Pautsch happy to give back : Tennis pro sees the way the sport affects people’s lives
Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2008
BELLA VISTA - Paul Pautsch believes in tennis. It is a game; it is a sport - but it is also more than that.
"The good Lord gave me the ability to communicate tennis with people, and it's something I'm very thankful for," Pautsch said. "The game has given me so much, I just want to give back as much as possible."
Pautsch is the tennis professional at the Kingsdale Tennis Center. On an average day, he works with 15 different people, including about 12 doubles teams per week.
Pautsch gives lessons on a variety of things.
"Some people want to improve their forehand or serve, or really just anything," he said. "That's what I'm here for."
Lessons are either 30 minutes or one hour for individuals, or 90 minutes for doubles.
Pautsch cites the United States Tennis Association's motto - "The sport of a lifetime" - to help explain the benefits of tennis.
"It's everybody from (age ) 5 to the mid-80 s who play tennis," he said. "Some have played as long as I have, or longer."
Pautsch sees the ways tennis affects the people he works with, and he believes the sport can add more than a skill to life.
One of his clients in particular makes him feel good about the work he does.
"He tells me every year on his birthday, ' You're the reason I'm still living the way I am, '"Pautsch said.
Pautsch has been playing tennis for 55 years, since he was 6 years old.
"One day, my dad just decided to get me involved."
Pautsch is originally from Wisconsin. He played tennis in high school and also played one year in college at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He got his first job as a tennis pro in July 1976 in North Carolina, and has worked in Bella Vista since 1986.
One of the ways Pautsch believes tennis has been good to him is the opportunity to work with the kind of people he does.
"Most people involved in tennis are upstanding people," he said. "I'm fortunate to be in Bella Vista for 22 years. The people I deal with are incredible."
Pautsch said among the many little joys tennis has given him is playing with Bella Vista resident Lucile Roberts, who must be in her 80 s, Pautsch said, but refuses to admit her actual age.
Tennis also gives Pautsch an opportunity to reach out to young people. He coaches the boys' and girls' tennis teams at Bentonville High School.
In his 18-year tenure, he has seen success both in wins and in numbers, taking home nine state championships and 20 conference titles, including the 2005 and 2006 girls' state titles.
Pautsch expects more than 50 boys to come out for the team this fall, and he plans on getting matches for all of them without cutting a single player.
"If tennis can influence one kid, I'm a pretty happy camper," he said.
Pautsch was also an assistant coach for the University of Arkansas tennis team from 1987-91.
According to Pautsch, the courts at Kingsdale are extremely busy, as the tennis center hosts more than 16, 000 people each year.
"There's not another club in northwest Arkansas that does that," he said, adding that both mornings and nights during the week require a reservation for those hoping to play.
Pautsch described Kingsdale as a "semi-private facility," explaining that POA members have first rights to the courts. Members are charged $ 3 to play, while the charge for guests is $ 5.
POA members also have the option to buy a pass that grants them access to the courts 25 times for $ 40 or unlimited yearly access for $ 100.
Another way Pautsch has found to give back through tennis is the two charities he helps with. In June, for the 15 th consecutive year, he helped with The Cancer Challenge, an event that raises funds by hosting tennis and golf tournaments, as well as other events. According to Pautsch, 150 players entered the tennis tournament and more than $ 750, 000 was raised.
Pautsch also recently helped start the Boys and Girls Club Golf and Tennis fundraiser. In only its second year, Pautsch expects the tennis tournament on Aug. 1-2 to draw around 100 players.
"We're lucky to use golf and tennis with kids in that way," he said.
Pautsch named Rod Laver as his favorite professional tennis player, and he mentioned playing with the Hall-of-Famer as one of his best experiences in the sport. Laver participated in the Phillips Pro Celebrity Classic - a precursor to The Cancer Challenge - from 1987-93.
"It was a great experience having him here, to be able to hit with him," Pautsch said.
With all tennis has allowed Pautsch to do, he will not vacate the courts anytime soon.
"Even if I retire, I'm still going to teach tennis."
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