Unbelievable Action in Club Championships Singles

I can’t help but start this blog with “WOW!” The strokes may not be what some would consider “classic,” but there have been some classic matches played on Gulf Harbour’s tennis courts over the past few days.

Bill Wright's Forehand Grip Backhand

On Wednesday night it was a tremendous contest of wills and skills between Chuck Klucka and Bill Wright in the All Aces Division. I missed the first set, but uncharacteristically, Bill won it (6-3)! Given Bill’s track record, I wish someone had been giving odds on the second set, cuz I would have bet the farm on Chuck!

Chuck Klucka Prepares to Whip a Forehand

Sho nuff, Chuck stormed back to claim the second set (6-2), looking as though he, the favorite in the matchup, had hit his stride and would take no prisoners for the remainder of the match.


The Crowd Enjoys Match Despite Chilly Temps

The first game of the third set appeared to confirm the above, as Chuck went up 1-0. It wasn’t looking too good for Bill, but as he has done at least a few times before, he came up with the “Wright” answer: “Not Yet!” Chuck seemed to relax for a moment and before the chilled crowd could say “D&*^* it’s cold!” Bill had reeled of six consecutive games to pull off the upset, storming (as only he can) into the semis and the challenge of his tennis life. He’ll face Chip Graddy this morning at 9am.

As good as the Wright-Klucka match was, it was just a portent of things to come. On Thursday afternoon, Laurie Watson (who had the nerve to register the Court Crashers Division…yep we moved her up to Ball Bashers :)) took the court against last year’s Ball Bashers finalist Martha DeLeeuw.


Anna Pitts Battles Angela Mitrisin

 Those familiar with Martha’s game knew to bring a lunch, and they needed it before this one was over. Things appeared to be progressing as expected in the first set with Martha claiming it (6-3) despite solid resistance from Laurie. But there’s no quit in Laurie Watson! She turned the tables and took the second set convincingly (6-2). The action was just heating up.

Back and forth they dueled, with Martha slowing things down considerably. One of Martha’s strengths, her mobility, was unfortunately compromised by leg cramps. As sweet as Laurie is on and off the court, she showed no mercy, and kept the pressure on until the two were tied at 5-5 in the third. To the dismay of the crowd, which was anticipating a third-set tiebreak, Martha’s legs suggested she call it quits. She listened, and almost three hours after they began, Laurie had posted the second big upset in two days.

One would think the Wright family had provided us with enough entertainment for one tournament, but Ann Wright and Carol Carr lit up the night and the crowd the following evening in a Ball Bashers battle. I have watched and played in many a singles match, but seldom have I experienced such thrills while watching a match, and never while watching a club event.

This match had it all: Uncommon displays of sportsmanship, ebbs and flows of momentum, all out effort, and a surprising utilization of strategy and tactics. If all of the above wasn’t enough, superb shot-making saturated the contest.

The pressure was all on Carol as she was the favorite on paper. But again, no one who knows Ann, even a tad, would hesitate to put too much on the favorite in this one. The crowd murmured through the mounting tension of the first set, as Ann edged Carol in a tiebreak to claim it. Could it be? Could Ann pull this off in only her second singles event ever? It looked like a distinct possibility.

Ah, but if you know Carol Carr, just a smidgen, you wouldn’t be breaking out the champaign just yet if you were in the Wright camp. Back and forth they went, fighting fiercely through every single point, drawing myriad, well-deserved “ooooos” and “ahhhs” from the crowd. At the end of the second set, Carol had fought her way back to square one (6-4). Bathroom break for Ann while Carol paced the arena…

The third set got underway and these incredible ladies battled on into the night, back and forth, shot for shot, sprinting, advancing, retreating, and midway through the final set, neither had given an inch! Ah, but someone had to finish on the darker side of this moon, and with Carol's crucial break and determined hold, that someone was Ann.

Carol had held it together, had refused to crumble under the pressure of being the favorite, hadn’t given in to Ann’s relentless retrieving and stellar play. The hard-earned victory after 2 ½ hours and the amazing play of both players drew the first standing ovation I have seen at Gulf Harbour (I think Don Pitts and Rich Buckingham drew the first jumping ovation the day before in team play though).

Wow! What a tremendous few days of tennis our members have provided! The matches featured above were just the highlights. Other matches included Dave Weber taking down Maxwell Thompson, who is 30 years (that’s three whole decades) his junior, in straight sets (6-3, 6-4). Oh, and it’s only few weeks post knee surgery for Dave. He'll face former All Aces Champion Geoff Negin next.

Other results include Angela Mitrisin moseying past the very game Anna Pitts in straight sets (6-3, 6-1); Mondé Breton claiming a three-set victory over the talented Jan Carlson (4-6, 6-2, 6-1); Tom VanWyk, a few weeks post hospital stay for a blood clot in his leg, posting a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Preston Clark who is just about fully recovered from shoulder issues; and Don Pitts notching a surprising triumph over Eric Vettergren (6-3, 6-0).

We have some really intriguing matchups today, so if you like this game and enjoy being a part of Gulf Harbour tennis, you might want to take a stroll, a drive, a ride (or however you get around) down to the courts today to catch the action. Go to the Tennis Page of our Club website if you are interested in viewing the draws and today’s match times.

Until the next installment, game, set, match...

Club Championships & Much More

Club Championship Singles
And so the Singles Championships are underway. Early matches include Laurie Watson, Captain of our Power Shots 3.5-Minus team, posting a 6-2, 6-4 victory of Liz Byck, who captains our 3.5-Minus Sure Shots team, which is in first place in its division.

In the first thriller of the event, April Burkholder, who recently announced victory in her battle with cancer, couldn’t quite pull out the victory against the gritty Anna Pitts, who faced set game in both sets. Anna eventually won 7-6, 7-5, but April is truly a winner to perform as she did after what she has been through recently.

Other first round results include Terry and Jan Carlson both winning in straight sets. Given that Terry only started playing tennis a few months ago, and got out of a cast on his foot a couple of weeks ago, his straight-set victory over Bill Otey was an accomplishment. Of course, Bill also is recovering from recent surgery on his leg, and was having some back issues, but showed his champion's spirit and played anyway. Jan dispatched the very game Lori Frantz who was playing singles for just the second time.

