Swingtime returning to Naples; event aids Gullikson Foundation

A smash hit during its first trip to Naples, the eighth annual Swingtime — A Pro-Celebrity Pro-Am Tennis & Golf Tournament benefiting the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation — is returning Nov. 18-19.

Stock Development will act as host of the event for the second straight year.

The Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation was established in 1995 by world-class tennis pros and coaches Tim and Tom Gullikson, when Tim was diagnosed with brain tumors. The Foundation’s mission is to fund care and support programs to assist brain-tumor patients and their families in managing the physical, emotional and social challenges presented by the illness.

The Foundation funds information and support phone lines for brain tumor patients and their families, sends children who are brain tumor survivors to camp, and gives college scholarships to students who have been affected by brain tumors.

Tim died at age 44 in 1996 after losing his battle with brain cancer. The Foundation continues Tim’s legacy by holding out a hand to those who need support and giving them vital information and hope.

Already confirmed to join Gullikson for the weekend are tennis legend Chris Evert, tennis stars Mardy Fish, Todd Martin, Taylor Dent, and Aaron Krickstein and rising tennis star Jamea Jackson. Over the past eight years, numerous professional athletes and celebrities have supported the event including James Blake, Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Jim Courier and Serena Williams, former baseball standouts Keith Hernandez, Bill Gullickson and Ivan Murrell, golfers Brad Faxon, Michelle McGann and Jane Geddes, Olympians Bob Beamon, Andy Mill, Blaine Wilson and Shannon Miller, NFL Alumni Joe Namath, Earl Morrall, Jim Hart and Jim “Crash” Jensen, actors Robin Givens and James McDaniel and sportscasters Rich Eisen, Linda Cohn and Brett Haber.

Swingtime again will include many exciting activities including a Round-Robin Tennis Pro-Am and Tennis Exhibition at The Players Club & Spa at Lely Resort, a Golf Pro-Am Tournament at Olde Cypress, and “An Evening With the Stars” Swingtime Gala presented by Allen Systems Group.

The pro-ams will provide the chance to play with and against professional athletes and celebrities in both tennis and golf. The Swingtime Gala presented by ASG provides patrons with the chance to meet and dine with celebrities while enjoying live entertainment and taking part in live and silent auctions.

An individual ticket for the Swingtime Gala is $250, while becoming a table sponsor costs $2,500 for a table of ten. Tickets for Saturday’s tennis exhibition, which begins at 1 p.m. are $75 for a box seat ($67.50 for USTA members) and $35 for a general admission seat ($31.50 for USTA members). Additional packages available include the opportunity to play in the Tennis Pro-Am and/or Golf Pro-Am Tournament.

For more information, phone 649.7171 or (561) 394-9190 or e-mail MLCope@chevents.com or saulchevents@bellsouth.net.

- - -

Champions abound in the 37th annual City of Naples Tennis Championships at the Art Allen Tennis Center at Cambier Park. Play ran throughout May and early June at the downtown court complex.

A rundown of finals in each draw, along with a list of winners in draws that were decided by a round-robin format can be found on the Internet at naplesnews.com.

- - -

Tennis Naples Resort at the Naples Bath & Tennis Club will play host to a Friday night exhibiton at 5:30. The “King of the Hill” match will pit Evan Austin and Ytai Abougzir against Juan Carlos Osario and Ido Abougzir. The public is invited to attend at no charge.

- - -

The USTA Naples has announced a new, innovative summer league for adult and senior age groups. Called the “BMW Combo” leagues, the program calls for a three-court format of doubles for men or women. There is no effect on ratings and the levels of play are the combined levels of 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5.

Both day and night teams may be formed. This is an opportunity to take the court with players one normally doesn’t have the chance to play with. For example, a 3.5 can play with a 3.0 in the 6.5 level.

Local play will start with a registration/captains meeting at International College on June 22 at 5:30 p.m. Play will begin the week of July 10 and go through August.

For more information, write Donna Koenig, BMW Combo Coordinator, at Donna@naples.net or Linda Kleitch at racquets99@aol.com.

- - -

A tradition of summertime tennis locally is women’s play that rotates among various clubs. Action is under way in both 3.0 and 3.5 NTRP divisions. Play takes place each Tuesday from 9 to 11 a.m. and runs through Aug. 1 in both divisions.

To compete in the round-robin format, players need only to sign up a week in advance at the host club. The fee each week is $3.

