GPTA Founder named to GA Tennis Hall of Fame

Peter Howell, Oglethorpe University Assistant Athletics Director and Head Tennis Coach, was selected for induction into the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame. Founded by the Georgia Tennis Association, the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame honors those whose excellence—both on and off the tennis courts—has brought recognition and esteem to themselves and tennis in Georgia. Howell has more than 35 years of playing and teaching tennis. His experience includes holding the No. 5 national ranking by the USTA for six consecutive years and the Georgia Tennis Professional-of-the-Year four times as well as Senior Player-of-the Year twice. He was ranked No. 1 in GA in the 30, 35 and 40 age group doubles. The men’s tennis team he guides at Oglethorpe University has been ranked regionally in the Atlantic South Division among NCAA Division III schools in each of the past three seasons. He has taught thousands of people to play tennis at the Atlanta Athletic Club, Ansley Golf Club, Bitsy Grant Tennis Center and The Standard Club, as well as Oglethorpe University. He has been actively involved with the GA Tennis community as a volunteer, player, professional and coach. In 1977 Howell founded the GPTA, a grass-roots formation of tennis professionals in Georgia dedicated to improving the standards of tennis in the community. Since its creation, the GPTA has become the model for similarly founded organizations across the country. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Howell starred for three seasons for the Commodores on the tennis courts before injury sidelined him for his senior year. As a junior, Howell was named captain of the team and earned Most Valuable Player honors. Howell comes from a family steeped in tennis tradition and, in 1964, the Howell family was selected as the Tennis Family-of-the-Year by the Southern Tennis Association. Peter will join his brother, Richard Howell, who was inducted in 1993 and his mother, Caroline Howell, who was inducted in 2000, as a member of the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame at induction ceremonies scheduled for May 2010. "It’s a terrific honor to be recognized by the tennis community in Georgia as having made a difference," said Howell, who, in his joking nature, added, "It shows that good things happen if you live long enough!" 9/09

 

Kia Amateur Australian Open

Midtown Athletic Club at Windy Hill has been selected to host the 2009 Kia Amateur Australian Open (KAAO) Southern Regional Qualifying Tournament October 15-18. It is a great opportunity for someone from the Southern Region to advance to win the US National Tournament in November. Please note that we can only accept the first 32 players who have never received any professional tour points for both the men and women’s draws. The Grand Prize: A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play to win an all expense paid trip for two to attend the 2010 Australian Open Men’s and Women’s Finals and play in the Kia Amateur Australian Open World Final. To enter visit: www.ustageorgia.com/kaao. 9/09

USTA Georgia Community Tennis Development Workshop

The annual USTA Georgia Community Tennis Development Workshop is set for October 24-25, at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center (www.gatechhotel.com). The workshop reaches out to CTA members, park and recreation professionals, teaching pros, facility personnel and all other tennis movers and shakers. Early registration at the discounted price is $150 is available for registrations that are received on or before October 9. The registration fee after October 9 is $175.00. 9/09

 

Northside Hospital’s annual Tennis Against Breast Cancer Event

This annual event needs your help! Please volunteer your time to help Paige O’Neill with drills for the participants from 9-11:00. Email Paige at mostlymutts@comcast.net  or call 404-819-5056 if you can help. Friday, October 16th. Atlanta Athletic Club. 9/09

USPTA Southern Holds Conference in Atlanta

Atlanta Athletic Club played host to the 2009 USPTA Southern Convention May 14-17. GPTA members and other industry specialists presented on topics ranging from playing the net to marketing. GPTA-member presenters were Ken DeHart, Mark McMahon, Dave Neuhart and Farley Youman. GPTA members, always in the spotlight, took home several awards. Dave Dvorak received the 2009 Pride of the South Award, and Tom Smith took home the Player of the Year Award. GPTA member Ruth Lay is the latest inductee into the USPTA Southern Hall of Fame. 6/09

 

Inaugural Club & Facilities Conference

Professional Tennis Registry hosted its inaugural Tennis Club and Facilities Conference last month on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Feedback from the 62 attendees has shown the eventwas a "very worthwhile" experience. Representing more than 100 clubs in 20 states, participants reportedly appreciated networking with other professionals in the field and sharing ideas in roundtable discussions. The focus was on best practices in tennis facility management with a variety topics broached, including successful programming for revenue generation, understanding and controlling expenses and hiring and managing a topnotch staff. GPTA members Carmen Garcia and Heather Silvia of Silvia Tennis Academy attended. Doug Cash facilitated the two-day event. Case studies were presented by Robert Dunlop, President of the Connecticut Association of Tennis Club Owners, Jeff Gocke, of Tennis Clubs Inc., and Michael Mahoney, of the TCA. In addition, Jolyn de Boer, Executive Director of the TIA and Graham Cox, of USTA South Carolina, addressed the group. It wasn’t all business, however, with Beach Tennis, Cardio Tennis, a Round Robin and dinner dance on the schedule for networking in a more relaxed and fun atmosphere. 6/09

