‘We used to live down the street close to the tennis courts. We’ve been playing here for about 70 years,’ said Brian Dubeau
“The old double fault lifted its ugly head.”
That remark drew a chuckle from the group gathered on the Penetanguishene tennis courts earlier this week. Nobody was keeping track of the mistake for long.
On a sunny weekday morning, a group of longtime tennis players gathered for their regular game. There was plenty of banter, a few questionable line calls and the occasional shot with a little extra mustard on it. The competition was friendly, but the camaraderie was impossible to miss.
“We’ve had some great rallies,” said 84-year-old John Dubeau. “We had one last week that went about 15 shots.”
Some of the players have been coming to these courts for decades. Others are relative newcomers. What keeps them returning, they say, is about much more than tennis.
“It’s the people,” said one player. “You couldn’t ask for a better bunch.”
That spirit can be traced back through generations of local tennis history, much of it connected to brothers Brian and John Dubeau.
A faded newspaper photograph from 1965 shows the brothers as young players representing the Penetanguishene Tennis Club at a school district tournament in Toronto.
Other clippings preserved over the years document local championships, tournaments that attracted players from across Canada and internationally, and a thriving tennis culture that has existed in the community for decades.
For Brian Dubeau, tennis excellence began early.
According to his Penetanguishene Sports Hall of Fame profile, Dubeau emerged as a tennis prodigy in the late 1950s. At just 14 years old, he advanced to the finals of the Toronto Telegram Provincial Tennis Championships before returning the following year to capture the 1959 Junior Boys provincial title.
His powerful serve and determination earned him induction into the Penetanguishene Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Meanwhile, John remained a constant presence on the local tennis scene.
For the Dubeau brothers, the game was never far away.
“We used to live down the street close to the tennis courts,” Brian said. “We’ve been playing here for about 70 years.”
The brothers later competed together in senior tournaments, helped organize local events and became ambassadors for a sport that continues to connect people of all ages.
John, a retired mathematics teacher, helped establish the weekday tennis tradition more than 40 years ago.
“When I was working, we used to play at night,” he recalled.
As members retired, the games gradually shifted to mornings. Today, players gather almost every weekday, creating a routine that provides both exercise and social connection.
Looking around the courts recently, John estimated that five of the players present were part of the original group from decades ago.
On this particular morning, 13 players turned out, with another four regulars were absent because of medical appointments and other health-related commitments.
“The latest addition is a lady in her 80’s,” John said.
Many members remain active in more than one racquet sport. John estimates that seven of the regular tennis players also play pickleball, with some spending part of the morning on the tennis courts before heading over for a second game.
John credits some good scouting for bringing newer players into the fold.
“Bill Kernohan, the baby of the 80s group, was spotted playing over at the Midland courts. We were impressed and recruited him over to Penetanguishene, where the real players are,” he quipped.
The current group includes players in their 80s and 90s. Among them is 93-year-old Terry O’Rourke, who continues to chase down shots with a surprising burst of speed. Watching him move around the court, one fellow player joked that he was “agile as a supple leopard.”
Despite experiencing a heart attack, surgeries and other health challenges over the years, O’Rourke still takes to the court regularly.
“I’ve been very lucky throughout my life,” he said.
He credits a lifetime of staying active for helping him maintain his health and mobility.
“I’ve always skied and canoed,” O’Rourke said. “I think that’s part of the secret.”
When asked what has helped him stay active into his nineties, his answer was simple.
“Moderation,” he said. “I don’t think I overdid anything. I eat very little red meat, I have a drink now and again, but everything in moderation.”
Asked about his favourite tennis player, O’Rourke didn’t hesitate.
“Roger Federer epitomized class,” he said. “That’s really important. That’s the way tennis should be.”
That spirit of sportsmanship remains alive on the Penetanguishene courts.
“It’s a gentleman’s group,” O’Rourke said. “You lose gracefully. You don’t smash your racket on the ground.”
The group has adapted over time to ensure everyone can continue participating.
“We just change the rules to suit the people,” John explained.
The players come from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels, but they share a love of staying active and enjoying the social side of the game.
New players are always welcome. The group meets Monday through Friday at the Penetanguishene tennis courts, with play beginning at 8:45 a.m.
For Brian and John Dubeau, that legacy has been more than 70 years in the making.