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Carolina Tennis --
Year-Round Passion
CONTENTS
Tennis Directory
Park Programs
Special Notes
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uild it and they will come. No, we’re not talking baseball fields, but rather, tennis centers in the Carolinas that were planned and built with the vision of hosting world-class tournaments attracting major players in the sport.
For two weeks each April, the Family Circle Tennis Center, located on Daniel Island, S.C., is home to the Family Circle Cup. The rest of the year, 17 tennis courts are filled with all ages and skill levels, enjoying the sport and improving their game.
“Our center is actually owned by the city of Charleston and is a public facility,” explained Rob Eppelsheimer, center director.
“You can walk up and pay to play, but we also have memberships in our club. The facility was designed and built to house this tournament, which is why we started with 32 acres and built 17 tennis courts – 13 clay courts and four hard surface courts –
all lighted for nighttime play, and with spectator bleachers.”
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he complex includes a 13,000 sq. ft. building, with a pro shop and conference facilities. “During the seven years the Family Circle Cup has been held here, we’ve been visited by a number of other programs and have become the template they used to build their facilities,” he said. “When the tournament comes in, we change from being a day-to-day public tennis facility to becoming what I call a little city.”
“The membership comes to a standstill in terms of play, but we have all kinds of benefits for them, such as cocktail parties where they can meet the players, autograph and wine tasting parties and a special tent reserved for our members,” he said.
There are about 700 volunteers who help, and Mr. Eppelsheimer estimates that about 80% of the members volunteer in some way. Their payback? Watching some of the best players in the world is one very tangible benefit that has surely attracted more folks to embrace the sport. Another benefit is that fabulous center, which is their tennis playground for the rest of the year. There are various plans and membership programs, designed to fit the skill levels and interests of enthusiasts from Charleston and beyond.
“My daughter is on a tennis scholarship at Clemson University, and she progressed through our whole program,” he explained, adding that she is now playing in Division 1 ACC for the school, which is currently ranked 13th in the United States.
Mr. Eppelsheimer is originally from Pittsburgh, and came to the College of Charleston more than 20 years ago on a tennis scholarship. After graduation, he stayed in the area and is enthused about what the Center and Family Circle Cup have done for his adopted hometown. “For the Charleston area, there’s no doubt that building the Center and bringing the Cup here has made us a tennis destination, and raised the bar for centers in the region.”
Right down the street is the Daniel Island Club, a private country club with a loyal and enthusiastic tennis participation.
“We’ve definitely had families who moved to Daniel Island because of our tennis program,” explained Stuart Small, tennis director for the past three years. “In the past, when people wanted to move into a country club community, the golf course had a greater influence, but now we’re seeing tennis build a following of its own.”
Of course, Daniel Island has all of the accoutrements one could want, including two private 18-hole golf courses, eight har tru clay courts, two hard courts, pools, fitness center, full service golf and tennis pro shops and a great clubhouse with dining facilities and social events. It’s the tennis program that’s the focus here, and there’s a lot happening for Daniel Island residents and club members. “We have the Daniel Island Kids Camp, which incorporates tennis, golf and swimming for children, as well as United States Tennis Association (USTA) and Charleston Area Ladies Tennis Association (CALTA) teams, private instruction, after-school tennis clinics and round robin tournaments,” Mr. Small said.
The Daniel Island Club and Family Circle Tennis Center work together. Although one is public and the other membership only, they share a common island and a favorable tennis climate. “There might be two weeks a year total that we don’t have people playing tennis,” Mr. Small theorized. “If the temperature is above 40 degrees and it’s not raining, there will be people playing tennis.”
In North Carolina, The Palisades is an award-winning, 1,600-acre, environmentally-sensitive master-planned community above Lake Wylie in Charlotte.
It also has a country club with a Nicklaus Design championship 18-hole private golf course, The Palisades Soccer Complex, an Equestrian Center operated by Katanuma Farms and the Tim Wilkison Signature Sports Complex.
