QC Tennis Club making a racket

When Bob Ontiveros heard the Quad City Tennis Club (QCTC) in Moline was going to be sold to become warehouse space in 2018, the local business and philanthropic giant thought of his tennis-playing grandchildren and great-grandchildren before asking his son Chris, “Can you save this place?” Unfortunately, the elder Mr. Ontiveros died in February 2022 […]

When Bob Ontiveros heard the Quad City Tennis Club (QCTC) in Moline was going to be sold to become warehouse space in 2018, the local business and philanthropic giant thought of his tennis-playing grandchildren and great-grandchildren before asking his son Chris, “Can you save this place?” Unfortunately, the elder Mr. Ontiveros died in February 2022 before receiving the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) answer to that question.

The QCTC was recognized in mid-August in the annual Outstanding Facility Awards program from the sport’s national governing body. Chris Ontiveros and his wife Pam Ontiveros received the USTA award at the pro tennis tournament the Western & South Open in Cincinnati because of their efforts to not only keep the club alive — but thriving after a major renovation project. “It wasn’t just Chris and I — this was a real team effort transforming this into the sort of state-of-the-art tennis facility we’ve seen in our travels,” Ms. Ontiveros said. “Hopefully, (the award) gives us some attention in our area, too, because I feel like a lot of people don’t even really know about us.” QCTC Club Director Kourtni Barnes can relate. The Rock Island-born and Coal Valley-raised 2009 Orion High School graduate admits she never knew the facility existed before looking to return home before the birth of her first child last October. A Madison College (Wisconsin) graduate in recreation management, Ms. Barnes was administrator of the soccer and adaptive programs for Madison Schools and Recreation when a mutual family friend introduced her to the Ontiveros’ who were seeking a post-pandemic facility director for the longtime tennis club. “I was a soccer and basketball player in high school,” Ms. Barnes explained. “I never picked up a racket until I got here, so I never really knew about this facility growing up. “Even now, when I’m asked what I’m doing now, there are still people out there who have no clue what I’m talking about. So, this is a hidden gem, and that’s part of my mission now is to spread the word that we are here and it’s more accessible than you think.”

Upgrades holding court

Among the major improvements are new LED lighting on all nine indoor tennis courts; the addition of air conditioning to the back building’s three courts; and transitioning those back courts into nine pickleball courts. Two new lighted outdoor courts were added in 2021 along with a new outdoor patio and fire pit.

The first aesthetic improvements included an expanded viewing area for courts 1-3; new furniture, carpet, and paint; remodeled bathrooms and dressing rooms; a renovated parking lot; and new interior and exterior banners and signage. The latter includes a massive picture of local tennis pro and QCTC alum Madison Keys greeting visitors as they step on to the courts. “That was Chris’ idea,” Ms. Ontiveros said. “We’ve helped produce so many great college and high school players, he wanted to show how proud we are of our great past and how excited we are for the future.” A key addition is the new pickleball courts. The 1960s backyard children’s game and Pacific Northwest staple is exploding into the country’s fastest growing post-pandemic sport. Pickleball is played on a third of the size of a regulation tennis court with rackets or paddles and a hollow ball resembling a wiffleball. The paint was barely dry when the new pickleball courts were dedicated in mid-September and quickly put to use when weekend rain moved most of the action at the Quad City Pickleball Classic indoors from Moline’s Riverside Park. “The pickleball people approached us at first to take the overflow because they had too many people coming from all over the country to play at Riverside,” Ms. Ontiveros said. “Chris said yes — and did it free of charge — because he wanted to accommodate those out-of-town guests. He also thought it was a good marketing move to help attract some new members locally.” However, converting and fully dedicating the three back tennis courts to pickleball was more than good fortune for the tournament. “Pickleball is huge right now,” Ms. Barnes said. “We noticed last year that 95% of the time people were playing pickleball back there anyway. Sometimes, we had 50 to 60 people playing pickleball. Hopes are that expansion will help drive up the QCTC’s membership this winter. Ms. Barnes said the facility currently boasts 450 members between tennis and pickleball, with 150-200 using the facility each day during peak times between mid-October and early May. “For tennis players, pickleball helps your short game and provides a little change of scenery,” Ms. Ontiveros said.  Added Ms. Barnes, “The court’s a little smaller, which makes it easier to play for some people who may be a little bit older or don’t have the same physical capabilities they once did. But young people love it, too, because the game is fast paced.”

Programs netting interest

Located near Southpark Mall at 1522 47th Ave., the facility opened as South Park Tennis Club in 1972. Ms. Ontiveros was a member before her children were born and remembers the club surviving several struggles including other threats to close before she and her husband purchased it in December 2018. The previous owners were 13 local tennis lovers who banded together to keep the facility going — “which is great,” Ms. Ontiveros added. “But it’s also difficult to get things accomplished with that many owners, because you’ve got so many different opinions. “So, there hadn’t been much done to improve the club. It was basically the same facility that had been built in 1972 and not too many things had been renovated.” Without quoting the dollar figures, she said the improvements have more than equaled the purchase price, but the investment in the community has been well worth it. “Our (membership) numbers are strong, but they could always be better,” Ms. Ontiveros said, noting the QCTC is the only indoor facility within 100 miles with as many tennis and pickleball courts. “A lot of members stuck with us during the pandemic. A lot of them have been members for years and years and years. We appreciate those veterans, but we’re always looking for new memberships to help grow the games and grow the facility.” Junior and adult programs for every level — beginner to advanced — are offered in both sports.  The QCTC also continues to host high school and college tournaments at a moment’s notice in the event of inclement weather — as well as offer community programs for a variety of organizations including the Quad City Area Adaptive Sports Association for wheelchair tennis. The QCTC operates daily — 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. For more information, visit quadcitytennisclub.com, email [email protected] or call (309) 762-2400.