Martha Ehrenfeld
When I first moved to San Francisco, the Golden Gate Park Tennis Center was one of the first places I went to find friends and a community. Now it is my turn to give back to the tennis community and my city.
I have served on the board of the Golden Gate Tennis Club, the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Federation and the SF Recreation and Park Department’s Tennis Advisory Committee. I am currently a member of the USTA Northern California Diversity Committee as well as board member of the San Francisco Parks Alliance. I follow the work of many community tennis leaders who formed the Tennis Coalition; they spoke up and worked hard to be an advocate for public tennis in San Francisco. It is an honor to continue their work.
Avery Fringer
We are lucky that in San Francisco we can play tennis outside year-round. As one of the youth members of TCAC, my goal is to encourage more young people to play tennis and be a voice for high school students and younger people in San Francisco. I also hope to build greater connections between tennis players who are under 18 so that they and their families are more engaged with the Goldman Tennis Center and have a lifelong love of tennis.
I first started playing tennis at Potrero Hill tennis courts when I was in elementary school. Since then I’ve played at many of the courts and clubs across San Francisco, and also spent several summers playing at Tenacious Tennis Academy at SFSU. Today, I play on University High School’s Girls Varsity Tennis Team and we proudly call the Goldman Tennis Center our home courts. I enjoy the quality and layout of the courts, the modern facilities, and the friendliness of the staff. I also love the community events held at GTC. You’ll find me, along with everyone else, at this year’s U.S. Open Watch Party and the KPSF Open!
Lilian Kim Lynch
I took up tennis soon after I moved to San Francisco. Everything I learned about playing the game was through the classes I signed up for through Rec and Park. The experience was life changing. I learned new skills, met friends and developed a passion for the sport. Along the way, the tennis courts at Golden Gate Park became my happy place. I’ve met people from all walks of life, young and old. I cherish those relationships and the sense of community there that I have yet to find anywhere else.
Emma Major
I began my tennis journey as a young student taking lessons at Golden Gate Park. Years later, I reignited my passion for the sport and continued to refine my skills through additional lessons. I am a member of the Varsity Tennis team at Sacred Heart Cathedral and regularly play with my family and friends throughout the city. Tennis has allowed me to meet new people, play in a competitive setting, and become involved in the community.
I am excited to be a voice for youth on the TCAC board. I look forward to working with others in creating the best possible environment for tennis, pickleball, and ping pong players at the Goldman Tennis Center.
John Melvin
John is a transplant from the NYC area and came to SF in 1994. He started playing at an early age and now is experiencing the other end of life where tennis seems to be a bit more challenging than is was 70 years ago. GGP tennis has been an important part of SF because of all the really great folks he met after joining “Rudy’s group in the 2003. And as an artist, he has thoroughly enjoyed painting a number of the more graceful seniors and their unique strokes.
As a committee member I hope to be part of the expanded program, particularly for seniors and grandchildren.
Patti O'Kelly
In 2000 I came to San Francisco for a three month traveling nurse assignment and never left. It was through tennis at GGP that I met a great group of friends that I treasure. My family has benefited greatly with the availability of classes, parks, and open space that San Francisco Rec and Parks have provided. I feel fortunate that my family is part of such a diverse and inclusive city.
I am excited for the new tennis center to open, so that we can all come together again and enjoy tennis/pickleball and the strong sense of community that we have had in the past. I hope to advocate for all the participants that walk through those doors, so that we can continue to use the tennis center to create new friendships and enjoy all the racquet sports it offers.
La Phengrasamy
Growing up in San Francisco, I loved to play all sports, but I never knew much about tennis. The first time I picked up a racquet and played a game was as an adult. The more I played tennis, the more I enjoyed the mental and physical challenges of the sport as well as the friendships built.
I was fortunate to stumble upon Golden Gate Park Tennis Center after joining a USTA team. On weekend mornings, I enjoyed my short walks to Golden Gate Park to play tennis with friends. There is a sense of community and inclusivity when you walk through the tennis courts seeing people of all levels playing together. It’s not only a joy to play but to watch individuals' joy in playing the sport. I look forward to many more long hours at the new Tennis Center.
Justin Volmert
Whether the sun shines over Sutro Tower or the fog rolls though, tennis in Golden Gate Park is magical. As a park neighbor and tennis coach at a nearby high school, I am lucky to call the Goldman Tennis Center home; but I am just one of many in this vibrant community. I joined the TCAC to help make it a home for everyone.
I first started playing tennis as a little one at the YMCA in Eugene, OR. Decades later, I still love getting on the court. Outside of tennis, I am a teacher at a parent cooperative nursery school where I welcome children and their parents into a community of early learners.
Nicholas von Germeten
I started playing tennis when I was 7 years old with the YMCA tennis program. Tennis became a much bigger part of my life when I joined my Lowell High School team and discovered the Goldman Tennis Center. I have enjoyed this amazing facility, and I even became a tennis coach, teaching players of all ages how to improve their game and have fun.
Tennis has impacted my life on so many levels and I hope to share that impact with all of the tennis center’s users. My goal as a TCAC member is to expand the outreach of the tennis center to the younger generation and ensure that San Francisco’s youth will have the opportunity to enjoy the facility. The Goldman Tennis Center is a great place for kids to play, make friends, and socialize. I hope to see even more youth involved in the sport.