The Family That Plays Together: The Pandhers Find Their Footing at The Club at Castlewood
One of Cliff Drysdale Tennis’ core missions lies in spreading the love for our favorite game. With this philosophy comes the added privilege of meeting new players, ultimately growing our tennis family with enthusiastic individuals that have adapted the same passion for the sport that motivates us day in and day out. The Pandher family at The Club at Castlewood in Pleasanton, California is one such example.
The Pandhers were well familiar with The Club at Castlewood when they decided to join in July of this year. Residents of Dublin, a short fifteen-minute trek north of Pleasanton, the Pandhers own a family dental practice stationed within the country club neighborhood. Dr. Goldie Pandher and her husband, Parry, along with their six-year-old daughter Avya, were looking for activities in the area that they could enjoy as a family.
“We were introduced to the country club since I work in the neighborhood,” shared Dr. Pandher, a dentist at the family’s Pleasanton Valley Dental.
It’s no surprise the Pandhers found The Club at Castlewood to be a good fit for their trio. Boasting a robust menu of amenities, the private membership club has a storied history of golf, tennis and family life in the Bay Area suburb. Members of all ages enjoy rounds on the pair of Championship Golf Courses, pickleball, swimming, bocce leagues, a full calendar of events and of course, plenty of tennis action on the four championship hard courts.
Avya was the first to pick up the game, starting with private lessons led by Director of Tennis, Teg Lozano, and moving into the Joeys program, an introductory class for younger players featuring a smaller court and shorter racquets.
“Avya always looks forward to her tennis lessons,” added Goldie, and it wasn’t long before Avya’s excitement for the sport rubbed off on her parents. “My husband and I also started taking lessons from Teg, and we have a great time. We had never played the sport before so it was a new experience for us. Initially it was overwhelming,” Goldie admitted, “But soon enough, we were getting comfortable hitting the balls and ‘following through’, in Teg’s words!”
Soon, Goldie and Parry advanced to group clinics at the club, beginning with Tennis 101. Tennis 101 is a 4-week program hosted at CDT-managed locations across the country and is designed as a “first step” to introduce the fundamentals to those who have never played before.
“Now, we are in Tennis 201!” Goldie beamed.
As they’d hoped at the outset of their membership, the Pandhers regularly enjoy tennis as a family these days.
“We plan to stick with it as a family sport forever. It’s a great bonding experience, and we enjoy playing it together and making beautiful memories,” Goldie shared. “Tennis is a great sport – it keeps us active, helps us focus and, moreover, it’s a great workout. Teg and the country club have given us the perfect training and ambient environment to make it fun.”