Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Canto Del Sol hotel management has demolished their two most popular clay tennis courts - #5 and #6 - to build a swimming pool for timeshare owners. These two courts have been the favorite of many, especially our winter visitors from around the world who come to Puerto Vallarta every year, mainly for 3-6 month tennis vacations. Many of these seasonal visitors have developed friendships spanning 20+ years on the tennis courts, which has led to numerous nights on the town with true friends.

For years, Canto Del Sol Tennis Club has been the most popular and active tennis club in the area, boasting four clay courts and four covered hard courts. Clay courts are a favorite of the 50+ year olds as it is easier on one's body and players can utilize their expertise in areas other than just power. It is now mid-October and all of our seasonal tennis visitors will be arriving in 4-6 weeks to the shock of having to rearrange a schedule they have had for years.

I visited the teaching pros, whom have become good friends over the years, and watched them look in sadness as backhoes gutted the two popular courts. It was not a decision of the Tennis Club, but the resort's intent to entice tourists to buy more timeshares. I also looked on in sadness, remembering the tournaments and competitive matches I had played for years and just as important, the good close friendships I established. It had the feeling of losing a good friend.

I spoke with Tennis Director Polo Torres about how the club will handle the demand for play on the remaining two clay courts. In the high season one needs to make a court reservation the day prior in order to play in most cases. The club opens at 8:00 am and many players form a line the day before to book a clay court as early as 5:30 am in order to play from 8 to 10:00 am the following day, which is the prime time for play.

Polo Torres has initiated some new rules, as well as new pricing structures, in order to accommodate as many players as possible. The time permitted for singles play is ONE hour and for doubles it is 1 ½ hours. This is only for the two remaining clay courts.

There are now two types of memberships, either for 3 or 6 months. There is a Premium membership that allows play at any time during the day. It is priced at 9,000 pesos for 6 months or $7,500 for 3 months for an individual. The regular membership will allow play on clay courts after 11:00 am and the cost is 5,500 pesos for 6 months and $4,500 for 3 months. A family premium membership is priced at 17,000 pesos for 6 months and $10,000 for 3 months. Play on the hard courts will not change. One can play any time of day for 2 hours with either membership.

Other prices are 600 pesos for a private lesson, 500 pesos for a trainer and 220 pesos per hour for play on any court. This is not per person but for the court. Guests of members will be charged 150 pesos per hour and the use of lights is 150 pesos per hour.

Hopefully all tennis players will understand the dilemma this puts Polo in. He is in mourning as well as all the teaching professionals. RIP Courts 5 and 6!