Summer sessions next week

By Dean Wong

With the tennis courts at Lower Woodland for closed construction this summer, Hamilton and the United States Professional Tennis Association that he is a member of are planning to attract players to Ballard High School's courts.

On Saturday, June 28, a block party will be held at Ballard High School to kick off Ballard Tennis's summer sessions. The event includes fun games, a cookout and other activities.

"Ballard Tennis is a great story. We offer a full service program just like any major club. A large percentage of the proceeds goes to support tennis at Ballard High School. We offer certified pro instruction, camps, clinics, lessons and league play," said Brad Hamilton, coach of the boys and girls tennis teams at Ballard High Brad Hamilton, coach of the boys and girls tennis teams at Ballard High.

The tennis courts at Lower Woodland are normally busy during the summer, but they are undergoing improvements that will be completed by the fall, leaving players with no place to play. Lower Woodland is one of the busiest tennis facilities in Seattle.

"We are expanding out services to provide resources for the community with Green Lake (Lower Woodland) out of commission," said Hamilton.

He is also director of the Hamilton-Ballard Tennis program and was a professional for the Sayraher High Performance Program at Forest Crest Tennis Club.

Aaron Lee, coach for the junior team at Ballard High returns for his second year as a summer instructor. He played with the Whitman College team worked with the Forest Crest Junior Program.

Ron Coleman, a United States Professional Tennis Association teaching pro is the third instructor. He had coached at Nathan Hale and Shorecrest high schools.

The Ballard Tennis program will offer lessons and camps for adults and junior players.

"It will be a lot of fun," said Hamilton.

The summer program offers lessons for adult beginners, to advanced beginners, adult advanced, junior camps and custom camps.

A cardio tennis class provides people with a high-energy workout. Players can also sign up for a Skills and Drills session. Adults will have a recreational league with co-ed teams.

The Skyhawks Tennis at Ballard is another program. This one is designed for kids age ten and younger to learn the basic tennis strokes.

Portions of the proceeds from the tennis camps will go towards supporting Ballard High tennis programs and to hire better coaches for the boys and girls teams.

The four courts at the high school will be combined with two courts each at Gillman Playfield and Whitman Middle School.

Ballard Beaver girls and boys will also play summer tennis at the school together this year.

"We're seeing a lot of benefit from the summer programs," said Hamilton.

The tennis camps begin in late June. Visit http://www.ballardathletics.com and click on girls' tennis for details on the Ballard Tennis summer programs.