ALBANY – Larry Yakubowski is running a hidden gem in the Capital District.
The Delmar resident is the manager and head tennis pro at the Albany Tennis Club – home to the only red clay courts in the region.
“They’re our prized clay courts, and it’s unusual (for this area),” said Yakubowski. “They’re very well maintained, and it’s a very comfortable surface to play on.”
Yakubowski has played on the red clay courts in Albany’s Ridgefield Park since the early 1990s and worked as a tennis pro at the club several years ago before taking the manager’s post at the start of 2012.
“I didn’t pursue the job so much as it became available,” said Yakubowski. “I love the club, and I wanted to make sure the club was managed well. And I think I can provide that.”
Yakubowski has been in demand as a tennis coach for the better part of two decades. He started by working with the Bethlehem Parks and Recreation Department, he’s worked with the Troy Racquet Club and he coaches the Doane Stuart tennis program.
“I just love working for the Parks and Recreation Department here and sharing my knowledge with other people in town,” said Yakubowski, who is maintaining his roles in Bethlehem and at Doane Stuart while managing the Albany Tennis Center. He added that he did have to reduce his available days in Bethlehem from two to one per week in order to take the manager’s position in Albany, but he is happy that he can continue his coaching role in town.
Yakubowski’s first goal at the Albany Tennis Center is to increase membership to help off-set the costs of maintaining the eight clay courts in the heart of Albany’s Pine Hills neighborhood.
“The memberships are very important because the clay courts are very expensive to maintain, and we’re a not-for-profit organization,” said Yakubowski.
The clay courts are valuable in teaching tennis players, said Yakubowski.
“For me, the surface is special because it slows the ball down and encourages creative shot making,” he said. “It’s not important for me to have them share my thoughts (on how to play). I want them to learn to play their own game and develop their own shots.”
Though he is looking to increase membership, Yakubowski said that anyone can come to Ridgefield Park and take lessons from him or his staff, which includes Bethlehem Central High School graduate Elizabeth Breaznell and Doane Stuart grad Christopher Bradt.
“As the tennis pro, I have opportunities to bring in non-members and to appeal to players of all ages and competitive levels,” said Yakubowski. “The reality is by reaching out to people who are non-members, they might want to join.”
There are several programs for adults and youths at the Albany Tennis Club. Adults can participate in singles and doubles classes, as well as programs that teach specific skills. There are also weekday drop-in doubles programs, a ladies tennis program, a weekend morning mixed doubles program and an intermediate level doubles program. For younger players, there are summer programs available.
In all cases, Yakubowski said the important thing is to get people playing with others who are at the same skill level.
“I try to make certain that players feel included, and they have people to play with,” he said.
The Albany Tennis Center is also home to the annual Tri-County Tournament, which is held during Labor Day weekend. Players from across the Northeast travel to Ridgefield Park to participate in the tournament, which earns them United States Tennis Association standings points.
Yakubowski has com-peted in the Tri-County Tournament several times, and he said he’s always impressed with the level of talent.
“What’s really interes-ting for me as a competitor is that the people who have played the tournament have had tremendous success over the years, and they’ll come out and show that they can still play that very beautiful game,” he said.
Albany Tennis Center membership costs run from $40 a year for juniors (high school students and younger) to $335 a year for a family. Individual memberships include two guest passes, while couple and family memberships include three guest passes. Non members pay a $15 court fee to play at Ridgefield Park.
Ultimately, Yakubowski said he measures his success as Albany Tennis Center’s manager by how busy the red clay courts are.
“I want to make the club healthy, and by that I mean I want the courts to be filled with players,” said Yakubowski.
