Last weekend at the New Rochelle Tennis Club up in Westchester, New York, groups of eager tennis players crowded the courts employing the mindset of coming together in memory of their beloved friend while playing the game they all love.
In his tenure at the club dating back at least 50 years, Mike Aronstein has always prided himself on pursuing the best interest of the membership whether that’s hosting round robins like Saturday’s on the beautifully-maintained har-tru courts or having authentic Italian sausages from the Bronx's renowned Arthur Avenue brought in for players to enjoy in between matches. Upon being interviewed in a clubhouse adorned with hundreds of vintage tennis racquets in mint condition covering every inch of the walls there (including the original Zebra racquet in bright orange and black), Aronstein reflected on why the club holds a special significance for himself and for the people who come out from the city for their so-called ‘oasis’ every weekend.
“Everyone has a good time,” says Aronstein as he looked up at the two pictures of his own kids playing tennis which are behind the bar section, next to the pro shop. “It’s pretty laid back here."
Volkl Tennis' Cliff and Liz were on-site for the event, and played tennis with a few of the members as they took breaks from their matches; member Steve Cohen switched to the V1 Evo after hitting with it for just a short while.
Interestingly, the courts were being rebuilt from scratch back in May as a storm had caused significant damage. While that could have been a breaking point for many, Aronstein viewed that on the one hand as an opportunity for reinvention, putting new base layers on the courts and essentially starting from scratch right when tennis season was kicking off. Fast-forward to this past weekend, and the booming charity round robin held in honor of member Randy Eisenpress brought out the best in everyone and funds were raised for local junior tennis players who represent the New Rochelle community.
Regardless of what’s happening on the grounds of the popular club, Aronstein is there to see everything unfold first-hand and pour his heart and soul into his every move about the grounds.
