The action just never ceases around Gulf Harbour’s tennis courts. Just a few weeks ago I was looking forward to sleeping a little later now that season was ending…instead, I’ve got 8am lessons everyday! But given today’s economy, the last thing I’m doing is complaining about early rising. If you aren't ready for a nice long session of reading, pick and choose from the below smorgasbord of happenings around Gulf Harbour tennis.
We expect to have at least a few more rosters submitted before the July 1 deadline, so if you would like to play on a team, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
“The traveling trophy” will be presented to the winners at the welcome back round robin in the fall. Next year, the season will be shortened to three weeks with each team playing twice a week. Click here to view team rosters
Gulf Harbour Juniors
Several Gulf Harbour junior players put their developing skills to the test this past weekend at the Clubtennis Spring Rookie Classic in Cape Coral. Simon Negin (pictured in green t-shirt) and Danny Glasser played the boys' 10-and-under division, TJ Meyers played in the boys' 12-and-under division, while Charlie Markovich and Billy Graddy entered the boys' 14-and-under division. Unfortunately, none of our talented junior girls chose to participate.
Your Staff
Mike has taken a little hiatus from the competitive arena, because it really is tough to manage an active club like Gulf Harbour, be a good family man, AND play good tennis… And Mike has a bit more pride than I do.
Our rapidly aging Joel (he turned 24 May 2nd) is getting his fill of competition these days in USTA Leagues. Joel’s 8.5 combo team, on which he played No.2 doubles, won their division and will be playing regional competition in January. Joel is undefeated while playing singles for his 4.5 team, and has yet to lose a set this season. He is looking to keep that record clean all the way through.
Tennis Court Maintenance
Uppermost on everyone’s mind (certainly the minds of your tennis staff) is the condition of
the courts. We have struggled continuously with the court irrigation system since our arrival at Gulf Harbour, and with Tennis Committee Chairman Bob Ostrom battling more fervently and much more effectively than Don Quixote fought his windmills, we have managed to make some headway.
Uppermost on everyone’s mind (certainly the minds of your tennis staff) is the condition of
the courts. We have struggled continuously with the court irrigation system since our arrival at Gulf Harbour, and with Tennis Committee Chairman Bob Ostrom battling more fervently and much more effectively than Don Quixote fought his windmills, we have managed to make some headway.To date, we have installed new filters, valves, solenoids, flow meters, floats, and repaired broken pipes on all of the courts in attempts to get the court irrigation system, functioning properly, and we believe that we have solved the problem of inadequate water supply due to mechanics. Of course, with the reduced supply from the County, the struggle to maintain playable court surfaces is likely to continue for some time.
The good news is that the rainy season ought to alleviate some of the supply problem, and when season begins next year, we should not have the same struggles. As put by Chairman Ostrom, “The next step in our court reclamation project this spring will be the addition several tons of Har-Tru on courts 5-8.”
Also, in efforts to improve our ability to care for the courts and surrounding areas, we have acquired a new tennis court golf cart which should be up and running within the next few weeks. Thanks to General Manager Rick Newman, who has been extremely supportive of our efforts, and to Volney Gordon and his staff, who have contributed greatly to our efforts to maximize your tennis experience.
Welch Clay Court Seminar
Speaking of court maintenance, Welch Tennis, the largest clay court builder in the world conducted a clay court maintenance seminar at Gulf Harbour on May 8. Twenty-four participants gathered at Johnny Browns and on the tennis courts to absorb the decades of knowledge Welch brings to these seminars. Given the struggles we have had with the courts, it was quite fortuitous that Mike was able to bring Welch on board for the seminar. Welch, the builder of Gulf Harbour’s courts, continues to be instrumental in getting our courts playing the way we would like.
