Club History

OFRC History Timeline:

1972

A steering committee was formed of nine men who became the first board of directors: C.P. Eldred, Vince Farone, Gene Goodes, Richard Irwin, Dr. George Kernodle, Phillip Motley, Ed Perkins, Jack Spencer, and John Vernon, III. served on the committee.

The club was incorporated on September 19, 1972.

The first membership fees were $400.00 for the first 200 applicants and the first By-Laws were written.

1973

A promissory note was signed to purchase 5 acres of land on August 31, 1973 from Drs. George and Marvella Koury in the Boone Station Township of Alamance County. The land was located in Elon College at the end of Pinedale Drive.

Fenton Winstead was hired as the first tennis pro.

1974

Construction began for the Bath House/Pro shop facility in the Spring of 1974 by Kerney Overman, Inc.

The first Club Championship was held and 4 more soft courts were constructed.

Club membership was 232 members.

1977

Rick Keller was named the new Tennis Director.

A fashion show was held to raise money to carpet the Pro Shop.

The Member-guest, Tennis Professional, Cancer, Member-Member, Club Championship, Junior Club, and N.C. State Junior Tournaments were held.

Club membership was 298.

1978

Four hard tennis courts were constructed with lights.

Ken Easter was hired as an assistant tennis pro under Rick Keller.

1980

Robert Register was hired as the assistant tennis pro.

A beer license was applied for and received.

A concrete sidewalk was constructed from the pool to the parking lot. Numerous other landscaping items were done.

The first tennis calendar was printed. The Member-Guest, cancer, Member-Member, Junior Club, and N.C. State Junior Tournaments were held.

1983

OFRC was annexed into the City of Elon College.

The swimming and Diving teams were undefeated and won the County and diving championships.

Robert Register was named the new Tennis Pro.

Club membership was 310 family members

1984

The Club celebrated its 10^th Anniversary.

Lights were installed on the hard courts, soft courts 1-5, and the backboard.

The membership limit was raised to 375. The club had a waiting list for the first time.

Kelly Key from Burlington was hired as the Assistant tennis professional.

1986

A wooden deck extension was added to the pool area. The pool deck was resurfaced. An awning was erected over the area for the snack bar.

The swimming team won the swimming and diving county championship.

1988

A Long Range Planning Committee reported that their top priority was building 4 new soft courts, constructed in a way that two or four courts could be covered with a fabric bubble. The Board voted to pursue this project and the indoor facility was completed and ready for use in October.

Herb Bolick was hired as Tennis Director. Eric Ratchford, tennis pro, resigned and Ken Easter was hired as Tennis Pro.

1989

The Board approved the establishment of a fund to support junior tennis development in Alamance County via an indoor tennis tournament. The group would be called The Alamance Junior Tennis Association.

Olde Forest was chosen as a USTA Area Training Center for Juniors.

Ken Easter and Jeff Trivette resigned. Jag Gowda and Ron St. John were hired as Tennis Pros.

1991

Olde Forest was selected by the USTA and NCTA as the 1991 Outstanding Organization of the Year.

Members participated in the Gate City League for women’s tennis. Jim Powell’s Mid-winter Pro Tournament was help with Tim Wilkinson participating. One-half of the profits were donated to the Alamance Junior Tennis Foundation. Many other tennis tournaments are held also.

Scotty Key made a new “Tennis Begins with Love” sign.

1992

A new computer and software was purchased.

Olde Forest hosted a “Prince presents The World of Tennis Event” featuring Stan Smith.

1993-1994

Cancer Tournament was held and raised over $18,000.00

Mid-winter Invitational was held and AJTF received $2501.00. Jim Powell matched that number!

A 20^th Anniversary was held in January for OFRC.

Tom McCall announced that Herb Bolick resigned as the OFRC Tennis Director. Jag Gowda was named the interim tennis director and after 3 months was given the Title of OFRC Tennis Director on a permanent basis. Also, Carla Pierce was hired as the new Bookkeeper.

1995-1996

The tennis courts received new nets, net posts, coolers, chairs, and the courts were resurfaced.

