subsequently, a Gallic mouthful: Arcs de Triomphe, Louvres, Musees d'Orsai, Tours Eiffel. It was a little odd pluralizing all of these one-of-a-kind landmarks but RSTC is always up for a challenge!

Congratulations to Les Tours Eiffel who towered over the rest of us. The team of Captain (and Photographer) Sundar Venkatewaran, Steve Hogan, Paul Insel, Don Smith, Annette Vernon, and Laurie Merrill were formidable. They were rewarded certicates at Amicis, and everyone was rewarded with a fine day of tennis.

The social at John and Natalie Jordan's chateau was a lovely affaire a quatre-vinght. We've done French before and we're getting pretty good at it! We started with champagne and raspberry wine, et al. I'm a little fuzzy on everything after that, hee hee! There was cheese and pate for appetizers (always a good bet for a French party), I brought a Salade Lyonnaise (I'd never poached eggs before -- it was HARD to clean the poachy remains off the bottom of my stainless steel pot), desserts involved a lot of heavenly chocolate.

Thank you to John Hogan, Tournament Director who also did Tournament Organization this month, to Barb and Rick Urrutia who did the courtside refreshments, and to Kathy Miles for procuring prizes.

Thanks to the Jordans for welcoming us into their home. Thank you to the social crew who collected plates and washed up. Thank you also to the many photographers: Sundar, Bob Brodersen, John Jordan, and Ruth Waters.

All of your assistance in running our events is greatly appreciated!

February News

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:43:45 GMT

The Redwood Shores Tennis Club is ramping up for the 2011 season. Members are starting to renew and new members can submit applications at www.rstc.org also. Our website shows our proposed calendar for the year. We have lots of tournaments and open plays scheduled and look forward to plenty of tennis over the next 9 months! Our first event will be Membership Mania: It’s open play tennis for everyone – members and prospective members. The Club will be providing breakfast snacks, coffee, and OJ so come out and join us. Enjoy breakfast and tennis on us and learn more about what RSTC is about!

Membership Mania is scheduled for March 19, weather permitting. Registration is not required but if you do register we can notify you if the City requires us to change the date (we are still waiting for official approval.) Otherwise, please double-check www.rstc.org before coming. In case of rain, the event will be canceled but you can visit our website for more info, email us (contact info is on the website), or drop by our tournament on March 26 (we’ll answer questions and fit you in if space permits!)

Hope to see you on the courts!

Karen Brodersen

President, Redwood Shores Tennis Club

January News

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:41:32 GMT

Although the rain and chill seems relentless these days, it isn’t too early to start thinking about tennis! The pros at the Australian Open will inspire us soon with displays of power and skill on the hard courts down under. If nothing else, the images of hot sun and reports of 80 degree weather will have us dreaming for the start of our own tennis season in the Bay Area. In the meantime, what to do? Well, some players are getting racquets restrung and new grips put on. I’m testing some new racquets (you can get the latest racquets to try out for free from racquet shops such as Zalles in Foster City. Working out in the gym is good for both your New Year’s Resolutions and your tennis game. Don’t neglect your wrists – do some wrist flexion exercises to put more snap in your topspin!

The Redwood Shores Tennis Club is holding our holiday party in a few weeks and then we’ll be looking ahead to the new season. We are currently working on dates for this year’s events. Once we have them confirmed, we’ll post on www.rstc.org. If you sign up for a membership now, you’ll get automated notifications of all events, including Membership Mania which will be our first event. If you’re interested but not ready to become a member, keep an eye on our website, and the next issue of the Pilot, for more information.

Speaking of the Australian Open, USTA Norcal is offering a FREE promotional event for Entry Level Adult Tennis Players (aka beginners or 2.5 rated players) in association with the Grand Slam event. All you need to do is bring your racquet. It will be Jan 23 1-4pm at the Sequoia High School tennis courts in Redwood City. The courts are accessed from James Street. Contact Hilary Somers at 415-407-8452 somers@norcal.usta.com for more information.

Happy New Year!

Karen Brodersen, President, Redwood Shores Tennis Club

Recap: September

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 06:58:25 GMT

What a busy month September was!

RSTC’s Tennis Junior Jamboree had a light turnout but the 6 kids who came seemed to enjoy it. The more experienced kids hit balls with one instructor and the younger kids worked on foot drills and hand drills before hitting balls. They finished with hitting for prizes and everyone won something. Michael Garb and Robin George provided RSTC snacks and drinks for the hard-working youngers. The fruit roll-ups and M&Ms were very popular!

The Men’s/Women’s Doubles Tournament was fun. This tournament was not sold-out – unusual because it is usually quite popular. A lot of people were out of town.

The vacationers missed not only our fun tournament but a fabulous Polynesian luau at Barb & Rick Urrutia’s island hide-away. The tiki torches were burning and the ukeles were crooning all night long. We started with pina coladas, pot stickers, Hawaiian pizza bites, and Hawaiian potato chips. The main course included Honey Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken with Coconut Rice, Roast Pig (pork), Shrimp, and traditional Hawaiian sides like Baked Beans and Potato Salad, and more. Desserts included Coconut Chocolate (Birthday) Pie.

Prizes were Salmon and Macadamia nuts to big winners Judy Garb and Bob Porter and Macadamia nuts to Calona Paiko and Steve Hogan. Congratulations! Thank you to Barb & Rick for hosting and to our volunteers Robin & Steve George for refreshments, Kevin Yates for the prizes, and John Jordan for photography on the men’s side. HUGE THANK YOU to Ling Shee for doing a tournament draw and photography.

