Starting New Traditions at Fox Meadow Tennis Club

Founded in 1883, Fox Meadow Tennis Club is steeped in history. It was the first tennis club in Westchester County and one of the earliest in the country, as tennis as we know it was only invented in 1873. The club was also the home of the country’s first paddle tennis court which was built in 1931. Now with 6 tennis courts and 9 paddle courts, it’s a popular place for netmen of all kinds. In fact, it’s so popular that there is a wait list to get in.
Though much has remained the same over the past 140 years, racquet sports continue to evolve. Interest in Pickleball has grown and the club has adapted by placing temporary pickleball lines on the platform courts.

Also new to the club this year is Director of Racquets Geoff LoConte, who recently joined Fox Meadow bringing his prowess in tennis, platform tennis and pickleball and his experience in teaching and managing.

Geoff LoConteLoConte grew up in Marblehead, Mass where he started playing tennis at the age of 8. He went on to play college tennis at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. After college he got a graduate degree in education and spent three years teaching sixth graders language arts and social studies in New York City.

But a summer stint as the Director of Tennis at a sleepaway camp convinced him that he wanted to return to the court as a coach. He got his certification to teach tennis and took his first coaching job at the Bridgeview Racquet Club under the Verrazano Bridge in Brooklyn, where he taught people from 4 to 84 years old.

From there he took the head pro position at Pleasantville Tennis Club followed by several positions at clubs in Westchester. Prior to his move to Fox Meadow, he was the Director of Pickleball and Platform at Beachpoint Club in Mamaroneck.

Why did he make the move to Fox Meadow? First he pointed to the club’s history. He said, “This is the birthplace of platform tennis. When I am inside the clubhouse I get goose bumps thinking about the history – and how to honor it.”

He continued, “This is a dream opportunity to be running a racquets club where people can play and socialize…. It’s a member run club that is inclusive, competitive and has some families with three generations playing during the week and weekends.”

His mission is to increase programming for all members across the three sports and provide opportunities for members to learn and play. His priority is to meet the needs of the members and children. There are children’s tennis lessons in spring and fall and children’s paddle during the winter. There’s open paddle on the weekends, men’s and women’s leagues and clinics for all. The club recently ran a series of Platform Tennis Boot Camps to get members ready for league play.

He encourages players to get involved in the club, to get out of their comfort zones and try new things. He said, “It’s a nice community to be a part of,” and he wants to make sure everyone has place within the club.

LoConte also emphasized that he is only one member of a team now running the club, including Head Tennis Professional Karina Blas, Head Platform Professional Jim Kaufman, Club Administrator Kat Sasaki and Facilities Manager Oscar Gallego.
He’s given the club the hash tag “#better together” and is making that his motto and his mission.

Geoff and his partner Matt take silver at the 2024 National Pickleball Championships.