Hot Start to Gulf Harbour Tennis Season

Summer ripples still dance before our sunkissed eyes, and the air hangs heavily about our shoulders as we take to the courts...AND IT"S NOVEMBER for crying out loud! Ah, but complain we shan't for 'tis snowy streets that greet some who yet dwell in northern climes.

Events
Ok, down to business here...If you know anything about Gulf Harbour tennis you know that we are up and running at a breakneck pace. Yesterday's annual Halloween event drew some of our most creative racquet swingers to the courts, and next weekend the Welcome Back Mixer is on tap. As soon as we turn around twice, the Tennis Family Night Dinner will be here (Wednesday, November 18th). Surely you know by now that you can register for those and all tennis events and activities online (click links above for quick access).

In addition to our in-house happenings, the USPTA Pro League will be coming to Gulf Harbour on Friday, November 6th. As mentioned elsewhere, this season promises to be one of the most exciting ever for the Pro League. Former Grand Slam competitors and recent college grads have boosted the level of play and expanded the number of matches to be played. We hope to have a good turnout at Gulf Harbour, even if we can’t match the record-setting throngs that Mike and I experienced at Grandezza.

If, after attending Pro League, you haven't yet had enough tennis, the following day (Saturday, November 7th), the 29th Annual Naples-Fort Myers Challenge Cup will be happening at Bonita Bay. Although we (Fort Myers) won the first year I played (2007), Naples regained the honors last year. I had the pleasure of losing a good match to "The Legend" Larry Turville in last year's event. It'll be extremely tough to wrest the cup from the this year, and your support would surely be a boost for the Fort Myers team.

Ladies’ Teams

Team play is off to a microwave start, and a few of Gulf Harbour’s Lee County Women’s Tennis League teams have opened the season quite impressively. Captains Jenny King’s and Darlene Mattcheck’s 3.0-Minus team holds the lead in its division after two matches, sweeping its first two opponents. They take on Breckenridge at home Thursday, November 5th. Judy Jones’ and Judy Manzella’s 3-5-Minus Sure Shots also swept their first two opponents to take the lead in their division. They play again at home on Wednesday, November 4th.

Not to be outdone, Gulf Harbour’s 4.0-Minus team, led by Connie Hess and Pam Lemon, is also off to a stellar start with, you guessed it, two more sweeps in its first two matches. They play next at home this Monday, November 2nd. The 3.0 Double Trouble team, under the guidance of Sally Mellendorf and Linda VanWyk, is in second place after winning two of their first three matches in sweeps. The imminent going may be troublesome for Double Trouble, though, as they play away the next two weeks.

Although not as dominating in their performances as the previously mentioned teams, Monnie Kane’s and Sue Weiss’ Silver Belles hold the third spot after winning three of their four matches to date. The Belles play next at home on Friday, November 6th.

Men’s Teams

One of Gulf Harbour’s USTA teams, our 7.0 Super Senior Men, has begun play, and it sits in second with a 2-1 record. Tennis Committee Chairperson and Gulf Harbour Board Member, Bob Ostrom, is anchoring the defending State Champion team, carrying a 3-0 record thus far. Our consummate tennis organizer Tim Baldwin is doing his share for the team as well, winning two of the three matches he has played. The six Gulf Harbour men’s teams that play in the Lee County 50-Plus Men’s League begin play on November 17th, and Gulf Harbour’s 69ers, who play in the 70-Plus Men’s Tennis League, open play on December 2nd.

Men’s Singles Ladders

In addition to the usual excitement of team play, there is a new game in Gulf Harbour tennis. The Inaugural Men’s Singles Ladders (Group A and Group B) is developing into an exciting and hotly contested affair. Contestants are finding that singles is great cardio exercise, as well as fun competition.

John Hess     has to be considered the “Ladder MVP” to date based upon his performance. Although only recently returned from cheese country, John Hess     has stormed up the Group B Ladder, and now sits in second place. In less than two weeks, John has played and won four matches, three of them going to a third and final set.

Manny Lima sits atop the Group B Ladder, but he has only played once since the start of the official ladder season, and John is right on his heels. This promises to be one of the early-season marquee matchups in the B Group, and should be coming soon. Although it'll make for a very long day, I don’t want to miss that one!

Deserving of honorable mention are Dave Russ and Eddie Dance. Both have jumped right into the singles fray without having any experience on the singles court, and each has played three or more matches in two weeks. The oppressive heat has not deterred these court warriors who obviously came to play.

The Group A Ladder is off to a much slower start of the official season. Only three matches have been played since the official season began two weeks ago, with Chip Graddy    , the motivating force behind the ladders, playing two of those three matches.

Alan Canfield holds the top spot in Group A, having beaten Chip in straight sets (6-1, 6-4) in the only match he’s played thus far. Chip handled Maxwell Thompson in his most recent match (6-0, 6-4), despite some stellar play by Maxwell. Reigning Club Champion Geoff Negin is back from injury, and he returned victoriously over newcomer Brian Hammermeister in straight sets (6-0, 6-2). I suspect that once some of the other injured players heal, this group will see some heightened activity.

In closing, I must extend the warmest note of gratitude to the host of caring spirits who gave so generously of themselves during MJ's and my moment of difficulty. I was virutally overwhelmed by the show of care and support, treasured the cards and other offerings, and can only humbly say, "Thank You!" MJ is mobile again and doing much better. Until next...game, set, match.