Zoe Bradley, another member who showed her tremendous heart and love for the game, gave it all she had despite very distressed knees against the incredibly quick and determined Ann Wright. The word mercy is not in Ann’s vocabulary, and despite Zoe’s valiant effort, it is Ann who is moving on to face Carol Carr in the quarterfinals.

The men swing into action tonight (Wednesday, 6:30pm) with Bill Wright facing Chuck Klucka in the Men’s Ball Bashers Division. Bill is stepping up into the top division this season even though he failed defend his Ball Bashers title of two seasons ago. He faces a tough test against Chuck’s skill and experience, but if you know Bill, you know better than to count him out despite his underdog status. Stay tuned for more results and we hope you can make the semis and finals this weekend.

Club Championship Doubles
If you didn’t get into the singles, you may want to get into the doubles event which will be held February 4 – 6. Registration opens this Friday the 14th, so get yourself a partner and sign up. You can register online or on the bulletin board adjacent to Court 1. Last I heard, Defending All Aces Ladies Champion, Jemin Martinsen, was still without a partner. I’m thinking about shaving, a wig, and a short skirt. I wouldn’t mind riding those coattails (wink).

USPTA Pro League
In preparation for the Double Championships, watching your pros play at Heritage Palms this coming Friday the 14th, in the first Pro League of the New Year, should provide plenty of opportunity to absorb some dos and don’ts of competitive doubles. It is a pretty close race thus far this season, with only a few points separating the top three teams. Mike and I play at 4pm this time around, and if you really want a show, Joel plays at 5:30pm.

Memorial Foundation
Two weeks after the Doubles Championship, the tennis community will once again do its part to contribute to the worthy Memorial Foundation cause. Last year our tennis members raised over $17, 000.00 for the charity, and although it may be too much to ask to meet or exceed that tally, we plan to give it the ole college try.

The event was very well attended last time around with members participating in Tag Team Tennis, Blind Draw Round Robin, Fast Serve and Target tennis contests, raffles, auctions, and they also sampled the bake sale goodies provided by our expert bakers. Your pros can attest to the baking skills of our tennis members, as Amy Ciarrocchi and Meg Jacobs, and Inge Lorenz do their level best to make us fat with their delicious offerings all too often (Thanks ladies!).

The bottom line is that the Memorial Foundation Tennis event spearheaded by Lili Canfield, Connie Hess, with strong support from Tim Baldwin and others, is one of the more important events on the tennis calendar. It is a ton of fun and it contributes even more to the local community. Put Sunday, February 20th on your calendar, and prepare to spend the morning having a great time with your friends and tennis family.

Members Corner
Speaking of our tennis family, it has been a tremendous pleasure to see Norma Schuyler back out on the tennis court! Hopefully Norma’s tennis game will soon be looking as good as she does (wink).

In addition to welcoming back some much missed friends, we have some new additions to the family. Pam Duncan (Memphis, Tennessee) has come into the fold, and Amy Ciarrocchi gracefully made room for the talented newcomer on the 4.0 team. Pam should really help the team. We are hoping that Amy makes a speedy recovery from shoulder surgery, because she has been sorely missed around the courts.

Lisa Murn (Waukesha, Wisconsin) is another very talented player who recently joined the tennis community. After hitting with her yesterday, I can assure you that she will fit right in amongst the top women at Gulf Harbour. If she’s around next season, I would expect her to pose a serious threat to capture at least one event in the Club Championships.

Well that’s about it for this edition of your Gulf Harbour Tennis Blog. I’ll be back with you soon with more on the Club Championships. Game, set, match….

Gulf Harbour Tennis Heats Up

It hasn’t been very long since you last heard from me, so what’s new? Welllllll, two ball machines for starters. The first arrived on January 5th and another should be here shortly. Hopefully the ball machine experience will be more pleasant for those who use it frequently (Penny Lownes & Erik Vettergren just let out big “Yeeeaaaaas!” in unison).

If you haven’t spent much time (not to mention money :)) in the pro shop, you may not have met Ajla (pronounced I-la) Memic who is a terrific part time addition to our staff. Ajla recently graduated from FGCU and will be taking her GREs this coming Monday in preparation for grad school. Don’t hesitate to stop by and wish her luck or congratulations. And I know I don’t have to tell you, but of course Laurie has new goodies in the pro shop for you.

In addition to the many changes you have seen in the facility this season, if you take a look over the bleachers adjacent to court one you will notice that there is a new canopy up above, and examination of some of the others will reveal additional upgrades.

Singles Championships Begin Monday
Thirty-nine players have registered for the Club Championships Singles event which begins Monday the 10th. There is still a little time for some last minute entries, so if you are still thinking about it, you have until noon today (Friday the 7th). Draws for the event will be posted online and on the bulletin board on Saturday the 8th as soon as we can get the draws completed.

There is some new talent in a few of the flights, so the event should be interesting. It will certainly be warmer if the meteorologists are on their “A” games. Keep an eye on the reservation sheets for match times and you don’t want to miss the semis and finals next weekend.

Big Blue-A Battle

And now, what everyone has been waiting for: the report on the anticipated battle between our two men’s Blue-A teams. You’ve heard that bit about ties in sports being like kissing your sister, right? Well, our Blue-A brethren teams were exchanging sibling smooches after the big match on Tuesday. Due to sad and unfortunate circumstances Captain Jim Masiello was not present to see his team tied by Captain Tony Cupaiuolo’s gritty bunch.

On paper, it appeared as though Jim’s team could sweep all four courts…at least that was he word from some who will remain unmentioned…not even their initials (ok Bryan?). In any event, Jim Rollero and Frank Kaplan remained undefeated despite taking on the talented and previously undefeated duo of Bryan Schwartz and Manny Lima. In all fairness, the report is that Manny got off his deathbed to cross swords with the vaunted Rollero-Kaplan duo.

On Court 2, in Captain Tony’s own words, “…Bill Crouch and Charlie Beagan came close to pulling off an incredible comeback against two of GH's best in John Vaughan and George Olsen. After losing a first set tie-breaker, Bill and Charlie took the match to three sets.”