A week later, we headed to Pajaro Dunes for the warmest weekend we’ve had on the coast. Irene Muzio brought back the Progressive Dinner with an interesting modification. We had appetizers in one condo, then split up into 4 condos for cozy dinners and stimulating conversation, and then regathered in one condo for dessert. The appetizers were Italian-themed with home-grown tomatoes topped with fresh mozzarella, Italian Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms, Peach Bellinis, and more. Each of the 4 dinners was hosted by 2 couples who made the side dishes and provided the wine that accompanied RSTC-provided ham. The dessert theme was Pie in the Sky, although it could have been More Pie Than 24 People Should Eat In One Sitting. Ice cream too!

The tournament was a lot of fun but marred early on by an accident in which Erwin Seibel was struck in the back of his head by an errant serve. Luckily, it was “just” a mild concussion with a prescription for rest and no alcohol for the rest of the day. Erwin cheered very loudly from the sidelines. We were all glad that Erwin was feeling and looking much better!

The Cioppino Dinner was cooked up by Michael Garb and Irene Muzio with appetizers, side dishes, and desserts provided by everyone else. And leftover pie. Lots of leftover pie. THANK YOU to Michael and Irene for orchestrating another wonderful weekend. We all appreciated it and had a great time.

August News

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 06:55:24 GMT

On September 11, the Redwood Shores Tennis Club will be hosting a junior clinic for kids of all ages with the help of the Silicon Valley Tennis Academy. If you have kids who are learning to play tennis, please consider signing up. We’d love to have lots of neighborhood kids take advantage of this opportunity to get a lesson and meet some friends. Find more information about the event or register at www.rstc.org.

RSTC completed our signature Team Tennis with a Twist event in June and we are just about to hold our July tournament, a Mixed Scramble format. By the time you read this article, we will be preparing for our August BBQ tournament. We hold a fun tournament every month with various formats. There’s Men’s and Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Changing Partners, and Fixed Partner formats. If you want to play doubles tennis without worrying about finding courts, partners, or opponents, our monthly tournaments make it easy!

Our socials are just as diverse and fun. The June theme was Skewer This! and everything came on a stick. Appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Strawberry Shortcake on a stick was perhaps the most unusual offering, and quite tasty. We would even have asked that the salads be on a stick (somehow) but there was a last minute change of who was bringing what.

This year, we are enjoying an active membership with nearly everyone coming to the tournaments and/or socials. Even though the tournaments are regularly filled to capacity, we have usually been able to accommodate those on the waitlist. In June, several members offered to play a half day in order to create an extra space for a new member (whom none had met) to get to play! This generosity of spirit is typical of the members of our club. It’s why I love being a part of RSTC.

For more information about the club, explore our website www.rstc.org.

Recap: June Team Tennis and Skewer This! Social

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 06:40:03 GMT

TOURNAMENT

Way back in mid-June, I returned from Hawaii to chilly Bay Area temperatures (and strangely enough it is nippy again now in mid-July) but the weather heated up admirably for the weekend for RSTC’s Team Tennis with a Twist Tournament. Tournament Organizer Irene Muzio ran the tournament with help from Tom Salles providing the vital refreshments and Michael Garb providing the equally vital tennis balls.

Twisted Minds, Twisted Medusas, Twisted Olives, and Twisted Oaks did battle on the courts. We had many new players joining us for the first time: Gavin Thompson, Jan & Bob Porter, Kevin Yates, Holly Roslow and Gary Schaezlein. Welcome to all of you and we hope you enjoyed your first RSTC tournament.

The Twisted Medusas, captained by Ruth Waters, and Twisted Oaks, captained by Kathy Miles, tied for first place with 73 games won over 9 rounds. Barb’s Twisted Minds came in second with 63 games. Irene Muzio captained the valiant Twisted Olives to an honorable mention at 56 games.

Jennifer and Shane Dickinson put together cute prizes of gift certificates for Peet’s Coffee with a postcard of Lombard St. in San Francisco (the famous twisty street in the City. SF expert tour guide Kristian says it is not actually the twistiest though.) We drew straws to determine the 7 players to get prizes.

Court photographer Bob Brodersen used a new-found feature of his digital camera to take extremely rapid series of photos and put the results – sort of a stop-motion photography -- onto the TV screen at the social. You could watch your form in excruciating detail throughout your stroke! Photos were viewed at the social.

EAT LAUGH LOVE

The social theme was Skewer This! and held at the home of Judy and Michael Garb. Appetizing skewers of shrimp, ham & cream cheese, tomatoes and cheese, etc. were followed by beef and vegetarian shish ka-bobs for dinner. Dessert was strawberry shortcake on a stick, gourmet chocolate dipped marshmallows on a stick, and Hagen Daz Ice Cream Bars on popsicle sticks. More deliciousness than you can shake a stick at!

Social photographer Kevin Yates wielded an impressive camera. We’ll post the photos when we get them. Clean up crew members were Ruth Waters, Erwin Seibel, Kristian Nergaard, Kathy Miles, Smita & Sundar Venkateswaran, and Jan Porter. They left the Garbs house squeaky clean.

ON THE CALENDAR

Coming up next on the RSTC Calendar is the Mixed Scramble Tournament on July 24.

In August, we will have our fabulous BBQ Tournament with yummy barbecued meats from Armadillo Willy’s.

Pajaro Dunes is in September.

