Peter McLaughlin
Peter McLaughlin: Walter Elcock Award 2021
Former Club President Peter McLaughlin was honored by the LCC Board in January of 2021 as the third recipient of the Walter Elcock Award for Service to Longwood. A longtime member of the Club, Peter, whose sponsor was none other than Walter Elcock, joined LCC in 1965. Over the years, he has served in many capacities, in addition to his important role as President from 1985 to 1987. He instilled a love for the club into his entire family as evidenced by his son Jim’s service as Club President from 2018 to 2020.
After his presidency, Peter remained involved in club matters, and in two major areas where his support and expertise were key: in the discussions from 1996 to 1999 regarding the future of the US Pro Tournament at LCC, and in the long-range planning committee (LRPC)’s activities from1998 to 2001.
The US Pro Tournament
When the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, New York, lost the US Open to the new Flushing Meadows facility, the club suffered substantial financial losses, a situation from which it did not recover for many years. Learning from what West Side experienced, the LCC Board (and with Peter’s counsel) spent many long nights and weekends in discussions with lawyers, potential sponsors, ATP officials and others, and concluded that our club could no longer host the US Pro tournament profitably and that we needed to look to the future without that regular source of income. Logistical issues and a lack of sponsor financial support contributed to the decision to withdraw from the pro tour. Our last US Pro Tournament at Longwood was held in 1999.
The Long-Range Planning Committee was responsible for creating the master plan that resulted in major changes at the club: removal of the stadium structure; transition of the stadium hard courts to clay courts; configuration of the new parking lot and walkways; installation of a heated pool, a new clubhouse interior and a new pool patio. Peter was a key player in these wide-ranging discussions, and while many were not always pleasant and did not always reach consensus, Peter’s advice and experience were brought to bear on the ultimate decisions.
As we look at the club now we can appreciate how important it was to have made those difficult decisions. Peter’s efforts contributed mightily to our long-term financial stability and to the introduction of several new member amenities.
Lest we forget: Peter has been a fearsome competitor on the courts in both singles and doubles. A fine athlete with sometimes unorthodox shots, he often turned what appeared to be a winning shot from his opponent into a winning point for his team. His appearances on the courts and on the porch have always been welcomed as his sense of humor and insights into the tennis world make post-match interludes a pleasure.
Congratulations to Peter for his tireless years of dedication to LCC. The awarding of the Walter Elcock Award for Service to Longwood is more than well-deserved.