Gulf Harbour USTA Junior Team Tennis Concludes 1st Season

If the success of Wimbledon Champions Roger Federer and Serena Williams as athletes had been measured by their first attempts to walk, we can be assured that they would have been considered miserable failures. However, after the many steps they have taken we can accurately perceive them as the greats that they are.

Much the same, we cannot determine the success of Gulf Harbour's first USTA Florida Junior Team Tennis season by its initial finish in the league. If we measure the success by the expressions of the players and parents, I believe we had an unqualified success. Wins and losses may become a measure of success after many more steps have been taken to build our team.

Despite finishing fourth of the four teams in the League, all of the participants and their parents expressed interest in participating again this coming fall. We look forward to a stronger performance, and perhaps a trip to the State Championships, when we have most of our team members present.

Reflecting upon first JTT season for Gulf Harbour, although the tennis was certainly an important element of the JTT experience, perhaps even more important was the family time shared. For example, although Joey Ghuman

didn’t play on our team this year, while sister Allison was playing, Joey was having his first fishing experience courtesy of Denny Rager, Director of Tennis at Lely in Naples, and a boyhood friend and doubles partner of Mike Curran.

Information about the upcoming JTT season will be disseminated as soon as it becomes available. Thanks to all of those terrific kids who came together for the first time to form a team and to the parents who offered them such terrific support!

Team Members

Eve Bailey

Jared Fleishman

Danny Glasser

Jacob Glasser

Isabel Leigh

TJ Meyers

Simon Negin

Cameron Sadighi

Hot, Hot, Hot Firecracker Tennis on Fourth of July

It might be the slightest of exaggerations to say that it was hotter than a firecracker during the July 4th Firecracker Tennis event. It isn’t a common sight to see our hearty, diehard tennis members seeking shady shelter before a round is completed during a round robin event, but that was certainly the case this past Saturday.

The humidity hung heavily over the courts and all who dared to exert the effort to make racquet and ball inhabit the same space at the same time…uh, that means hit the ball. [Obviously, I’m still foggy from last Saturday]. Yet, exert effort we did on the 4th, and we had a good time doing so.

Our 8am session pit 14 Bombers against 13 Torpedoes and a Pro. Of course having a pro on their team did not affect the outcome whatsoever, but somehow the Torpedoes came out on top despite trailing going into the third and final round. Trailing 4-3 after the first round, the Torpedoes tied the contest at 7-7 going into the third, before emerging with the 11-10 victory.

I only feel a tiny bit guilty that I unleashed my ferocious lefty game against Club Champions (Court Crasher Division) Liz Byck and Jan Carlson, and had Judy Jones as a partner carrying me to victory. I’ll give my share of the prize money to the vanquished Bombers.

In the 10am session, the playing field, or “playing court” as it were (don’t you just hate that “as it were” phrase?) was leveled considerably, since there were no pros involved, lefty or otherwise, to intimidate our members. A full complement of players with 16 Bombers and 16 Torpedoes took to the courts to determine air or sea supremacy.

The Bombers may have had a chance, but May-Jo Hynden came off the injured reserve list specifically for this challenge, and her presence was just too much for the Bombers. Or, perhaps it was the indomitable spirit of Meg Jacobs, whose bounce may be as dangerous as a Bouncy Betty.

In any event, the Bombers, once again, got off to a great start, leading 5-3 after Round 1. The Torpedoes started their comeback in Round 2, but still trailed 9-7 going into the final round. By the time the final whistle had been blown, the Bombers’ two-point lead had evaporated amidst the steam rising from the tops of the competitors’ visors and caps.

The final tally was Torpedoes 14, Bombers 11, after the Torpedoes tattooed the Bombers 7-1 in the final round. Ok, to be fair, the competition was really much closer than the final score indicates. According to “Event Commissioner,” George “Big Daddy” Kane, almost every match came down to tiebreak situation.