Recap: vs. San Carlos Tennis Club

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:41:41 GMT

10 members of the Redwood Shores Tennis Club traveled to Arguello Courts on Saturday to meet a challenge from the San Carlos Tennis Club on their home turf. SCTC welcomed us with smiles, Starbucks coffee, bagels, danishes, and yogurt. After warm ups, we trooped out to the 4 courts (nice to have 4 courts in one setting!) 2 members of each team sat out each round which provided opportunity for interclub socializing

The first round was quite close, with only 2 games separating the clubs. In the second round, RSTC surged ahead. Both sides had great shotmakers and runners, making for long and spectacular points. For example, our Tom hit an overhead at the net – a great putaway – but their Rick chased it down – barely. Calona hit the ball crosscourt from the baseline to Jan who returned a low volley. Tom poached the volley, but Rick ran it down again. That one point probably lasted 15 strokes, with the momentum shifting constantly between the teams, and many of the shots being near-winners.

SCTC won that hard-fought point but RSTC won the match and eventually the tournament.

RSTC provided a delicious lunch of Green Salad, Pasta Salad, Chicken Salad Sandwiches on Raisin Bread, Chinese Chicken Salad, Chicken and Wild Rice Salad, Fruit Tart, Cookies, Wine, and Beer. It was all delicious.

Thank you to our players for coming out, representing our club with generous line calls and good grace, bringing a delicious lunch, and bringing home the virtual trophy. HUGE THANK YOU to Jan Enzone and the San Carlos Tennis Club for inviting us and hosting a fabulous friendly tournament. We hope to see you again next year!

May Fiesta Recap

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:51:30 GMT

The May event had plenty of thrills and chills, but a warm, thematic wind from the border arrived just in time. When the hard court dust settled, June Walker and Thomas Edwards were the top woman and man of the day. Later at Casa George, guests were greeted by margaritas, delicious appetizers and an array of tasty fiesta entrees. See the RSTC Blog for full details.

The original Fiesta Cap....

Ruth Waters - Art Installation Ceremony at San Mateo Main Library

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:07:04 GMT

The Community is cordially invited to the

Installation Ceremony of the painting

“September Sunset”

donated by the artist

Ruth von Jahnke Waters

Thursday, May 6, 2010 - 7:30 PM

3rd Floor of San Mateo Main Library

55 West Third Avenue, San Mateo

Reception & Presentation by the Artist

in the Oak Room following ceremony

RSVP by May 3rd to 650-522-7802

For more artist information visit www.ruthwaters.com

Free parking in the Library’s basement garage

Annette Vernon & Paul Reinhardt - New Business Launch

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:05:28 GMT

COME ON OVER!

Here’s a chance to see what we’ve
been up to the last 9 months!
Please join us for an open house

Date : Sunday, May 2, 2010
Time : anytime between 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Address : 969 Industrial road, Suite J., San Carlos

R.S.V.P. - sfbay@speedpro.com
More Info : 650.596.3444

Light refreshments during the open house

-The Speedpro Imaging Team-

Annette, Paul, Jackie and Manny

www.speedprosfbay.com

Recap: April Mixed Doubles Tournament and Garden of Eden Social

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:47:33 GMT

While other clubs and USTA matches are dodging raindrops with mixed success, the sun continues to shine on RSTC tournaments. We are so lucky! On the Wednesday before our tournament there was a downpour. On the Tuesday after, rain is predicted. But we had bright sun and good warm weather on Saturday. With a full roster of players, Tournament Organizer John Hogan opted for 9 rounds of tennis to give everyone plenty of tennis in our April Mixed Scramble.

Some skeptics doubted that we would finish by our scheduled 2pm time, but Quay Courts finished at 1:58pm and Shorebird Courts finished at 1:59pm. (You can tell what kind of a club we are by the fact that people actually checked their watches – we love to tease each other!!!) Kudos to John for organizing a challenging format and for a crisply run tournament that finished exactly on time.

So at 2pm, we shook hands and hugged and headed off for naps and shopping/cooking. At 6:30pm, we descended on the Murphy Garden for a “Garden of Eden” themed party laden with a bounty of delights. Forewarned that shirts, shoes, etc. were required, no one tried to pull off a fig leaf outfit. Instead, apples, fruits, and vegetables appeared in appetizers and abundance. A sausage snake winked slyly at us from a bed of onions and pears. Chocolate desserts provided an abundance of temptation.

The men’s winner was Stephen Hogan with second place to Michael Garb. The women’s winners were Ruth Waters in undisputed first place and Karen Brodersen, Barb Urrutia, and Robin George in a tie for second – we spun a record to determine the prize winner. First Prizes were tomatoes and Buzzy’s “Flower Growing Kit”. Second prize was Buzzy’s “Mini Tomato Growing Kit”.

Thank you to Barb Urrutia for tournament refreshments, Kathy Miles for the prizes, and Ruth Waters and Sundar Venkateswaran for tournament photography. Thank you to Cynthia Hunton and Dennis Murphy for opening their home for the social, and to the clean up crew of Natalie Jordan, Nancy Hogan, and Barb Urrutia.

Recap: March Tournament

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:41:13 GMT

Wow, what a beautiful weekend we were treated to! Perfect temperatures and no wind, even on the Quay Courts. There was no excuse not to play our best tennis!

Well, except March Team Tennis was the FIRST tournament of the season, so we had some rust to knock off. With only 18 players, everybody got LOTS of tennis to do just that.