A USTA training facility was established at OFRC.

Thomas Hart joined the tennis staff as a teaching pro. Tony DeCandia was hired as a new tennis professional. A new Gate City team was established for women at OFRC.

2001

An awards banquet was held for juniors by AJTF in May.

A new indoor tennis building was constructed by KW. Dodson. A Grand Opening date of Sept. 29, 2001 was set for the new tennis building.

Charles Dent resigned as club manager. Mendi Riddle was hired as the new club manager.

2005-2007

Gate City league for women up to 3 teams for 2005. Mendi Riddle resigned as the club manager. Happy Kerns was hired as the new club manager.

The OFRC Senior Tournament was a huge success in 2006 and 2007.

2010- 2011

A Gate City evening team was started in May of 2010. A USTA Quick Start Tennis program was started for juniors. Many USTA adult teams were formed in 2011 to generate more adult play and increase club revenue. A new NTRP-sanctioned USTA tournament is scheduled for June in 2011.

OFRC was awarded The N.C. State Junior Tournament of the Year in 2010. The award is based on the strength of players, the number of courts available, and tennis amenities for players. The club also received the USTA Southern Tennis Association Tournament of the Year in 2010.

2013-2014

Stacey Higgins was hired as the new club manager.

There are 3 NTRP Adult Tennis Tournaments scheduled. The Burlington Christian Academy rents the OFRC hard courts for its matches.

There was a great turnout for the 2014 Huck Finn tennis tournaments for adults and kids.

2015-2016

Olde Forest Racquet Club has been chosen by NCTA to host the Carolina Cup for 2016. The Huck Finn Junior and adult tournaments will be held in May of both years. OFRC will once again host middle school league matches and play home to Western Middle. The Gate City League has 5 Ladies’ teams from OFRC to participate.

OFRC was awarded the Tennis Event of the Year for its job hosting the Carolina Cup for 2016. Awards will be presented in January of 2017 at the NCTA weekend in January of 2017.

2017-2018

Sue Gurley and Stacey Higgins (club manager for OFRC) travel to Atlanta to accept the Southern Tennis Event of the Year award for the Carolina’s Cup held at OFRC. A group also traveled to Pinehurst in January to accept the same award from NCTA.

OFRC is hosting Western High boys, Western Middle school team, and boys BCA team for Spring 2017. Sue Lamm-Gurley was recognized for her 3 years of hard work as Tournament Director for the Carolina’s Cup by the OFRC staff and board. Jag-a-Thon was held in October to benefit the ARMC Cancer Center.

2019-2020

The Court Reserve App will be added and ready for members to use in June 2019. Court 1 company is renovating hard courts and pickleball courts and should be ready around May 2019.

Jag Gowda (Tennis Director) was honored for 30 years of service. The Clay Court #1 was named after Jag with a plaque given to him at The Jag-a-Thon event.

In April of 2020, there was a pause in USTA play due to the COVID-19 virus spread. OFRC board approved to remain open with proper COVID procedures and proper staffing.

2021-2022

There is planning for the OFRC 50^th Anniversary to be held in December.

The first UTR Tennis Tournament is held at OFRC.

A new ball machine is purchased. New indoor tennis lights have been installed to save utility costs and improve visibility.

2023

Membership has been on a big growth pattern and there are over 500 members with a waiting list now.

The club has done a lot of physical projects to make it more attractive and member-friendly. A new website is completed as well.

OFRC has a very stable and dynamic staff headed by Stacey Higgins who is in her 11^th year as club manager along with Jag Gowda as The Tennis Director for over 30 years and Carla Pierce the bookkeeper for over 25 years. The club continues to be financially strong with long-term plans for improving some of the aging facilities.

OFRC is a great community supporter for its cancer fundraising with The Jag-A-Thon and many other charitable events. It is also the home of the Alamance Junior Tennis Foundation’s Huck Finn Junior fundraising tournament and banquet. Olde Forest continues to be one of the top Junior tennis programs in North Carolina.