Gulf Harbour Tennis Season Underway

Tennis Boot Camp Sizzles

The sizzling summer heat did not dissuade our hardy Gulf Harbour tennis nuts…uh, I mean tennis lovers from swatting the yellow orb across the net during our annual Tennis Boot Camp. Although the temps were in the mid-nineties all four days of the event, even our most, uhm, “experienced” tennis members, Pat and Bernie Nolan, endured wilting weather to the scorching end. Major kudos to all who braved the mid-day inferno!

Tennis Pros from local clubs such as Scotty Harrington of Legends, Shawn Hedrick of Cascades, and Terry See of The Landings (among others) joined your tennis staff to fling plenty of fuzzy felt at the diehards who came to prepare for their team’s season, or just to enjoy the workout in the sun. The feedback I received suggested that the vast majority of the attendees felt their attendance was well worth their while. 

Halloween Tennis Around the Corner

If you like costumes as well as tennis, then your favorite event is next on the tennis menu. Consumate event organizer Tim Baldwin has the reins on this one, so it's guaranteed fun. This is the one event wear looking good trumps playing well. Some may argue good looks trump good play any day, and unless there's high finances involved in winning, I might have to agree.

But I've digressed haven't I? The essence of Halloween tennis is that you get weirdly dressed in some outfit that allows you to play at least a little tennis.

LCWTL Teams off and Running

Gulf Harbour’s women’s Lee County Women’s Tennis League (LCWTL) teams are off to a good start, with the 50-Plus Bronze and 50-Plus Silver Belles winning their opening matches this week. Our USTA Mixed Doubles team takes to the courts for the first time on Saturday, October 24, at 12:00pm at home, and our men’s teams won’t begin play until November, and their schedules will be posted as well as they become available. Don’t forget that you can review team information on the Club Website’s tennis pages under the Tennis Teams and Leagues link.

Men's Singles Ladders
We hope that getting off to good starts is contagious at Gulf Harbour, because our Men’s Singles Ladders officially begin play this week. Although we have lost a few warriors to injury for the Fall Season, we still have 18 players registered for the two initial ladders. Singles ladder play offers excellent opportunities for players to improve their singles skills prior to participating in the Club Championships in the spring, and is a terrific source of cardiovascular exercise. Read more about the ladders here and click click on the following respective to actually see ladder participants, latest results, etc.: Group B, Group A.

USTA Junior Team Tennis

In case you haven’t heard, our junior players have become more active competitively, and Joel has taken on the responsibility of managing our USTA Junior Team Tennis (JTT) team. Thus far the teams have played twice and in our most recent match on 10/10, Max Margolin won three matches (1 singles, two doubles) to help our 18-and-under team (all but one player is 14-and-under) to a 7-5 victory over Punta Gorda. Jacob Glasser also contributed to the team victory with a doubles win. The team holds a 1-1 record at this writing.

Our 12-and-under team is also 1-1 having posted an opening day victory against Rutenberg before losing last Saturday against Lee County, the top team in the League. Every player on our team contributed in the team victory against Rutenberg, with Cameron Sadighi providing three points; Simon Negin, Isabel Leigh, and Eve Bailey contributing two points each; and Danny Glasser and Jared Fleishman adding one point each. All matches are played on Saturday afternoons at Rutenberg Park, beginning at 12:30pm.

USPTA Pro League
The USPTA Pro League, title-sponsored by Ritzman Tennis, Gulf Harbour’s primary court maintenance company, will begin play on Friday the 23rd at Legends. This year all three of your tennis pros are on different teams, so there will be two disappointed tennis pros at Gulf Harbour at season’s end. You can read about the Pro League, including a review of the team rosters and schedule by clicking here.

Don't forget to give your opinion by checking one of the boxes below. Feedback is always good! Game, set, match...

Pre Season Tennis Update

Tennis Boot Camp

The season is just around the corner, and it will be ushered in by the annual Tennis Boot Camp that begins Monday, October 5. As it stands, the numbers are down slightly from last season, so that should be great for the players who do attend. The pro-to-player ratio should be quite favorable. Remember, if you haven't already taken care of your Boot Camp bill, the cost for all four days is $140.00 or can pay daily for $40 per day. Payment is to be made by check (payable to Mike Curran) or in cash.

