News

 By Allen Whittemore
    
Roger Ashcroft has three passions in his life: his faith, his wife of 16 years, Heidi, and his tennis.
    Sports and church came early to Ashcroft (Heidi was a little later), and by 17, he had chosen tennis as his main athletic endeavor.
    The church has always been a source of strength, Ashcroft, 62, said. “I know someone is looking out for me.”
    The couple live in coastal Delray Beach and attend Spanish River Church in Boca Raton. Ashcroft also participates in weekly Bible study programs with other local tennis pros.
    He met Heidi on a court in New Jersey and is grateful for her constant support, whether at work as a pro shop manager or in life as they make their way together.
    Growing up, “The biggest difference in my tennis was when my father joined the Westside Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y., where the U.S. Open was played.”  It was an hour commute by train, so Ashcroft showed up early and stayed late.  
    “My friends and I formed the 100-game club, and we had a competition to play that many games during a typical day,” said Ashcroft about his summers there.  “One of the guys was Vitas Gerulaitis and we played a lot. He was so quick!”
    He attended Illinois Wesleyan University where in 1972, he and partner Tom Kaszynski won the CCIW Championship as the No. 1 doubles team.
    Florida satellite tournaments figured next.
    “I won my first paycheck at a tournament for $25.”  This may have been what prompted his father to suggest a different line of work. “I’m not sure anyone is going to pay you for looking good, wearing shorts and playing tennis with your friends,” Ashcroft recalled his father saying.
    Ashcroft set out to prove him wrong. His first teaching position was under Warren Woodcock, former Australian Davis Cup star, at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. “Warren was a really good coach, teacher and a great influence professionally. He really taught me how to teach,” Ashcroft  said.
    Woodcock later helped Ashcroft get the head pro job at the Englewood Field Club in New Jersey. “That was a big job; I had seven assistants and 12 courts. It was all day every day, but it was a lot of really great people and families.”
    About 20 years ago, Ashcroft became the tennis director at the Gulf Stream Bath & Tennis Club. It has been a great fit. Ashcroft gives about five to six hours of lessons per day and runs up to 12 tournaments a year — a calmer pace than in New Jersey.
    He looks at his job as a sort-of Minister of Tennis.  “I have a passion for tennis and I like to share it. It’s great, too, that I have been here long enough to see the wonderful kids I have taught become the wonderful young adults that they are now. “
    His job has many perks, too. “I have met so many interesting people over the years, even played with the Presidents Bush in Kennebunkport.”
    But Ashcroft said the best perk is getting paid to wear shorts to work and play tennis with friends all day.