Known as “Dr. Dirt” for his hard-fought wins and perseverance on the court as an internationally-acclaimed professional tennis star, Tim Wilkison has brought that same focus on excellence, skill and love of the sport to the Sports Complex that bears his name. His partner, Mike Boston, has spent 20 years in sports management, with more than eight years’ experience running one of the finest tennis clubs in the U.S. Interestingly enough, Mr. Boston also played on a full tennis scholarship for the College of Charleston.
A native of Shelby, N.C., Mr. Wilkison explained their goals in the creation of the Sports Complex. “We were sure tennis could be as much of a draw for people moving in as golf has always been,” he explained, adding “tennis has a big, loyal constituency and tennis is our passion.”
The team was instrumental in designing the Sports Complex so that it could accommodate international tournament play. That design and the commitment to tennis by Mr. Wilkison, Mr. Boston and Jim Medall, president of Rhein Medall Communities, was a major factor in attracting the Outback Champions Series to the Palisades Country Club. Last year’s event was extremely successful and the 2007 event, to be held September 26-30, has already attracted seven-time Wimbledon Champion, Pete Sampras, to play.
Mr. Medall is enthusiastic about tennis at The Palisades. “I am a big believer that tennis programs work because of the people who run them,” he explained. “Mike and Tim came to me and expressed an interest in bringing the kind of program to tennis that would make it work. We studied it and looked at the product that USTA is starting to produce and became excited about it.”
The Championships at The Palisades will be the fourth of six events on the 2007 Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events in the United States featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30.
Has this program and tournament convinced more people to take up the sport? “I think it is doing what it is supposed to do,” Mr. Medall suggested, adding that the Charlotte tournament attracted more people than any other venues which hosted it. “It’s another amenity for our residents to have a professional, high-quality tournament come to their community,” he explained. “It’s also great for the Charlotte area.”
Of course, tennis is played at public and private clubs throughout the Carolinas. The South Carolina chapter of the USTA includes more than 22,000 members. North Carolina has 28,400. With world-class tournaments and passionate advocates, the sport will continue to attract children and adults. Mr. Wilkison laughed, “I play in a men’s round robin as often as I can here at The Palisades. All those guys are trying to beat me, and they will, someday, but it hasn’t happened yet.”
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Tennis
Directory -- We love this game!
Although big-name tournaments make a splash in the Carolinas, the enthusiasm for the game is found in all ages, private communities and public facilities -- perhaps it’s the tennis-perfect climate, or maybe it’s the proud history of the sport throughout both states.
Thinking of making your move with tennis racket in hand? Here is a brief list of a few of the communities that offer tennis. Know about more great tennis communities? Contact Kathy Pettit at Kpettit@CarolinaLiving.com and we’ll add them to this ever-growing list.
Carolina Preserve by Del Webb
Cary, NC
Four tennis courts being built that are Har-Tru clay, lighted for night play. The community is developing an assistance program with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There are about 20 people signed up for the charter tennis club which is headed by David Rosenzweig – david.rosenzweig@ourcpamberly.net and 919.481.9810. The facilities are for the sole use of residents and guests and the program will expand as the number of homes increases to 1200. The courts are located near the center of the community and the 34,000 sq.ft. clubhouse. The courts are buffered by the protected wildlife areas to the west, and the 15-acre Lake Amberly to the east. When courts are completed there will be adult clinics and other special programs.
Cedar Creek
Aiken, SC
Two tennis courts, with six more proposed during the next 12 months. The surface is painted asphalt (new courts will be soft courts). Reserved for residents and their guests, the courts have bleachers and a lovely view of the rolling hillside.
There is an organized tennis group within the community.
The Cliffs Communities
The Cliffs at Glassy, Landrum, SC
The Cliffs Valley, Travelers Rest, SC
The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards, Sunset, SC
Three of their seven communities have tennis facilities: The Cliffs Valley community is equipped with six clay and two hard courts, all lighted for night play; The Cliffs at Glassy community has four hard courts; and The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards has two clay courts, both lighted for night play. In addition, tennis facilities are planned at each of the four communities in development: The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, The Cliffs at Keowee Springs (at the Keowee Springs Lodge and Spa), The Cliffs at Walnut Cove and The Cliffs at Mountain Park.
