Great Days Happen at the Farm!
4150 Broad St. Rd.
Gum Spring, VA 23065
804.397.0215
A beautiful spring-fed, 10+ acre lake is located on the western edge of the Farm. Created in the 1920's when Route 250 was built to connect Richmond and Charlottesville, the lake has been regarded as one of the best fishing spots in the county by several long-time Goochland residents. So after a morning of playing racket sports, what would be better than relaxing while you do a little fishing or just enjoy the foliage and wildlife?
If you are looking to improve your upper body strength (this will help your serve) then bring your kayak out and take a couple of trips around the lake. The lake is owned by Wood 'N' Racket Farm and its two neighbors, whose properties border the lake. Thus, the lake is always private and never crowded.
Another key component of successful racket sport play is footwork, and good footwork occurs when the body is properly warmed up. With that in mind, Coach Richards has built jogging/walking nature trails around the Farm so that your warm-up is a treat and not a chore. Woven through the 40 acres is over a mile of different trails that take you past the horses and cows of the Farm's neighbors, along the lake, and through the trees and stream past the wildlife preserve. Become inspired by the resident beaver. If you work as hard as 'Bayliss the Beaver', you will take down opponents the way he takes down trees!
There is also a Vita Par exercise course nestled along parts of the trail for those keen on combining scientifically designed exercises with walking or jogging to provide a well-balanced physical fitness routine for the entire body.
The final and most important asset is the mind. From our mind we are able to focus and imagine, two pivotal aspects of racket sports. Focus allows us to watch our opponent as well as the ball, and we can enhance this with drill sessions. To imagine or picture how and where to hit the ball is important; however, much harder to practice.
Coach Richards has found that if we learn how pictures are created, it becomes easier to develop the picture or image in our mind. Along with a stocked art cabin, there are several 'perches' along the nature trail that are a relaxing and inspiring place to train your imagination.
