147. LAS CRUCES TENNIS PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

The Las Cruces Tennis Players Association was formed in June 1999 to promote tennis in the community. We provide a number of services to our membership and to the public. We have ladder play in which we provide prizes to the most active participants. We have leagues on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, with a Tuesday night team tennis league in the fall. We generally host at least one tennis-related event each month.

This event could be a scramble, tournament, lesson, or inter-club challenge such as with Alamogordo or Silver City. Most of these events are free for members and include lunch or dinner. We host a USTA Grand Prix adult tennis tournament, drills, pro-days, and scrambles. In 1999 for the first time we sponsored a mid-school tennis league (there was previously no such program within the Las Cruces Public Schools). In 1999, 2000, and again in 2001 we had about 75 participants. Every year in November we host a very popular doubles tournament for members and guests.

We usually play our matches at Lion's Park at the corner of Picacho Avenue and Melendrez Street. These 12 courts are free to the public and are generally kept well maintained by the city Parks Department. (The lighting could be better!) Please watch for and obey the reserved notices on the gates!!

Many of our members just show up at Lion's in the early morning (around 8:00) or in the evening and are able to scrounge up a match. However, we recommend arranging your tennis matches in advance. As part of your membership you will be provided with a roster of all members with their phone numbers and NTRP. This is one of the most popular benefits of membership, along with the monthly newsletter.