Almost as surprising as the Court 1 triumph for Team Cupaiuolo, was the Court 4 victory posted by Bill Merriam and Jim Price, who went three sets in beating two wily court veterans Terry Brady and Bill Otey. Terry admitted that his was nowhere close in the alphabet to his “A” game, but credit Bill and Jim for taking advantage of that fact.

Court 3 was shaping up to be another stimulating struggle before Don Mattcheck had to retire after he and Tony had barely lost a squeaker first set in a tiebreak to Ron Graham and Tom Van Wyk. Don, you have permission to slap anyone who talks about getting better with age (wink).

Despite the injuries, upsets and trash-talk (or maybe in addition to) Cap’n Tony reports that there were laughs, lots of fun, and great camaraderie. Hopefully the same will be present when the teams face off again later this season, and when our two 3.5-Minus ladies teams take the court against each other. It was certainly there when our 3.0 Double Trouble faced our 3.0 Raquettes earlier this season. I’ll be sure to give you a heads up when the time comes for the 3.5-Minus matchup. Chances are, a division title will be in the balance.

Well, that’s about it for this installment of your Gulf Harbour Blog. Before closing, I must say that there was a Norma Schuyler sighting a couple days ago, and although I haven’t seen her up close and personal, she looks great! I can’t wait for the real welcome back Norma. Glad you’re back! Oh, almost forgot. New Years Day pictures are now available on the Club website in the Photo Gallery, and the Memorial Foundation Tennis Event has been moved to Sunday, February 20th. More on that later. Until next, game, set, match…..

Happy New Year to Gulf Harbour Tennis!

While many were ringing in the New Year, Gulf Harbour’s tennis members brought in 2011 with a bang…and if you were at our New Year Tennis Celebration, you know I mean a BANG! The 64 tennis members who came together to start another terrific year of Gulf Harbour tennis were treated to fun tennis, terrific camaraderie, a magnificent smorgasbord, refreshing mimosas and the unparalleled Meg Jacobs Bloody Mary. It was especially good to see April Burkholder (who is now cancer-free) and Bob Ostrom (also well ahead in his battle with cancer) swinging racquets with their tennis friends.

Despite the usual last minute cancellations, eight teams of eight players each competed against each other for the right to hold the distinction of “First Champions of 2011.” After the cannon booms had faded, lingering slightly longer than the noise of Bill Wright’s failed attempts to blow Alan Canfield Jr. off the court, the team consisting of Arnie Wohl, Lili Canfield, Tony Cupaiuolo, Ann Wright, Tom Van Wyk, Sheri Krzak, Chuck Tebbetts, and Karen Ort took home the honors.

Big Match on Tuesday the 4th
Tony is hoping that the New Years Day win carries over to the big match his men’s Blue-A team has coming up this Tuesday, 2:00 P.M. at home against our other Blue-A team led by Jim Masiello. Our condolences to Jim who had to leave to attend services for his deceased cousin, and we hope his absence put too much of a damper on a match that we have all been looking forward to for some time. I hear the wagering is quite intense and the competition is likely to be as well, as the teams are tied for second place in the division. I hope someone records it, because I’ll be on court. You, however, should not miss the happening if at all possible.

April Burkholder

Maxwell Thompson

Club Championship Singles
While the men of Blue will be flexing their intensely competitive tennis muscles this week, next week in competition that we hope we will less intense the bravest of our tennis members will be taking to the courts to compete in our Club Championship Singles event. As of last look, only 30 members had made the commitment to get our Club Championships off to the kind of start representative of the awesome participation we have had at Gulf Harbour.

In case you are on the fence about whether or not to play, we’re hoping you’ll remember that you’d be playing against players of similar ability and are likely to have a maximum of four matches over the course of a week. You’ll also be able to play at your convenience through the semifinal round, and, gosh darn it, I bet you’d have a good time doing it! You can sign up for the division you would like to play online or on the bulletin board adjacent to Court 1.

More Home Matches
In addition to the second place standings of our two Blue-A teams, our men’s Red-C and White-B teams are in first place in their divisions. John Hess’ division-leading White-B team will be at home Monday (tomorrow), playing against Pelican Landing at 2:00 P.M. and I know they would love your support.

We also have another division-leading team playing a home match this week, but this team is one of our Lee County Women’s Tennis League (LCWTL) teams. The 3.5-Minus Sure Shots will be taking on the Lexington Love Bugs at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday the 5th, as they try to maintain their division lead. Their sister team, the Power Shots, will also be in action at home on Wednesday. Our final division-leading team, our men’s Red-C, will take to our home courts on Thursday the 6th against Beachview.

Gratitude
Before 2010 fades into the recesses of my deteriorating memory, I’d like to thank the terrific members of Gulf Harbour’s tennis community for another outstanding year, and for being so generous in spirit and deed! You really make this a delightful place to come each and every day. Happy New Year and let’s continue to make Gulf Harbour one of the best places to play tennis in Southwest Florida! Game, set, match….

Out With The Old, In With The New...Year

Hello Boys and Girls. Are you being naughty or nice? Do I sound like Santa? Sorry, just having a little holiday season fun…

Speaking of holiday season, New Year’s Day is the next tennis event on the calendar and you can register for that by clicking here and logging onto the Club website. As usual the dynamic celebrity couple of Arnie and Randy Wohl will host the event. I can’t think of a better way to kick off the new tennis year than with the fun and food fest the Wohls host on New Year’s Day.

Inaugural Open Forum Tennis Meeting

Obviously the New Year’s event is on the first, and just recently we had another first in Gulf Harbour Tennis. The Tennis Advisory Committee and your Director of Tennis, Mike Curran hosted the first Open Forum Tennis Meeting on Wednesday, December 8th, at Johnny Brown’s. From all accounts it was a good meeting, and if you weren’t there you can find out what took place by checking out Harbour Views.

