If you are in anyway connected to Gulf Harbour's tennis program you have a lot for which to be thankful. Our facility is among the best in the area, our engaged and active membership is second to none, and our Board is as supportive of our program as any member-owned board is likely to be at a golf-oriented country club.
In addition to the above, we have a group of dedicated tennis professionals who are as esteemed as any group of professionals in the Southwest Florida tennis community, and we have a strong cadre of teams that are perennially among the best in Lee County. I am personally extremely thankful for the supportive and caring membership with which I am privileged to work. Since there isn't enough time and space here to give adequate thanks, I may as well get on with the update, right?
Lee County Ladies’ Teams
As noted in the last update, Gulf Harbour’s ladies teams have started very strong in the Lee County Women’s Tennis League (LCWTL). As of Sunday, November 22nd, nine of our twelve ladies teams were amongst the top five in their divisions.
Leading the way is Captains Jenny King and Darlene Mattcheck’s 3.0-Minus team which continues to lead its division, stretching their division lead to 16 points after four matches. Their next home match will be Thursday, December 3rd.
A trio of teams sit in second in their divisions. They include the 3.0 Double Trouble team, under the guidance of Sally Mellendorf and Linda VanWyk; Norma Schuyler and Carlotta Clark’s Defending Champion 50-Plus Gold ladies, who trail the division leaders by only two points; and Effie Parker and Marianne McElroy’s 50-Plus Bronze squad. The Bronze ladies trail the division leader by only 8 points, and play next at home on Wednesday, December 9th. Double Trouble’s next home match is against The Forest on Monday, December 7th.
Connie Hess and Pam Lemon’s 4.0-Minus team is maintaining their top-five position, holding steady in third place. Marcia DeVries and Mary Harrington lead the third-place 4.0 women, Gulf Harbour’s highest level LCWTL team. The team has won two of the three contests they have played thus far, and appear to be heading for a terrific season.
Judy Jones and Judy Manzella’s 3-5-Minus Sure Shots have slipped from the top spot they held after the first two weeks of the season, but they are only one point out of third place, and play again at home on Wednesday, December 2nd. Monnie Kane and Sue Weiss’ 50-Plus Silver Belles are holding onto the fourth spot after seven weeks of play, and our 60-Plus team led by Teressa Crocker and Wennie Johannes has worked its way into the third position after three weeks of play.
Lee County Men’s Teams
Gulf Harbour’s men also are off to a good start in the Lee County Men’s 50-Plus Tennis League (LCMTL). Although early in the season, four of GH’s six LCMTL teams reside amongst the top-five in their divisions. Leading the way is the White A team led by is tied for the division lead after sweeping all four individual competitions in its first match; Blue A and Blue B both sit in second; and Blue C is tied for fourth after the first week of play. The Red A team begins play on Thursday, December 3rd.
USTA Teams
Judy Schafft’s 7.0 Super Senior Women’s team is carrying the mantle for us as far as our USTA teams go. Those ladies continue to lead their division with a 5-1 record, and both Judy Schafft and Carole Shapiro are undefeated in league play.
Gulf Harbour’s USTA 7.0 Super Senior Men still sit in second with a 3-2 record. Slipping from the ranks of the unbeaten and from their No.1 position into the two-spot, our 7.0 Senior Mixed Doubles team is still in a very respectable second place.
Men’s Singles Ladders
The biggest story of the Inaugural Gulf Harbour Men’s Singles Ladders is the meteoric rise of John Hess who came in late, but got after it in a hurry. John has played five matches since October 15th, winning them all, including a straight-set victory over previous Group B Ladder leader, Manny Lima. Since claiming the ladder pinnacle on November 12th, John has not been challenged. Manny still sits in second and Eddie Dance holds third with a 2-2 record.
In the Group A Ladder, Alan Canfield, Jr. continues to hold onto the top spot, but Geoff Negin, the reigning Club Champion, has just issued Alan a challenge, and Geoff is 2-0 in ladder competition thus far. The winner of this match has to be considered a favorite to claim honors in the inaugural Group A Ladder. Newcomer Chip Graddy
Your Pros
Gulf Harbour’s success seems to have extended to your pros as well. All three won their matches at the most recent Pro League, Joel and I in straight sets, and Mike in his customary third-set super-tiebreak.
In other recent action, I pulled it together enough to claim the Men’s 50 Doubles title with Jim Katterfield of Shadow Wood Country Club on Day 2 of the USPTA Masters after a first day meltdown in singles. Hoping to continue our winning trend, I’m off to defend my Turkey Bowl Title in the Men’s 45s this coming weekend.
But Joel continues to be “Da Man” of Gulf Harbour tennis (If we don’t consider Alan Canfield, Jr. and John Hess). Joel finished the 2010 fall season of the USTA Lee/Charlotte County Adult League Men’s 4.5 Division with an undefeated record, losing only one set in his five matches.
But top kudos must go to our peerless leader, who, as a reflection of his esteem among local tennis professionals, has been selected to play in as prestigious an exhibition as we’ll see in the area. Mike will play with top USTA amateur Rick Schmidt, winner of multiple USTA National Championships; Xavier Malisse, who has been ranked as high as No.19 on the ATP Tour; and Robert Kendrick, formerly No.69 on the ATP Tour at Casa Ybel on Sanibel on Saturday, December 12th.
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