Walter Hurd, Director of Tennis - USPTA Certified P1 Professional
Walter Hurd, Director of Tennis, is a certified P1 Professional
Instructor and member of the United States Professional Tennis
Association. He began teaching in 1970 in Okinawa, Japan, where he gave
private and group instruction. He has also coached in junior development
programs and at the high school and collegiate level. Walter competed at
the U. S. Military National Championships from 1971-75 and has competed
in USTA national competitions.
Walter has developed a very successful program at Anthem Golf & Country
Club with several competitive and social activities since 2001. Walter
is highly regarded as a teacher and a player. He has held top ten
rankings in singles in five different United States Tennis Association (USTA)
sections and in doubles in six different USTA sections. He and assistant
pro Terry Bennett held the number one ranking in men’s 50 doubles in
2005 & 2006 in the Southwest region which includes the greater Phoenix
Metro area. Walter was a four year member and senior year captain of the
Washburn University tennis team in Topeka, KS, where he grew up. After
starting out as Head Tennis Professional at AGCC in 2001, Walter was
named Director of Tennis in September, 2003. Walter and his wife, Diane,
are Members of Anthem Golf & Country Club.
Terry Bennett - USPTA Certified P1 Professional
Terry Bennett is a certified P1 professional and member of the U. S.
Professional Tennis Association. His background in teaching tennis
includes 20 years of directing tennis camps and tennis club. He has
worked in association with some of the world’s top players and
instructors such as Vic Braden, John Gardiner, and Ken Rosewall. Terry
employs a unique and proven instruction style that insures quality
instruction for each student.
Terry is still highly regarded as a player after achieving a world class
ranking, as he spent several years on the Professional Tennis Tour,
traveling throughout the U. S., Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa,
Canada, and Mexico. He was captain of the Texas Tech University tennis
team, Arizona State High School tennis champion, and USPTA National
Champion in doubles with Brian Cheney in 1982. Terry has played doubles
in the Championships at Wimbledon.
Lesli Link - Administrative Assistant - USPTA P3
Certified Professional
Lesli Link is a member of the U.S. Professional Tennis Association
and has completed her USPTA Certification as a Tennis Teaching
Professional. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education with a
major in Physical Education, a minor in Physical Science and an
All-Level Teaching Certification from the University of Texas - Austin.
She coached High School Gymnastics and Diving Teams in San Antonio,
Texas for several years.
Lesli was awarded the Outstanding Women Athlete of the year in 1977 by
the United States Amateur Athletic Union. After college, she began her
own tennis career by playing doubles in the local USTA leagues in San
Antonio, TX and later served as USTA Team Captain for many years. She
was an officer for the San Antonio Women’s Tennis Association for 10
years. Lesli was ranked #3 in the state of Texas, in Women’s Doubles in
1990. She was a National Champion in the USTA Phillip
66 Mixed Doubles Team Tennis League in 1990 and trained at the
Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida. She is an accomplished player,
participating in the National Championships in the USTA League in 2006.
Lesli continues playing competitively in the USTA leagues in Phoenix, as
well as the WITL, Play Tennis and ATA leagues.
As Administrative Assistant to Walter Hurd, Director of Tennis at Anthem
Golf & Country Club, Lesli is responsible for running the Evening/Social Tennis
Leagues for Anthem Golf & Country Club, along with the Social Mixers, Tennis
Banquet and Club Tournaments. She teaches adult clinics/lessons as well. Lesli, her husband Larry and son, Grant are Members of
Anthem Golf & Country Club and are all active in the AGCC tennis community.
Virginia Bellis - USPTA P3 Certified Professional Developmental Coach
Virginia Bellis has taught tennis for 10 years as a high school
coach, group instructor and private instructor in New York. She was an
instructor and director for the Long Island Tennis and Sports
Foundation. She has also been an instructor for a town program in New
York where she taught children and adults in private and large group
situations. Since her move to Arizona, she has become the resident pro
in her community of the Sonoran Foothills, assisted with the Boulder
Creek High School tennis team, and fills in at a local instructional
camp. Virginia is a USPTA P3 Certified Professional and a member of the
U.S. Professional Tennis Association.
Kyle Peterson - In Training for USPTA Certification
