Growing Program in Camdenton Earns Gold Star Award
Larry Bennett might sound like a proud father when talking about the tennis programs run by the Camdenton Parks and Recreation Department. It makes sense, though. This baby is just three years old.
Bennett and his team have been honored with a USTA Gold Star award. In honor of its 100th anniversary this year, USTA Missouri Valley is recognizing 100 deserving tennis providers, players, partners and more throughout the section. These Gold Star awards recognize contributions to support and grow the game in USTA Missouri Valley.
“I’m proud that we have developed a program from square one, where nothing existed before, and that it has the potential to grow and help local children and adults develop a love for the sport for many years to come,” Bennett said.
In his sixth year as Director of Parks & Recreation for the City of Camdenton, Bennett has helped build the program from the ground up. He describes the program as still in its infancy in a small rural town.
“We started with about six kids from 6 to 12 years of age at a clinic, and now have an annual clinic as well as three sessions of lessons each for beginners and teens,” Bennett said. “Our success fully lies with our local USTA Missouri Valley tennis instructor and Junior Tennis Coordinator Courtney Nesbitt. She loves to teach and the kids love her. Good facilities, good instructors, organization and leadership are keys to our success.”
Nesbitt, the Junior Competition Coordinator for USTA Missouri, shares Bennett’s pride for the program in a town of less than 4,000 people.
Pictured: Camdenton Parks and Rec offers tennis programming to local children. Photos taken in June 2019.
“Last summer we started a first-time tennis program. It doubled in size this summer,” Nesbitt said. “We are going to try to create an all-season outdoor program and we have enough interest for the fall, so that’s exciting. (Bennett) allowed me to run junior tournaments there this summer with no hesitation. We had three tournaments, all with about 20 people, and we hosted a Junior Team Challenge that had about 15 kids in it, which was exciting, too.”
Bennet knows plenty about facilities. It’s his strongest connection to the sport.
“I’ve been involved in managing tennis facilities, maintaining them and even rebuilding them but I’m not a player,” Bennett said. “When I found out we won a Gold Star I felt surprise, followed by excitement, followed by a sense of accomplishment.”
But Camdenton Parks & Recreation isn’t done. The future holds more growth for tennis in the Camden County seat.
“(Bennet) is very interested in growing the sport and our plan is to get more opportunities for adults going forward, too,” Nesbitt said.
“I hope the community knows their Parks and Park Staff are here to serve them,” he said, “and the tennis program is a perfect example of our willingness to put time, effort and resources into the interests of our residents. From our start with a few kids in a two-hour clinic, we now promote tennis lessons for beginners, teens and adults as well as Junior competitive and recreational tournaments. Our courts are busier than ever.”
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