Troon Country Club Hosted 6th Annual Special Olympics Tennis Fun Day

Troon Country Club Hosted 6th Annual Special Olympics Tennis Fun Day

Arizona Athletes with Physical and Intellectual Disabilities Participated in On-Court Clinics on January 23

Scottsdale, Az. (Jan. 26, 2016) – Arizona Special Olympians took to the courts at Troon Country Club in the 6th
annual Tennis Fun Day on Saturday, Jan. 23. Mark Pachtner, director of tennis at Troon Country Club coordinated
the event which attracted more than 200 participants this year. Prior to his tenure at Troon Country Club,
Pachtner developed Fun Day events with the local chapters of the Special Olympics in Georgia, Florida and
California since 1999. The Tennis Fun Day is also a well-established fundraiser for the Special Olympics Arizona,
raising nearly $14,000 at this year’s event. Since inception, a total amount of over $100,000 haven been donated
so far with 800 athletes and 2000 volunteers participating.

“The Valley of the Sun has clearly embraced this wonderful event, especially the members at Troon Country
Club,” said Pachtner. “The pure love and joy on the faces of each of our special Olympians as they stroke the
tennis ball brings not only a tear to my eye, but ringing joy in my heart along with the hearts of all of our
marvelous volunteers who are the real facilitators of Tennis Fun Day.”

During the free Tennis Fun Day of clinics and exhibitions, local tennis professionals covered the basics of the
sport of tennis and taught certain basic tennis skills for the special Olympians. Each athlete received a
commemorative Fun Day T-shirt, a free Wilson tennis racquet and a gold medal for participation during the post event
awards luncheon. Athletes and volunteers also got time away from the courts to explore a fully-equipped
fire engine and police cruisers, courtesy of the City of Scottsdale, and enjoyed a visit from therapy dogs from the
Arizona Golden Retriever Rescue Connection. Festivities got underway at 9:30 a.m. and finished up at 1:00 p.m.
upon completion of the awards luncheon.

“Tennis Fun Day is truly a captivating event and one in which we look forward to with great anticipation and
excitement each and every year. Mark Pachtner and Troon Country Club have done a marvelous job in organizing
this event for the past six years and we couldn’t be more delighted with its success and charitable gift-giving,”
said Tim Martin, Special Olympics Arizona president and CEO.

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Media contact:
Mark Pachtner, USPTA, PTR
Director of Tennis
Troon Country Club
480.358.7718
[email protected]