The tennis pro is Ernie Cloer USPTA Certified PI with more than 30 years’ experience in all aspects of tennis.
The Cliffs at Glassy tennis courts have a spectacular, 50-75 mile view of Greenville/Spartanburg. The Cliffs Valley tennis courts are nestled in the valley, surrounded by the peaks of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards’ tennis courts sit atop a hillside overlooking Lake Keowee.
There is a very active tennis association. The Cliffs offers a full assortment of tennis for all its members and their guests. For the adults: weekly men’s and ladies’ doubles days, USTA Leagues, clinics, interclub play and weekly mixed doubles in the evening. Monthly socials, special events such as costume Halloween Round Robin, Club Championships (singles, doubles, mixed doubles), tennis exhibitions featuring world-class players, group and private lessons for all levels are available by appointment. For the junior players, The Cliffs offers weekly clinics, summer tennis camp, inter-club matches, special events, adult/junior championships, junior club tennis championships, and after-school clinics.
Daniel Island
Charleston, SC
There are 10 private courts at the Daniel Island Club (eight are Har-Tru and two are hard), and 17 public courts at the Family Circle Tennis Center (13 are clay and four are hard). All are lighted for night play. Stuart Small is the tennis pro on staff who manages Daniel Island’s very strong tennis program. The Daniel Island Club is for members only; The Family Circle Center has a variety of membership packages as well as public rates available. All are within walking or biking distance to all island neighborhoods.
Daniel Island Club has tennis camps throughout the summer which are open to members and their guests. Family Circle Cup has tennis camps and programs year round, open to the public.
Grand Harbor Golf and Yacht Community
Greenwood, SC
There are three, soft clay, sub-irrigated hydro tennis courts at Grand Harbor, with room for three more. The courts are lighted for night play. Paul Hamilton, certified PTR, is the tennis pro on staff. A number of people are active in the tennis program, which is reserved for members only. Members must be property owners, and there is an equity deposit to the club included in the price of the property.
The courts are located within the Grand Harbor community, and only a short 5- to 8-minute drive from its sister communities, The Retreat and The Plantation. There are views of the lake, fitness center and golf course.
The tennis program offers league play, group clinics, tennis luncheons and mixed doubles. Adult and children’s clinics are available to members only, by appointment.
Habersham
Beaufort, SC
There are three self-irrigating clay courts at Habersham, lighted for night play and within walking distance of all residences. Gary Bellomy is the tennis pro on staff who is helping develop this new program for the community. Habersham Park also features nature trails, playgrounds, community gardens, sports fields and a dog park.
Harbour Watch
Lexington, SC
There are two sub-irrigated soft surface courts at Harbour Watch, lighted for night play and located near residences. A growing group of residents enjoy play there, and the courts are open only to owners and their guests. Multiple lake views are available from the courts and the property owner’s association is currently forming a league.
Jefferson Landing on New River
West Jefferson, NC
The tennis program at Jefferson Landing is under development, with two courts now and the capability of expanding to a total of six courts which are very close to several residential neighborhoods. There is a view of the surrounding countryside and Mt. Jefferson. The courts have been converted to clay and are not lighted, since the tennis season coincides with the summer months and longer daylight hours. The community has plans to hire a teaching professional for the summer season. Because the courts have just been converted to clay, the program is in its infancy. Players will need to be members of the club to play, and membership has been priced at $300 annually. It is anticipated that the program will include clinics for children and adults, exhibitions, and organized league play.
