Member Spotlight: Elizabeth Kuhle
Lois Harris
Elizabeth Kuhle
Betsy has spent her entire career in tennis, beginning as a teaching professional at John Gardiner’s Tennis Ranch in Carmel, CA. When she decided to return to the Midwest, she began a teaching career in Kalamazoo and was named the Head Women’s Tennis Coach at Western Michigan in the fall of 1982. She says, “It was a full time job which in those days was very unusual. No other teaching or duties, just coaching. I was lucky. And I stayed in that job for 33 years until I retired in 2015.”
She continues: “My tennis life now is SO FULL! I recently returned to singles after several years off due to injuries. And I LOVE IT! However, now managing practice for both singles and doubles has left me wishing there were 8 days in a week. My plans continue to be to play all the National events and play some of the Level 2s. Like other tennis players, it’s a little odd that we look forward to aging up, but in one more year, I’ll be 70 so I’ll see what that might bring!”
Now spending half the year in Ohio and half the year in California, she finds lots of opportunities to play tournament tennis in CA. While attending the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati, she spent the day with Debbie Burgess and Sherri Ploor. “We got to talking about how there were NO age-based events in the Midwest in summer for women and also noticed that at the W&S, there are a lot of women league players who come to watch the pros and make it a girls’ trip.” Debbie and Sherri visited Betsy’s club in Dayton, OH and started discussing the idea of having a tournament the weekend prior to the Western & Southern. From that she decided to make it age-based to see if some of the league gals could be lured into jumping into tournament play while at the same time being introduced to the NWTO and possibly enjoying a girls’ trip.
When Betsy approached her local club owners, they were immediately on board, so they have 10 clay courts set aside for 3 days for the tournament–the weekend before the popular W&S. Having secured the courts, the event will be posted on the USTA website early in the year. It is planned to be an unsanctioned event, but it will be sponsored by NWTO. Everyone who plays will receive a membership into the NWTO and a tournament gift. Betsy reports that the club owners are in charge of securing the Championship prizes which will be tickets to the Western/Southern which begins the day following the tournament. “Several of my friends in Ohio will be helping with making sure the facilities are up to speed and getting amenities set up. Hopefully we will be having a Welcome Happy Hour on Friday night. I still need to get hotels lined up and am hoping to get a raffle set up to benefit the NWTO.”
In her opinion, leagues have provided a competitive arena for many and are a great avenue. BUT, she says, “Now that I’m closing in on 70 years of age, I realize that the leagues fall short. While there are the 65+ leagues, there are few who play. And there is a big void for people over 60. Another big advantage of tournament play is that you KNOW YOU WILL GET TO PLAY! With league play, this can be a big disadvantage for many.”
Betsy adds: “I think it is important for the NWTO to establish some kind of outreach to the younger players. I realize it’s difficult for younger players who are working, raising families, etc., to devote time to tournament play, but if they had more opportunities in their backyards, I think we could convince them. We might want to establish some sort of advocacy network from our older players to the younger players in their region.” She feels that as players increase in age, the importance of having age-level competitive options gains value.
Photo Left to Right: Chuck Kuhle, Lornie Kuhle, Betsy Kuhle
Betsy sees a lot of other challenges for tennis which are similar to those facing all of the sporting/activity world. With so many choices, keeping people playing tennis means keeping tennis fun! “I remember in the late 70’s when many people left tennis for fitness and Jane Fonda! It was quick; it was a great workout, etc. I used to say to people, ‘But are you having FUN?’ TENNIS is FUN!’”
In her own words, “Tennis has been my whole life. Everyone in my family including my brothers and their children play tennis. My brother Lornie, along with being a very accomplished player, has run many pro events and currently is the Tournament Director for the Easter Bowl and the USTA Billie Jean King Junior Girls Championships in San Diego. My brother Chuck, also an accomplished player, runs a club in Decatur, Illinois and runs a Men’s Pro Circuit event there. He has just started playing senior events, and we are planning to play 65 mixed this coming year as he is aging up! All five of my nieces and nephews played junior tennis with four of the five going on to play college tennis on scholarships. “I remember the day we buried my mother. My brother and I went to the courts early in the day for a hit–a way to celebrate her life. It’s our drug of choice I think. Tennis has provided me with friends and acquaintances all over the world. I’ve never felt afraid of relocating as I’ve always known that tennis would help me fit in!” Photo Left to Right: Chuck Kuhle, Lornie Kuhle, Betsy Kuhle
During all of her career, Betsy has preached that “Tennis is a sport for a lifetime”. She feels grateful every day for all that tennis has done for her and for her family. “I never would have imagined the life I’m living now when I was young. Someone used a term once that I will share about tennis...It’s my FRAMILY!”