Idle Hour Tennis Club is pleased to introduce “Our Tennis Life”, a blog created by Bob Strimel, a 15-year member of our club, and a widely-respected life-time member of the Delaware Valley tennis community. Our Tennis Life will be a regular feature on the Idle Hour website, with new entries appearing every week or two. Bob will share tips and stories and welcomes ideas, content contributions and feedback from members; simply email him at OurTennisLife@idlehourtennis.com.
And now, it's Bob's serve:
And now, it's Bob's serve:
First, I want to share my background proving that tennis can be a lifetime sport and a way of life. I started playing at 10 years old at my father’s tennis school where he offered free clinics to all at Elmwood Park in Norristown PA around 1963. Learning how to play with a wooden racquet was a challenge that a lot of you know first-hand. I used a Wilson Jack Kramer with natural gut and a racquet press.
MY FIRST IHTC TRIVIA QUESTION:
What does rough or smooth mean and what exactly is a racquet press?
(First to answer correctly wins a prize!)
(First to answer correctly wins a prize!)
I was playing tournaments by the age of 12 and teaming up with partner Jake Curtis of Saucon Valley. We became #1 ranked boys doubles in the 14s and then the 16s in Middle States Juniors. We won the PA State Doubles title at the Cynwyd Club which qualified us to play in the Boys Nationals in Kalamazoo Michigan. The juniors from California, Florida, and Texas had a talent edge that we quickly discovered!
As a result, my father founded the Gold Cup program for Middle States juniors to train indoors over the winter months on courts donated by the tri-state indoor clubs. This program is in its 50th plus year and many juniors have benefited from the concept. Dick Sorlein, Leif Beck, and Harold Landesberg were co-founders with my dad.
My summer jobs included teaching tennis in the NJTL (National Junior Tennis League) and at the Germantown Academy summer camps.
I graduated from Germantown Academy in 1971, studied at Denison University class of 1976, then continued teaching tennis and officiating sports.
My big break was being hired by Gamma Racquet Sports out of Pittsburgh PA as their regional sales manager for PA, NJ, Metro NY, and Delaware. I sold court equipment, balls, ball hoppers, stringing machines, racquets, strings, grips, footwear and apparel, calling on pro shops and clubs everywhere.
As a result, my father founded the Gold Cup program for Middle States juniors to train indoors over the winter months on courts donated by the tri-state indoor clubs. This program is in its 50th plus year and many juniors have benefited from the concept. Dick Sorlein, Leif Beck, and Harold Landesberg were co-founders with my dad.
My summer jobs included teaching tennis in the NJTL (National Junior Tennis League) and at the Germantown Academy summer camps.
I graduated from Germantown Academy in 1971, studied at Denison University class of 1976, then continued teaching tennis and officiating sports.
My big break was being hired by Gamma Racquet Sports out of Pittsburgh PA as their regional sales manager for PA, NJ, Metro NY, and Delaware. I sold court equipment, balls, ball hoppers, stringing machines, racquets, strings, grips, footwear and apparel, calling on pro shops and clubs everywhere.
 | My stint with Gamma was followed by sales roles at Adidas America and ASICS footwear. In 2003, I was named Tennis Industry Sales Rep of the Year. Along the way, I became a certified tennis instructor with the Professional Tennis Registry. What a ride it was, having the privilege of teaching tennis at world class resorts around the Caribbean. I’m also a member of the U.S. Racquet Stringers Association and the Snauwaert Tennis Racquet team. |
My motto is “no one ever says let’s go work tennis”. That’s why having a playground like IHTC is so much fun!
TENNIS TRIVIA QUESTION #2:
IHTC member Robbi Dimond’s brother was ranked #1 in men’s tennis in the USA. Name him?
(First to answer wins a fabulous prize!)
(First to answer wins a fabulous prize!)
So, having a 35 year career in tennis, traveling the world, meeting great people, has been amazing.
What we all have in common brings us closer together! So let’s share “Our Tennis Life” together!
That’s all from Our Tennis Life, more to come.
Bob
OurTennisLife@idlehourtennis.com
What we all have in common brings us closer together! So let’s share “Our Tennis Life” together!
That’s all from Our Tennis Life, more to come.
Bob
OurTennisLife@idlehourtennis.com
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