Ivan Quinones, tournament organizer, put together 4 teams, captained by Karen Brodersen, Sundar Venkateswaran, Tom Salles, and John Jordan. In keeping with RSTC’s philosophy of fun in the sun, the captains cooperated in trying to make match-ups that would be competitive. The scores reflected Ivan and the captains efforts as 3 teams ended up with very close scores: 46, 44, and 43 games won. Sundar's team won with 59. Congratulations to Sundar, Steve Hogan, Eric Nielsen, Don Smith, and Laurie Coleman. The prizes assembled by Janice Carter will be useful all year – a handy canvas bag (with dividers to hold 6 bottles of wine at another time) was stuffed with tennis essentials, including balls, a first aid kid, headband, etc.

Barb Urrutia provided courtside refreshments. Paparazzi were John Hogan, Laurie Coleman, Ling Shee, Janice Carter, Sundar Venkateswaran, Janice Carter, and me.

The Mixed Scramble Tournament is April 24. Registration is open for members now and will be open for non-members a week before the event.

Finally, fyi, Redwood Shores courts are being cleaned and resurfaced this week by the City of Redwood City. The courts are scheduled to be closed this week and reopened by the weekend. I don’t know how rain will affect the project.

All About the Redwood Shores Tennis Club

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:07:56 GMT

Redwood Shores Tennis Club had a great turnout at Membership Mania. We had club members coming just to say hello after not having seen each other for awhile. Some played tennis all day with us. Some just socialized. We had quite a lot of new players inquiring about what the club is about. Almost every new player was able to play one or more sets with us and enjoy some tennis on a beautiful Sunday.

We had a nice breakfast laid out of colorful donuts, bagels and cream cheese, strawberries, bananas, and a nut-cranraisin mix. Starbucks coffee and orange juice were thirst quenchers.

In case you missed us at Membership Mania, what RSTC is about is tennis and fun! Our members enjoy friendly tennis by day and dinner parties by night. Most tournaments are changing partners, so you play with many different people. Members can enjoy the socials whether or not they played in the tournament during the day.

We are an all volunteer club so everyone pitches in to make the events fun. Many hands make light work, plus there is no better way to meet and get to know people! 6 volunteers contributed to Membership Mania’s refreshments and many people took turns heading the information table to answer questions.

Our first tournament of the year, Team Tennis, takes place Saturday, March 27. The next one is a Mixed Scramble in April. For more information on any of our events, a calendar of events, or to submit a membership application, visit www.rstc.org. If you have questions, email me at rstc.info@gmail.com.

Happy Spring!

Karen Brodersen, President, Redwood Shores Tennis Club

RSTC's 2010 Season is starting!

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:21:00 GMT

It’s raining, it’s pouring, and our thoughts turn towards spring and tennis. The Redwood Shores Tennis Club wrapped up our 2009 season in January with a rollicking holiday party at Vivace’s in Belmont. Now, we are eager to start playing tennis again. It’s time to restring your racquets and buy new shoes. Our 2010 Membership Mania is right around the corner on Sunday March 21 from 9am – 2pm. We will be providing breakfast snacks on Shorebird Courts as an accompaniment to tennis – come with racquets and any questions. ALL TENNIS PLAYERS WELCOMED!

Our first tournament will be the following weekend on Saturday March 27 and the format is friendly Team Tennis. It is a great way for new members to become acquainted with the club because you will be assigned to a team and playing with a small group of people all day (against other teams.) Sign up on-line at our website.

For more information about RSTC, please visit our website www.rstc.org. We hope to see you on the courts!

Recap: November Team Tennis with a Twist and Iron Chef Competition

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:10:40 GMT

The Redwood Shores Tennis Club ended our tournament season with Team Tennis with a Twist. I won’t tell you what the twist was, but none of the players had heard of it before, they LOVED it, and we will be doing it again next year. Join us next year to learn the secret!

Winners of our first ever TTT Tournament were the Apples, with Ivan Quinones (captain), Steve Hogan, John Hogan, Ruth Waters, Evelyn Sell, and Robin George. The Oranges came in 3 games behind. Yes, we compared Apples to Oranges! Prizes were, coincidentally, apples (cookie), apples (chocolate), and apples (tea).

The evening social was an Iron Chef Competition held in the remodeled kitchen of Irene and Jay Muzio. Irene won Presentation for her pretty Caramel Apples, Barb Urrutia won Taste for an Apple Chutney Bruschetta, and Doug McCracken won Originality for Apple Burritos. The secret ingredient was, of course, apples.

Thank you to the RSTC Board, officers, and volunteers for a fantastic year. Our last remaining event is our holiday party to be held January 30, 2010 at Vivace’s. We’ll hang up our aprons for a night to enjoy an elegant evening with a fantastic 4-course dinner, followed by a spirited white elephant gift exchange.

Recap: October Team Tennis Tournament and RSTC's Great Pumpkin Festival

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:00:00 GMT

During the deluge on Tuesday, I was glumly sure that the Redwood Shores Tennis Club’s October tournament would be rained out, although I took small hope in the fact that the weekend forecast was “mostly cloudy”. Who would have thought Saturday would be warm and sunny?? It was a perfect day for my favorite sport.

We played Fixed Mixed Doubles Tennis. Several husband/wife teams played and we paired up unmatched players. A novel handicapping system made the day fun for all levels of players. Cynthia Hunton & Dennis Murphy won on Shorebird Courts. Janice Carter and Sundar Venkateswaran won on Quay Courts. Prizes included a cactus in a ceramic pumpkin pot, pumpkin bread mix, and chocolate.

Thank you to our volunteers this month: Tournament director Karen Brodersen, Annette Vernon for courtside refreshments, Cynthia Hunton and Dennis Murphy for imaginative prizes, and photographers Karen Brodersen, Bob Brodersen, and RIck Urrutia.