Gulf Harbour Teams

Ladies Team matches (LCWTL) also begin next week, with the 50-Plus Silver Belles making the first home stand at 11:00am on Friday, October 9. Monnie Kane has assumed leadership of the Silver Belles, who finished third in their division last season under Ann Tate’s direction, and is looking to improve on that stellar performance. Team home match schedules will be posted online and on the bulletin board in the near future. Don’t forget that you can check the court sheets online now to see what’s happening on any given day.

Online Systems

Speaking of online, our court reservation system has experienced another upgrade, which allows you to book multiple courts without coming out of the booking window each time. There are still some bugs to be worked out with the Multiple Court Booking feature, and we will continue working with the developers to iron those out. When the feature is ready for unveiling, we will announce it.

Online event sign-ups appear to be catching on as more and more members are signing up for Saturday Round Robins through the online system. Gulf Harbour actually could be charging headlong into the 21st century…and we’re still only in the first decade. How about that! If you would like to attend a training session for the online court reservation system, please email us at tennis@gulfharbour.com. We will schedule training sessions if there is sufficient interest.

Your Pros: USPTA World Conference

All three of your tennis pros attended at least a portion of the USPTA World Conference in Marco Island last week. Only one of them was unrealistic enough to actually play in the competition. You can probably guess who that is. Despite not having played competitively and almost not at all for the past five months, I decided to give it a go anyway.

I was quite pleased with my level of play given the circumstances, and gave the eventual finalist a run for his money, losing 4-6 in the third. Truth be told, I was barely hanging on for dear life by the third or fourth game of the second set. Novak Djokovic would have quit, but how could I quit while representing Gulf Harbour? I did win the consolation event, 6-0, 6-2, but even then the tank was getting perilously close to empty in the second set.

Although Mike passed on the “real” competition, he took to the beach for his maiden voyage in beach tennis. Guess what? He and Jason Gilbert of Aventura, FL won a tight 7-5 set in the final match to clinch the USPTA World Beach Tennis title for Team Florida. Sorry, only the one pic from Mike's wife Tara. I was in session at the time. I know, I know, what’s the matter with me, going to a session when all that fun was to be had?

Your Pros: Pro League

You may not have caught that action, but there is plenty of excitement just around the corner…and you can catch all of that! The Fort Myers USPTA Pro League which has been a popular attraction during season is gearing up for the 2009 – 2010 campaign. An influx of new players with professional tour experience should enhance the quality of play and the level of competition. Maybe that means that Mike Curran’s team won’t win for the 5th consecutive time. I wouldn’t place any bets on that though. Curran just has this way of winning things.

Results of the Pro League Draft (where players are selected for teams) and the schedule also will be posted online and on the bulletin board in the very near future, so stay tuned! Players this season will include a former match winner at the French Open (yes, THAT French Open, Roland Garros red), and another who was playing on the ATP Challenge Tour just last year. According to Jared Kalpin, Director of Tennis and Fitness at Grandezza, “This is the strongest Pro League field I’ve ever seen.”

Facility Improvements

With the growing popularity of the Pro League, we are likely to have a substantial crowd when the competition comes to Gulf Harbour on Friday, November 6. Fortunately, our guests will be treated to a facility that has been significantly upgraded since last year’s event.

The courts are in great shape after a recent resurfacing; the landscaping adjacent to court two is entirely different; the view behind court one is vastly improved; the walkway between courts six and seven will soon be re-engineered to mitigate the wading pool that has traditionally occupied that area, the…well, I could go on, but you’ll just have to see for yourself. The Board has really been superbly supportive of our efforts to enhance the tennis venue, and Jerry Jimenez has been outstanding in maintaining the courts and the adjacent areas.

Men's Singles Ladders

A new piece has been added to the Gulf Harbour tennis puzzle: Two Men's Singles Ladders comprised of players of two levels (A Group & B Group) will take to the courts primarily on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6:30pm - 8:30pm.  Play begins officially on Thursday, October 15, and prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers of each ladder, for each of the two planned seasons. There are a spot spots open on the ladder so email me if you are interested in participating. If you are interested in reviewing the guidelines for the ladders, click here.

If you aren't excited about the new tennis season yet, I suggest you come on over to the Tennis, Fitness and Spa Center and see all the good things that are going on here. After you've taxed your body during Boot Camp on Monday, come inside and and experience the new staff and equipment in the revamped Spa. Yep, ya'll come on over...we'll leave the light on fer ya...sunlight that is :). Game, set, match....