Legacy Lakes
Aberdeen, NC
The tennis-based amenity center is being constructed, with estimated completion in January of 2008. Eight courts are proposed, using Har-Tru clay and including high-quality lighting for night play. A tennis pro and tennis shop will be available. The program will be available to the public, and the courts are positioned near the entrance of the community. The amenity area looks over the golf course and the first house will be several hundred yards away from the courts. Some courts are located to the rear of the clubhouse, which resembles an attractive plantation home, with a large, covered porch on the back. The area is heavily landscaped with greenery and flowers. An assortment of both public and private programs will be available.
Mount Vintage Plantation & Golf Club
Augusta/Aiken, SC
There are six courts with Har-Tru surface, all lighted for night play. Dave Hyams is the USTA tennis pro on staff, who offers lessons and publishes a newsletter. Approximately 50 people are active in the program. The tennis courts are within the community and feature a view of the pool, golf course and practice green. Special events include Tennis Olympics, Wine and Cheese Doubles Round Robins, Mixed Doubles Invitationals, a Junior Doubles Tournament and a Tennis & Golf Marathon.
The Palisades
Charlotte, NC
The community features seven clay courts and one grass court, including an international-sized stadium with professionally designed television lighting. The facility will eventually have 22 courts, with U.S. Open hard courts and additional clay courts in future phases. Five courts are lighted for night play, including the stadium court which has perhaps the finest lighting in the Southeastern U.S.
Tim Wilkison designs the tennis programming and has three full-time tennis professionals available for lessons and clinics. About 70% of the residents are active in leagues, lessons, clinics and social events. Memberships are available for both residents of the Palisades community and non-residents of the area. Scott Jenkin, from Cornwall, England, is the USPTA-certified director of tennis.
The Tim Wilkison Sports Complex is surrounded by residential neighborhoods. Bike paths and walking trails connect the facility to all the neighborhoods. The panoramic views from the porch include two lakes, a Wimbledon grass court and the #16 hole of the Nicklaus-designed golf course. The championship clay courts are placed in different elevations amongst the clubs’ heavily-wooded 14 acres.
The sports complex offers a complete schedule of camps and clinics, including 11 weeks of children’s summer tennis camp. There are tennis and golf camps, as well as Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break camps. The adult program features a weekly introduction to tennis, weekly stroke-of-the-day classes, team practices and more. A unique, daily match-making service is available for all members.
Palmetto Creek
Southport/Wilmington, NC
There are two tennis courts with surfaces that are lighted for night play. They have Deco Turf, a composition hard court surface (just like the US Open surface). The courts are very close to the neighborhood and have a view of the lake, pool and putting green. The program is being developed within this new community.
Preserve at Wolf Laurel & The Wolf Laurel Resort
Burnsville, NC
Three hard surface tennis courts are available to residents at The Preserve at Wolf Laurel,
or to members of the Village Amenities membership in The Wolf Laurel Resort.
Neighborhoods are adjacent to or less than 1/2 mile from the courts, which are centered
in the beautiful Village Amenities area. At about 4,300 feet in elevation, the area is
very close to streams, the trout pond, swimming pool and rustic pavilion/community center.
The Wolf Laurel Tennis Club is part of the amenities program and a tennis ball machine is available.
Regularly scheduled play time is Monday-Saturday, and professional instruction is available from Tom
Schrecendost, the local tennis coach at Mars Hill College.
Stoney Point at Lake Greenwood
Greenwood, SC
There are four, soft clay, sub-irrigated hydro tennis courts at Stoney Point at Lake Greenwood. The courts are lighted for night play and are located within Stoney Point and about two minutes from its sister community, Newport. The view is of the clubhouse, fitness center, golf course and driving range.
Paul Hamilton, certified PTR, is the tennis pro on staff. There are two women’s 3.0-3.5 teams, and 25+ people are active in the tennis program. At Stoney Point, the public can take lessons and clinics for a monthly fee: $50/month for clinics; $32/hour for private lessons; and $20/half hour for private lessons. The tennis program offers league play, group clinics, tennis luncheons and mixed doubles. Adult and children’s clinics are available by appointment to members and non-members. Advanced groups play on Monday and Wednesday from 4-5pm for $50/month. Beginner groups play on Tuesday from 4-5pm for $35/month.