Club Championships

A sure sign that we are moving into the heart of our season is the Club Championships, and the singles component of the Club Championships is just about here, running from Monday, January 10th through Sunday, January 16th. Online and bulletin board registration for the event will begin on Monday, December 20th. I’m hoping that some of you will lose the “singles fear” and come on out for some fun competition. I’m running a special on singles lessons if you’re interested in getting ready for the event (wink).
 
League Teams

Still in the competition vein, most of Gulf Harbour’s Women’s and Men’s league teams are doing quite well in the early going. Leading the way on the ladies side of things is our 3.0 Double Trouble team, led by Sally Mellendorf and Meg Jacobs. Despite losing some ground to the 2nd place team since the last report, Double Trouble still leads the Division by two points. On the upward swing is our Defending Champion 3.0-Minus Dream Team, with new captain Karen Brady and repeat co-captain Darlene Mattcheck at the helm. In third place after three weeks of play, the Dream Team has moved up into 2nd place after week five.

Three additional rated teams are holding top-five positions. Liz Byck and Judy Manzella’s 3.5-Minus Sure Shots have climbed the Division ladder to claim the 4th spot, while the Power Shots, led by Laurie Watson and Linda Van Wyk, have slipped three positions since the last report to 5th in the same division. Showing tremendous heart in some very tough matches, Connie Hess and Pam Lemon’s 4.0-Minus ladies have scrapped their way into 4th place, an improvement of two spots since the last report.

In the senior divisions, Val Steigerwald and Joan Palermo’s 50-Plus Silver Strings are carrying our banner, still holding onto 4th place after eight weeks of play. Also in the senior divisions, Marilyn Meyers and Mary Jean Wampler have led their Bronze Stringers team to 5th place in the very competitive Bronze Division. They are a single point ahead of Gulf Harbour’s Bronze Swingers led by Effie Parker and Paula Tebbetts.

As good as the ladies are doing, the men may be off to an even better start, with two of the six teams in 1st place and another two in 3rd. Our highest division team, Rich Fox and Tim Baldwin’s Red-C, is tied for 1st place the despite moving up a division and playing one less match than the Division Co-Leader. Also sitting atop its division is John Hess’ White B team, posting a 10-2 individual match record in the three team matches played thus far.

Both of Gulf Harbour’s Blue-A teams, one led by Jim Masiello the other by Tony Cupaiuolo, have climbed the ranks after less than stellar beginnings in division play. In 6th place when last reported, Jim’s team has risen to 3rd. That represents a tie with Tony’s team, which has moved up from 4th and is playing in a higher division this season than last. The two teams have a big showdown at home on Tuesday, January 4th at 2:00 P.M. You don’t want to miss that one!

USPTA Pro League
Although my last match hardly looked like a USPTA Pro League match, the dance continues in the Pro League on Friday, December 17th at Lexington Country Club. If you made it to the last match at Fiddlesticks, hopefully you watched Mike and Joel, as opposed to the “skunk tennis” I played. I felt pretty bad for our members in attendance and my partner Patrick during that match, which we lost in two very-easy-for-the-opposition sets. Mike and Scotty pulled off a third-set, super-tiebreak win, while Joel and Chad fell in a super-tiebreak.

Mike’s and my team lost ground last time out, and now trail Joel’s first-place team by three points. Fortunately we have an opportunity to catch the leaders this Friday, as we play Joel’s team…Unfortunately (for me) it is another 5:30 P.M. start. I won’t be too disappointed if you didn’t make this one, but Mike and Joel might, so we’ll look for you at Lexington this Friday at 5:30 P.M.

Member Update
It is my great pleasure to announce that Tom Van Wyk seems to be recovering very well after his short stint at Health Park for a blood clot. Also, Bob Ostrom’s game is as strong as ever (his forehand was actually compared to Mike Curran’s on Friday!), and Bonnie Graham is healthy and playing well enough to pull out a tough three-setter for her team this past week. April Burkholder is hanging tough and so is Norma Schuyler through their battles with cancer. Let’s keep the good vibes coming for those determined members of our tennis family.

Well, I hope you are still getting some tennis in even as you are enjoying the holiday season, and struggling to stay warm. Until next, game, set, match…..

Holiday Season Tennis

I hope everyone had a terrific day of thanks, while eating and drinking far too much. You can bet I did!

Anyway, the next big happening on the list of events in Gulf Harbour Tennis is the Tennis Town Hall Meeting on the Wednesday, December 8, at 2:00 p.m. at Johnny Brown’s. You should be receiving and official invite to that meeting soon, so please keep your eyes peeled and that time on your calendar free.

Prior to that, however, you have another opportunity to witness your pros as they once again put their games on display in the Ritzman Tennis USPTA Pro League. This coming Friday, November 3, at Fiddlesticks Country Club, Joel will be playing at 4:00 p.m., and Mike and I will be doing the same at 5:30 p.m.

Joel’s team seized first place after the last match, while Mike’s and my team fell into second by one point. As always we love seeing you in the audience, so if you would like some pre-dinner entertainment, come on out and show that Gulf Harbour spirit.

On the league team front, we have a great slate of matches at home for you this week. The last Gulf Harbour team to start its season, Terry Brady’s defending champions 69-ers open their title defense campaign at home this coming Wednesday, December 1, at 2:00 p.m.

Prior to the 69-ers taking the court on Wednesday, Sally Mellendorf and Meg Jacob’s Double Trouble, which is one point out of first despite playing one match fewer than the first-place team, will try to take the division lead in a match at home tomorrow (Monday the 29th) at 11:00 a.m.

On Tuesday the 30th, two of our men’s teams take on their opponents at home. Tony Cupaiuolo’s Blue A team (only 2 points behind the division leaders) and Fran Kelly’s Blue D team will play at 2:00 p.m.

On Wednesday, Liz Byck and Becky Marshall’s Sure Shots (who sit in fifth in the 3.5-Minus Division), and Effie Parker and Paula Tebbetts’ 50-Plus Bronze Swingers swing into action at 11:00 a.m.

Thursday’s lineup at 11:00 a.m. includes Karen Brady and Darlene Mattcheck’s 3.0-Minus Division Dream Team, which will be working on their title defense, and Teressa Crocker’s 60-Plus team. On Friday, Norma Schuyler and Carlotta Clark’s 50-Plus Gold team, and the 50-Plus Silver Belles, led by Monnie Kane and Sue Weiss, will take to Gulf Harbour’s courts at 11:00 a.m.