After a hearty day of tennis, we were all too tired to make it over the hill to Half Moon Bay so RSTC held our own Great Pumpkin Festival. Hostess Janice Carter decorated with carved pumpkins and the spicy scent of pumpkin candles filled the night air. We had a lovely view of the Bay Area lights as we dined on Caramelized Apple Salad, Bean Pot, a beefy pasta, and a pair of pumpkin infused rices. Dessert consisted of Pumpkin Pilgrim Cake (tasted like a heavenly combination of pecan pie and pumpkin pie), Chocolate Pumpkin Pie, pumpkin cake decorated with fluffy white frosting and candy pumpkins, and much more. Many kids-at-heart were noshing on the candy corn.

Thank you to June Walker for setup assistance, clean up crew Barb Urrutia, Laurie and Pat Merrill, and Jeanette Collins, and photographer RIck Urrutia.

Recap: September Men's/Women's Scramble Tournament and Jamaica Social

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:52:33 GMT

The Jamaican Jam Tournament was a mix of happy tunes. The women played on Shorebird and the men jammed on Quay. The sun was bright and what mo' you askin' fo'?

One interesting twist was that let serves were played as good. The intention was to help the game move faster but it was a bit of a brain twist to remember to react to the let serves!

It was great to meet new members Merrilee Gurney and Ling Shee on the courts. They are good players and nice people.

Karen Brodersen won on the women's side. Cynthia Hunton and Judy Garb tied for second place. Ed Lee won on the men's side. John Jordan won second place. Coconut rum and white coconut chocolate was a much appreciated prize!

Thank you to Cynthia Hunton for a stellar job as tournament director, Don Smith for tournament refreshments, Judy Garb for the prizes, and Laurie Coleman, Sundar Venkateswaran, John Jordan, and John Hogan for photography.

The evening was warm and balmy, perfect for the social at Barb and Rick Urrutia's Beach Shack. The "Shack" is located on the water and the reflection of the tiki torches added to the ambiance. By all accounts, the feast was amazing.

Recap: August Team Tennis Tournament and BBQ

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:33:47 GMT

First place was won by the Carolinians, captained by Robin George, ably abetted by John Hogan, Steve Hogan, Rick Urrutia, and Laurie Coleman. Second place was won by ever affable John Jordan with the help of Joe Hogan, Don Smith, Kathy Miles, Ed Lee, and Sundar Venkateswaran.

Without knowing the other 2 team names, I'm going to guess the theme of the teams was places famous for BBQ'd meats! Kansas (City) was probably one of the remaining team names. Was Chicago the final team?

Irene Muzio procured the prizes: Olive oil dipping sauces for the 1st place winners, gourmet olives for 2nd place, and rattan wastebaskets (which the prizes were presented in) for the winning captains.

There was a record turnout for the BBQ social. I guess this club REALLY likes BBQ! Ruth and Phil Waters were the hosts: They ordered the meats from Armadillo Willy's and delivered the meats and other items to the courts. Ruth reported that the "new-fangled" BBQ was well received by the members and there were hardly any leftovers.

Rounding out our volunteers, Barb Urrutia took care of courtside refreshments, and Laurie Coleman photographed both the tournament and the social. I'm sure everyone pitched in with the cleanup. Thank you all!

Recap: Mixed Stir Fry Tournament and Chinese Social

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:20:05 GMT

The July Mixed Stir-Fry (aka Mixed Scramble) tournament was a sweet success. The weather was warm without being sweltering – we all thought it was perfect. We had a full roster of 24 players again, although the faces and rankings changed a couple of times. Tournament Director Cynthia Hunton had her hands full working on the draw. She even had to tweak the matches mid-tournament but her hard work paid off. Everyone had some good quality matches and everyone had a great time. Thank you Cynthia!

Barb Urrutia did the refreshments, smuggling in some iced coffees for a treat (not exactly the drink of champions but definitely appreciated by sleepy tennis players.) I think Annette Vernon and John Hogan must have been well caffeinated as they buzzed to first place finishes. Hot on their heels were Irene Muzio and Shane Dickinson. Kristian Nergaard provided the prizes – gift certificates to Hobees where the winners can enjoy a scrambled breakfast. Kathy Miles photographed the tournament.

The social was hosted by Calona and Mike Paiko. We enjoyed a feast of Chinese dishes, including spring rolls, potstickers, and home-made egg rolls for appetizers, lettuce wrapped tofu, Szechuan tofu (I think), chow fun, Chinese BBQ pork, Chinese BBQ duck, and much more. Dessert was a birthday cake in honor of Dennis Murphy’s 50th, plus plenty of fruit. Dennis now gets to play in the “senior” league – hard to believe! Irene and Jay Muzio did the social prep and Ivan Quinones, Karen Brodersen, Michael Garb, Nancy Hogan, and Cynthia Hunton washed up. Janice Carter photographed the social.

Farewell to Joe Rust

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:43:54 GMT

It is with great sorrow that I pass on the news of the death of one of our oldest and dearest members. Joe Rust has died at the age of 75, in a mountain biking accident in Idaho. He was biking with his son and a friend. He apparently lost control of his bike and went off the side of the mountain.

It is no great surprise that Joe was in Idaho enjoying active sports. He was an avid fisherman and sportsman and I believe that he vacationed in Idaho frequently. A member of our club, Joe was a gentleman on and off the courts. You never had to worry that Joe would hit an opponent with a ball, complain about a partner's play, or get mad. He was always a voice of encouragement and merely smiled ruefully at errors (his own and yours.) Joe lived his life with grace.