After a comprehensive and very scientific survey of participants (it really was more like eavesdropping), it appears that the serve variation the “Commissioner” threw in to liven things up in the first round, met with mixed reviews. However, based upon the self-same survey, we can conclude that at least 57 of the 59 participants (97%) had a terrific time…and that was before the eating and drinking even began.

For next year’s event, we will be looking for a volunteer to sing the National Anthem before play begins. Yes, we are moving into the big time at Gulf Harbour. Start practicing your rendition now so that you will be ready by July 3, 2010!

Wardell Warrants Kudos for Florida Open Performance

With a few exceptions (Lauren Embree and Reid Carleton come to mind) Southwest Florida, and certainly Fort Myers, has not been a hotbed for junior players with top national rankings. Josh Wardell did his best to reverse that trend during the 20th Forida Open Championships, a Level 3 national event featuring players from around the country.

Josh played in the boys 16s, and eliminated three seeded players in his first four matches without a hint of dropping a set before meeting the No.1 seed, Anton Kovrigin from Rockville, Maryland. Midway and late into the first set it appeared as though Josh was going to pull off yet another upset.

After being down an early break, Josh rallied with a break of his own in the eighth game to get back on serve at 4-4. He then held his next two service games and had the top seed serving to stay in the first set. Unfortunately for Josh, Kovrigin served well at 5-6 and Josh appeared to succumb to the moment in the tiebreak.

Josh fell behind early again in the second set before getting back on serve at 3-4, but failed to hold serve in the eighth game. Kovrigin had little trouble serving out the match for a 7-6, 6-3 victory.

"The match was a terrific learning experience for Josh," former coach Mike Curran remarked. "He knows that his game is on a level that can compete successfully on the national level in the 16s, and he just turned 14. That really bodes well for his future in the game," Curran continued.

I absolutely agree. With a little more experience at handling the big moment, I believe Josh wins that match. With the focus usually on big brother Michael, TV cameras present, large group of supporters vocalizing, and a good chance to go up a set on the No.1 seed in a national event, I think the young man handled himself quite well for a 14-year-old.

Next time I believe the top seed falls...but then again, Josh may be the top seed next time around. Game, set, match, I'm out!

Mike Curran's Proteges, Josh & Mike Wardell, Advance at Florida Open

Although less celebrated than older brother Mike Wardell, Josh Wardell is using this year’s Florida Open to stake his own claim to fame in Southwest Florida tennis. Josh was unseeded coming into the event, but has upset the No.8 seed and the 17th seed on his way to the round of 16s where he will face yet another seed.

Josh has yet to drop a set in the tournament, but if he gets past his next match (Tuesday 10am at Heritage Palms), he will likely face a match-up with the No.1 seed.

Brother Mike, seeded 16, has had to battle his way through the early rounds, including a tough three-setter in the third round against Alexander Buzzi of Key Biscayne. Mike won a hard-fought battle 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in a match that was played over two days due to rain. Mike will play later today (Tuesday 12pm) at Lexington Country Club against Justin Crenshaw of Boynton Beach, who upset No.4 seed in his previous match.

The Latest in Gulf Harbour Tennis

Junior Team Tennis Takes Center Stage

As many of our adult members sail away from “The Harbour” to homes in climes less sunny, our junior players fill the void created by their absence. Just this past Saturday, Gulf Harbour’s first USTA Junior Team Tennis team (click link for pictures) traveled to Paseo in Fort Myers to compete against two of the other three teams in its division.

Although Gulf Harbour’s team is comprised of 10-thru-12-year olds, our kids are playing in a 14-and-under division. Against Gateway and Punta Gorda this weekend, you would have been proud of our youngsters as they battled players with more experience, and in some cases, a few years their senior.

In the first match against gateway, 11-year-old Isabel Leigh faced 14-year-old Tihara Ezzo and emerged with a 6-4 victory. In the second match versus Punta Gorda, 10-year-old Danny Glasser played singles against 14-year-old Andrea Lansdale and battled to a 4-4 tie, while 10-year-old Simon Negin and 11-year-old TJ Meyers defeated Andrea and her partner 6-2 in a doubles contest.

