No High 5s for 5.5s

TENNIS E-News

Aug. 15, 2007 Vol. VI, No. 90

South Carolina Tennis 2006 Media Award Winner

Hilton Head Island SC

New Rating Appeal Process Online -- See below

Super Senior Men's, Women's 3.0 & 4.0 Schedules Are Now Up on TennisLink

HHI Adult Men's 5.5s Lose in Southern Sectionals

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- "We kept it competitive but just came up short," was Captain Chris Mireles' assessment of the Hilton Head Island Adult Men's 5.5s team performance at Saturday's Southern Sectional Championship in Myrtle Beach.

The match scores bore out his take on the three-team faceoff that completed the Southern lineup for Nationals. All other divisions of the nine-state championships were played in late July in Mobile AL.

Against Greensboro NC, the HHIslanders split a pair of those infamous third-set match tiebreaks, losing 2-1. In the followup match, the eventual champions Charleston took all three courts, then defeated Greensboro 2-1 for the sectional title. Here are the individual results involving the local team:

Greensboro 2, Hilton Head Island 1

#1 Singles -- Jeff Johnston lost 6-3, 7-6

#1 Doubles -- Tom Coulton and Matt Wuller won 6-3, 5-7, 1-0

#2 Doubles -- Mike O’Regan and Mike Sutcliffe lost 4-6, 6-3, 1-0

Charleston 3, Hilton Head Island 0

#1 Singles -- Tom Coulton lost 1-2, injury retirement

#1 Doubles -- Chris Mireles and Mike Sutcliffe lost 6-1, 6-2

#2 Doubles -- Mike O’Regan and Jeff Johnston lost 6-3, 4-6, 1-0

Independent Men's League Postpones Inaugural Season Until Late Spring '08

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The fledgling Independent Men's League doesn't have enough players to fledge this season, but intends to flap its wings in a full schedule next Spring following the USTA League season.

Plans for the league were for multi-level doubles format that would be played weekly at the same site: Port Royal Racquet Club. League coordinators Tom Larkin and Werner Sicvol needed about 40 players for the competition, but didn't have that many this time around. For information contact Larkin at tlarkin@aol.com.

Juniors & Adults

1st Southern Siblings Championships Set for Next Month at Kiawah Island

KIAWAH ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The USTA Southern Section is introducing a new tournament format for junior and adult siblings and, to no great surprise, South Carolina will host the first event Sept. 14-16 on Kiawah Island. No player ratings are in effect in the tournament.

USTA-sanctioned Sibling Southern Open Clay Court Championships play will be in Boys' and Girls' 18s Doubles, Mixed 18s Doubles, Brother-Brother Open Doubles, Brother-Sister Open Doubles and Sister-Sister Open Doubles. A feed-in consolation will be played in each category. Players may enter one or two events. If you would like more information, contact Jonathan Barth at jonathan_barth@kiawahresort.com.

The Level 1 SC tournament and Southern championship can be entered online by going to http://www.sctennis.com and selecting , then and using ID # 704116707.

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New Rating Appeals Process

05/29/2007

The non-medical NTRP rating appeal process is now fully automated. Follow the instructions below to complete the process via the internet:

You may appeal your rating at any time, but if you participate in spring or mixed doubles leagues, don't expect your rating to go down in the middle of the season. This procedure will be most useful at the end of the year when the new year-end ratings are released.

-- Go to http://tennislink.usta.com/leagues/

-- In the column on the right side of the TennisLink page, under the heading "League Players", click on "Find a Rating".

-- Enter your USTA # in the box and click "go". (If you are a captain appealing for one of your players, enter the USTA # of the player.)

-- A page with rating information will appear. If your rating can be appealed (not all can), a blue link that says "appeal rating" will appear at the end of the line containing your rating information. Click on that link.

-- Enter the zip code of the player in the box. Please note that the zip code is the same as the information on file in the TennisLink database, so if your information is not correct in TennisLink, you may get an error. (Just make sure all your TennisLink information is correct and everything will be fine.)

-- You'll need to select 2 buttons in this step. The first is whether you want your rating to go up or go down. The second is whether you are the player or the captain. If you are the captain, you'll need to type in your USTA #. Click submit once you have made your choices.

-- The appeal is instantly granted or denied and the result will appear on the screen. If you wish to e-mail the results to someone (say, for example that your captain has asked you to appeal your rating, you may forward the results to him or her). The e-mail contains the same information that appears on your results screen.

