The Murphys Area Community Tennis Association, dedicated to promoting tennis in the Murphys area and along the Highway 4 corridor, regularly hosts programs like this youth clinic at the Wintercreek tennis courts, located at 99 School St. in Murphys. Courtesy Photo/Murphys Area Community Tennis Association
A Calaveras County nonprofit group instrumental in enabling current and aspiring players of all ages to play on well-maintained courts is lauding a local foundation for its funding support.
The Murphys Area Community Tennis Association (MACTA), formed in 2010 to raise funds for the much-needed resurfacing of the two Wintercreek public tennis courts in Murphys, located at 99 School St., behind Murphys’ historic schoolhouse, gratefully acknowledged the Calaveras Community Foundation (CCF) for providing a $10,000 grant that went to provide the lion’s share of funding for the $14,000 project, which San Francisco-based Vintage Contractors, Inc. completed last month.
MACTA President Mary Devany explained that the work needs to be done every seven or eight years and that regular patching is also necessary to repair the inevitable cracks that reoccur over time. “Taking care of the courts is major,” Devany acknowledged, recalling when MACTA initially took over the maintenance responsibilities over two decades ago. At that point, the courts, which were 10 years old, were in such a poor state that the surfaces needed to be completely removed and replaced by a U.S. Tennis Association (USTA)-approved contractor.
MACTA, which incorporated in the fall of 2010 and received its nonprofit status a few months later, shares a joint usage agreement lease in partnership with the Ebbetts Pass Veterans Memorial District to care for and maintain control of the courts. Funding for the initial resurfacing, she said, was generously donated through Wintercreek Foundation founder Pat Higgins. The foundation was known for its tremendous funding support for schools while she still resided in the area. Over the years, funds from subsequent fundraisers and endowments have been used to improve the courts and their immediate surroundings, with additions such as landscaping, benches, umbrellas, and picnic tables; to cover water and lighting bills; and also to award scholarships each spring to Bret Harte Union High School student tennis players.
The two free-play courts in Murphys were newly resurfaced in late December 2023 by the Murphys Area Community Tennis Association, with grant monies largely provided by the Calaveras Community Foundation. Courtesy Photos/Murphys Area Community Tennis Association
In addition to CFF’s grant award, Devany said the Ebbetts Pass Veterans Memorial District ponied up $3,000 for the restoration, further augmented by $1,000 from MACTA’s coffers (funded in part by MACTA member annual fees). The group also hosts assorted fundraising activities and programs to enhance the courts, such as a memorial wall for which donors can purchase memorial bricks. She added, “Last year, we did a huge pingpong tournament that raised $6,000–$7,000, and, of course, there are tennis tournaments.”
Scholarship support
MACTA’s plans for 2024 include providing two $1,000 scholarships to Bret Harte students, hosting a free youth clinic on May 21, and holding summer clinics for youth that are priced “as cheap as possible,” offering scholarships to families with financial hardships. Along with a members’ appreciation day in the fall, the group will have a free clinic where adults can play games, enjoy food, and have the opportunity to socialize and network with other current and prospective players. The group also plans on doing more outreach through its website and social media channels.
Among the most common public feedback MACTA receives, Devany shared, is the condition and ease of access to the courts. “When people see that we have public courts and that they are free to play, and when they come out, people compliment us on the quality of the courts and landscaping!”
Although the MACTA board has been mainly composed of local retirees, Devany noted two younger members have joined, and she hopes it will help the group attract more members from younger generations and involve them as much as possible. MACTA’s impact in promoting tennis in the community and attracting new folks to the sport shows up in the local youth demographics, according to Devany, who said this is due to the free youth clinics and low-cost lessons MACTA promotes.
“We’ve had kindergarten (groups), first and second grade, and middle school (groups),” Devany stated. “We used to have middle schools playing on teams; to me, the younger you can start them, the better. We have racquets, and the youth now start with different colored balls: red, orange, and green. The little ones start with larger balls that don’t bounce as much, so the kids can be successful, and we use smaller courts and play games. It’s not just about hitting the ball because we know it’s not as much fun when you are not successful.”
The two courts cannot be reserved but are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Operating hours are daily from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m., and the courts are lit at night. Out of consideration and respect for local residents, Devany noted that the protocol among the players is not to play outside of this window and that when there is a line waiting, singles are allotted one hour, and doubles can play for one and a half hours. For more details about MACTA and its activities, visit and send queries through its website.