The 3.0 schedule (with host club phone numbers) follows:

-- June 20 – Longshore Lake, 566-2783.

-- June 27 – Sterling Oaks (9:30 start time), 566-1800.

-- July 11 – Quail Creek, 597-9725.

-- July 18 – Naples Bath & Tennis (10 a.m. start), 261-5524.

-- July 25 – The Players Club, 298-5775.

-- Aug. 1 – Cambier Park, 213-3060.

The 3.5 schedule (with host club phone numbers) follows:

-- June 20 – Cambier Park, 213-3060.

-- June 27 – Quail West, 593-4160.

-- July 11 – Longshore Lake, 566-2783.

-- July 18 – Quail Creek, 597-9725.

-- July 25 – The Strand, 592-1928, Ext. 254.

-- Aug. 1 – Bonita Bay (9:30 start time), 495-3573.

- - -

Local clubs are into a busy summer of junior activity. A rundown of clubs listing activities follows:

-- Allen Tennis Center at Cambier Park – offering summer tennis camps for juniors; contact Steve Bogdanoff or Kate Lutgert at 213-3060.

-- The Club at Sterling Oaks — Now to Aug. 18; open to the public; phone David Mix at 566-1800.

-- The Players Club and Spa at Lely Resort – a wide variety of camps, age ranges, and dates; phone Denny Rager at 298-5775.

-- The Preeg-Doherty Junior Tennis Academy – at the Dunes in North Naples; phone John Preeg or Lisa Preeg at 593-9736.

-- USA Tennis School Summer Camp – run by Bogdan Badiu and Pavel Slozil for tournament players ages 10-18; Now through Aug. 4; Phone 285-3129.

-- Summer Camps for Kids — at The Academy at the Naples Bath & Tennis Club; Phone the NBTC pro shop at 261-5777, Ext. 29.

-- Ultra Tennis Academy summer junior program — at The Club at Sterling Oaks beginning running through Aug. 4 for age 9 and older; Contact Nestor Nunez at 649-6698.

- - -

A rundown of activities and events follows:

— Imperial Tennis Club Spring/Summer programs — Dave Scholl-led activities; Tues. 8-9 a.m. Cardio Tennis $15; Tues. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Cardio Tennis $15; Wed. 6-7 p.m. Beginners clinic (rackets supplied) $15; Thurs. 8-9:30 a.m. Ladies 3.0 clinic (Instructional drills and strategy) $20; Sat. 9:30-10:30 .m. Cardio Tennis $15; contact Dave Scholl at 949-4410; Jason Thomas also offering a men’s round-robin 3.0-4.5 Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m.; phone 566-3442.

— Ken Flach Junior Academy — open to public for students of all ages at Tennis Naples Resort at the Naples Bath & Tennis Club; Special package pricing available; Phone 261-5777, Ext. 30.

— 3.0 and 3.5 men’s round-robins - at Quail Creek

Country Club; Every Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 11 a.m.;

Must have appropriate NTRP rating; Cost: $3 per

player; Sign up by calling 597-9725.

— 3.0 and 3.5 women’s round-robins – at Quail Creek Country Club; Every Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m.; Cost: $3 per player; Sign up in advance by phoning 597-9725.

— The Plantation Club at The Dunes - Preeg-

Doherty Junior Tennis Academy: Monday through

Friday, 4 to 6 p.m.; Ladies Day: Tuesdays, 9 to 11

a.m.; Men’s Day: Thursdays, 9 to 11 a.m.; Ladies 3.0

Clinic: Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.; Ladies 3.5 Clinic:

Fridays, 9 a.m.; Phone 593-9680.

— Pelican Bay Community Park events - Most

levels of round-robins for men and women available

each week; Adult and junior clinics held daily; For

specific days-times, phone 598-3025.

— Quail Creek Junior Tennis -Tuesdays and

Thursdays: Tiny Tots from 3:30-4 at $6; Beginners

from 4 to 4:45 at $9; Intermediate and Advanced from

4:30 to 5:30 at $12; Clinic and Ralleyball to be

included; All directed by Doug Welsh; Phone

597-9725.

— Quail West Tennis programs - Tuesdays,

Thursdays and Saturdays; Events include 3.0-3.5

ladies round- robin from 9 to 11 and 3.5-4.0 men’s

round robin from 9 to 11; 3.5-4.0 ladies doubles

clinics on Wednesdays from 9 to 11; Also: Wednesday

clinics for men and women from 9 to 10:30 a.m.; Also:

“3 students and the Pro” on Mondays; Phone

592-1139.