Gulf Harbour’s players were not intimidated by the older, more experienced players, and it showed in their performances. At the end of the day, Gulf Harbour had a 2-0 match record, but is in second place behind Club Tennis, also 2-0. Club Tennis won seven individual matches and lost four, to Gulf Harbour’s five wins and four losses.

Despite the above information, the score and who is leading is far from the priority of the Junior Team Tennis program. Our objective is to provide our kids another avenue to explore and enhance their skills in a competitive environment. It is far more about learning the game, learning how to conduct oneself in competitive team situations, than about winning. Of course, winning is usually more fun.

In addition to seeing the kids enjoy themselves on the tennis court, seeing the support they received from their families, as parents, grandparents, and even uncles came out to cheer them on. We hope the support continues next Saturday when Gulf Harbour plays Club Tennis at 2pm, and Gateway at 5pm, both at Paseo.

10-Year-Old Logan Glock
Look in the next Soundings for a piece on another of our talented juniors, Logan Glock (see photos here), who recently won the Boys 10s Division at the Head Penn Super Series at Palencia, in St. Augustine. This is Logan's fourth Super Series win, and if he continues to progress under the tutelage of our own Mike Curran (and others), it certainly won't be his last.

Memorial Day

Before the juniors took over, however, the adults had a fun time at the Memorial Day Tennis Event (click here for pix). A full 32-member complement attended the event and were treated to the best goodie bags we have seen in some time. Jayme and Todd lewis provided each participant and pro a bag chock full of products to keep the active player well. From sunblock to replenishing drink powders in a variety of flavors, the package had it all. Thanks Jayme, Todd!

Florida Open
Just a heads up to our avid court mongers: The Florida Open, one of the most prestgious national events held in the State of Florida, is coming to Gulf Habour on June 27. Only two courts will be open for member reservations from Saturday the 27th through Wednesday July 1st.

Look at it as an terrific opportunity to watch some of the best tennis you're going to see outside of the pro tour on TV, and a great time to rest those sore elbows, knees, hips, etc. That's how I'm going to look at it despite the lost lesson revenue. It's all a matter of perspective. In't it?

Facility Enhancement
Also in the very near future, we will be conducting repairs to the fencing around all the courts, and to the drainage around court two. The work is scheduled to begin next Monday the 15th and to be completed by July 1. We appreciate your patience while this work is done, as we will have to block off some of the courts during the enhancement process.

Firecracker Tennis Mixer
On July 4th, things will be popping at the courts again. Last year we had a phenomenal turnout with 64 members participating. There will be two sessions to accommodate the demand, and you can register online beginning June 13th. Hop on over to the Club website this Saturday to sign up for the event. Remember first come, first served so don't wait or you might be too late.

Boot Camp 2009
We know it is quite a ways off, but before you know it the first week in October will be here, and people are already getting their dibs in for a spot in Gulf Harbour's Tennis Boot Camp 2009. Boot Camp will run from Monday, October 5, through Thursday, October 8, from 11am - 1pm. You can register for the full week for $140 or day-by-day for $40 per day.

You can easily register right now for Boot Camp by going to the club website, logging in, clicking on the Club Calendar, going to the date(s) that you would like to participate, clicking on the event, and completing the registration process. If you are playing on a team this fall, you don't want to miss it.

LCWTL Teams
Since we are looking into the future, we might as well report on the state of our teams. We currently have 11 Lee County Women's Tennis League teams and should have at least one more (3.0-) when the season opens. There is a 4.0, 4.0-, 3.5, 3.5-, and two 3.0 teams in the rated divisions, and a gold, two silvers, a bronze, and a 60+ team in the senior divisions. We will be seeking to improve on the two first place finishes we achieved this past season.

Well, that's about it for now from the tennis front. There will be more to share before too long because there is a lot going on behind the scenes. Stay tuned to the Club Website and your Gulf Harbour Tennis Blog for more tennis happenings. Until next, game, set, match...

