Coach expects lots of smiles at golf, tennis camp

By CHASE SQUIRES

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 30, 2000

DADE CITY -- Janet Wing said her idea for a new summer camp in east Pasco came out of her own back yard, the same back yard where international tennis star Jim Courier grew up.

From a series of clinics last year at her Dade City backyard tennis court, which is Courier's boyhood home, Wing said she and Saint Leo University tennis coach Tim Crosby came up with the idea for a two-week camp called Summer Days, aimed at teaching area children the fun of tennis and golf.

The result is scheduled to open June 12 at the university, offering tennis and golf instruction, and afternoons filled with swimming, games and other summer camp experiences.

"I had been talking with Coach about how we needed more kids' programs here," Wing said. "I wanted to do a clinic. He said, "You put it together, and we'll do it.' It turned into something huge. The first one had nine kids. Then it was 12 kids, then it was 15, and it kept growing and growing."

With too many for a back yard, Wing and Crosby decided this year to expand, offering two one-week sessions for up to 50 children, ages 6 to 14, at the university. Campers will learn not only the basics and some intermediate play of tennis, but also golf, two games Wing said go together.

"We might not have stars, but they'll have fun," she said. "Tennis is such a wonderful sport you can play all your life."

Crosby, an associate professor of physical education at Saint Leo and the school's longtime tennis coach, has spent his adult life teaching all ages to play a game he loves.

He even coached the young Courier for five years.

"People always ask me if I knew he was going to be great," Crosby said. "I will say that he never got tired of repetition, and he had an incredible work ethic, even as a child, with no one forcing him."

Courier, 29, won four Grand Slam tennis titles in the 1990s. He announced his retirement this month after a 13-year professional tennis career.

For young campers, Crosby said he'll stress athleticism and exercise. Learning how to move with coordination, no matter what the sport, is the first step, he said.

"The whole thing about our camp, is every kid will leave with a smile every day," he said. "They'll learn, but the important thing is to have fun."

Wing said the camp will stress a low counselor-to-student ratio so that every child feels special and has the best chance to learn and have a good time. She said she also wants to show people in east Pasco that not everything is located in Tampa.

"We have such a beautiful setting here," she said. "I think that Wesley Chapel and New Tampa should be coming here for things to do, we shouldn't have to look to them."

She said she also hopes to encourage parents who deliver their children to camp each morning to spend a day shopping and dining in Dade City and San Antonio.

While everything will be geared toward fun, Wing said Crosby is a top-level coach, and campers will have the benefit of his expertise and the best training techniques available. The golf session will also feature modern training methods.

If the camp is a success, Wing said she hopes to expand next summer, adding more weeks but keeping the class size low.

Cost for a one-week session is $195. A two-week session is $380. Parents can learn more about the camp by calling Wing at (352) 518-0232.

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