In addition to the tennis, I sure hope you are planning on taking advantage of some of the other terrific offerings the Club has in store for us during the holidays. First up is the Tree Lighting event on Wednesday the 1st, but there is a waiting list for that, so I hope you registered in time.

There is still room for the Festival of Lights on Thursday the 2nd, so you can still partake of that de-light. Remember that you can go to the Club Calendar (accessible from the main members’ page of the Club website) to review all events and to register for events.

Finally, here’s something that you won’t want to miss! As a gift to you for this holiday season, you can receive 50% off the cost of all spa services from December 1st through the 12th. Getting fully pampered for half the price sounds like a sweet deal to me. Hope you enjoy it!
Well, that’s it for now, so until next, game, set, match…

Happy Thanksgiving to Gulf Harbour Tennis

Although I am not the biggest fan of creating a specific day for something we should do every day, I must admit that Thanksgiving is my favorite of all of the holidays. Perhaps that’s because I have so much to be thankful for…or maybe it’s cuz I love to eat! In any event, this is the Thanksgiving version of your Gulf Harbour Tennis Blog, and I/we have much for which to be thankful.

Tough to know where to start…Ah, how about when I drive through the front gates in the morning, greeted by gently swaying palm trees and the beloved sight of the well-groomed 18th? Gazing upon that scene, I know that I have so much for which to be grateful…

As I walk to the tennis center and am greeted by Eddie Dance, Bill Cole, Arnie Wohl, and Rich Fox who occupy Court 3 every morning at 8:00 a.m., I know that I have much for which to give thanks…
Passing by the tennis pro shop on the way to the office, observing Laurie’s creative efforts to bring our members the best in attire and accessories, thinking of all she does that few ever see, I am thankful for the view behind the scenes…

When I sit at my desk, look at my calendar and court sheet, struggling to find an opening for someone wanting to work on her/his game, it is a struggle I know I am fortunate to have…

Approaching the tennis courts for the first time each morning, before the pristine façade that Fernando has created is disturbed, my spirit soars with the sunshine, and my heart is gladdened with gratitude…

The first smiling face of the glistening morning, the ladies filtering in for their morning clinics, chatting, extending their cheery greetings, giving their all as many a ball is flung at them, and expressing their gratitude when it’s all over…How could I not be grateful?

Looking one court over at Mike or Joel flinging the felt with his own special flair, I know that gratitude is definitely in order…

When I walk through the Fitness Center, across the pool deck, into the clubhouse, up to the kitchen, passing familiar, smiling faces all the way, I know what it means to be thankful…

On those days when I get upstairs in time to partake of the fruits of the kitchen staff’s labor, or even when Shirla, Bill, or Steve at the Tiki is the only option, I am grateful for their talents and the Club’s generosity…

And then the kids, who, after a long day of trying at school are asked to perform, to give yet more effort on the court, do just that, I’m grateful for the small role I may play in their developments…not simply as tennis players, but as people…

Sitting on the sidelines of team matches, observing how much our players care, watching them struggle with the emotions of competition, seeing their elation at a shot well hit, the deflation at one that fails to find the mark, I am thankful to be a small part of it…

I think of the team captains who do the hard work: the phone calls, the emails, the ego management, the lineup struggles…and I am truly grateful for their willingness to face the challenges…

And like the captains, where would our program be without the Bob Ostroms, the Tim Baldwins, the George Kanes, the Meg Jacobses, the Lili Canfields, the Connie Hesses, Sally Mellendorfs and Linda Van Wyks and so many more? Yes, we have so much for which to be thankful…

When I look over to the sidelines during Pro League and see the familiar faces of folks, with whom I spend so many hours, and hear their cheers when I manage to summon up the rare winner, it affirms why I proudly and gratefully wear my Gulf Harbour name tag despite the hazing I receive from fellow pros...

When I think of the courage and strength that so many of our tennis family exhibit in the face of ill health and injury, fighting back to take the court again, coming out to support teammates when unable to play, I am so very grateful for their spirits and examples…

And at the end of the day, I know that without the support of the Rick Newman and his capable staff (Mike, Georgine, Dave, Holly, Amy, Maria, and Tom), without Gary Lewis and his hard working bunch (Volney, Dave, Kevin and others), without Alan Schwartzman and his capable crew (Debbie, Bridgette, and Ajla), and without the support of the Board of Governors, none of it would be possible. Our gratitude must encompass them all!

And since I am expressing  gratitude for my Gulf Harbour good fortune, I can't help but thank Mark Doss, Martin Weirengo and the entire Golf staff for making my summers bearable. Many thanks for tolerating this wannabe golfer.

Finally, I am truly grateful for the leadership, friendship and trust of our Director Mike Curran, because without those, I would not be a part of the Gulf Harbour experience that I treasure. To all of you, including those not mentioned by name above, who contribute so much to my experience (and you know who you are), please know that the words “gratitude” and “thankful” are inadequate to express the sentiment I hold for you and the moments we share. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Fun with Fernando

Looking for something different to do with the kids over the holidays? Are the grandkids coming for vacation and you are thinking of things to do with them? I’ve got an idea for you. After you have had the kids out to the tennis courts a few times to chase tennis balls around, Fernando Jimenez, our relatively new and very capable Maintenance Technician, and his family have a few real thrills for you and the kids.

In addition to keeping our courts beautiful, Fernando is also the Events & Reservations Manager at the Corner Creek Ranch and Paso Fino Club in North Fort Myers. Jerry (Remember Jerry?) told me about it long ago, and I decided to visit Fernando at the ranch yesterday afternoon. I enjoyed myself immensely and would have stayed for the midnight, moonlight ride had I not been summoned home.

Shortly after I arrived at the ranch, Laurie (our creative Pro Shop Manager) showed up with her four kids, a friend and her young son. I already had tremendous respect for Laurie, but now I’ve added a healthy dose of admiration. I will let Laurie tell you the story if she chooses, but let’s just say that she and the boys had an adventure. Me? I just had a terrific time, and plan to spend as much time at the ranch as Fernando will let me and I can spare.