Tennis Update May 16

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ladies Teams
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

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.”

“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.

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.

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...

2008 - 2009 Tennis Season Wrap-Up

Should we start with the incredible year our teams had; or perhaps the fact that we lost the Inaugural Landings Cup by one measly point? How about the record turn out that we had for the Club Championships? There are many ways we could begin to recap Gulf Harbour’s 2008-2009 tennis season, but perhaps we should begin at the beginning.

Committee Brings Curran on Board
The impetus for a season that was stellar by most accounts was the Tennis Committee’s selection of one of the premier instructors and players in Southwest Florida, Mike Curran, as the new Director of Tennis & Fitness. It didn’t take Mike very long to instate a new staff of professionals, in addition to our beloved Joel Hampton, who has been an Assistant Teaching Professional at Gulf Harbour since 2006.

T.A. Niles (Head Pro), Laurie Martin (Pro Shop Manager) and Gerry Jimenez (Maintenance Technician) all have been added to the Gulf Harbour tennis staff since Mike’s tenure as Director began. If the reports from the vast majority of tennis members are any indication, the additions have been a plus for the tennis program.

2008 – 2009 Tennis Season Sizzles
The tennis program itself has been as active this past season, in some regards, as it has ever been. Record numbers participated in October’s Team Boot Camp and in the Club Championships this spring. Team clinic participation also was tremendous, and according to Bronze team captain Effie Parker, “We’ve never had clinics like this before. It has been a great new experience for our team.”

Over two hundred members participated in the three Club Championship events (see pix here). Of course many of the same individuals participated in the different events, but the turnout was admirable. Although there were participants who weren’t thrilled with all elements of the events, the vast majority appeared to enjoy the experience.

One satisfied customer was Dr. Anthony Cupaiuolo, who wrote in response to the publishing of the draws, “You really did a great job in getting the information out in such a timely manner and devising a format designed both to attract as many players and to insure as competitive matches as possible.” It would probably be fair to publish some of the less than positive comments as well…but why not end the season on a positive note?

Team Triumphs
Perhaps one of the most notable happenings this season was the performance of Gulf Harbour’s teams, particularly our ladies' teams and our USTA teams. Of the thirteen Lee County Women’s Tennis League (LCWTL) teams fielded this past season, 10 finished among the top-five in their divisions, and two ladies teams, the 3.5-Minus Drop Shots led by Diane Russ and the 50-Plus Gold Team led by Norma Schuyler, won their divisions.

Gulf Harbour’s five USTA teams also acquitted themselves quite well this past season. The 7.0 Super Senior men led by Ron Graham won the State Sectionals on April 16-19 in Daytona Beach and will represent Florida (and Gulf Harbour of course) at the National Championships next spring. Our 7.0 Super Senior ladies, captained by Judy Schafft, won their local division and also played at sectionals this past weekend. They fell short of winning their flight and playing in the championship match by two sets.

Our Men's 50-Plus 3.5 Men's team, also led by Ron Graham, won its region and will represent Gulf Harbour at the State Sectionals April 30 through May 3rd. Our two USTA Mixed Doubles teams finished second in their divisions. In sum, all five USTA teams at Gulf Harbour finished in the top two!

Although the men’s teams representing Gulf Harbour in the 50-Plus Men’s League of Lee County didn’t fare quite as well as the some of the women’s and USTA teams, they represented us quite well. Of the five teams that participated, four finished in the top-five. The one Gulf Harbour team playing in the Men’s 70-Plus League of Lee County finished third in its inaugural year of existence. In all, 20 of Gulf Harbour’s 24 teams finished among the top-five of their divisions, an accomplishment worthy of accolades!

Inaugural Landings Cup
Additional evidence that Gulf Harbour’s tennis program is among the best in the area is the performance of those who represented the Club in the Inaugural Landings Cup event. A team of twelve individuals (two men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles) represented Gulf Harbour in the eight-team event. When the final ball was struck and the scores tallied, Gulf Harbour had fallen one game shy of claiming the Cup.