Tennis: A Labor of Love on Labor Day

The sun came up on the 8:00am US Open-themed Labor Day event with three participants going down before a single point was played. Sandi Hill was sidelined with a broken toe, Gabe Gebara’s back laid him low and wife Sandy just wouldn’t go without him.

Nevertheless, the show went on. Event organizers, Diane and Wennie Johannes, and your ever-willing tennis pros swung in to fill the vast voids created by the “missing-without-action.” With the inclusion of the “Poker-chip Rule,” and valuable prizes awaiting chip possessors at event’s end, the competition was furious…not really, but I’ve gotta write something; don’t I?

Anyway, participants received red, white, and blue poker chips (in honor of the US Open) that they were allowed to give to opponents in order to take a “do-over” or “Mulligan” on any point. The chips were extremely valuable because they were eventually redeemed for Gulf Harbour gift cards ($20), and autographs from our local celebrity Randy Thomas-Wohl (priceless)…ok, ok, so there were no Thomas-Wohl autographs, but bragging rights were dispensed, and those truly are priceless.

Although a far cry from the normal sellout, the 19 members who participated in the 8:00am session had a good time, and we have pictures to prove it (Click here for proof). The big winners of the 8:00am session were Carol Shapiro (16) and Chuck Klucka (20) for “most games won;” Rick Fox for “most chips won” (14), and Ed Bonkowski and Judy Wilson for “lucky number draw.”

By 10:00am the sun had climbed high and hot over Gulf Harbour’s sky. Participants for the second session of the day rolled in wide awake and unaware of the twist Lady Di and Queen Wennie had in store for them. Given the number of upsets at the US Open in the Big Apple, and the inclusion of the “Poker chip Rule,” I chose not to bet on any of the pre-match favorites.
Although there are several stories about the competition that could lead the way here, the headline has to be the return of Linda Gardiner, and as a result, Bryan Schwartz, to the courts after a protracted absence due to illness. We welcome Linda and must also extend warm welcomes to Amber Anderson and Bill Harwin, both of whom were playing in their maiden tennis event…and they did quite well I might add.
Back to the competition…Prior to making the pairing for the third round of the second session, the Tennis Department and event organizers consulted with the Club’s legal team, to be certain we would not be liable for any damages. We were assured that we had comprehensive liability coverage (in the millions of dollars) against bodily harm, relationship dissolution, alimony and palimony, so we could go ahead and have a couples round.

Some of the very competitive matches included the Rolleros (Jim & Carol) against the Hyndens (Jim and Mary Jo), with each couple winning three games before the ending whistle. One of the hotly contested matches was the Canfields (Alan Jr. and Lili) versus the DeLeeuws (Paul and Martha). In more than 30 minutes of play, the scoring finished at 2 – 1 for the Canfields. Every other contest during that round totaled at least six games, twice as many as the Canfield-DeLeeuw affair. Must have been a battle!

As for who took home the prizes in the 10:00am group, Charlie Beagan (21) and Joy Jones (15) took the “most games won prize;” Meg Jacobs (21) took honors for “most chips won;” and Manny Lima and Lili Canfield won the “lucky number draw.” But these events are more about having a good time playing the game we love and interacting with your tennis neighbors, and with that in mind, all 51 participants were winners.

Next up for Gulf Harbour Tennis is the annual Boot Camp, a four day event that allows participants to receive instruction from several area tennis professionals. There are still some openings, so logon to the Club website, select October 4 – 8 on the Club Calendar and register for some fun instruction.

August Tennis Update

It's that time again fellow tennis lovers. What's going on with Gulf Harbour tennis? Although we aren't nearly as busy as we will be in a matter of weeks, we have not exactly been a ghost town either. We have had at least six courts for just about every round robin this summer, and we actually had 11 women show up for the 3.0 clinic yesterday! A pleasant surprise that was. So what's next on the agenda?

Upcoming Events
The Labor Day Tennis Event on Monday September 7, hosted by Wennie and Diane Johannes, is right around the corner and players are registering online and on the sign-up sheet adjacent to Court 1. You can register for the 8am and/or the 10am session by clicking the links above or going to the Club Calendar and going to that date (Remember, you have to log on to get to the Club Calendar. See Maria upstairs for login info).

If fewer players than anticipated register, there will be only one session from 9:00am – 11:00am. After we’ve stoked our thirsts and whetted our appetites, we’ll be moseying on over to the pool party for food, fun and fizzy beverages. Live music will contribute to the festive mood, so plan for some relaxing recreation that won’t be too labor intensive.