You may appeal your rating at any time, but if you participate in spring or mixed doubles leagues, don't expect your rating to go down in the middle of the season. This procedure will be most useful at the end of the year when the new year-end ratings are released.

TENNIS E-News FootNote

ooooO TRAINS DON'T WANDER

( ) ALL OVER THE TRACK

( ) 'CAUSE NOBODY SITS
(___) IN THE ENGINEER'S LAP.

-- BurmaShave

-- Dennis Malick

Combo & Super Seniors

TENNIS E-News

Aug. 11, 2007 Vol. VI, No. 89

South Carolina Tennis 2006 Media Award Winner

Hilton Head Island SC

WANTED: 2.5 WOMEN FOR SUPER SENIORS

Combo Under Way; Super Senior Play to Begin Late This Month

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The 7.0 Seniors put a lock on the summer mixed doubles season this week, just as the BMW Combo season got under way, with the Super Seniors not far behind.

The mixed doubles finished with a lineup of champions scheduled for South Carolina State Championships Sept. 8-10 in Charleston. They are:

Senior 6.0 -- Spring Lake The Odd Couples

Senior 7.0 -- Wexford Topspinners

Adult 5.0 -- Wexford Wildcats

Adult 6.0 -- Wexford 6.0 Adults (Somebody's gotta pick a real name for that team!!)

Adult 7.0 -- Bluffton 7.0 (Same for these cats. Where's the creative juice?)

Adult 8.0 -- SC Yacht Anglers

Meanwhile, State Super Senior Coordinator Bonnie Sue Duncan issued a recruiting call for Super Senior 2.5 Women. Although not flooded with players in that division, Hilton Head Island leagues have been competing mainly among themselves. As of now, however, no SS 2.5 Women's teams are registered on TennisLink. Interested players should contact the category's Local League Coordinator Mary Ellen Arboe at tennisbeachbums@aol.com.

Here's what the lineup of teams looks like so far on Combo, Super Senior 60, 70 and the brand new 75 levels:

Combo Adults – (# of teams in ’06)

5.5 W – 4 teams (2) – 8/11 - 9/29

6.5 M – 5 teams (4) – 8/4 – 10/20 -- Spring Lake Mis-Hits lead at 1-0

6.5 W – 8 teams (5) – 8/15 – 10/13

7.5 M – 3 teams (2) – 8/9 – 10/4 -- Bluffton Topspin lead at 1-0

7.5 W – 4 teams (2) – 8/18 – 9/29

Combo Seniors – (# of teams in ’06)

6.5 W – 6 teams (4) – 8/6 – 9/17 -- PD G.R.I.T.S., Sun City Hot Shots tied at 1-0

7.5 M – 3 teams (3) – 8/7 – 9/28 -- Port Royal Hogg Doggs lead at 1-0

7.5 W – 3 teams (2) – 8/3 – 9/28 -- Indigo Run Hot Shots lead at 1-0

Super Senior 60s – (# of teams in ’06)

2.5 M – 4 teams (7) –

3.0 M – 17 teams (15) –

3.0 W – 10 teams (15) –

3.5 M – 13 teams (12) – 8/29 -

3.5 W – 12 teams (9) –

4.0 M – 3 teams (3) –

4.0 W – 3 teams (2) --

Super Senior 70s – (# of teams in ’06)

3.0 M – 7 teams (8) –

3.0 W – 2 teams (4) –

3.5 M – 4 teams (3) –

3.5 W – 1 team (1) --

Super Senior 75s – (no such division in ’06)

3.0 M – 7 teams – 9/12 - 10/24

3.5 M – 2 teams --

Mixed Adults – (# of teams in ’06)

5.0 – 3 teams (3) – Season ended

6.0 – 7 teams (6) – Season ended

7.0 – 7 teams (4) – Season ended

8.0 – 4 teams (3) – Season ended

9.0 -- 0 teams (1) --

Mixed Seniors – (# of teams in ’06)

6.0 – 4 teams (5) – Season ended

7.0 – 10 teams (8) – Season ends 8/8

8.0 – 0 teams (2) --

Super Senior Combo – (no such division in ’06)

6.5 W – 4 teams – Season ended 7/12

7.5 W – 3 teams – Season ended 8/2

TAHHI Social Round Robin Sept. 2 Already a Sellout, But Y'all Come for the Red, White & Blue Cookout

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The round robin already has reached its 84-player limit, but TAHHI's Pat Leinberger reminds everyone to wear red, white and blue and come join in the U.S. Open Social cookout that is free to members and $10 to nonmembers.