Program Strong Year-Round
Other tennis events, such as the Fourth of July Firecracker event, the Halloween Mixer, and Davis Cup all had significant participation from tennis members, indicating that the strength of Gulf Harbour’s tennis program is not merely seasonal, but all year round! Over 120 members attended the year-end Tennis Celebration Banquet at season’s end, bringing this year’s tennis cycle for a number of members to a memorable close.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that there are some who are not thrilled with the efforts of the new tennis staff. However, we believe those are few in number and there are those who have expressed their appreciation of the staff’s efforts. One such member, Jackie Jewel wrote, “You are bringing so much fun to GH. I really am happy you are there. Almost everyone I know thinks that you guys are doing an exceptional job and making us enjoy tennis again at good old GH! Thanks for your fun and enthusiasm.” We hope to keep the fun and enthusiasm flowing through the summer.

Post Season Tennis
Although a good portion of our tennis membership may be heading north this time of year, an essential component of the tennis program’s core remains at Gulf Harbour, and the beat will continue throughout the summer. Tim Baldwin’s Wimble-Ryder, tennis-golf combination event is up next on Saturday April 25, and only 12 spots are still open (Click here to register). Our Memorial Day Tennis Event on May 25 is likely to generate as healthy a turn-out as one will find at any Southwest Florida Club this time of year. It is this elevated level of member commitment and participation that makes the energy we expend as a staff entirely worth the expenditure.

Men's Intramurals
Men's intramural competition is coming down the homestretch, with Eddie Dance's Ball Busters leading the way with 70 points after four weeks of play. Don Pitts' The Great Zazus are in second with 51 points, followed by Bill Crouch's When in Doubt Call it Out with 33 points, and Jim masiello's less than vigorous Team Viagra bringing up the rear with 14 points. With only two weeks left to go, it appears as though the Ball Busters will claim the intramural title this year.

Junior Tennis
For Gulf Harbour’s youth, if numbers allow, there will be a junior camp and USTA Junior Team Tennis (JTT). The junior camp and JTT will provide a venue for juniors who are looking for fun tennis competition during the summer.

Junior Team Tennis begins June 6 and run for four weeks. Players who play at least two matches will be eligible to participate in the JTT Sectionals in Lakeland July 31 thru August 2.
Gulf Harbour’s junior camp will begin July 6 and run through August 14. Other summer events will include our July 4th Firecracker and the Labor Day Tennis & Party event on September 7.

Looking Forward to Next Year
As a new addition to the tennis program, I would like to express my immense gratitude to the multitude of members who have welcomed me into the fold. I’m especially grateful for Amy Ciarrocchi’s muffins, Jan Bloomhall’s pies, Marianne MCElroy’s cookies, Meg Jacobs’ cookies and quiche. Gulf Harbour may not win every league division, but we would certainly win any bake-off among the clubs. Thanks for your efforts ladies!

I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to Mike Curran, the best Director of Tennis one could hope to work for, to Joel for his incredible positivity no matter what, to Laurie the owner of the sweetest pro shop smile in Southwest Florida, and Gerry, the hardest working court maintenance technician around. I’m looking forward to a successful summer and to contributing to an even better season in 2009 – 2010!

Gulf Harbour Tennis: Teams, Davis Cup & More

Yes it’s time for another Gulf Harbour Tennis update. Who would think that there was anything more to report! Well, that’s the way it goes when things are hopping, and they still are at your tennis courts.

Last week’s and this week’s headliners are Gulf Harbour’s “Golden Ladies” in the LCWTL Gold Division. They swept their competition last week to remain in first place in their division with one match left. This last match is going to be a big one, since it will decide whether the ladies are truly golden or simply silver. Either position would be a terrific accomplishment, but our ladies will only be happy with gold. The match is at home on Friday, April 3, so come on out to cheer them on to victory.

