I am pleased to announce that after a thorough interview process I am now the Head Squash Professional at the Baltimore Country Club.  I started this week 6/16/14 and I am very excited to become a part of the fabulous BCC team.

Below is a brief description of this prestigious club and to learn more, please visit www.bcc1898.com

Baltimore Country Club was founded on January 12, 1898 at its Roland Park location. The Club was a success from the start, with 600 members enjoying its 150-acre facility less than five miles from downtown Baltimore. Just one year after opening, the Club gained immediate recognition in the golf world by hosting the fifth United States Open Championship, which was won by Willie Smith of Scotland. By the 1920s the decision was made to acquire land to the north of the city and expand the popular golfing amenities to a second location. The East Course at Five Farms, designed by A. W. Tillinghast, officially opened in September of 1926 and was instantly recognized as a masterpiece of golf course architecture.

In October 1930, the Roland Park Clubhouse sustained fire damage; prior to completing repairs, it was virtually destroyed by a second fire on January 5, 1931. The new “in-town” Clubhouse was formally opened on April 1, 1932. The fine Federal-style detailing of the Georgian Room, the paneling and black Belgian marble of the foyer, and the rough stone and pine of the Grille remain practically unchanged to this date. The duckpin bowling lanes were built in 1932 and remain in use today. During the late ‘30s and early ‘40s the grass tennis courts at Roland Park were selected by the National Lawn Tennis Association to host the qualifying rounds for the Davis Cup matches. Teams from Australia, Cuba, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and the United States all participated. The Roland Park Golf Course was officially closed in 1962 when all of the property on the west side of Falls Road was sold. That same year, the West Course at Five Farms opened. Two years later, the stately Olivier Mansion, which served as the original Five Farms Clubhouse, was demolished and replaced with a new building.

Squash courts, now international, were added to the Roland Park facility in 1963. The Club continues to host professional squash tournaments that draw participants worldwide. The Club expanded its racquets program and added paddle tennis courts to the Roland Park campus in 1976. The Club’s swim complex, consisting of three independent pools, opened at Five Farms in 1996 and new tennis courts, also at Five Farms, debuted in 2007.

The USGA lists Baltimore Country Club as one of the first 100 clubs established in the United States.  Today the Club is some 3,000 members strong.  It is widely recognized as one of the top 50 country clubs in the nation and top 100 in the world.  In 2013, LINKS magazine named Baltimore Country Club as one of the 100 Most Prestigious Clubs in the World.  BCC is one of only seven clubs nationwide to operate on two campuses.

Men’s 6.0 champion Wade Johnstone (left) and finalist Waqar Mehboob.

An excerpt from the US Squash website:

“The men’s 6.0 final was contested by the respective Mid-Atlantic regional winner and finalist, thirty-two-year-old Australian Wade Johnstone who previously played on the Professional Squash Association world tour, and twenty-seven-year-old Waqar Mehboob who won a number of British Junior Open titles. Johnstone remained on top to win his first national skill level title in defeating Mehboob 7-11, 11-4, 11-1, 11-7.”

Congratulations to all winners and finalists in the US Squash National Skills event.

Men’s 3.0 champion Ryan York (right) and finalist Stefan Reichenstein

I would like to personally congratulate one of my students, fourteen-year old, Ryan York, who attends St Paul’s School for Boys in Baltimore.  He won his first national title in the Men’s 3.0 division against opponent Stefan Reichenstein, a twenty-year old from Johns Hopkins University.  They had earlier played in the Mid-Atlantic regional championship where Stefan beat Ryan in 5 close games.  This time around in the National Championship Ryan reversed the regional results to win the national title 11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 13-11.

On his way to the final Ryan defeated the No.2 seed Alvaro Betancur, in the semi finals, before knocking off Stefan (the No.1 seed) in the final.

Great victory Ryan and keep up the hard work we’ve been doing in training.

Local Tennis Pro Earns PTR Certification

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina – Wade Johnstone of Baltimore, MD has been certified in Adult Development by Professional Tennis Registry (PTR).  PTR is the largest global organization of tennis teachers and coaches.

A comprehensive examination is used to determine each member’s rating.  Johnstone received the Professional rating.

PTR is the largest global organization of tennis teaching professional with 14,300 members in 115 countries.  It has the greatest percentage of multicultural and women members of any such organization.   PTR is dedicated to educating, certifying and servicing tennis teachers and coaches around the world in order to grow the game.