The CSA tennis tournament is conducted by the Tennis Committee with input and support of the tennis staff. Questions may be directed to committee co-chairs Dennis Nahnsen (314-606-5000) and Alan Marble (517-388-0945).

All participants must have current CSA Assembly tickets. All participants 17 years old and older must also have current woods courts stickers. “Current” means that an individual 9 years old and older has an Assembly ticket / woods court sticker (if 17 years old or older) for the time period during which he/she participates in CSA tennis activities.

Each team must supply a new can of tennis balls, with the match winner keeping the unopened can. 

1. Adults, and ages 13 to 16, play 2 out of 3 sets, with a 7-point tiebreaker, changing sides every 6 points. This group plays at the Woods Courts.
2. Players ages 9 and under, and 12 to 10, play an 8-game pro set with a 7-point tiebreaker at 7-7, changing sides every 6 points.
3. The parent / child, grandparent / grandchild teams play an 8-game pro set with a 7-point tiebreaker at 7-7, changing sides every 6 points.
4. Any ball striking overhead power lines is a “let”: the point is replayed, 1st serve.
5. Warm-up time is limited to 10 minutes.
6. Players shall check in with court supervisors before the match, and shall record scores with the court supervisors immediately following completion of their matches.
7. Court supervisors will help assign courts as the courts open up.
8. Court supervisors will mediate in case of disputes over line calls or scoring.
9. Court supervisors and staff will monitor matches for behavior and coaching (coaching by voice, text or hand signals is prohibited in CSA tournaments).
   1. Minor infractions are progressive in nature, with 3 steps: warning, followed by game penalty and finally disqualification. “Minor” infractions include yelling, dropping racquet on purpose, taking too much time between points and games, and coaching.
   2. Major infractions are also progressive, with 2 steps: game penalty, then disqualification. “Major” infractions include audible profanity, racquet and/or ball abuse.
10. Players’ relatives and friends should refrain from clapping for errors or double faults. Encouragement is welcome, but no coaching or strategizing.

If you are interested in joining the Tennis Committee, helping out with lessons, or have any questions, please contact a Committee Co-Chair: Alan Marble at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Dennis Nahnsen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

It was a wonderful, busy season for the committee as it expanded its horizons, fulfilled its role in helping select new staff and set attendance records for lessons for all ages.

Steve Shreiner decided to return to the CSA fold after years up at the Downs, and coaching and playing around the country.  He brought with him his characteristic enthusiasm and a staff which included Jonathan Blessing as his second-in-command, along with several assistants who combined to make the program shine.

The Board of Trustees instructed the committee at its November meeting to address the growing interest in pickleball by adding court striping for four more pickleball courts on the Crystal Lake courts.  We worked with Steve and our dynamite new managing director, Amy Somero, to get bids for both cleaning and striping the courts.  The work was done before the season started, and pickleballers of all ages began to use the courts in the afternoon.  Rick Rodes volunteered to coordinate biweekly clinics for pickleball, and the courts were filled every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

We conducted two tournaments and introduced a very popular new event in which parents and/or grandparents teamed up in doubles with children and/or grandchildren.  Sixteen teams signed up in July.  We began utilizing volunteers as match supervisors to answer questions on rules, facilitate play and provide general oversight. The August tournament suffered from a series of events which included two rain days, operetta practice for “Beauty and the Beast,” and a major sailboat regatta at the Crystal Lake Yacht Club, and a couple of matches were not completed.  With careful planning we hope to make next year’s tournaments even better.

We removed 21 signs from the various CSA tennis courts and replaced them with 9 new ones, which makes for a cleaner look and better spectator viewing.  We also replaced the old court numbers and racket hanger with new ones made of cedar with black numbers.

We will be submitting a proposed budget this fall to provide new equipment, resurface two (perhaps all!) of the woods courts and repair or replace bleachers and benches.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the program and volunteered their time to make the season a success.