McCorkle Sets the Bar High for Tulsa Tennis

What is your favorite part about your job?

My favorite part of the job is the people.  I love all the energy the tennis players bring because of their love for the game.  The players are the heart and soul of LaFortune.

How long have you been playing tennis?

I started playing tennis around 9 years old.  it wasn’t my only sport and I didn’t get to solely focus on tennis, but Ioved the game from the start!  I have always been super compassionate about all the game has to offer, competition, character, exercise and the social aspect of being with friends and family!

How has the game changed? 

The game has changed in the equipment, new technique and fitness level of the players.  All have raised the level of play greatly!

What is your biggest accomplishment?

I’ll always say my biggest accomplishment is my son, Peter! But in the tennis world, my biggest accomplishment is the expansion at LaFortune.  But, I must add this has taken an incredible team of people, including David and Peter, my staff and so many volunteers, extremely generous people with their money and time and of course Tulsa County Parks supporting all our endeavors.

What racquet do you use?

I currently use the Head Extreme S

Favorite tennis memory?

I have so many, but for myself it would be all the years I spent playing adult USTA tennis leagues and tournaments with my friend Kathy Carleton and mixed doubles with David. PS The tennis galas at LaFortune have been great fun and good memories!  We have one coming April 23rd to support our First Serve Tulsa program for underserved youth and our special needs players.  

How many total Adult League teams does LaFortune have this year?

All the numbers haven’t come in but we are forecasted to have 224 teams!

Favorite athlete?

Chris Evert- I met her in 2017 at the US Open when we received our award for Outstanding Facility!

Favorite sport, besides tennis?

I love all sports, but recently I have started playing pickleball and really enjoy IT!

Favorite food? 

I like to try all foods, but would probably choose Asian as my favorite

Such exciting news...you just announced that Phase IV expansion has been approved! Can we have some more details? 

Late 2021 we found out we have the majority of the money for 3 indoor courts as well as a central corridor for restrooms and showers, player lounge, storage and an upstairs viewing.  We plan to eventually expand to 3 more indoor courts on the north side of the central corridor, making it similar to TUs layout.  

Click here to become a donor or sponsor for this expansion!

Where did this money come from?

Tulsa County is giving a large amount of the money and over $2 million has been donated through various foundations 

When will construction begin?

We hope to break ground late summer.

Where will the courts be built?

In our north west part of the facility where croquet lawn is now

When is the completion date? 

TBD 

Will any courts need to be closed while the new ones are being built?

We will be fully functional during all of construction

What will this expansion mean for Lafortune Tennis Center and the County?

The expansion will allow us to host larger tournaments that require indoor back plans, more tournaments/events partnering with the local colleges, TU and ORU, more space for our growing First Serve Tulsa Program and of course more indoor time for all of Tulsa Tennis players to enjoy!

How can you sum up the last 20 years of growth here at Lafortune?

If I had to sum up the last 20 years, it would be dedication, consistent programming to introduce new players and returning players to the game, lots of Team work, many new friends and FUN, FUN, FUN!  I love what I do and do what I love! 

Go to lafortunetennis.com for more information! 

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