Play at Port Royal Racquet Club is from 10:30 to 12:30 with a lunch cookout, rain or shine. Anyone wanting to cancel late should contact Leinberger at 705-6014. No-shows will not be allowed to enter the next TAHHI social.

Junior & Adult Divisions

RE/MAX CMN Doubles Tournament Set for Sept. 7-9 at Palmetto Dunes

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- With 100% of its money raised going to the Medical University of South Carolina’s Children’s Hospital in Charleston, the annual RE/MAX Children's Miracle Network Doubles Tournament will be played Sept. 7-9 at Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center. In its 12^th adult season, the competition will include junior divisions for the second year. Both entry forms are included as attachments to this issue.

Children who live in Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and surrounding areas will be beneficiaries of the tournament that will include a weekend-long silent auction. A players' party Thursday the 6^th will be sponsored by Carrabba's Italian Grill and Budweiser.

Adult categories will be men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles in 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 and Open. Entry fee is $40 per person for one event and $50 if playing in two. Juniors will compete in singles only boys' and girls' 10 & under, 12 & under, 14 & under and 16 & under. With an entry fee of $25, juniors are guaranteed at least two matches.

Entry forms are available at island pro shops. For information, call Palmetto Dunes at 785-1152.

ONE MORE FOR THE CALENDAR: 5th Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Tennis Tournament

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- Mark this one down in your futures book: Thanksgiving Turkey Tournament Nov. 16-18 at Chaplin Public Tennis Center (eb). Play will be at Chaplin and Hilton Head Island Middle School.

Junior Divisions: Girls' & Boys' 18's, 16's, 14's 12's

Adult Divisions: NTRP Ratings: Womens' & Mens' 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 & Open

Adult & Child Division: All ages welcome. This event is solely for fun with skill levels matched in opening rounds

Entry Fees: $25 for singles; $15 per player for doubles and or $30 per doubles team; If you enter singles & doubles, entry cost is $35 per person

Registration forms are available at area tennis clubs, businesses and the Island Recreation Center. Register online at www.islandreccenter.org by clicking on , then and you will see tabs at the bottom of the screen to choose your event and pay with a credit card (Visa or MasterCard). You can also fax your registration form and credit card number to 843-681-3754.

Deadline: Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m.

For information, contact Cameron Everett, director of tennis, Island Recreation Center, 681-7273

TENNIS E-News FootNote

ooooO

( ) Did you hear about the Wrigley family?

( ) Three members of the family were diagnosed with gum disease.
(___)

-- Dennis Malick

5.5s & Luke Jensen

TENNIS E-News

Aug. 06, 2007 Vol. VI, No. 88
South Carolina Tennis 2006 Media Award Winner
Hilton Head Island SC

Holdover from Mobile
HHI 5.5s Going for USTA League Southern Sectional Championship
HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The USTA League Southern 5.5 Men’s championships will be played Saturday (11th) in Myrtle Beach. Teams from Hilton Head Island, Greensboro NC and Charleston will be competing for the right to advance to National championships.
The HHI team consists of Chris Mireles, captain; Matt Wuller, Tom Coulton, Jeff Johnston, Mike O’Regan, Adrian Moghina and Mike Sutcliffe.
All other Adult and Senior divisions of the nine-state USTA section were played during the last week in July in Mobile AL.

Slots Still Open for Luke Jensen Clinic, Exhibition Aug. 15; Bluffton Courts To Benefit
BLUFFTON SC (TENNIS E-News) -- Aug. 15 will be Luke Jensen Day at Bluffton High, with three clinics (singles, doubles and juniors) and a schedule that includes lunch with Jensen, an exhibition, Q&A, autograph/photo session, “Return the Jensen’s Serve” and “Bump the Chump” contest.
Reservations are required for the clinics. Contact Bob Brown at 290-2833. Can’t attend? Sponsor a local child. Net proceeds benefit the Bluffton court-building fund.

Island Club Needs Part-time Help in Tennis Pro Shop
HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- Island Club -- on the ocean off Folly Field Road -- needs pro shop part-time help to fill either 8 a.m.-1 p.m. shift or 1-6 p.m. shift on various days of the week. The club has six soft and three hard courts. "Nothing is in stone on which day it might be," Shop Manager Sandy Leath said. "It could be two people. And, if someone wanted to work Saturdays only, that could happen too. The Saturday person could be a high school student."
If interested, contact Sandy 785-8012 or 301-6769 or email sandy.islandclub@yahoo.com.

