Tennis pro serves up fun at all skill levels
Children learn best through games rather than with drills
BY TARA PETERSEN
Staff Writer

Barbara Mullarkey returns a serve during a tennis lesson at the Millstone municipal courts.

MILLSTONE — Tennis instructor Ho Scott can’t say she’s been playing since she was a child, or that she’s won numerous championship matches across the country.

But she can say that she has done what most people only dream of doing — turning a hobby into a rewarding career that she loves.

“I can’t believe I’m doing something today that I love, and I’m getting paid for it,” Scott said. “Not a lot of people can say that.”

Scott, 54, of Ewing, first picked up a racket in her 30s, as a mother of three young children. What little spare time she had, she devoted to learning the game.

PHOTOSBY JEFF GRANIT staff Maria Orrichio (l) and Michele Kurzman practice their serve during a tennis lesson at the Millstone municipal courts.

Her children — now 33, 34, and 35 years of age — all took up tennis and played in both high school and college, according to Scott.

She and husband Bob own and operate Scott’s Country Market in the New Egypt section of Plumsted.

Tennis instructor Ho Scott gives instructions on how to follow through on a return during an adult tennis class last week.

Until about five years ago, tennis was just a hobby.

Scott began by doing special promotions at the Princeton Racquet Club in South Brunswick. She ultimately tried her hand at teaching — and loved it.

She soon became a certified instructor with the Professional Tennis Registry.

“I love teaching, and I found it out later in life and pursued it,” Scott said. “I get tears in my eyes sometimes watching the juniors grow [into better players].”

Tennis instructor Ho Scott gives Kathy Toth tips on how to return a serve when approaching the net.

She then became site director and taught in Washington Township before coming to Millstone three years ago.

The previous instructor, who moved to Florida, had taught one session during the summer.

Scott, who started with about 20 junior and adult students, now teaches nearly 100 pupils.

Kathy Toth, who has taken classes with Scott since she began teaching in the township, attributes the virtual explosion in Millstone tennis to Scott.

JEFF GRANIT staff Janet Torregrossa returns a serve from tennis instructor Ho Scott during a class in Millstone last week.

“Some mothers are telling me when they’re dropping their kids off in the morning for school [that] they’re going over to the courts to play tennis,” Toth said. “The courts in past years were empty. She’s really influenced so many.”

Toth added that Scott has a special way of teaching. Toth’s daughters, Mary, 10, and Katie, 7, have also been taught by Scott for several years.

“I’ve had several different instructors over the years,” Toth said. “Watching her instruct my children — she’s very patient, very kind and very thorough in her instruction.

“With adults,” she continued, “she’s equally as thorough and works toward balancing the classes based on skill level.”

Scott said she feels that her adult class, which is made up of all women, is an extended family.

“There’s such a sense of unity there,” she said. “Nobody knew each other [initially], and now they’ve become friends and their kids are now friends — it feels like a family.”

According to Scott, she approaches

teaching differently, depending on age and skill level.

“With 5-, 6-, and 7-year-olds, you’re more concerned about hand-eye coordination, keeping their attention and having fun,” she said. “Just being able to hit the ball is a challenge.”

“The older kids have had the basics,” Scott added.

Children learn best, Scott said, when they don’t realize they are learning at all.

Fun is the emphasis — always,” she said. “We do a lot of games. It’s camouflaged to [students], but they are learning and learning.”

Scott said she places more emphasis on self-esteem and sportsmanship as the children grow in terms of their abilities.

“I love the fact that especially with juniors, I can see them come back year after year and see them improve and play,” she said. “They are so excited. It’s so rewarding.”

Adults, according to Scott, have their own unique set of challenges because they are generally more opposed to change.

“I get tough with the adults sometimes,” she said. “I see the talent there. People tend to rely on what they’ve been doing — people don’t like change. But when they finally try [something new], the light goes on.”

“I’m so proud of these girls,” Scott added.

For at least one student, the feeling is mutual.

“I personally love her to death,” student Kathy Toth said. “She’s inspirational. She’s given me more focus on what I need to improve on and brought my game to a new level.”

Scott teaches hour-long classes for juniors from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and for adults from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at the Millstone township courts located behind the municipal building.

Scott also began teaching this fall in Upper Freehold at Byron Johnson Park from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Fridays for juniors, and 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Mondays for adults.

For more information, contact the local recreation departments.