Corner Creek Ranch is 96 acres of “Old Florida” landscape, with trails for riding or walking. The wooded areas are great for off trail walking or riding as well, and Fernando informs me that camping is also allowed. Given my limited riding experience and questionable sense of direction, I’m all about sticking to the well-beaten paths.

But the horses and trails aren’t the only attractions at Corner Creek. The Cub Scout troop and other kids that were there yesterday seemed to have a blast at this no frills gem. When they weren’t riding the little pony or horses, they were running around, playing in the bounce house, or talking to the birds.

When the adults weren’t riding or walking trails, they were sitting in the shade, sipping on cold refreshments (most weren’t drinking lemonade), and listening to the Latin rhythms emanating from the thatch roof “clubhouse.” I’ve never been to Columbia, but I suspect that the Corner Creek Ranch/Paso Fino Club is a retreat reminiscent of the hinterlands of Fernando’s birthplace.

I can’t fully express what the experience meant to me, but if natural habitats, low cost entertainment, and unique experiences appeal to you, then Corner Creek may be a place to visit over the holidays. Talk to Fernando and I’m sure he’ll be happy to give you all the details.

Sizzling Tennis Weekend in November!

Just lil ole me again folks. Don'tcha know I just love chatting informally with my favorite folks :). If you thought Boot Camp got the season off to a good start, wait until you get a gander at this weekend's activities!

USPTA Ritzman Tennis Pro League
The big “Battle of the Ages” is in the leadoff position, as Joel and I will square off for our respective teams this Friday, November 5, at 4pm right here at Gulf Harbour. If you didn’t already know, Mike and I are on the same team again this year, and Mike will be in action at the same time as we try to maintain the slim lead we took after the first match at the Landings.

Gulf Harbour has been a terrific venue for the Pro League, not just because we have one of the loveliest tennis venues in the southwest, but because we have some of the most enthusiastic tennis members on the planet! Let’s keep the tradition alive and come out in force this Friday.

If Gulf Harbour spirit and exciting tennis don’t motivate you, how about food and drink? There will be plenty available for your responsible (or otherwise- and I'll never tell) consumption at the event. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Homecoming Tennis Festival
Whether or not you make it for Friday's fun, I hope you are among the 32 enthusiasts who have already taken all of round robin slots in the Homecoming Tennis Festival, starting at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 6th.  There are 10 people on the waiting list, so if you haven't already registered for that, you are relegated to eating, drinking and making merry at the pool after the tennis (so sad :().

Thus far, in addition to the 32 players, there are 16 partiers on the list for the social gathering afterward at the pool (6:00 p.m. start), and that list is growing. We would love to see every tennis member at, what we hope will be, a standing room only event this Saturday afternoon. Set your DVRs and TIVOs for college football and come meet some new tennis members and reconnect with some familiar ones.

For a $10 donation, you reap two hours of fun tennis, refreshments provided by Food & Beverage, entertainment by Tribal Love, and most importantly, a good time shared with friends old and new. Even if you don’t play tennis, the festivities at the pool will begin after the round robin at 6:00 p.m. and everyone is welcome, so register online or on the bulletin board, and call 444-3644 if you have questions.

Team Report

We are sure you will not be surprised to know that several Gulf Harbour LCWTL teams are among the leaders in their divisions after the first few weeks of the season. Our Defending Champion 3.0-Minus team led by Karen Brady has yet to lose a single match (8-0 in individual match play), and is tied for first place. In the 3.5-Minus Division, Laurie Watson and Linda Van Wyk’s Power Shots hold their division lead after posting an 11-1 individual match record thus far, and Liz Byck and Becky Marshall’s Sure Shots are only a few points back in third position.

In senior division play, Val Steigerwald and Joan Palermo’s Silver Strings lead the way in the Silver Division with a 15-1 individual match record, sweeping three of their first four opponents. Hanging tough in fifth position in the Silver Division is our Silver Belles team, with Monnie Kane and Sue Weiss at the helm.

As far as I can tell from the intel coming in, our Men’s teams begin play Monday, November 15th at 2:00 p.m. at Gulf Harbour when John Hess’ White-B team takes on Lehigh. I believe John’s team took home the second place prize last season, and despite moving up a level this year, it should still be at or near the top of its division.

We have two Blue-A teams this year, with Jim Masiello and Tony Cupaiuolo (two rival factions from Sicily :)) vying for dominance in that division. Having been near the top of the division last season, Jim believes he should handle Tony’s boys with little problem, seeing that Tony’s team has moved up a division. Tony’s response? “Fugitaboudit!”

Ok, ok, I’m making it up. Neither Jim nor Tony was consulted prior to publication, but it should be fun with both teams beginning play at home on Tuesday, November 16th at 2:00 p.m. I’m still awaiting schedule information from our other men’s teams.

Please remember that you will be able to find out when all of our teams play at home and away, and how they are doing by consulting the Tennis Teams & Leagues link on the Tennis page of the Club website. Of course there is much more to tell, but I am out of time, so until next: game, set, match Gulf Harbour!!!

Gulf Harbour Tennis Still Hot in Fall

The calendar may indicate "fall," but the weather and the tennis on Gulf Harbour tennis courts remain hot! Here's what's happening:

Halloween Round Robin

I'm sad to say that it looks as though our planed two sessions of scary tennis will be whittled down to one. As of this writing, we only have seven (7) brave souls willing to display their wares that early on a Saturday morning, and that’s frightfully inadequate to hold the 8:00 a.m. round robin. If we can’t get that number up to 16, I’m afraid we will have to go with just one costumed session from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. That session is now filled, but you might want to get on the wait list in case we have the usual few who fall by the wayside just prior to the event.

Homecoming Tennis Festival

Speaking of events, one you don’t want to miss would be the Homecoming Tennis Festival the following weekend. As you know, there are a number of folks returning to the tennis roost whom you haven’t seen in months, and whom you won’t realize how much you’ve missed until you see them again. Saturday, November 6th at 4:00 p.m. would be a great time to catch up. There won’t be a regular round robin that morning, so sleep in and come join us for some afternoon delight. We are more than halfway to a full event, so register for the event online or on the bulletin board as soon as possible.