SC Championships Next Month
Anglers Clinch To Complete Adult Mixed Doubles Champions' List; Senior Mixed in Final Week
HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The SC Yacht Anglers followed one 2-1 win with another to clinch the championship of the USTA League Adult 8.0 Mixed Division. Winning a vital third set at #1 doubles put the Anglers in the top spot and qualified the team for South Carolina championships next month.
All summer league championships -- Super Senior Combo and Mixed -- have been decided save one. The Spring Lake Odd Couples and Moss Creek Smoking Sixers are playing as we write to determine the Senior Mixed 6.0 top spot. The already-decided Senior 7.0s wrap up the summer schedule Wednesday, with Bluffton already in as champion.
Here are the standings to date as reported on TennisLink:
Super Senior Combo
Women's 6.5 -- 4 teams -- Wexford Ladies of the Net clinched at 5-1; schedule ended
Women's 7.5 -- 3 teams -- Indigo Run Hotshots clinched at 6-0; schedule ended
Senior Mixed
6.0 -- 4 teams -- Spring Lake The Odd Couples lead at 6-2
7.0 -- 14 teams -- Wexford Topspinners clinched at 8-0
Adult Mixed
5.0 -- 3 teams -- Wexford Wildcats clinched at 4-0, schedule ended
6.0 -- 7 teams -- Wexford 6.0 Adults clinched at 6-0, schedule ended
7.0 -- 7 teams -- Bluffton 7.0 clinched at 6-0, schedule ended
8.0 -- 4 teams -- SCYacht Anglers clinched at 5-1; one match to report

Back Issues Are Archived
Hallelujah, We're a Blog … Whatever It Is, We've Entered the Blogosphere
HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- Whenever you want to read TENNIS E-News or check a back issue of same, you need only to click on or go to www.tennisenews.blogspot.com . We have entered a blog new world, even though we really don't know what one is. Dennis in Bloggerland, skipping down the Yellow Cliche Road.
Beginning last week, each issue of TENNIS E-News is being blogged (is that a word?) by Justin Jarrett, tennis writer for The Island Packet. (Actually, he tried to explain it to me, but decided it would be best if he would manage it.) At the end of each issue you are able to post comments. Uh oh.
There are a couple graphic bugs to be worked out, but the blog can be accessed by anyone -- even those on AOL who have been blocked by AOL from receiving E-News. Tell your friends on AOL. It will take about two weeks of emailing for us to do so on an individual basis.
Meanwhile, welcome to our new whatever. You also can access TENNIS E-News at www.blufftontennis.com .

REPEATING A RULE OF TENNIS -- Let or No Let Between Serves
By request, TENNIS E-News is reprinting a rule concerning delays between first and second serves. To wit:
ITF Rules of Tennis #23. USTA comment 23.2: What happens when there is a delay between the first and second serves? If the delay is caused by the receiver (such as a broken string or contact lens problem), an official or outside interference, the whole point is replayed. If the server caused the delay, such as when the server breaks a string the server gets one serve. Note that a spectator’s call (“out”, “fault” or other), a spectator’s cellphone ringing or grunting on an adjacent court is not basis for replaying a point. Action should be taken to prevent further spectator interference.


TENNIS E-News FootNote
ooooO Students' refuse to go in the garbage. Or: Students refuse to go in the garbage.
( ) Those smell things are my brother's. Or: Those smelly things are my brothers.
( ) The shop sells boys' and girls' clothing. Or: The shop sells boys and girls' clothing.
(___) -- from new book: "The Girl's Like Spaghetti" subtitled "Why You CAN'T Manage Without Apostrophes!"
By Lynne Truss, author of "Eats, Shoots & Leaves"
-- Dennis Malick

Combo Rolling

TENNIS E-News
Aug. 02, 2007 Vol. VI, No. 87
South Carolina Tennis 2006 Media Award Winner
Hilton Head Island SC

Growing The Game's Voices: The Chaplin Chatter (see below)
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LATE BREAKING NEWS
$5,000 Heritage Classic Foundation Grant Goes to PTI for Boys & Girls Club Programs
HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The Heritage Classic Foundation passed out $701,000 Tuesday to local charitable groups, and among the checks was $5,000 to Public Tennis, Inc., to continue PTI's tennis instruction programs at the Boys & Girls Club of HHI.
PTI President Jacque Houck accepted the check for funding the program now directed and conducted by HHI teaching pro Emmett Diggs.
The foundation, beneficiary of golf's annual Verizon Heritage Classic, parceled out the $701,000 to 84 charities. Additionally, 36 organizations earned $407,460 from the foundation's Birdies for Charity program, as reported by IPacket.

