Deadlines & Kids Play

Deadline Tuesday for Van Der Meer Open; Play Aug. 29-31 … story below.

TENNIS E-News

Aug. 20, 2008 Vol. VII, No. 90
South Carolina Tennis 2006 Media Award Winner
Hilton Head Island SC

Now we can appreciate George Bush's problem: how to cope with two war zones. Like, do we cover HHI tennis only and ignore Coastal Carolina? Should we cover both? If we try that, do we have the resources (energy) to do so? To cover both, should we cut back on playing tennis (and golf)? As Yul Brynner sang: "Is a puzzlement."

And nothing like rain bands from an impending hurricane to welcome today's start of the fall tennis season and inauguration (baptism?!?) of the Coastal Carolina TA. Stay tuned.

Entry Deadline Sept. 5

2^nd KidZone Tennis Tournament Sept. 13 for Under 8s and Under 12s at Chaplin PTC

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- After its first successful event earlier this summer, the second KidZone Tennis Tournament will be held Saturday, Sept. 13 at Chaplin Public Tennis Center, matching Under 8s and Under 12s boys and girls in short-court play with special junior balls.

Director Patricia Hy-Boulais of Hytennis Academy will conduct the tournament using the Quickstart Tennis format. Under 8s category will play on a 36-foot court with foam balls -- two out of three sets to seven points. Registration fee $15. Under 12s will play on a 60-foot court with low compression balls -- two out of three sets of four games. Registration fee $25.

Registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 5. For information and to enter online, go to http://kidzonetennis.com. For questions, call the director at 298-4229. Also available on the site is a WHHI-TV video on the KidZone and Quickstart programs with Island sportscaster Bobby Sandell.

Top Area Players Entered

Deadline Tuesday for Van Der Meer $$$$ Open That Will Be Played Aug. 29-31

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The Van Der Meer Tennis's second 2008 Open Championships will be played Aug. 29-31 at the DeAllyon Road center with entries being accepted in men's and women's singles and doubles until Tuesday unless draw limits are reached before that time.

The prize-money championships have 32-draw limits in singles and 16 in doubles, Tournament Director Justyn Schelver said. Entry fee is $30 for singles and $50 per team for doubles. For entry, contact Schelver at Van Der Meer Tennis at 785-8388 ext. 119 or justynschelver@hotmail.com.

Area teaching pros, visiting college players and top juniors are expected in the draws. It's an open draw, but Schelver said he anticipates 4.0 and 4.5 players will be entering, especially in the women's divisions.

The third and final 2008 Open will be played in conjunction with the Vacation Company Adult Championships Oct. 22-26 at Van Der Meer Shipyard Racquet Club.

Benefit to Kindergarten Tennis, Too

$4,000 Grant to PTI Will Continue Boys & Girls Club Tennis Instruction

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- Public Tennis Inc. has received a $4,000 from The Heritage Foundation to continue PTI's kids tennis programs at the Boys & Girls Club for another year. The instruction has been conducted by Emmett Diggs. Also to benefit from the grant will be the A,B,C's of Tennis kindergarten instruction by Jacque Houck.

HHI's Touring Pro Umpire

Lynn Welch Named to Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- Hilton Head Islander Lynn Welch, a world-traveling professional tennis umpire, has been named to the Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors. An induction banquet will be held in October, following Welch's two-week stint of umpiring at the US Open and three weeks in Tokyo and Beijing.

After a successful collegiate playing career, Welch returned to her native Maine as a tennis teaching pro. She was a consistent winner at HHI's Professional Tennis Registry Championships for teaching pros before moving to Hilton Head Island. While teaching on HHI, she began umpiring, working her way up to Family Circle Cup. She has chaired matches at all the Grand Slams, including the US Open final, as well as Olympics and WTA Tour finals. She will return to the US Open with beginning of play there Monday.

+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+

TEACHING PRO WANTED -- Hytennis Academy is seeking a teaching professional for after school program. Applicant must be able to teach good technical skills to young children while maintaining motivation, playing ability and good communication skills are also important. Send resume at kzinfo@hytennis.com.

COURT MAINTENANCE OPENING -- A tennis court maintenance position is open at Port Royal Racquet Club. Workdays would be Tuesday and Thursday, mainly getting the clay courts open for play in the morning. This will be an hourly position with tennis and golf benefits at Heritage Golf Group properties. Tennis experience helpful but not mandatory. Contact Dennis Bianco at PRRC 686-8803.

Upcoming Tournaments:

Aug. 29-31 -- Van Der Meer Open -- Non-sanctioned prize money tournament in men's and women's singles and doubles. Open division only. Entry and information at Justyn Schelver at 785-8388 ext 119 or justynschelver@hotmail.com.

Aug. 31 -- TAHHI US Open Member Social and Cookout -- Port Royal Racquet Club -- Playing slots full.

Sept. 13 -- KidZone Tennis Tournament for Under 8 and Under 12 age divisions. Email patricia@hytennis.com.

Sept. 13-15: South Carolina USTA Mixed Doubles League State Championships at Charleston

Sept. 24-28: Fall Southern PTR/ROHO Wheelchair Championships at Chaplin Public Tennis Center. Volunteers needed to assist players and events. Contact Julie Jilly at 785-7244.

Sept. 18-21: SC State Closed Senior Tennis Championships at Litchfield Racquet Club. 843-237-3983

Sept. 26-28: Fripp Is. Fall Clay Court Championships. USTA-sanctioned in Men’s (35-75 odd) & Women’s (35-65 odd) singles & doubles; NTRP Men’s & Women’s 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 singles & doubles; Combo MxD 6.0, 7.0, 8.0. Call (843) 838-1504.

Sept. 26-28: Van Der Meer Junior Championships in Boys' & Girls' 18-10s. Call Justyn Schelver 785-8388 ext. 119.

Oct. 22-26: The Vacation Co. Adult Championships. USTA-sanctioned Level 2. Open and age divisions. Call Justyn Schelver 785-8388 ext 119 Oct. 24-27: USTA League South Carolina Combo State Championships at Daniel Island, Charleston

Oct. 31-Nov. 2 -- The Island Championship. TAHHI's annual tournament for Islanders and visitors. Go to www.tahhi.org.

Nov. 3-7: Beaufort County Senior Games 2008 including men's and women's singles and doubles and mixed doubles.

Nov. 7-9: South Carolina USTA League Super Senior Championships at Wild Dunes, Isle of Palms

TENNIS E-News FootNote

ooooO

( ) An elderly woman was talking with her pastor about plans in the event of her death.

( ) Cremation was first, then having her ashes spread at Wal-Mart.

(___) "At Wal-Mart?" puzzled the pastor. "Yes," said the woman. "That way my daughters will be visiting me a couple times every week."

-- Internet stuff

-- Dennis Malick