Garrison making up for lost time on court

Chris Yemma

Marc Garrison is the true definition of an avid tennis player.

The 74-year-old Palisades Tennis Club devotee, truly frequents the

facility.

Minus rainy days and vacations, Garrison has played at Palisades

every day since 1989, when he retired. After waiting until age 58 to

pick up the sport, he sure has made up for lost time the last 16

years.

The sport has truly been monumental in the latter part of his

life. He has old friends he plays with. He meets new people when he

plays. The game is such a part of his life now, he even met his

present wife through it.

“You’ve got to be careful,” he said. “You get out there and start

playing with the women and you’ll end up marrying one.”

Garrison met his wife, Barbara, through some friends of his at

Palisades. At the time, Barbara wasn’t a member.

“I had been single for 20 years,” Garrison said. “Everybody

thought I was a hard-core bachelor. They were surprised we got

married.”

Garrison was a Marine pilot for 33 years, worked in the aerospace

industry for a couple years and owned a motorcycle dealership for a

few more.

He flew propeller planes during the Korean War and gradually

advanced to near-modern-day jets. He was stationed on numerous

aircraft carriers around the world while also being stationed for 11

years, on and off, at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

The Marine Corps career was probably the reasoning behind his

tennis friends thinking he was a “hard-core bachelor,” he said.

Originally from South Carolina, Garrison’s stints at El Toro

caused him to fall in love with Orange County. When he retired in

1989, Irvine was where he called home.

And tennis was what he picked up to fill the time. He joined

Palisades -- then called John Wayne Tennis Club -- in 1989 and has

been playing every day since.

“I was previously a racquetball and handball player, and golfer in

my early days,” Garrison said. “I just sort of had a desire to get

out in the sun and that’s when I took it up.”

Garrison has competed in two tournaments since picking up the

sport, both in doubles competition, which is mainly what he plays

daily.

He placed third at the 2001 Senior Olympics in Long Beach in 60s

doubles and won a Palisades doubles tournament eight years ago. But

he prefers to play recreationally.

“Now I just play socially,” he said. “It’s more fun because

there’s no pressure. In tournaments, the pressure is tremendous.”

At 74, age hasn’t slowed Garrison. His age has actually allowed

him to have the time to pick up the game. And the game has been

weaved in with life.

With more than three decades in the Marine Corps, Garrison has

plenty of stories to tell. And those willing to hear them know where

to find him.

Every day.