If you aren’t interesting in playing Saturday afternoon but would like to welcome back old friends or meet new ones, you can register for the food, drinks and dialogue component (6:00 p.m. start) of the event only. Whether you play tennis or not the event will require a $10 donation to participate. If you haven’t had Chef Norbert’s wings, or the terrific wraps they throw together at Johnny Browns, then you won’t want to miss the fun, food, and friends at the Homecoming Tennis Festival. Don't forget that you can sign up for any tennis event by logging onto the Club website and going to the Tennis page, or by going directly to the Club Calendar.

USPTA Pro League

How hot is Gulf Harbour tennis right now? Well on Friday, November 5th at 4pm, just a day before the Homecoming, Gulf Harbour tennis members will be treated to a battle of the ages…literally. Joel’s team and mine will be squaring off in the Fort Myers USPTA Pro League sponsored by Ritzman Tennis. Patrick Kangwa and I (combined ages in the 90s) will face Joel and Chad Hedrick (combined ages in the 50s). It will be a classic “experience-versus-youthful-reflexes” match-up that should be fun to watch. I can't promise pretty, but definitely fun.

Joel was away at USTA Florid Mixed Doubles Sectional competition during the first Pro League event at the Landings last Friday, but Mike and I were in action. Our members who attended may tell you that I was wearing galoshes and the Landings had quicksand on its stadium court, but in fact it was the old man’s very poor footwork that made it appear that way.

Fortunately, I know the No.1 rule in doubles, and I utilized it: Pick a really good partner! Patrick (director of tennis at the landings) carried me through much of the match, but I gave him a little help here and there to help us emerge with a straight set victory in the No.2 position. Mike, playing with his previous USPTA doubles partner, Scott Harrington (director at Legends) took the first set from Denny Rager (director of tennis at Lely) and Chris Fletcher, but went down in three sets.

Mike and I now hold the dubious distinction of being the only players on record to have served three consecutive double faults in a Pro League match. Sorry boss. Mike and Scott will face Shawn Hedrick and Manuel Encalada (rumored to be the best player in the league) that day, and it should be a doozy! We all need you there for inspiration.

Early Team Report

The LCWTL is only two weeks old, but the ladies of Gulf Harbour are off to a great start! In a division of 20 teams, our 3.0 Double Trouble team captained by Sally Mellendorf and Meg Jacobs is tied for first, with our 3.0 Raquettes led by Karen Ort and Teressa Crocker holding second alone.

In the 3.5-Minus division, our Sure Shots with Liz Byck and Becky Marshall at the helm are holding the top spot, while our Power Shots, captained by Laurie Watson and Linda Van Wyk are in third, only three points out of first. Keeping the pace amongst the rated teams, our 4.0-Minus team with Connie Hess and Pam Lemon in charge (and I mean “in charge”) are currently in third place.

Looking at our senior teams, Val Steigerwald and Joan Palermo’s Silver Strings lead the large field of 24 teams, while Monnie Kane and Sue Weiss’ Silver Belles are sitting in fifth. Consistent with last season, all but one of the teams that have begun play are in the top five in their divisions. Way to go ladies!

New Members

In closing, I’d like to send out a warm Gulf Harbour tennis welcome to our newest members, John and Debbie Naumann. I’m told that both are at least 4.0 players, so they will make excellent additions to our tennis family.

Gulf Harbour 2010 Tennis Season Underway!

Well Folks, the time is now. Events are happening, team clinics are rolling, matches are being played, and our friends are returning. Yes, "Season" is here. Ok, there's a lot to this blog, so grab yourself a drink and sit a while, or just read it in installments.

Tennis Team Boot Camp



Boot Camp Grunts



As usual, the Tennis Team Boot Camp marked the dawning of our favorite time of year. I could tell you how great our Boot Camp was this year, but I’ll let some of the attendees do it for me. They are, after all, unbiased critics. For example, Chris Barnes, while discussing Tuesday’s Boot Camp session exclaimed, “It was probably the best clinic I’ve ever been to.” Carolyn Finn, one of our new additions to the GH Tennis family, wrote in an email the day after Boot Camp wrapped up, “Hello T.A, Loved boot camp. Wish it was still going. Got so many great tips.”

The Most Senior & Most Dedicated

The numbers were slightly down from last year (our biggest day this year being 43, while 48 was the high last season), but there was no shortage of fun or hitting of tennis balls. John Kupferer bit the dust in his enthusiasm, but that didn’t stop him from coming back for more. Thankfully the weather cooperated relegated the misery we experienced during last season’s scorching Boot Camp to a lukewarm memory. Thanks to all who participated and we look forward to having you again next season.

What’s Next?

Meg Jacobs Won; Didn't She?

Next on the tennis agenda are our Halloween Round Robin Mixer on Saturday, October 30, Gulf Harbour’s hosting of the USPTA Pro League (Friday, November 5), and the Welcome Back event on Saturday, November 6. Yep, we hit the ground running round these parts once season starts.

Gabe Gebara in Spirit of Halloween

Our Halloween event is usually a ghost...uh.. I mean gas. We’ve had some terrific costumes the past two years and would love to keep the tradition going this year. Linda V, Tom? Care to defend your titles? Or was that the year before? Nancy you can’t wear that Uncle Sam hat again. I think it gave you a permanent crick in the neck (lol).  And PLEASE, no more Bill Wright impersonations. One Bill Wright is plenty; right Bill? Oh, by the way, you cannot win with the same costume you wore last year, and the year before (LOL).

Oh, almost forgot…If the kids or grandkids are around, they would probably enjoy the Children’s Halloween Party, complete with scavenger hunt and “tricky treats,” beginning at 11:00 a.m. that Saturday morning at the clubhouse. Click here (you'll have to login to Club website)for more info on the kids’ party and/or to sign up.

