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Moving to New York City can feel lonely, even in a city of millions.
For Marnie Perez Ochoa, who relocated from her hometown nearly a decade ago, finding courts to play on was only part of the challenge. She needed genuine connection beyond the workplace.
"I come from a huge tennis family. My grandmother was professional and grandfather as well," Marnie shares. "When I moved to New York City about 9 or 10 years ago, I didn't really know how to make friends other than work, so the club was recommended to me."
Her visit to West Side Tennis Club changed everything.
"I came and played at an event and then decided that I loved it and decided to join on the spot," she remembers. "Finding the club was truly a blessing."
Making Tennis Part of Busy NYC Life
Eight years into her membership, Marnie's relationship with the club has evolved. She now serves on the board and leads the entertainment committee.
"Eight years ago, I was 23. I feel like I've matured a lot since then," Marnie reflects. "In the beginning I didn't really know what I wanted from the club, but now I'm much more involved."
Her typical week shows how the club fits into her professional life.
"I like to play at least once during the week and maybe both days on the weekend," she says. "There's nothing better than going after work and relieving some stress and just ending the day doing something that you really like versus something that you have to do."
But the club changed her life in other ways.
"My manager has said that she's seen a tremendous change. It's really nice to feel like, okay, I'm dedicating time, energy, money into a place and I'm giving a lot, but it's also nice that I'm getting back."
Growing Through Giving Back
"I found that I have a lot of opinions and I wanted to help make things better or improve my experience," she says. "I felt like I could bring value or bring a different perspective."
Now leading the entertainment committee, Marnie creates inclusive experiences for all members.
"It has nothing to do with tennis, really. It's about bridging the gap between all the different types of members that play or don't play. It's just nice to create fun vibes and a good atmosphere at the club."
These connections helped her make it through tougher times.
"When COVID struck and the world shut down, I had nobody except my cat," Marnie remembers. "The club community really was there, not only for me, but for the whole club. We were able to connect via Zoom parties. It's so much more than just a tennis club."
Community and Courts
Today, the club drives Marnie's life in New York City. Her perfect day involves playing tennis at 10 AM, lunch on the terrace, afternoon by the pool, and maybe even staying for dinner.
"How does it fit into my lifestyle? It has become my lifestyle," she emphasizes. "Being part of the club is 100% my personality. There's no me without the West Side really."
Her philosophy captures what makes West Side special: "You get what you put into it. If you want access to tennis courts, you got it. And if you want it to be a community of people that you can leverage for friendship or business or anything like that, it's nice to connect with people that are like-minded."
Marnie's story shows how the right community can change your entire perspective on what home means in New York City.