Although it is still a few weeks off, Gulf Harbour’s Tennis Boot Camp, held October 5 -9, will be upon us before we know it. To date we are at more than half of capacity for three of the four days. We anticipate a full house and some very dynamic tennis professionals, so if you haven’t made your reservation yet, now might be a good time to do so. We’d hate to have all that fun without you. Remember that you have to register for each day that you plan to participate.

For the men who like to run a little, a singles group is taking shape. First meeting of the group is scheduled for this coming Thursday, September 3, at 6:30pm. We are forming an organized group who will play singles matches at least once per week with something on the line. Gets the competitive juices flowing...but strictly in a fun sort of way. Right boys? Email me (taniles@gulfharbour.com) for more information.

Facilities
The efforts of our Director, Mike Curran, our Tennis Committee Chair, Bob Ostrom, our GM, Rick Newman, and members of the facilities committee finally came to fruition this week. The fruit is in the form of the brand new Tread Blaster adjacent to Court 1. That makes for a much easier…and cleaner path into the Fitness Center.

And the improvements continue. Finally we will be eliminating the seasonal rapids, uh, I mean standing water between Courts 6 & 7. You will be happy to see the wettest of issues dried up by the beginning of season. Members will no longer need galoshes to access the area between those courts.

If I can take the word of the members who have commented to me about it, and I don’t see why I shouldn’t, the courts look as good as they have ever looked! Jerry Jimenez has been an invaluable addition to the Gulf Harbour tennis staff, and please don’t hesitate to offer him a pat on the back when you see him…and you will see him, which is very refreshing.

Electronic Program Enhancements
Continuing the efforts to keep our club striding into the electronic age, there is a computer in the fitness center lobby that will allow you to make your reservations online if you don’t have a computer at home. I know that absolutely makes your day; doesn’t it?

Speaking of online reservations, NetCaddy, (the name of the online system) will be launched officially on September 1. We will be offering mini workshops for those who need help beyond the online tutorials and the written instructions we will be providing.

Another note of interest for those who have been utilizing online reservations for our events, you are now able to sign-up for Saturday Round Robins online as well. Just go to the Club Calendar and click on the link for the round robin and complete the registration process.

You will be able to register one week in advance to maintain fair sign-up practices. Yes, there are still some members who prefer the paper and pencil method, and we can’t leave them out in the cold…or the heat if we’re talking this time of year.

New Tennis Members
Speaking of “welcome,” I’m sure you will join me in welcoming a few new tennis members who will be swinging racquets with us this season. They include, but may not be limited to:

• Fred & Donna Giovanniello

• Judy Wilson

• Brian & Sunni Hammermeister

• Eric & Theresa Sterman

• John & Stacey Cleveland
• William (Butch) & Laura Shorack

The Hammermeisters and Shoracks are related to our celebrated Billy McGehee, and good tennis just seems to run in that family. From what I have seen of Judy and Donna, their games should contribute considerably to the tennis playing community. Not having seen the games of our other newcomers, I cannot comment about their play, but they too are welcome additions to the Gulf Harbour tennis family.

Gulf Harbour Teams
Our Lee County Women’s Tennis League (LCWTL) teams begin play on October 12, and, as usual, we encourage attendance at home matches. We had a very successful 2008 - 2009 season, with two LCWTL division winners (Norma Schuyler’s 50+ Gold & Diane Russ’ 3.5- Drop Shots) and one USTA team (Ron Graham’s Men’s 7.0) representing Florida at Nationals. Click here for more on last season’s successes.

Check out our Tennis Teams & Leagues page on the club website for additional information as the season progresses. We should have more on the men’s teams in our next update.

Juniors
USTA Junior Team Tennis is gearing up for the fall 2009 season, and our juniors and their parents are really looking forward to it. Despite the trials and tribulations of an inaugural season, our players represented us well and had a fun learning experience while doing so. Click here for more on our first JTT season.

In an act of generosity, cleverly disguised as marketing, one of our parents, Geoff Negin, secured a sizeable donation to the team from his company, Florida Radiology Consultants. Matches will be played on Saturday afternoons at Rutenberg Park, and spectators are welcome.

Well, I am sure that there is more going on in Gulf Harbour tennis, but that’s all I’ve got for you for now. Don’t forget to check back here and on our tennis pages at the Club website for future updates and information about Gulf Harbour tennis. Until next…game, set, match…..

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...