By Steve Sears

Tricia DiCenso practically grew up at Wayne’s Packanack Lake Tennis Club. 

“I started playing tennis when I was probably five years old,” she says, “back when they only had the three clay courts. I think they had 800 members at one point.” There are currently about 150 active PLTC members. “I have wonderful, wonderful memories. Family memories, memories from playing there, playing as a team. Every Fourth of July and every Memorial Day, there were people who had barbecues. People played tennis together, and there was a lot of mixing with others.”

For DiCenso, it felt more like a big family than a club. However, things changed. “I still played there and I enjoyed it, but it just felt like you would just go down, play your hour, and that was it.”

Times had certainly changed for the historic PLTC, which opened in 1929 with three clay courts, eventually added two all-weather and three more clay courts, and held tournaments from the 1930 to the 1950s. The club had fallen on hard times in the last decade.

“It’s been quite a transition to from a couple years ago, too,” says DiCenso. “Lori (Kohles) became the president, and she has done miracles to pull this club together and do what you have to do make us a successful, viable entity.”

The Packanack Lake Tennis Club in 2021 was in financial difficulty. Kohles, however, was not deterred. “Last January,” she says, “we sat around one snowy day and I brought in all these different clubs around the area to see how they operate, how they function. And then we had to come up with a plan.” A new board was created with Kohles as President, Keith Martin as Vice-President, DiCenso the Secretary, and Bob Tiedeken would serve as Treasurer. A business plan was out in place, and sponsorships and early dues payments from members was encouraged in order to get materials for the clay courts and prepare them for an April 15 opening. 

“Red clay is very, very special to play on, and there’s not a lot of red clay left because it requires a ton of maintenance,” Kohles says. “So that was one of the things, too, that people come from far and wide to play on red clay because it’s softer on your knees. It’s just a different kind of play surface.”

A Beautification Committee was formed, and a walk around the property was taken to determine how to make the complex more visual and pretty. “We got rid of the old telephone wires that they used as barriers for the parking lot,” Kohles says. “We got our parking lot striped, and we got our fence fixed. We made basically a whole list of what needed to be done.”

The appearance indeed being important, next came activity. Plenty of it. Two ladies tournament’s were held, the 2nd Annual Ladies Summer Slam 2021 and the 1st Annual Tennis Under the Stars Tournament. Also, PLTC tennis pro, Don Moya, is hosting Kids Clinics at the site for the first time in five years from June to October for ages 6 to 9 and 10 to 12. A waiting list is actually necessary due to the interest and popularity. “This spring, we’re going to do a teen clinic on the weekends,” Kohles says of the High School Weekends Clinics. “We’re going to have one session on Saturday and one on Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. If you’re in middle school and you want to prepare to play for high school, Don is going to host clinics now on the weekends.” Also begun was woman’s clinic every Monday night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. “This has taken off now. Women are playing in the winter, having moved indoors from the spring and the summer. So now this year, we said, ‘Let’s do Monday and Wednesday to get even more women involved.’ That was instrumental because people have never even played and they love it, and it’s like you’re really starting from somewhere and are giving the opportunity.”

The PLTC also has a rental program for outside groups. In fact, DePaul Catholic High School uses their courts for tournaments. PLTC has opened up an online apparel shop as well.

Numerous names from the past pop up in conversation. The late Judy Corvino was a long-standing board member whose presence is still felt at 9 Osborne Terrace in Wayne, and Bill Baker was as a longtime club member, among his contributions (along with Kohles’ husband) getting the PLTC courts resurfaced. “These were people that were really wanting to see the club succeed. The both of them just stand out. There are courts named after them to where they’ve been so positive and been nothing but for the club,” Kohles says.  “Very, very supportive.” Another member of note is Gene Mayer, who attended and played varsity tennis at Wayne Valley and turned pro in 1973.  He lived in Packanack Lake and trained at PLTC. Mayer at one time was ranked World No. 4 and competed against the likes of John Newcomb, John McEnroe, and Jimmy Connors.

The PLTC First Annual Red Clay Invitational 2022 Doubles Tournament, a member only or member with guest tourney, will be held from Friday – Sunday, May 20 – 22. More information is available at www.Packanacklaketennis.com