Changes in Original Schedule -- Check 'em
Combo Season Starts Friday; Total Teams Jump from 25 in 2006 to 36 This Year
HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- Men's and Women's Combo League seasons will get under way with first matches Friday and a record increase in teams participating.
Combo coordinator Kathy Foulkes shows 24 Adult and 12 Senior teams on TennisLink, a leap of 11 over last year's total of 25 teams. "We have seven flights this year with team increases in all but one," she said.
All schedules are now on TennisLink, but Foulkes cautioned captains to doublecheck their dates because some have changed since the initial posting. The first match is 7.5 Senior Women. State playoffs will be Oct. 25-29 at the Family Circle Tennis Center, Charleston. Sectional Championships will take place Jan. 25-28 in Baton Rouge LA.

Winners Posted in Hilton Head Island Junior Championships
HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- Chaplin Park Tennis Center hosted the annual Hilton Head Island Junior Championships last weekend, with 36 entrants including those in the parent/child competition.
Here are the finals, reported by Tournament Director Jedd Vance:
The Boys' 14 singles winner was Robert Steinebach, who defeated Michael Shaw in the final 6-1, 6-3. The Boys' 16 winner was Dave Steinebach, Robert's older brother, who defeated Tyler Dunn in the final 6-1, 6-0. The Girls' 14 winner was Samantha Droop over Magnolia Colket 6-0, 5-0 in a match ended by rain.
The biggest draw was the parent/child doubles division and the winners were Ben and Trey Hale. They beat Jaclyn and Job de Boer in the final 7-5, 6-2. In consolation matches, it was: Boys' 16 consolation winner -- Trey Hale; Girls' 14 consolation winner -- Melanie Reyes; Parent/Child consolation winner -- Caitlin and Julie Jilly.

Another Venue for What's Happening in Area Tennis: The Chaplin Chatter
HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The Chaplin Chatter started out as an e-newsletter for anyone playing out of Chaplin Park Tennis Center, but has expanded its coverage areawide, what with Chaplin teams and players competing wherever league and tournament schedules take them.
Tim Ryan produces The Chatter and has about 150 on his free email address list. If you are interested in receiving The Chatter, email Tim at chaplinroundrobin@hotmail.com. Oh, and if you would like to join in the Sunday afternoon mixed doubles round robins, let Tim know at the same address. A sample issue of The Chatter is an attachment to this E-News issue.

Hot Shots and the Company They Will Have Truckin' to Nationals
MOBILE AL (TENNIS E-News via TennisLink) -- Just in case you might be wondering who ended up winning all those USTA League Southern Championships, in addition to Hilton Head Island league's Sun City Hot Shots, here's the rundown by playing division, with champion and finalist or runnerup listed:
Seniors
W3.0 -- SC/HHI Sun City Hot Shots; LA/Shreveport
M3.0 -- GA/Atlanta; SC(B)/Florence
W3.5 -- SC/Charleston; TN/Chattanooga
M3.5 -- LA(B)/Shreveport; LA(A)/Baton Rouge
W4.0 -- LA/New Orleans; NC/Charlotte
M4.0 -- AL/Birmingham; SC/Greenwood
W4.5 -- AR/Little Rock; NC/Charlotte
M4.5 -- LA/Monroe; TN/Memphis
Adults
W2.5 -- AL/Birmingham; AR(B)/Jonesboro
M2.5 -- GA(A)/Atlanta; NC/Downeast
W3.0 -- TN/Knoxville; GA(A)/Atlanta
M3.0 -- LA(A)/Baton Rouge; KY/Lexington
W3.5 -- SC/Charleston; AL/Birmingham
M3.5 -- GA/Atlanta; LA/Shreveport
W4.0 -- AL/Mobile; MS/Jackson
M4.0 -- LA/Lafayette; KY/Lexington
W4.5 -- NC/Lake Norman; MS/Jackson
M4.5 -- NC/Cary; GA/West Georgia
W5.0 -- KY/Louisville; NC/Raleigh
M5.0 -- GA/Atlanta; NC/Greensboro
Men's Open -- SC/Charleston; MS/Jackson

TENNIS E-News FootNote
ooooO
( ) Bumpersticker on a van with a Georgia license plate (7/29):
( ) Dog is my co-pilot.
(___)

-- Dennis Malick