Tennis Club is one of Sparta's hidden gems

By Mandy Coriston
Sparta - Lake Mohawk Tennis Club is one of Sparta’s hidden gems. The non-profit club, founded in 1972, boasts 4 full-size lighted courts, viewing bleachers, a clubhouse with kitchenette and game room, and a patio which invites members to stay awhile after they’ve played. They even recently added equipment for pickleball, one of the America’s fastest growing games, and now, they’d like to add some new members, too.
Club Trustees Audrey Whittam and Kelly Evans look forward to warmer weather and said there is always something going on at the club.
“We have members at all skill levels,” Whittam said, “from beginners to advanced, and we have open play sessions all week, and ‘tennis socials’ on Tuesdays and Fridays.”
“The socials really invite participation,” Evans said, “And we have round robin play during the week, too.”
The Lake Mohawk Tennis Club also holds a series of free and paid clinics, and there are tennis pros available for lessons. This summer, they’ll be resurfacing the courts and hosting day camps for children and adults.
“Because we’re non-profit, it took a while to save up the money to get the courts refinished,” Whittam said. "But we are excited about it! We want them to look and feel fresh and new.”
According to Peggy Laddey, whose husband Brian was a founding member, the club was established at a time when tennis was experiencing an exponential growth in popularity.
“We had clay courts over by the Lake Mohawk pool, and you had to call on Fridays to reserve any court time for the weekend," Laddey said. "We outgrew that space and wanted to open our own facilities."
She noted that bonds were taken out to build the clubhouse and courts, and the club holds a 99-year lease with the Lake Mohawk Country Club.
“I think the bonds worked out to about $150 per household to build the courts,” Laddey said, “and it really became a social center. We had so many parties and events.”
Whittam said the club tries to uphold founding members' traditions.
“It’s a really laid-back atmosphere,” she said, “We love to play tennis, but we also love to keep the social aspect alive. We still have an annual beer and bratwurst party, begun by the founders, and an annual member/guest tournament. We do a lot of potluck supper tournaments and hold the Sparta Open every year, too.”
Even with nearly 50 years of tradition to uphold, they’ve added pickleball, and even have a pickleball-only membership level.
What's pickleball?
“It’s like life-size ping pong,” Evans said, “That’s the best way to describe it. We play it on half of a full-size tennis court, so we can have a couple games going at once.”
Pickleball uses large paddles instead of rackets, and has its own net and a unique scoring system.
“It’s hard to tell you how to play,” Whittam said, “It’s one of those games you have to see and try a couple times to pick up. But once you do, you’re hooked. It’s a blast.”
The Lake Mohawk Tennis Club’s season officially kicks off with a Cinco de Mayo party, but Evans said the courts are open year-round and members can be found there on any warm day.
“If there’s no snow or ice on the courts,” he said, “you can be sure people will be down here playing.”
Membership in the Lake Mohawk Tennis Club is open to all residents of the Lake Mohawk Country Club, and non-residents can apply for a social membership. Full membership levels, which include tennis and pickleball, are available in a variety of price ranges for families, individuals, and youths, as well as the pickleball-only option. For more information on the Lake Mohawk Tennis Club, the club’s history, or to view membership applications and pricing, visit their website at www.lakemohawktennis.com or email the club at LakeMohawkTennis@gmail.com.