Summer Tennis Heating Up

Relatively Recent Happenings

Hideaway No Longer Hidden

I recently exposed the best kept secret in FOrt Myers tennis, and that was The Hideaway Golf & Country club, "hidden away" just east of US 41 and slightly north of Crystal Drive. Well, the secret is definitely out because at least two Lee County Women's Tennis League (LCWTL) teams will make The Hideaway their home this coming fall. 

Bert Ann Haas

Within the past week, a Copper team led by Bert Ann Haas, and a 3.0 team led by Pearle Warren have joined The Hideaway. Talks are underway with at least one other team to make The Hideaway their home base for league play. If you are interested in playing on a Hideaway team, becoming a member, or just checking the place out, drop me an email at taniles13@yahoo.com.

Naples City Championships 

Luke Andreae

Two Fort Myers USPTA Pro League regulars who you may know haved moved into the later rounds of the 43^rd Annual Naples City Tennis Championships at the Arthur Allen Tennis Center in Cambier Park. No.3 Seed John Jerome of Wildcat Run was the first player to reach the Men’s NTRP 5.0 Semifinals.

John Jerome

John battled Jim Harris, an occasional Pro League sub, for three sets before claiming the 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 victory. On the same half of the draw, is No.1 Seed Luke Andreae, another long-time Pro League stalwart from Punta Gorda. Luke had little trouble getting past his quarterfinal opponent, Alvaro Rincon, posting a 6-3, 6-1 victory, and will face John in the Semis.

Ultimate Tennis Finals

Alberto del Valle (2.5 Division) of Three Oaks Park, Monroe Smith (3.0 Division) of Paseo, and yours truly (5.5), now playing out of The Hideaway Golf & Country Club, claimed Ultimate Tennis Championships Last Saturday at the Longwood Athletic Club in Sarasota. Click here for details.

FMRC 3.5 Men at USTA Regionals

The 3.5 Senior Men’s team from Fort Myers Racquet Club (FMRC) participated in the Section Tournament on May 4-6, and did pretty well despite being short-staffed. With only six players making the trip to Daytona, members of the FMRC crew were able to win four consecutive matches before falling in the Championship match, their fifth match in 3 days. 

USTA Men's 3.5 Regional Finalists

They lost to Defending Champion Marion County. Team members included: Kevin Gaines (Captain), Steve Crosby, Thomas Carlisle, Mark Fair, Paul Marinell, and Dan Campbell. 

Sanibel Island Open

Jason Goare, newly of Fort Myers, was the Finalist in the Men’s Open of the Sanibel Island Open played at the Dunes Golf & Tennis Club, May 4 -6. Jarod fell to No.1 Seed Michael Ray Palleres, who is currently ranked in the top 1200 players in the world.

Ed Bolter

Another local player, No. 2 Seed Ed Bolter, had a good showing in the event as well, losing a tough three-setter in the Final to Phil Girrbach, 6-3, 4-6, 1-0.

Colonial Jr. Challenge

Logan Glock a few
earth rotations ago

At the Colonial Junior Challenge, at Colonial Country Club, Top Seed Logan Glock made it to the Final of the Boys’ 14s before falling to No.2 Seed Raul Rodriguez of Marco Island, 4-6, 3-6. In the Boys’ 18s, Adam Hamilton of Fort Myers downed Kevin Bartlett of Estero, 2-6, 6-2, 1-0. In the Girls’ 14s Shani Idlette gave the No.1 Seed and eventual Champion Ariel Schneider of Canton, GA a scare in the Semis before losing 1-6, 6-4, 0-1.

Playing Opportunities

Although many of our tennis friends have headed for theoretically cooler climes for the summer, there are plenty of opportunities for you to stay on the courts and in the game.

USTA Leagues

USTA Florida’s Adult Combo, Senior Combo and Adult Mixed Leagues are about to start and if you want a chance to go to a regional or national championship event this is one of the better options available. Actually it is the only option if a national event is on your bucket list.

In case you haven’t done USTA Leagues before, a Combo League combines your ability rating (and you can self rate if don’t already have a rating) and your partner’s to come up with a team rating. You both have to be 18 years old or more. A Senior Combo League is pretty much the same with the addendum that all players have to be at least 50-years old or turning 50 this year.  The Adult Mixed Doubles League is simply a combo league with men and women as partners.

Registration is open for all three leagues and closes on Friday, June 1^st. Play begins the week of June 18^th and runs through August 24^th for the Combo Leagues, and June 23^rd through August 25^th for the Mixed League. For more info on the Adult Combo League, contact Kevin Gaines at gainesusta@gmail.com, and for the Senior Leagues contact Jon McVety at tennisjon@comcast.net.

Ultimate Tennis

The Ultimate Tennis Summer Season is just about here. Singles deadline for men and women is May 25^th, and Mixed Doubles is June 8^th. Doubles won’t kickoff until July. Click here if you want to test your game against competition on your own terms.

Wildcat Run

Free men’s 3.0 and 3.5 round robins on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30am. Call John Jerome at 239-947-2323

Beachview Belmont

Toni Halski and Beachview Golf and Tennis Club on Sanibel will be hosting the Beachview Belmont Golf & Tennis Championships on Saturday, June 9^th. The event is a combination golf and tennis competition with two person teams. The tennis will consist of Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles competition, and golf will be a two-person scramble. The entry fee is $50 per person and that includes tennis, golf, and lunch! The entry deadline is Wednesday, June 6^th. If you want in, call 239-472-9099

Land Sharks

Land Sharks Tennis is having its 2^nd Annual Battle of Champions on June 23 & 24 at Miromar Lakes Beach and Golf Club in Miromar Lakes. The battle pits 4.0 through 5.0-plus Land Sharks members from Lee and Collier Counties against each other in a team competition.

In the inaugural event, according to coordinator Orlando Ferrer, “Land Sharks Collier team prevailed over Land Sharks Lee team overwhelmingly…” In addition to the Men’s Singles and Doubles that were included last year, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles will be added to the competition this time around.

Interested players in their respective counties should contact the event Captains:

• Click names below to get in touch with Lee Captains: Art Nowakowski  and Frank Fourgeau
• Click on below names to get in touch with Collier Captains: Orlando Ferrer and Tye Myers.