It is an exciting time here at Briarcrest Country Club! We are getting an increased number of people playing on the tennis courts and working out in the fi tness room. We would like to take this opportunity to remind our members to please sign-in at the tennis shop before using the fi tness, racquetball or tennis courts. There also is a guest fee required for all guests using the Briarcrest Country Club tennis courts. The tennis staff will be available to remind members and guests of the policy. Thanks for your cooperation and hope to see you on the courts.

We would like to introduce all of you to our new asst. tennis professional here at Briarcrest. Patrick Horne comes to Briarcrest with an extensive career in both playing and coaching. As a player, Patrick won two state singles and two state doubles championships and also was the two-time MVP at Jones County Junior College, while helping the team achieve its fi rst ever national ranking at #18. Patrick then moved on to play for Mississippi State University, who at his time there held a top 15 NCAA ranking. After college, Patrick moved from his hometown of Laurel, MS and headed west to the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels, Tx. For almost four years, Patrick worked at the ranch teaching and training both nationally and internationally ranked juniors. Among those juniors Patrick helped train were Ashley Joelson 2004 Easter Bowl Champion, Ashwin Kumar, 2005 NCAA Doubles Semi- Finalist, Ryan Harrison, top ten junior in the world and the third youngest player since 1990 to win an ATP level match. (the other two were Richard Gasquet and Rafael Nadal) and many others. More importantly, the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch was also where he met his wife Leeanna.

After leaving Texas, Patrick moved to Arkansas where he worked as a teaching pro at the Fayetteville Athletic Club. There he trained and developed both juniors and adults at all levels. While at FAC, Patrick also served as Mens Volunteer Assistant Coach at the University of Arkansas and the Boys head coach at Fayetteville High School. After getting married, Patrick and his wife
Leeanna decided to make the move to College Station. Patrick spent some time at the Pebble Creek Country Club before moving to Aerofit health and fi tness and then fi nally Briarcrest Country Club where he hopes hes found his home. Patrick also serves as the Mens Volunteer Assistant Coach at Texas A&M University.

Patrick will be running the junior groups and also working with several of the adult groups. Patrick is also available for private lessons. He is very enthusiastic and will be a great addition the tennis department. Please find time to come by and welcome Patrick to the club!

John Thomas
Director of Tennis