Speaking of court maintenance, Welch Tennis, the largest clay court builder in the world conducted a clay court maintenance seminar at Gulf Harbour on May 8. Twenty-four participants gathered at Johnny Browns and on the tennis courts to absorb the decades of knowledge Welch brings to these seminars. Given the struggles we have had with the courts, it was quite fortuitous that Mike was able to bring Welch on board for the seminar. Welch, the builder of Gulf Harbour’s courts, continues to be instrumental in getting our courts playing the way we would like.Online Reservation System
Gulf Harbour tennis is easing its way into the 21st century (some members will come kicking and screaming I’m sure) with a new online court reservation system next fall. We are currently testing such a system and we should be ready for member trials in the very near future. Be on the lookout for more information.
Gulf Harbour tennis is easing its way into the 21st century (some members will come kicking and screaming I’m sure) with a new online court reservation system next fall. We are currently testing such a system and we should be ready for member trials in the very near future. Be on the lookout for more information.
Ladies Teams
We currently have rosters for seven (7) Lee County Women’s Tennis League (LCWTL) teams, which include:
We currently have rosters for seven (7) Lee County Women’s Tennis League (LCWTL) teams, which include:
TEAM - CAPTAIN - CO-CAPTAIN
4.0- Connie Hess - Pam Lemon
3.5 Laurie Watson - Marianne Crouch
3.5- Judy Jones - Judy Manzella
3.0 Double Trouble Sally Mellendorf - Linda VanWyk
50+ Gold Norma Schuyler - Carlotta Clark
50+ Silver Belles Monnie - Kane Sue Weiss
60+ Teresa Crocker - Wennie Johannes
4.0- Connie Hess - Pam Lemon
3.5 Laurie Watson - Marianne Crouch
3.5- Judy Jones - Judy Manzella
3.0 Double Trouble Sally Mellendorf - Linda VanWyk
50+ Gold Norma Schuyler - Carlotta Clark
50+ Silver Belles Monnie - Kane Sue Weiss
60+ Teresa Crocker - Wennie Johannes
We expect to have at least a few more rosters submitted before the July 1 deadline, so if you would like to play on a team, please don’t hesitate to let us know.There have been some new developments in the way our teams will function beginning with this coming season. Chief among them is a Captain’s Council which will be implemented to assist in the formation and management of the ladies teams. More on that later this summer.
USTA Teams
Gulf Habour's USTA 7.0 Senior Mixed Doubles team holds a 6-1 record, which leads the division with three matches left to play. Our team beat the second place team yesterday after dropping their first match of the season the day before. They are the odds-on favorite to claim the top spot (of course I just cursed them). Our 7.5 Men's Senior Combo team is also leading their division with a 4-1 record and only two matches left to play.
Men’s Intramurals
After six weeks of competition, the "Ball Busters" captained by Eddie Dance captured the honors in the 2009 Gulf Harbour Men's Team Tennis Challenge. Captain Dance’s Ball Busters finished 20 points ahead of Don Pitts’ second place “The Great ZaZus,” 31 points ahead of Bill Crouch’s “When in Doubt, Out,” and 65 points in front of Jim Masiello’s “Team Viagra.”
After six weeks of competition, the "Ball Busters" captained by Eddie Dance captured the honors in the 2009 Gulf Harbour Men's Team Tennis Challenge. Captain Dance’s Ball Busters finished 20 points ahead of Don Pitts’ second place “The Great ZaZus,” 31 points ahead of Bill Crouch’s “When in Doubt, Out,” and 65 points in front of Jim Masiello’s “Team Viagra.” “The traveling trophy” will be presented to the winners at the welcome back round robin in the fall. Next year, the season will be shortened to three weeks with each team playing twice a week. Click here to view team rosters
Gulf Harbour Juniors
Several Gulf Harbour junior players put their developing skills to the test this past weekend at the Clubtennis Spring Rookie Classic in Cape Coral. Simon Negin (pictured in green t-shirt) and Danny Glasser played the boys' 10-and-under division, TJ Meyers played in the boys' 12-and-under division, while Charlie Markovich and Billy Graddy entered the boys' 14-and-under division. Unfortunately, none of our talented junior girls chose to participate. Simon, who played this event last year, beat the No.1 seed before losing in the final. According to Geoff Negin, Simon's dad, "Simon had a good time and I think it was good for his confidence...He was really very composed and did not play tight or get nervous on the big points which was something he has had to overcome."
