“If you haven’t played in a long time, that way
you get a good chance to hit a lot of balls in a
private lesson in a controlled environment,” H
said. “The pro can hit it where he or she needs
to, so you aren’t making as many sudden movements
doing something you haven’t done in
years, risking an injury. And always, always wear
good shoes.”
Another advantage to private lessons is that it
allows the instructor to watch the player’s stance
and how they play, and to realize if their
movements have potential for future injuries.
“Without giving someone instruction, I like to
see what their instinct is and what their natural
swing is,” he said. “Then I try to tweak that and
make their natural swing better. If I see something
that will cause a repetitive-use injury, I can
try to make a change in their stroke production.
“One of the best things about the sport, though, is
that most people are happy out here. At least half of
them are ... the ones that are winning.”
H (shown opposite page, bottom) is a New Jersey
native, and has been playing tennis since he was 10
years old. He played in college and was seated first in
singles and doubles for all four years, and was named
MVP for all of those years. He was ranked 12th
nationally in Division III, and played for a club in
Germany for a time.
H has been the director of tennis at the Boca Bay
Pass Club since 2003. He and his wife, Gail, live in
Placida.
Boca Grande winter resident Walter Beatty was born in Middletown, Ohio in 1942 (now age 76) and
has been playing tennis since the age of 9. Walter won a few tournaments through his high school years,
the highlight being his win at the Ohio state high school doubles championship in 1960 as a high school
senior. Walter attended DePauw University and graduated in 1964 after being named captain of the
tennis team there, and winning their tennis conference each year. He also played number one singles
as a senior.
Walter continued playing tennis through the years while working for IBM in Indiana, and after moving
to Connecticut he continued to win local, regional, even a few national tournaments within his age
group. He has also played on numerous Friendship Cup teams against Canada and South Korea.
In his words he describes how tennis has been a lifelong benefit for him.
After turning age 75 in 2017, I have been blessed with some of the best tennis results of my tennis
career. My tennis partner (Steve Lunsford ) and I won a bronze medal in a tie for third place in the 75
Men's Doubles World Championships, which is the pinnacle tennis event for seniors 45 and over, as all
of the majors are consolidated into one event played at various locations around the world.
As a result of that achievement and other tournaments we were
lucky enough to win, we were ranked number two in the country for
nearly three months.
For the past two years, I have had the honor to play number 1 in
the 75 and over men's singles for the New England region against
three other regions (Eastern, Middle states and Mid Atlantic) in the
Atlantic Coast Cup, in which I was lucky enough to be undefeated.
This past September I won the New England Grass Court Grand
Slam in men's 75 singles and doubles at the Newport Hall of Fame.
Tennis indeed is a sport of a lifetime for which I am so grateful each
day for the ability to play. The best part of all of this is that my mixed
doubles partner, wife and best friend, Anne, and I have shared this
journey together as she started in Middletown simultaneously with
me.
We both are so fortunate for the number of doors opened by this
sport and the many wonderful and extraordinary people we have
met along the way. It is hard to describe, but so very true, the heartfelt
thrill we experienced today to be lucky enough to be victorious in the
65 and over mixed doubles island tournament.
Walter Beatty
G
M