WSMRA Returns to Tucson in 2018!

 

The 29th Annual WomenÕs Senior/Masters National Racquetball Championships will be held January 14-16, 2018 in Tucson, AZ at the Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club.  Fun doubles will be the afternoon of Jan 13. This is the same club that hosted out 2016 tournament. It has great amenities and courts. http://tucsonracquetclub.com/

 

All singles and doubles will be age-group round robin.  Singles will have Open/A and B/C in all age divisions, while doubles will be offered for 35, 45, 55, 65 and 75+ age groups. The tournament is sponsored by The WomenÕs Senior/Masters Racquetball Association and Penn, our ball sponsor.

 

The Host Hotel & Banquet Site will be the Doubletree Reid Park about 6 miles from the club. Reserve by Dec 17, 2017 at 520-881-4200, with code WSMRA. A free shuttle will be provided to the club. Breakfast is included every morning.  There will be a shuttle between the club and hotel. Check out the hotel at:

 http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/arizona/doubletree-by-hilton-hotel-tucson-reid-park-TUSBTDT/index.html

 

New Hotel Option: Thanks to Susan Adams we also have available a block of 10 rooms reserved at the 5-star luxury JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort and Spa in the foothills of the Sonoran Desert. (3800 West Starr Pass Blvd, Tucson, AZ  85745) The hotel is very private and in a beautiful and tranquil location. The rate for January 11-14 is only $129 with a waived resort fee! This is a huge discount off the usual cost of this upscale resort hotel. Reserve by December 11 at this direct link: https://aws.passkey.com/go/NationalRacquetballTournament  (or if necessary call 1-877-622-3140 and mention "WomenÕs National Racquetball TournamentÓ). The hotel is about 15 minutes drive time to the club.  Check it out at: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tussp-jw-marriott-tucson-starr-pass-resort-and-spa/ . 

 

We will also be offering some special side trips, like a trip to tour the University of ArizonaÕs Biosphere 2 (http://b2science.org/)

 

Come early and stay late!  There are plenty of great activities and sites in the area, including golf, hiking, birding, the Desert Museum, Kitt Peak Observatory, Kartchner Caverns, Mission San Xavier del Bac and the Pima Air and Space Museum, and University of Arizona campus and museums.  For more information go to: http://www.visittucson.org/

 

You can fly into Tucson International Airport (TUS), 8 miles from the hotel.  Contact the hotel for shuttle and taxi information. You can also fly into Phoenix (PHX), about a 2- hour drive to Tucson.

 

Things to Do During the 2018 Tucson 29th Annual WSMRA Championships

 

By Ed Messing, Tucson Native

 

Activities and Attractions

 

When visiting Tucson in January, the question isnÕt ÒWhat is there to do?Ó; the question is ÒWhat should we do next?Ó  Blessed with fantastic weather in an unparalleled setting, Tucson has something for everyone.  Nestled between four beautiful mountain ranges, ArizonaÕs oldest city (the ÒOld PuebloÓ) offers a rich history and a great variety of activities for every interest.

 

Outdoor Activities

 

Bring your clubs--dozens of great golf courses will test your skill.  Within easy walking distance of the host hotel is the Randolph Golf Complex, which offers 36 holes of championship golf at one of AmericaÕs ÒTop 50 Municipal Courses.Ó 

 

Bring your cameras and binoculars--hiking and superb birding opportunities abound within a very short drive.  Ranging from leisurely to challenging, desert to alpine, over 100 miles of hiking / biking / horseback-riding trails radiate from the Tucson valley.

 

Nature and Science

 

Visiting the internationally-acclaimed Saguaro National Park, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Kitt Peak National Observatory and Kartchner Caverns State Park will instill a sense of wonder and curiosity about the desert and universe in which we live.  All are an hour or less drive from town. 

 

History and Culture

 

Mission San Xavier del Bac and the Pima Air and Space Museum are donÕt-miss attractions that frame TucsonÕs history.  On the University of Arizona campus, you will find the Arizona State Museum and Arizona Historical Society, which complete a 10,000-year journey.

 

Entertainment and Dining

 

From a Symphony Concert and five-star dining, to the Gaslight Theatre melodrama with a sundae, or great Mexican food with mariachi music, the combinations are endless. 

Of course, you can just hang out by the pool and enjoy the desert sunshine.  Whatever sounds the most fun is for you to decide.