Trillium
Cashiers, NC
Three indoor courts and two outdoor courts are available at the community of Trillium, all from clay composite. They are lighted for night play. Carlos deCubas is the tennis pro who works with residents on a variety of programs and events. The indoor courts are within walking distance to Trillium Ridge residents, and the outdoor courts are within walking distance to Trillium Links. Tennis events begin in May and end in October and include tournaments, adult clinics, children’s clinics and camps and weekly tennis events including Ladies’ Tennis, Men’s Tennis and Mixed Doubles. Both indoor and outdoor courts must be reserved before use.
Vista at Bill’s Mountain
Lake Lure, NC
There are two hard-surface courts reserved for residents and located in the large amenity area with clubhouse, patio, pools and beautiful mountain views.
Wakefield Plantation
Raleigh, NC
Eight lighted tennis courts are available in Wakefield Plantation, including four hard court and four clay surface, all lighted for night play. Butch Young is the director of tennis. This private country club is available for residents and their guests. About 350 families are active in the tennis programs and there are a number of camps and clinics for adults and children.
Waterford of the Carolinas
Wilmington, NC
Six tennis courts are available at this coastal area community. They have Deco Turf, a composition hard court surface (just like the US Open surface). Jeff Hawkins is a USTA teaching pro who offers lessons on-site, and the facilities are in the center of the neighborhoods. Players enjoy a view of the pool, clubhouse, lawn of the recreation center, and homes. Players are 3.0 and 3.5 level and the Brunswick County Tennis Association has round robin tournament play on site.
Woodside Plantation
Aiken, SC
The Woodside Plantation Country Club has ten tennis courts and the Reserve Club has six. At Woodside, eight courts are Har-Tru clay and two are hard surface. All courts at The Reserve are Har-Tru. At both clubs, all courts are lighted for night play. There are two pros on staff at Woodside Plantation; The Reserve is a young club which is still growing. Approximately 300 people at Woodside and 20 at The Reserve participate. Lessons are available to the public at a cost of $50/lesson. The courts are located at the center of both club neighborhoods and offer beautiful views of the golf courses and club houses. There are clinics and camps for adults and children, as well as after-school tennis programs at Woodside. For children, tennis is included in Camp Reserve for members and their guests in June and July.
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Parks and Recreation Center Programs
~Tennis programs are found throughout the Carolinas, in private communities and through recreation programs.
Notable tennis programs in South Carolina include those in the City of Aiken, City of Charleston, City of Columbia, Florence, Lexington and Richland Counties, Mount Pleasant, Rock Hill and Sumter.
~In North Carolina, parks and recreation tennis programs of note include those in:
Cary, Currituck County, Greensboro, Mecklenburg County (includes Charlotte), and Pitt County.
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Special Notes
~The Tennis Industry Association has named four centers in the Carolinas among their Top 50 Tennis Welcome Centers in the U.S. Facilities were chosen based on the numbers of new and returning players, level of participation in grassroots initiatives and other criteria.
Family Circle Tennis Center, Daniel Island, S.C.
Grande Dunes Tennis Club, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Lexington County Tennis Center, Lexington, S.C.
Millbrook Exchange Tennis Center, Raleigh, N.C.
~Kiawah Island Golf Resort was named #1 tennis resort in the U.S. by Tennis Resorts Online.
Other Carolina resorts in the top 25 include:
#5 Palmetto Dunes Resort, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
#8 Wild Dunes Resort, Isle of Palms, S.C.
#12 Daufuskie Island Resort and Breathe Spa, Daufuskie Island, S.C.
#15 The Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
#21 Port Royal Racquet Club, Port Royal, S.C.
#24 The Seabrook Island Club, Seabrook Island, S.C.
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Katherine Pettit has worked as a writer,
magazine editor, printer and public relations consultant. The Columbia resident
has published more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers. Her writing
explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles, business and management.
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