Catching up with: Irv Goldberg

Richard Dunn

Irv Goldberg and club tennis in Newport Beach go hand in hand like

his two forehands and no backhand, but the ambidextrous senior tennis

player is known for another unique style on the court.

His friendly personality.

Goldberg’s wife, Gloria Zigner, said she’s never heard anyone say

anything derogatory about her husband of 14 years. But, of course, she’s

bias. “I’m his PR person,” she quipped.

But Goldberg’s magic touch on the tennis court and in the business

world, as well as his remarkable comeback from two hip replacement

surgeries (one on each side), stands for itself.

And, now, the longtime Newport Beach resident has taken over as

general manager at the Palisades Tennis Club under owner/operator Ken

Stuart.

“We’re the kind of club that concentrates on tennis, but it has a nice

family feel because the junior program is so good,” said Goldberg,

referring to the Robert Van’t Hof Pacific Coast Tennis Academy.

Goldberg, who enjoyed a banner summer playing in the Pacific Southwest

and United States Tennis Association national events, is no stranger to

managing private tennis clubs in Newport Beach. In March 1993, Goldberg

was appointed general manager at Newport Beach Tennis Club, where he

lasted a few years until a new ownership group purchased the club.

Goldberg, who has an extensive background in sales and management, was

Director of Sales and Membership for the past year at Palisades, a club

known for its high-caliber players. Goldberg also founded SBTB Inc., an

ergonomic firm in Costa Mesa, and ETM-TIXS, an online ticket agency.

Goldberg said membership at Palisades (about 600) has gone up

recently, but “there’s always turnover” at the private tennis clubs.

On the tennis court, Goldberg has also returned to his winning form,

capturing the mixed doubles title in the 60s division at the Pacific

Southwest in September with Marilynn Straw and reaching the men’s 60s

doubles final with Jim Nelson.

“If you don’t have a (good) doubles partner, you can’t win,” he said.

Goldberg, who underwent successful left hip-replacement surgery on

Oct. 24, 1994, had surgery to replace his right hip on Dec. 20, 1999.

“It takes 1 1/2 to two years to heal, but the last few months I’ve

been able to move fairly well,” Goldberg said. “I feel like I’m sort of

back. I can go out there and compete in my division, and it didn’t hurt

playing with Jim Nelson.”

While Goldberg has been around these parts for 30-plus years, there’s

still the occasional newcomer on the other side of the net who has never

faced his unique double forehand approach.

“I do still (get comments) from the younger guys,” Goldberg said. “It

can be very confusing. Or if I play in a tournament with (new) people, it

can be a little confusing. But most know me by now. I don’t fool them

anymore.”

This year, Goldberg and partner Jerry Robinson won the Upland doubles

title in the 65s and reached the consolation finals of the USTA National

Hardcourt Championships at Lindborg Racquet Club in Huntington Beach.