Up close and personal with a New Hampshire Tennis Icon: Charles S. "Whitey" Joslin Jr.

At what age were you introduced to tennis and what were your first tennis experiences like?

My parents played tennis and my dad built a tennis court in our backyard, where I was introduced to the game. He taught me how to play. I was in junior high, about 10-12 years old, when I started taking lessons.

My father would go play indoors on winter weekends at The Badminton and Tennis Club in Boston. He would bring me along, and I would participate in group lessons on an adjacent court.

I played a few junior tournaments, but my first important experience with tennis competition was with my father, when I was about 16 years old. Dad and I competed in Father/Son NELTA tournaments, and following a decent showing at the National Father/Son tournament at Longwood, we were awarded a National ranking of #15.

(After college at UNH, Whitey joined the Air Force as a pilot, and during his 10 years of  active duty in Maine and Puerto Rico, he was chosen by his Wing Commander to play tennis with important and distinguished personnel who flew into the base for conferences from Washington DC.  Notable among them were General William Westmoreland and future Secretary of the Air Force, Harold Brown.)

In 1993, I retired from the AFRES and had to decide what to do with the rest of my life. I had several opportunities open up, but ultimately I accepted a position with Athletic Clubs of America as a Manager and Head Tennis Professional in Western Massachusetts. Unfortunately, this position did not work out as I had concerns regarding their business practices and decided to resign.

I expanded my home racket stringing business, “Whitey’s Pro Shop”, and began full time teaching for Howie Burnett at the Great Bay Racket Club. I joined the USPTA, and later, was hired on as a consultant at the club.

After two years, I was approached with an offer I could not refuse.  Would I consider working as the head tennis Pro at the King Ridge Tennis Club while also taking on the head tennis pro position at The Lake Sunapee Yacht Club in the summertime? I accepted both offers and began my work for the King Ridge Ski Area management.

A couple of years later, King Ridge was purchased by Jay Rosenfield, who retained all of the staff members to operate the club. Jay asked me to manage what was now Mountainside Racquet and Fitness Center and I balked at the responsibility of both managing and being the head tennis pro, asking him if he’d consider hiring my daughter Laura, who at the time was managing the tennis club at Mt. Cranmore. After an interview with Laura, Jay admitted, “I can’t afford her… but you can!” My perplexed look got him to add, “I’ll sell the club to you!” 

Your tennis journey is fascinating! Along the way, who helped you most and how?

Dominic Annacone and his family! Particularly Dom Annacone was very influential in getting me into education and into coaching tennis. Dom was “A teacher of teachers” who took a teaching position at Ramey AFB with the Department of Defense. Kathy Annecone and I took classes together at Inter American University on base. I tested their 6-year-old son, Paul, using him as a subject in my “Test and Measurement” course, concluding that he would be extremely successful.

Dom and Cathy allowed Paul to live with us and attend my summer camps at Turnpike Racquet Club and to tag along to many of my Jr. Veteran tennis tournaments. I am very proud of Paul’s success on the pro tour and as a commentator on The Tennis Channel. I am also humbled that he recognizes me as one of his first coaches. (See insert from Paul’s book, “Coaching for Life”)

(Fun fact: Paul beat me on the tennis court when he was only 14 years old.)

What is the best advice someone has ever given you regarding tennis?

“Be a good sport” - by my father.