Welcome Back Mixer

Wennie & Joan Celebrate Victory for 60-Plus

As soon as the costumes come off, it will be time for the Homecoming Tennis Festival (as named by George “Big Daddy” Kane), which will serve the same function as the Welcome Back Mixer. Many of our tennis friends will have just returned, and it is a great time to meet and greet the new and old, the meek and bold on and off the court.

Post Tennis Relaxation

This year’s event consists of tennis in the late afternoon, followed by a poolside gathering catered by our outstanding Food & Beverage department. You know how sweet it is, after a good session of tennis, to sit and chat with friends, cuddling a glass of vino, a cold brewski, and/or a smorgasbord of culinary delights to make your tummy smile. That’s what we have in store for you on Saturday November 6. Just a heads up: This one will be a first-come-first-served affair for the 32 slots available for the tennis component of the evening. More details will soon be available online and on the bulletin board. Please check the tennis page of the Club Website for details.

League Play Preview

Jenny's Ladies Took the Title

At least 23 teams (one more than last season) will represent Gulf Harbour in League play this season. Currently we have eight (8) rated teams and seven (7) senior teams in the Lee County Women’s Tennis League (LCWTL), seven (7) teams in Lee County Men’s Leagues, and one (1) USTA League team.

Terry Brady’s 70-plus 69-ers and Rich Fox and Tim Baldwin’s White-A team will be defending champions on the men’s side. Our 3.0-Minus Dream Team, formerly captained by Jenny King and Darlene Mattcheck, now led by Karen Brady and Darlene Mattcheck, is the only defending champion amongst our ladies teams.

Diehard Spectators Enjoying the Action

We had a number of close finishes last season and are likely to have a few more this season. However, Val Steigerwald’s Silver Strings got us off to a great start last week with a sweep of the historically strong Landings team in the first match of the season on Friday, October 8. The Strings have their home opener this coming Friday, October 15 at 11:00 a.m. so come on out and cheer them on.

Speaking of cheering for our teams, you can find out when and where your favorite players and teams are playing during the season by clicking on the following links for rated teams match schedules and senior teams schedules. And don’t forget to check the Tennis Teams & Leagues page for the latest on your teams throughout the season.

Before the real madness of season descends, I’d like to thank last season’s team captains for doing such a terrific job of coordinating and managing our teams, and I’d also like to thank this season’s captains for taking on that difficult task.

USPTA Fort Myers Pro League

Phew! Can you believe you're still reading? Anyway...The USPTA Pro League opens play on Friday October 22, 4:00 p.m. at the Landings, and this season promises to be a really stimulating campaign. Two seasons ago Mike and I were on the same team and our team won. Well, we are back together again (although Mike’s on Court 1 and I’m on Court 2), and we will be looking to reclaim the title that neither of us held a piece of last season for the first time in several years (Mike had a nice streak going for a while there).

Enjoying Pro League at Gulf Harbour

Mike will be playing with Scott Harrington, whom he partnered in 2007 to claim the USPTA’s No.1 national ranking in Men’s Open Doubles, and I will be sharing courts with Patrick Kangwa of the Landings at the No.2 position. Unfortunately Joel will be playing with Shawn Hedrick for another team, also on the No.2 court. Don’t worry; I won’t feel too bad if you cheer for Joel when we play each other. Be sure to pat him on the back and say, “good match” after Patrick and I put a spanking on 'em (LOL).

Stay tuned for a complete schedule of pro league matches which will be posted on our website and on the bulletin board adjacent to Court 1. Be sure to put Friday, November 5th on your calendar, because that is the day that Pro League comes to Gulf Harbour.

Members on Recovery Trail

Bob Ostrom: Mild Mannered He Ain't

You probably couldn’t tell from his game or his demeanor, but Bob Ostrom had to visit the surgeon again on Monday (10/11) to have a cancerous lymph node and tissue around it removed. Apparently the surgery went well, and believe it or not, Bob was in our office today for a meeting. If it weren't for the staples in his neck, you would never know that the man underwent life-threatening surgery two days ago. Incredible! 

Norma Schuyler continues her battle with breast cancer, and although she has escaped the crippling chemo, she will undergo radiation treatments for the next several weeks. Of course her friends, teammates, and our staff miss her and can’t wait for her to get back into her tennis shoes.

We’re sending out as much positive energy as we can to Bonnie Graham who is also in a fight with breast cancer. According to husband Ron, it was caught early and the prognosis is good. Bonnie we’re with you all the way!

While those above are in the midst of their toughest challenges, a few others have emerged victorious from theirs. Melanie Jackman made her debut on the courts after having a pacemaker installed just a few weeks ago. Melanie was either well-tanned or covered in Rustoleum, because during last Saturday’s round robin, you could hardly tell that she had been out for several weeks. Welcome back Melanie!

Peerless Leader Jenny King

Jenny King, captain of our only LCWTL team that won its division (3.0-Minus) last season, made a cameo appearance during Boot Camp and you wouldn’t know that she had been on the mend from a gall bladder removal. Sturdy stuff is what Gulf Harbour tennis players are made of.

Always about the Smile

As we show support for our fellow tennis family members who are having tough times, I would also like to note that although you seldom see Tim Baldwin do anything but smile and create situations for others to smile, he has major trials which include caring for a mom who’s struggling through the ebb and flow of senior survival, and a son who is recovering from horrific wounds suffered while serving his country. I’m sure Tim would welcome any show of support and fellowship.

Welcoming New Members

If you have been around the courts over the past several months then I’m sure you have noticed some new strokes amongst our tennis folks. According to our distribution list, we are up to 319 tennis playing members, and I suspect we may not have them all in the database. I’m working on pictures and short bios of our new folk, but here are a few names to go with the new faces. Your task is just to match them up (wink). They include:

Zoe Bradley
Paula Brown
Carol Cooper
Debra Hobbs
Jack Lee
Dick Schneider
Angela Mitrisin & Scott Turner
Jerry & Sonin Fleming
Tom & Bev Auda
Carolyn Finn & Tim Neill
Tom and Sheri Nester

Bruno Glavich & Gina LaMana

Sheri & Robert Krzak

Rulx & Debra Ganthier (Solange & Isabella)

Tom & Kimberly Ghuman (Daughter Allison & son Joey)