In his first ever tournament appearance, Danny won his first match before losing to the eventual champion. TJ, also in his first competitive effort, lost his first round match to the No.1 Seed and eventual winner. After TJ’s match, mom Diane Meyers reported, “TJ did even better than I expected. He kept his form and his poise, and he didn’t lose because he played badly, but because the other boy played better.”
Billy also posted a first round victory before bowing to the No.2 Seed in a tough match. Charlie had a tough opponent in his first match, losing to the No.1 Seed and eventual event champion. Congrats to the boys who put it on the line this weekend and particularly to Simon who took home a finalist award!
Your Staff
Mike has taken a little hiatus from the competitive arena, because it really is tough to manage an active club like Gulf Harbour, be a good family man, AND play good tennis… And Mike has a bit more pride than I do. I, on the other hand, am willing to take a big gulp, swallow that pride, and accept that I probably won’t play great tennis most times out these days. But, at my current rate of decline, I figure I better get as much competitive tennis in while the getting is good…well at least mediocre.
At the USPTA National Clay Court Championships in West Palm Beach the weekend of May 8 –
10, I came up a bit short, losing in the finals of both singles and doubles. In doubles, I played with Bob Davis, Assistant Men’s & Women’s Tennis Coach at Eckerd College in St. Pete, and former player at University of Hartford, my alma mater. We had the distinction of losing to Dick Stockton, former World No. 8 (who cares if that was 
two centuries ago?) and Geoff Moore, another former touring pro who currently holds a USTA national doubles title.
At the USPTA National Clay Court Championships in West Palm Beach the weekend of May 8 –
10, I came up a bit short, losing in the finals of both singles and doubles. In doubles, I played with Bob Davis, Assistant Men’s & Women’s Tennis Coach at Eckerd College in St. Pete, and former player at University of Hartford, my alma mater. We had the distinction of losing to Dick Stockton, former World No. 8 (who cares if that was 
two centuries ago?) and Geoff Moore, another former touring pro who currently holds a USTA national doubles title. In singles, I lost for the third time to Greg Wheaton, Director of Tennis at Broken Sound Country Club in Boca Raton. I suppose there’s no shame in losing to a player who finished No.2 in last year’s USPTA National Rankings for the Men’s 45 division. However, this was the second consecutive final in which I have failed to meet Wheaton’s challenge, and that doesn’t sit well. Perhaps it’s time to rest a bit and let the body heal before venturing forth again.
On the bright side, I did manage to topple two-time defending champion of the Ultimate Tennis (formerly K-Swiss) League, Jared Kalpin, and claim the 6.0 Division title. After having lost to the 26-year-old four times without a win, including losing 2nd and 3rd set breakers in the final last season, this victory is a cherished one for the old guy.
Our rapidly aging Joel (he turned 24 May 2nd) is getting his fill of competition these days in USTA Leagues. Joel’s 8.5 combo team, on which he played No.2 doubles, won their division and will be playing regional competition in January. Joel is undefeated while playing singles for his 4.5 team, and has yet to lose a set this season. He is looking to keep that record clean all the way through. By now you have probably become well acquainted with our fabulous 
Pro Shop Manager, Laurie Martin. Well, I’m afraid you’ll have to say goodbye to Ms. Martin this weekend…No, she’s not leaving. She’s becoming Mrs. Giordano today! Congratulations to Laurie and Ed and I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing them a terrific life together.
Pro Shop Manager, Laurie Martin. Well, I’m afraid you’ll have to say goodbye to Ms. Martin this weekend…No, she’s not leaving. She’s becoming Mrs. Giordano today! Congratulations to Laurie and Ed and I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing them a terrific life together.Jerry? What can I say about Jerry. He continues to deliver an outstanding performance, and is as diligent as one could ask for. When he isn’t doing all he can, Jerry continues to run up and down the soccer field refereeing for youth and adult leagues.
Well that's about it for this volume, and it was a volume wasn't it :)? Game, set, match...