Joe and Florence hosted an RSTC social every October "Rain or Shine" for more years than I can count. Joe, a consummate host, always welcomed every guest personally and poured a glass of wine for him/her. Joe was a wonderful person and a vibrant part of the RSTC community. We will miss him greatly.

Joe's obituary in the San Francisco Chronicle

Recap: June Team Tennis Tournament and Swedenzerland Social

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:34:39 GMT

The "heat was on" for June's Team Tennis "Wimbledon" Tournament. Players cooled down with gel-filled neckbands, ice-filled neckbands, a personal misting fan (which was freely shared), and lots and lots of liquid refreshment.

The tennis was very high quality and very enjoyable. Despite the heat, players moved quickly and decisively, searching for opportunities to poach or put away. Points, games, and sets were exciting and well-fought.

The Swedes -- Captain Paul Reinhardt, Annette, June Walker, Karen Brodersen, John Hogan, and Mike Paiko -- won prizes very much in keeping with the social's Swedenzerland theme: Swiss chocolates and Swedish fish (and cookies too!)

Michael Garb's Brits came in second. Jay Muzio's Yanks came in third (they'll do better at the US Open, I'm sure) and Sundar Venkateswaran's Swiss came in fourth (because Roger Federer pulled out at the last moment.)

Thank you to our volunteers: John Hogan organized the tournament, Robin and Steve George brought courtside refreshments, Shane and Jennifer Dickinson bought the prizes, and Laurie Coleman and I snapped pictures. Annette Vernon & Paul Reinhardt hosted the social with Barb Urrutia, John and Nancy Hogan, Monique and Erwin Seibel, Smita Venkateswaran, and Marilyn Ashby, providing setup/cleanup assistance and Michelle King photographing the social.

The Swedenzerland theme was a celebration of the French Open final between Swiss Roger Federer and Swede Robin Soderling. Fortunately, Paul's musings of Swedish meatballs in Fondue, Raclette with a side of herring, Gravlox on Zopf bread, and chocolate lingonberry souffle did not materialize. Well, actually the souffle sounds good! The real thing was even better though. Kladdkaka (Swedish Sticky Chocolate Cake), Swedish Nut Cake, and Swiss Mocha Cake was just the tip of the spoon.

Happy Father's Day to all the RSTC dads and granddads!

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:13:38 GMT

Happy Father's Day to all of our dads and granddads in the Club! Hope you had a great time enjoying YOUR day with your family!

RSTC's Father's Day Open Play had about 8 players having a great time on the courts at 10am (which is when I arrived.) I set up snacks and crafts for the children on the picnic table under the trees. The children had a great time making cards, eating goldfish, and playing.

Visit Zalles Racquet Sports for all your tennis gear!

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:19:39 GMT

Zalles Racquet Sports has been a long-time supporter of RSTC. They have been members and/or buying ads for years, provided a discount to RSTC members (currently discontinued because of the horrible economy), and ran a Tennis Day for our members. Now, they are an official Redwood Shores Tennis Club sponsor.

This full-service racquet store sells tennis racquets, balls, shoes, clothes, and bags. They will advise on choosing racquets and shoes and you can take racquets home to try out before buying. Please help us thank Zalles Racquet Sports for their support by giving them your tennis business! (And tell them you're from RSTC!)

Zalles also sponsors a Thanksgiving tournament in Foster City (open to everyone) and conducts junior clinics.

Visit the store at 969-C Edgewater Blvd. in Foster City. www.zallesracquetsports.com

Recap: May French Open Social

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:45:30 GMT

Written by Lauri Floresca:

Viva La France! The French Open Social on Saturday, May 30 was magnifique!

Somewhere between 30-35 RSTC’ers were greeted at the home of Renato & Lauri Floresca in San Mateo by the red, white and blue French flag covering the front door and dining tables. A delayed bee sting reaction had sent Renato to the doctor with 2-year-old Zach Floresca, so Lauri was a little frazzled at the start but the set-up crew arrived promptly at 6:15 and pitched right in. Dennis was sent out for glace (ice) and Cynthia, June, and Ruth helped make labels for arriving French cuisine and took drink orders as guests arrived. The Kir Royale, a popular French aperitif made with Champagne and Creme de Cassis, was a big hit, as was the selection of Pouilly-Fume (sauvignon blanc), Chardonnay, and Bordeaux (a cabernet blend). A variety of Belgian beers were available for the non-wine crowd (because that’s what they drink in France!).

The hors d’oeuvres were quickly gobbled up – a selection of fromage (cheese) with baguettes, two kinds of pate, a bite-size ratatouille, and some sort of puff-pastry twist that everyone was talking about. The dinner buffet opened, and a line stretched through the kitchen as people filled their plates with coq a vin, trout almondine, boeuf bourguignon, two kinds of ratatouille, and several French salads. By the end almost every dish was scraped clean. As the beverages continued to flow, we moved on to dessert: More wonderful fromage, Madeleine cookies, chocolate éclairs, chocolat truffles chez Muzio, cheesecake, and the pièce de résistance: a mango-raspberry ice cream bombe.

Oh yes, there was some tennis tournament showing in the background, but clearly the focus of the evening was la cuisine de France. And by that measure, it was clearly magnifique!

Recap: May Men's and Women's Scramble Tournament

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:43:19 GMT

Written by Ivan Quinones:

We had an exciting and fun filled men's and women's Scramble tournament. A great turnout of 24 members who played hard to make room for the delicious French cuisine dishes enjoyed that evening at the French Open Social at the Floresca's Cafe

Dennis' bionic Achilles tendon catapulted him to first place, followed closely by Jay who chewed his way to second place (dentist humor!)