Our 4.0 women are also battling to finish in the top-five, and they have one last effort at home on Thursday April 2. They are four points behind the current No.5 team and are playing the team in last position. Del Tura, the fifth-place team plays the team in third position, so our 4.0 ladies have a solid opportunity to close out the season among the top five teams.

Both the Silver Belles and the Silver Strings swept their matches at home last week in the 50-Plus Silver Division, and both finished among the top-five teams at season’s end. The Silver Belles finished in third, only four points behind the second place team. The Silver Strings claimed the fifth spot and improved upon last year’s seventh-place finish and 190-point total by two spots and 108 points, respectively. Both teams had excellent seasons!

The men’s 70-Plus League’s 69-ers also finished up last week, and they won three-of-four matches to finish in third place. We will be reporting on all of our teams next week after all teams matches have concluded.

It is “Ladies Luncheon” time in Southwest Florida. That means your tennis pros get to experience a smorgasbord of delights (no, not the women, the food) at the team luncheons that punctuate the Lee County Women’s tennis League season. Ok, ok, it is pretty delightful sitting at a table with several attractive, witty women while you eat a complimentary lunch. Don’t be to upset at us for enjoying these excursions.

Once such was all three pros attending the 3.0 luncheon with the Raquettes and Double Trouble last week. The food and the company were certainly worthy of the time we spent sharing the moment, as Double Trouble was presented with their second-place plaque. The Raquettes just barely missed third, losing their playoff match. It was a very successful season for our 3.0 ladies!

Gulf Harbour’s Annual Davis Cup event is only a few days away, and the teams are pretty much all set. Instead of eight teams of eight players, there will be six teams of eight players. Matches will begin Friday afternoon at 2pm, and Saturday’s matches will begin at 10am. The final of the Davis Cup will be at 12pm. Refreshments will be served for the participants.

Speaking of refreshments, the Annual Tennis Celebration Banquet is also this coming weekend, Saturday evening, 6pm at Johnny Brown's to be exact.

Men’s Intramurals also got underway last week, with Captain Eddie Dance’s Ball Busters leading the way after the first round of play with 21 points. Bill Crouch’s When in Doubt, Out team is in second with 14 points, Don Pitts’ The Great ZaZus are third with seven points, and Jim Masiello’s Team Viagra crumbled under heavy performance anxiety and finished Week 1 with zero points (ouch!).

The team is thinking of changing its name to “Team Cialis” in hopes of a stronger performance in Week 2. Asked about his team’s lack of vigor, Captain Masiello responded, “I’ve talked to the guys, and I think we should be able to get it up next week.”

At the close of the Fort Myers Key Private Bank Pro League, Mike and T.A.’s team, Johnny Malloy’s, finished as the official winner of the 2009 season. Although League Commissioner, Jim Katterfield, hasn’t yet released the final tallies, he did confirm the order in which the teams finished. Joel’s team, Team Ritzman, finished second, Team Fraser/Dooley finished third, and Team Andreae finished in fourth place.

T.A. and Joel are both still battling in the 6.0 Ultimate Tennis League, although T. A. has been toppled from the top spot he held for the majority of the season. T.A. lost to Jared Kalpin, the two-time defending champion, 6-7, 5-7 this past Saturday. Joel is in third place with two weeks left in the spring season.

Well that's about it for this particular update. Stay tuned for next week's season wrap-up. Game, set, match...

Welcome to Gulf Harbour's Tennis Blog!

Hello Fellow Tennis Lover,

How about that! A blog created just for you. We think it might be easier to post pictures and do a few more things here than we can at the Gulf Harbour website, so if you enjoy getting our updates, here's the place to get them...at least until we determine it isn't the best place to get them.

Here's where you will find out "the rest of the story" with what's going on with Gulf Harbour teams, events, and such. You might also find a little story here and there, maybe a poem once in a while, and just some fun stuff to keep our tennis community smiling. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts and opinions about anything you read here by posting your comments.

Game, set, match...

T. A.