HIDEAWAY TENNIS UPDATE- TEAM REPORT & MORE

Hello Tennis Enthusiasts,

I hope your New Year is off to a good start! If you are new to the Hideaway or aren’t familiar with The Hideaway Tennis Program, I would like to welcome you. If you spend any time on the computer, the following link is one that will help keep you up to date on all things related to Hideaway tennis. The Tennis Member Handbook, Meeting Minutes, Team Home Match Schedules, and more can be found here: http://sdrv.ms/1bsZykF.

For those who prefer social tennis, the Tennis Association 

Bill Dey- Round Robin
Coordinator most days

Round Robin, at least the men’s edition on Tuesday and Friday at 7:30am, is in full swing with the return of snow birds including Bill Holzeuer, John Moore, Gordon MacDonald, Phil Coffey and others. Speaking of the Association, the Annual Tennis Association Cookout will be held on Monday, February 24th at 5:00 pm at the Oakmont Village pool patio.

Linda Sisco & Rennie Bassett

For those interested in team play, at the start of 2014 The Hideaway went from zero opportunities for team play, to six teams currently playing in local leagues (3 women’s, 3, men’s). There have been inquiries about having 60-Plus and 80-Plus ladies teams as well. 

Paula & Vivian team up

Hideaway residents Paula Barry, Lee Cross, Vivian Landis, Michelle Paquette, and Linda Sisco are playing on Lee County Women’s Tennis League (LCWTL) teams for the second consecutive year, and representing The Hideaway in fine fashion.

Paula's missing from this one

The teams include a 50-Plus Bronze team (for women over 50 who are rated 3.0-Minus and below), a 50-plus Copper team (over 50 and rated 3.5-Minus to 3.0-Minus), and a 3.0 team for women 21 years old and older who are rated 3.0. USTA Florida league teams are also an option for those seeking competitive play.

Copper Co-Captain Terri Turner & Paula Barry

Our Hideaway teams are doing well, and I wanted to send kudos to our Hideaway residents who have embraced the team experience. Paula and Vivian have been holding their own on the Bronze team, each posting third-set tiebreak wins in recent matches. 

Bonnie Bogli, Bert Ann Haas, & Lee Cross
last season

Since their return, Lee, Linda and Michelle have bolstered the Copper team, led by Bert Ann Haas and Terri Turner, taking the team to its highest division standing (6^th of 22 teams) to date. The Copper team will play at home next on Friday, February 21^st at 10:30am.

Lynne Price- 3.0 Co-Captain

Our 3.0 Team, with Lynne Price and Rennie Bassett at the helm is 19^th of 22 teams to this point. Last season we finished 12^th of 22 with a strong push at the end. Another strong push at the end will be needed if we are to better our division standing from a year ago. The team will play next at home on Monday, February 10^th, at 10:30 against Gulf Harbour.

Bronze Co-Captain Pat Ben-Dov & partner
Reggie Miskovish

New to the League this season is our Bronze team, co-captained by Pearle Warren and Pat Ben-Dov. Thus far our Bronze ladies are the 10^th of 21 teams in the standings, and I expect them to remain in the top 

Bert Ann Haas & Pearle Warren

half of the standings through season’s end. You can see our Bronze ladies play at home next on Wednesday, February 19^th at 10:30am.

Captain Mike Stern

On the men’s side of things, our Southwest Florida Team Tennis (SWFTT) team, led by Mike Stern, is holding its own, sitting in third among 10 teams. The SWFTT League was formed to offer players who age 50 and above, and rated 4.0 and above and opportunity for competitive play. Armor Persons, who maintains out tennis courts is on the team, and so am I. We will host Beachview, the top team in the League, on Friday, February 7^th, at 2pm and the fourth-place team, Park Meadow, on the 14^th at 2pm as well.  

Captain Ed Marcelo serves it up

Our men’s Lee County 70-Plus team, captained by Ed Marcelo, is struggling early in the season, sitting in 5^th place, two points ahead of the 6^th and last-place team. However, our guys are not daunted and will be battling through season’s end regardless of where we finish.  They next play at home on January 29^th at 2pm.

Our Men’s USTA 65 and over 7.0 team will open their home stand on Friday, February 21^st at 2pm. The team played its first match on January 24^th, and will be looking to represent The Hideaway at Sectionals in Daytona.

Of course, where our teams finish in the standings isn’t the most important consideration. That our teams enjoy their time on court and represent themselves and The Hideaway with class are more important than results, and they all have certainly done both to date!

Housekeeping

Peg Perry with Bill Cross, Tennis Association Pres.

In efforts to enhance participation, the Tennis Association has decided to move the monthly meeting to a day and time that may be more conducive to member attendance. Next month’s meeting will be Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 4:30pm.

As you may already know, tennis parking has been relegated to the east end of the parking lot, across from the golf practice net. Security guards, team captains, and all involved with the tennis program will do what we can to ensure that visiting players are aware of the new parking arrangements.

We hope your New Year has gotten off to a good start, and we will be back with a report from the courts next month.

T. A. Niles, USPTA Professional

Hideaway Tennis