On the women's side, Evelyn won first place but could not attend the social to claim her prize, which almost dissapeared. Fortunately (or unfortunately) someone was keeping an eye on the tournament director who was planning to take it home. Cynthia won second place and joined her husband in celebration.

All and all, everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather and surroundings, played great tennis and did not make use of any materials in the first aid kits.

Now... start getting ready for the Team Tennis Tournament on June 27!

Main Strings provides super convenient racquet stringing service

Tue, 19 May 2009 04:23:10 GMT

RSTC member Joey Delgado is the owner of Main Strings, a racquet stringing service that includes FREE pickup and delivery. You just call or email Joey, he will come to your house to pick up your racquet, restring it, clean it, and then he returns it to your house. It is that easy!

I just broke the strings in my racquet for the first time ever in my life (in the middle of a USTA match of course!) I've been too busy to take my racquet in for service and then I realized I didn't have to take it anywhere. I emailed Joey and wrote a check. That's all the effort that it took. Joey even put a new grip on for me. I'm so ready for the May tournament!

Main Strings is an official sponsor of the Redwood Shores Tennis Club. Please check out all of our sponsors on our Sponsors page and show them your support with your business.

Recap: April Mixed Doubles Tournament and Taste of India Social

Sun, 17 May 2009 23:21:25 GMT

The April tournament was a marathon. On both courts the women played a stunning SEVEN rounds with NO BYES. That's 42 games of tennis without stopping. In professional tennis, outside of the Grand Slams, the most the women play at a time is 36 games and 3 tiebreaks!! 4 of the women were actually scheduled for an eight round but by unanimous agreement, they called it a day.

On Shorebird, 4 women and 5 men were playing. The games were close: Kathy Miles and Carole Wong tied for 1st place, earning their wins by just 1 game over Barb Urrutia. Rick Urrutia won on the men's side with just 2 games more than his closest competitor.

On Quay, the competition was even fiercer. Karen Brodersen and Calona Paiko were the only 2 women playing and they were well matched. Despite the variety of partners, the women were tied after each 2 rounds. In the 7th and what was thought to be the deciding set, they tied 4-4! The tiebreak was just as close as the rounds but eventually Karen prevailed.

The men played magnificently, especially during the men’s doubles rounds. It was a treat to watch the power and angles that they displayed. At the end of the 6^th round, Michael Garb had 25 games to Steve Hogan’s 24. They played as opponents in the 7^th round and Steve aced the round and the tournament.

The Taste of India social was held at Sundar and Smita Venkateswaran’s home. Many thanks to them for hosting us! Delicious Indian dishes abounded and the air was redolent with curry. Sundar declared the tastes so authentic that he thought he was back in Delhi! We all indulged to our hearts’ content, feeling that we had earned it.

Recap: Membership Mania and March Team Tennis Tournament

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:39:46 GMT

Well, the Redwood Shores Tennis Club’s Membership Mania on March 15 got rained out and things didn’t look too promising for our rain date reschedule of March 21. All week, the weather forecast promised showers. Thursday and Friday were brilliantly sunny and yet the forecast continued to be rain. Nevertheless we made all of our preparations and Saturday dawned bright and dry! We had a delicious buffet of croissants with home-made strawberry jelly, muffins, yogurt, granola, fruit, coffee, and orange juice available. Drop-ins were welcomed to enjoy some breakfast and play a set with us.

Simultaneously, we were running our March Team Tennis Tournament with 16 hardy souls on 4 teams: the Spring Breaks, Showers, Fevers, and Flowers. Despite early genteel protestations that “this is the first tennis we’ve played all winter”, there was some steel on the courts – lessons had clearly been taken during the winter! In the end, the Showers took home the prizes. Captain Kathy Miles, Michael Garb, Monique Seibel, and Shane Dickinson earned themselves each a box of chocolate truffles. The rest of us were satisfied with good food (breakfast) and good tennis and seeing our friends again.

Now Membership Mania may be over, but we are always looking for new members so if you are at all interested in playing tennis, look us up! Even if you don’t have time to play often, you’ll find that membership in RSTC is well worth your while. First of all, the annual dues and per tournament fees are quite low. Secondly, if you don’t play often, you probably don’t have regular opportunities to play. RSTC provides partners and opponents twice a month – at our tournaments and open plays on reserved courts. You don’t have to call around looking for available players or drive around looking for an available court.

Renew your membership!

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:22:06 GMT

This is a reminder to renew your membership. Effective immediately, only club members will continue to receive email from the club, including notices of upcoming events.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Click on "Member Application" on the menu bar or follow this link:Membership Application.pdf and print the application. Note: For on-line registration, each playing spouse must register separately. The paper form allows you to register on one form, and we will create separate accounts for you once we receive your application.

Step 1: Choose your membership level. At the "tournament" level, there is no additional fee to play in the tournaments. At the "general" level, there is a $10 fee per tournament.

Step 2: Fill in your contact information.

Step 3: If you have a non-playing partner who accompanies you to RSTC social events, you should enter his/her name in the appropriate field and click on the checkbox to register him/her for a social membership. On the paper form, you should fill out the Member 2 information for him/her and select the $25 Social Membership. The total cost due is the total of both memberships.

Step 4: Fill in the volunteer fields (these are on the back of the paper form). RSTC is an all-volunteer club and we need everyone to volunteer to help run the events!

Step 5: You can pay on-line via credit card (a small transaction fee is included in the prices listed on-line) or mail in your check. Once your payment is received, your account will be activated and you will be able to register for Tournaments and Socials at member prices.

