Ahhh. The idyllic har-tru tennis courts at the Quadrangle Club, 1155 East 57th Street.
Once in a while on this blog we like to celebrate progress, not just push for it, and the new summer tennis programs at the Quadrangle Club are something to celebrate. It won't be freezing forever, you know, so listen up:
The Quadrangle Club has been around since 1893. It has been at its current location on the corner of 57th Street and University Avenue since 1922. The grounds of the building include three, gorgeous, clay-like har-tru tennis courts.
Until now, the Quad Club has been known mainly as a faculty club for the University, even though non-University-affiliated members can join -- and it has been burdened by a slightly stodgy, jacket-and-tie sort of reputation. But all that is changing. The Quad Club is shaking the dust off its image with a little PR foray that means real progress for the neighborhood: tennis programs that are open to the public. (Other than these programs, you must be a member to use the tennis courts.)
Here's what the Quad Club is offering us this summer:
1) A children's tennis camp for ages 8 - 12*:
-Monday through Friday from 10 AM - noon
-June 16 through August 1.
-Cost: $150 per week (you must buy in increments of a week).
2) Adult clinics:
-Beginner/intermediate clinics: Saturdays from 2 PM - 4 PM, from June 21 through August 23.
-Intermediate/advanced clinics: Mondays from 6 PM - 8 PM, from June 16 through August 25.
-Cost: 4 clinics for $120 (you must buy in packages of 4 clinics).
-*Teenagers are welcome to sign up for adult clinics according to their ability level.
3) Fitness Tennis for Adults:
-A high-intensity, invigorating, aerobic workout using tennis skills and group drills. Cardio-vascular exercise (rather than instruction) is the focus of this activity.
-Every Saturday from June 21 through August 23, 4 PM - 5 PM.
-Advanced Beginner minimum.
-5-10 minute warm-up, 40-50 minute cardio workout, and a 5-10 minute cool-down.
-Cost: 4 sessions for $60 ($15 each session, but you must buy in packages of 4).
The instructor for all of these programs is Julijana Lazarevich, Assistant Tennis Coach at U-High, former UIC college player, certified PTR professional.
For more information or a sign-up form, you can e-mail me, or pick up a form at the Quadrangle Club's front desk, 1155 East 57th Street.
Play tennnis in Hyde Park this summer.
