By Matt Youngfrau
MONTICELLO — May 30, 2003 – An old expression says that a person does not know if they like something until they try it. When it is free, there is no excuse not to try it.
That was the concept behind the Village of Monticello’s Department of Parks and Recreation’s Free Tennis Lessons Program.
The lessons allowed children at least 8 years of age, teenagers and adults to take free tennis lessons at deHoyos Park over a four-week stretch in May. If they liked the game, they could sign up and pay a fee for more advanced lessons.
This was the fifth year the program was held by the Village of Monticello Department of Parks and Recreation. It is co-sponsored by the United States Tennis Association (USTA). This year, the lessons attracted about 60 people of all ages.
The students were taught the basics of tennis. The instructors were Monticello Central School Girls’ Tennis Coach Urvashi “TuTu” Gupta and the USTA’s Sandy Hoffman. The instructors provided all balls, rackets, and lessons free of charge.
On the last day, which was Tuesday, the instructors had all the children from 8-18 playing on the deHoyos Park courts. At the end of the day, they received prizes and gifts from the instructors.
Several of the youngsters expressed an interest to continue learning about and playing the game of tennis.