Membership Mania is now March 21

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:36:42 GMT

Membership Mania has been rained out. With a constant mist and heavy clouds, the courts are currently unplayable and will probably get worse. Regretfully, we are postponing this event until next Saturday March 21.

Thank you to Cynthia, Dennis, Kathy, Monique, Erwin, Michael, and Irene for volunteering to bring food, coffee, and supplies, and to man the Membership Table. Irene will be out of town next week so additional volunteers are needed. Please email me if you can help.

We do also have a Team Tennis Tournament scheduled for March 21 which will continue to be held. We will either reserve one court for Membership Mania players or give visitors a one-set slot on a team. If you want to play more tennis, please make sure you sign up for the Tournament.

Sign up for the Evening Social too! We need to know how many are coming to plan drinks and food assignments, plus only registrants get email updates and reminders regarding the social. (This may turn into a lunch social at a local restaurant if no one steps up to host.)

Don't forget to renew your RSTC membership before you sign up for the Tournament/Social. If you pay on-line, the Tournament and Social registration forms will reflect member-only prices immediately. If you are paying by check and plan to register for the tournament/social once your account is activated, send me an email so we know to expect you.

Thank you and hope to see you next week! --Karen

Step-by-Step Instructions:

To apply for RSTC membership, click on "Member Application" on the menu bar or click on the following link: Membership Application.pdf and print the application. Note: For on-line registration, each playing spouse must register separately. The paper form allows you to register on one form, and we will create separate accounts for you once we receive your application.

Step 1: Choose your membership level. At the "tournament" level, there is no additional fee to play in the tournaments. At the "general" level, there is a $10 fee per tournament.

Step 2: Fill in your contact information.

Step 4: Fill in the volunteer fields (these are on the back of the paper form). RSTC is an all-volunteer club and we need everyone to volunteer to help run the events!

To sign up for Tournaments and Socials, log in so you get member-only prices and your contact information is filled in automatically. The username/password fields are on the lower left hand side below the menu bar. Then click on "Tournaments and Events" on the menu bar.

Step 1: Enter your email address. If you are not logged in and you are a registered member, you will be reminded to log in.

Step 2: Choose your registration level. The registration levels available depends upon your membership level.

Step 3: Fill in your contact information.

Step 4: Fill in the volunteer fields for this event. These are all areas in which we need folks to step up. Since you are planning on attending the event, please consider how you can help out.

Step 5: You can pay on-line via credit card (a small transaction fee is included in the prices listed on-line) or mail in your check. If you are mailing in your check, please don't wait until the last minute! Once your payment is received, you will be registered for the event.

The Redwood Shores Tennis Club 2009 Season is starting!

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:22:59 GMT

I hope you are energized and ready for a new tennis season. I am very excited to let you know of the many things your Board of Directors has been busy with.

First of all, MEMBERSHIP MANIA. It will be great fun to see you, enjoy some coffee and breakfast together, and hit some balls. Fingers and toes crossed for sunny weather! Registration is not required but is appreciated in order to get a head count. Register for this free event on-line.

Fill out your MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION. Once we receive your payment, we’ll start sending you the NEW MEMBER PACKET (WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION and EVENT CALENDAR is available now. PRINTABLE MEMBER DIRECTORY will be coming in April.)

NOTE the new section on VOLUNTEERING. FILL IT OUT. Be as generous as you can in offering to help. We will spread out the work amongst all people that volunteer. If you play more than twice a year, if you come to the socials, if you go to Pajaro -- you need to volunteer!

NEW this year – SOCIAL MEMBERSHIPS are available for your non-playing spouse/partner (or your non-playing self if you are injured.) We are asking that everyone who attends more than one or two of our socials to buy at least a Social Membership. Club dues pays for the drinks, wine, cups, plates, napkins, etc. for all socials.

The MARCH TOURNAMENT will be March 21 and the format is Team Tennis. We NEED VOLUNTEERS for all positions for this tournament as the Board is busy preparing for Membership Mania. You can register and volunteer for this event on-line.

I’m very pleased to announce the NEW REDWOOD SHORES TENNIS CLUB WEBSITE. If you any questions or problems, just let me know. Here’s a brief list of what is available and what is planned:

· ON-LINE EVENT REGISTRATION: Easily view and register for all of our upcoming events. You can even pay on-line through Google Checkout. All tournaments are priced at an extra 50 cent to reflect on-line payment expenses. You can save the 50 cents if you want to send a check through the mail (but think about how much it costs for an envelope, 42 cents in postage, and time.) Or buy the $75 Tournament Membership and just forget about tournament fees.

· ON-LINE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION: Fill out and submit the membership application on-line. You can pay on-line or send a check to save the on-line payment expense ($1 for the General Membership and $2 for the Tournament Membership.) Once we receive your payment, your account will be activated and you will be able to sign in to access the Members-Only pages.

· MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY: See contact information, tennis ranking, and preferred times of play for Club members so you can contact them to set up a match. This directory is visible only to members and you can update access privileges to decide how much of your information you want to share

· PHOTO GALLERY: Only members can see photos taken at our events.

· NEWS (BLOG): Keep up-to-date on what's happening with the Club.

· COMING SOON - FORUMS: We’ll add Forums with great topics such as Feedback, Tennis Tips, How to Host a Social, and Need A Player, all for Members only. You can subscribe to specific topics so you get email notifications when someone is searching for a 3^rd or 4^th player for Doubles.

We are going to have a great summer!