— Weekly mixed doubles round-robin - Fridays at

Pelican Bay Community Park; Phone 598-3025.

— Men’s, women’s and mixed round- robins -

Each day of the week at Pelican Bay Community Park;

Phone 598-3025.

— Adult clinics - for all levels at Pelican Bay

Community Park; Phone 598-3025.

— Men’s round-robin match play - at Imperial

Racquet Club; for days and times, phone Dick

Morrissey at 566-3442.

— Colliertennis.com - the official Web site of the

Community Tennis Association of Collier County.

— matchpoint.homestead.com - Web site providing

relevant and unique local information updated on a

timely basis.

— Collier Tennis Connection - Phone Connie

Kormanyos at 394-8061 or 394-3144, Ext. 224.

— Tennis instruction, lessons - For schedule at

Miromar Beach Club, phone pro Rick Kobleur at

992-0024.

— Private lessons and group clinics for all levels -

Scheduled regularly at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf

Club tennis center, which is open to the public; For

more information, phone Chris Eddy at 435-4351.

— Individual, group and team instruction - at Vanderbilt Country Club; given by Director of Tennis Mike Curran and head pro Christina Oldock; For clinic times and fees, phone 348-1725.

— Marco Island Racquet Club - Round- robins,

league play, USTA competitive teams, Stroke of the

Week clinics, beginners lessons, junior programs and

racquetball challenges; For the complete schedule,

phone 394-5454.

— Men’s and women’s round- robins - at Imperial

Tennis Club; men on Mondays, Wednesdays and

Fridays at 9 a.m. for 3.0-3.5 players and at 10:30 a.m.

for 4.0 -4.5 players; women on Tuesdays and

Thursdays at 9 a.m. for 3.0 players; Phone 566-3442.

— Ladies Day Round Robin, Men’s Day Round

Robin, Saturday Mixed Round Robin - at Cambier

Park Tennis Center, Phone 213-3060; Tuesdays at 11

a.m. women of all levels welcome to participate;

Thursdays at 11 a.m. men of all levels welcome to

participate; Saturday mornings are “Mixed Troubles”

round robin at 9:30.

— Bridgewater Bay Tennis Club - Weekly activities

include: Tuesdays beginner/intermediate clinic 5

p.m., Thursday mixed round robin 6 p.m.; Saturdays

intermediate clinic 9:30 a.m.; Phone 450-1000.

— Saturday Mixed Doubles Round Robin - at

Cambier Park Tennis Center at 10:45 a.m.; Phone

213-3060.

— NBTC Adult Tennis Academy - at the Naples

Bath & Tennis Club; 4-day Super Session and 3-day

Training Program available; Phone 261-5777 Ext. 29.

— Tony Kamen Youth Tennis Clinics - For

beginners/intermediate/high school players; Mondays

and Wednesdays 4-5:30 p.m. at Naples High School

courts. $15 per session or $96 per month; Phone

272-9223; Also, Beginner to Intermediate players

ages 6-12 on Tuesdays 3:30-5 p.m. at Naples High

courts; contact Fleischmann Park at 213-3013.

— Pelican Bay Community Park tennis facility — 764 Vanderbilt Beach Road; 8 lighted Har-Tru courts; park also provides users with racquetball courts, volleyball courts, basketball and bocce courts, softball and soccer field and an enclosed playground for children; 1-mile paved walking/jogging path and a pavilion overlooking a lake; For information on tennis programs or any information about the park, phone 598-3025.

— Wednesday night mixed doubles round-robins - at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club; 5:30 to 7 p.m.; Cost: $15 (includes balls, court time and light refreshments).

— The Preeg-Doherty Tennis Academy — at The Dunes and the Imperial Racquet Club; for tournament players, intermediates and beginners; phone John Preeg or Lisa Preeg at The Dunes, 593-9736.

— Round-Robin Mixers for Men and Women - at Naples Bath & Tennis Club; 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 & 4.0: Times are: Wednesday: 6-8 p.m. and Saturday: 9-11 a.m.; free for members and $10 for non-members; phone NBTC Pro Shop at 261-5524.

- - -

Those wishing to have events or activities included in the weekly Thursday local tennis roundup should e-mail the information to Tom Rife at heart22@comcast.net by 6 p.m. on Tuesday.