LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Modesty does not top the list of tennis instructor Don Purdy’s traits.
But when you’re as good at teaching the game to children as Purdy is, it doesn’t need to be.
So when Purdy talks about a 13-year-old prodigy who he says is going to set the standard for Lake County’s junior tennis players, you’d best listen.
“He is going to be a freshman this year and he has a long way to go, but mark my words everyone will follow him to me because of what I’ve done with him,” Purdy said resolutely.
For the time being, Purdy is not revealing the young phenomenon’s name – only that he is beginning his freshman year at Kelseyville High School.
Purdy, himself, needs no introduction. Not in Northern California anyway, where he has coached dozens of youngsters and coaxed from them the best of their talent.
Indeed, the challenge is finding a Northern California town in which he hasn’t instructed.
Now, as the director of the Downtown Tennis Academy based at Quail Run Athletic Club in Lakeport – but also serving Upper Lake and Middletown – Purdy is setting out to make Lake County a spawning ground for young players. This summer's tennis camps at the Academy had more than 40 participants.
“I’m here because I want to get some kids who can move on and maybe play some college tennis,” said Purdy, who is certified as both an adult and Junior Player Development instructor. “That’s kind of my goal, but I need to get 5- or 10- year-olds.”
What he aims to teach them is “tennis really comes come down to a handful of points or a handful of mistakes ... Proper shots and footwork.”
You could almost hear Meredith Wilson’s “Music Man” Professor Harlan Hill recruiting youngsters for his “76-Trombone” River City band. But Purdy’s credentials are real.
He is the former teaching pro at Discovery Bay Athletic Club and head pro at Manteca Regional Tennis Center. He was president of the board for Future Stars 2,000 Inc., which he claims is the largest grassroots tennis program in the United States.
Last summer he headed a tennis camp at Clear Lake Riviera.
Earlier he worked eight months a year, conducting camps from 9 a.m. to noon in one city and from 1 to 4 p.m. in another city and followed that with lessons from 5 to 8:30 p.m.
Another position had him giving lessons to 125 children on a 12-hours-a day, seven-days-a-week, 12-week basis.
“When I first came to Lake County it took me almost a year to get a contract that included the Upper Lake and Middletown tennis courts because the attorneys didn't understand how to deal with my program,” said Purdy.
“I showed them contracts I had with other cities to provide insurance and so forth,” added Purdy, who has written letters authorizing him to provide his services in 23 different cities.
“I’m probably the most fingerprinted guy in the country,” he said.
Standing a broad-shouldered 6 feet, 4 inches tall, if the 61-year-old Purdy called people “pilgrim,” he would be John Wayne reincarnate. He gives the Lake County News reporter who mentioned that his most menacing “Hondo” stare, then laughs and said that’s been said many times before.
Fact is, Purdy is a little different than the rank and file tennis coaches. Like Wayne, he’s not afraid to shoot from the hip.
As examples are the following comments.
… “I’m not a lah-de-dah guy. I mean they wanted me to go on a wine tour. I told them I don’t drink wine; I’m a beer guy.”
… “I have a really large personality on the court. Other people are kind of calm and subdued. That’s not who I am. I never did so well in that world. But at the same time that’s why everybody knows me – because of my personality. A lot of local guys like it, but as you start going up the ladder there’s certain rules, there’s boxes you have to be in and I don’t want to be in that box.”
… “I have a very unfriendly kind of game. I’m bloodthirsty. I just go after ya. I can’t get into rallies. I’m too big, and too tall big. I have a big serve. Point over. That ball’s only going to go over the net three or four times with me.”
… “I’m trying to get some adults involved in Lake County, but teaching tennis to adults is really hard. Everybody’s got their mind set. They just like doing their own thing.”
Purdy is surprisingly skilled for a man who came to coaching and instructing tennis late. That was after he dallied in other industries, including selling used cars at three different locations.
“I was a very good junior player,” said Purdy. “I was going to be like the next big thing. I was raised in Alameda and I grew up playing with Whitney Reed, who was the pro at the (Alameda) Beach and Tennis Club in the '70s, and Tom Brown.
“Long story short, I thought I would go from Alameda to (playing tennis at) Stanford. Didn’t happen,” he said.
He didn’t go back to tennis until 2005.
“It just so happened at Discovery Bay a fellow came in to do a clinic,” Purdy said.
“I hadn’t hit a ball in 25 years. In a way that was good because he instructed me in the modern way of playing tennis. I spent many hours with him.”
Most recently Purdy received a letter inviting him to join several other coaches and instructors on an international staff. If he accepts the invitation it would put him in company with Lindsay Davenport, a winner of three Grand Slams and former No. 1 woman player internationally, and Stanford’s Dick Gould, who has coached 17 NCAA champions.
“I’m not sure what I’m going to do with this yet,” said Purdy. “For starters, I want to make sure my wife Carolyn’s gonna go. If she’s not going I’m not going.”
John Wayne would never have said that.
Those interested in Purdy's Downtown Tennis Academy can contact him at 707-245-0443 or email
Email John Lindblom at
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