Barbara Glass, a spry, energetic octogenarian, has been playing tennis for 50 years and plans to play for at least another couple of decades.

“When I look out on the court these days, I’m probably the oldest player out there and that’s okay with me. Men are still going well into their 80s and I’m saying why not push for 90? Yes, definitely the 90s!”

A native of Greensboro, Barb first sparked her love affair with tennis when she was 30 and joined a tennis club with her two daughters. She took weekly lessons with them, played in the local tennis ladder and got involved coaching in the junior program. “I really enjoyed that,” she recalled. “I was very shy and this experience helped me learn to speak up.” Her daughter Kimberly later played competitively and became a ranked player in SC.

The veteran player has been “blessed through the years” of her distinguished tennis career. After moving to Myrtle Beach almost 30 years ago, Barb began playing USTA at Grand Dunes, captaining a number of winning Senior teams. Last year she led her 7.5 Combo League to the SC State Championship and her 7.5 Mixed Doubles team has advanced to Sectionals two times as well.
But her most proud achievement occurred when her 3.5 Senior team made it all the way to the USTA Nationals with only 7 players on their team. “This was a big accomplishment that we got to go play in Tucson at the national level. It was a terrific experience and we did well!”

So why at age 80 does Barb continue to hit the courts even after enduring two back surgeries? “Tennis keeps you both physically and mentally fit,” she stresses. After her husband suffered a heart attack in January, she stopped playing. But after a brief time away from the game, “my body just fell apart,” she says. “I had more aches and pains than I did when I played. I knew I needed to get back to tennis.”

As for the mental side of the game, she says attitude is key. “You’ve got to believe in your game and have the proper attitude to win,” says the veteran player. “I’m a very competitive player. At times I become too anxious and that can affect my game. I think it’s my maturity and experience that has really helped me.”

Her tennis game has had to adapt over the years as well. “I’ve had to add the drop shot and lob to my game. Power hitters don’t like soft shots,” she notes. “So I’ve learned to pull them in and then go over them!” Barb has recently added a popular new sport to her resume: pickleball, which she plays when she visits family in Florida. “It’s more of a finesse game than tennis and it’s geared for younger players so when I play I have to be on my toes.”

So Barb has made a decision: she will play pickleball instead of golf after her tennis days are over. Though, given her longevity, one can’t help but wonder if that day ever comes!