Troon Country Club hosted 6th annual Special Olympics Tennis Fun Day

Arizona Athletes with Physical and Intellectual Disabilities Participated in On-Court Clinics

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Arizona Special Olympians took to the courts at Troon Country Club in the 6th annual Tennis Fun Day on Saturday, January 23. Mark Pachtner, director of tennis at Troon Country Club coordinated the event which attracted more than 200 participants this year. Prior to his tenure at Troon Country Club, Pachtner developed Fun Day events with the local chapters of the Special Olympics in Georgia, Florida and California since 1999. The Tennis Fun Day is also a well-established fundraiser for the Special Olympics Arizona, raising nearly $14,000 at this year’s event. Since inception, a total amount of over $100,000 haven been donated so far with 800 athletes and 2000 volunteers participating.   

“The Valley of the Sun has clearly embraced this wonderful event, especially the members at Troon Country Club,” said Pachtner. “The pure love and joy on the faces of each of our special Olympians as they stroke the tennis ball brings not only a tear to my eye, but ringing joy in my heart along with the hearts of all of our marvelous volunteers who are the real facilitators of Tennis Fun Day.”

During the free Tennis Fun Day of clinics and exhibitions, local tennis professionals covered the basics of the sport of tennis and taught certain basic tennis skills for the special Olympians. Each athlete received a commemorative Fun Day T-shirt, a free Wilson tennis racquet and a gold medal for participation during the post-event awards luncheon. Athletes and volunteers also got time away from the courts to explore a fully-equipped fire engine and police cruisers, courtesy of the City of Scottsdale, and enjoyed a visit from therapy dogs from the Arizona Golden Retriever Rescue Connection. Festivities got underway at 9:30 a.m. and finished up at 1:00 p.m. upon completion of the awards luncheon.