 

Reynolds Receives Honors

The Tennis Industry Association and USTA recently named the tennis program at Reynolds Plantation, led by Peter Burwash International Director of Tennis Dave Neuhart, a Top 50 Tennis Welcome Center for 2008. Adding to an award-winning spring for Reynold’s, Tennis Resorts Online awarded the resort a spot on its list of the Top 50 Tennis Resorts. The TIA and USTA recognized Reynolds Plantation as a Top 50 Tennis Welcome Center for delivering a variety of tennis programs to new and current players of all ages in efforts to increase participation in the game. This is the third consecutive year that Reynolds Plantation earned this award. "The staff at Reynolds Plantation has created a positive tennis experience for its members and guests," says Jolyn de Boer, executive director of the TIA. "Tennis Welcome Centers serve a vital role in delivering tennis, and we are pleased to recognize these efforts with this award." Tennis Resorts Online also honored Reynolds Plantation for the third year in a row with its selection as a Top 50 Tennis Resort. The rankings are determined by vacationers: people who have visited the resort and can be objective about their experience. The online survey included all aspects of the tennis experience as well as quality of lodging, restaurants, children’s programs and value for the dollar. "Receiving both of these awards in the same year and for the third consecutive year speaks to the continuity of quality we try to provide each and every day," said Neuhart, a vice president for the GPTA. "Reynolds Plantation continues to raise the bar not only in quality of facilities, but in service and professionalism to everyone who comes through the gates. It is evident with these recent awards that many others feel the same way about how special this community really is."  The Lake Club Tennis Center at Reynolds Plantation boasts two stadium-sized and six championship-sized lighted courts. The four Har-Tru Hydro clay courts and four traditional hard courts compliment a range of amenities such as tennis packages, clinics, private lessons, player match-up service and the Dartfish system, a computer-aided video analysis software that helps assess and improve a player’s tennis stroke right on the court. A full-service pro shop, computerized ball machine and world-class service round out the amenities that helped Reynolds Plantation garner the 2006 Peter Burwash International Tennis Site of the Year Award.

USPTA, PBI Honor Neuhart, PBI

Reynolds Plantation Director of Tennis Dave Neuhart recently was honored for his 25 years of service to the United States Professional Tennis Association and Peter Burwash International. PBI honored Neuhart, a USPTA-certified pro and GPTA Vice President, with the "Longevity and Loyalty" award for his 25 years of service to PBI, the largest international tennis management firm in the world. "It is great to be honored for all those years of service," said Neuhart. "I love what I do. The past 25 years have been a dream." Neuhart was named the 2000 Professional of the Year by Peter Burwash International (PBI) and is an active member of the international "Who’s Who in Tennis". Reynolds Plantation is a thriving and expanding tennis community under the direction of Neuhart, earning the PBI Facility of the Year in 2006 and a Top-50 Facility designation by Tennis Resorts Online in 2007 and 2008. 1/09

 

Oh What A Night!

Congrats to all of the GPTA award winners and finalists! On December 10, GPTA members and guests gathered to celebrate a year of great tennis across Georgia and the work that tennis pros accomplish each day to promote the game. Many thanks to Country Club of Roswell for hosting the 2008 GPTA Awards Dinner and Member Appreciation Party. 

2008 Award Winners:

Member of the Year: Bill Osterhold (pictured)

Director of the Year (Large Facility): Dave Dvorak

Director of the Year (Small Facility): Tim Smith

Head Pro of the Year (Large Facility): Kevin Jackson

Head Pro of the Year (Small Facility): Chris Wittenberg

Assistant Pro of the Year: Corey Davis

Independent Pro of the Year: Lorna Stribos

Program of the Year: Crooked Creek

Event of the Year: Coach Matt's Charity Invitational

Pro-Am Tournament of the Year: Dunwoody Country Club

Retailer of the Year: Cherokee Town & Country Club

Facility of the Year: Druid Hills Golf Club

Volunteer of the Year: Kevin Jackson

Senior Player of the Year: Tom Smith

 

Dave Dvorak Named USPTA Master Professional 

Congratulations to GPTA Hall of Fame member Dave Dvorak on his most-recent achievement! USPTA has certified Dave as a Master Professional. Only one percent of the 15,000 worldwide teaching professional of the USPTA have achieved the Master Professional level. Dave is also a Past President of the GPTA, the Director of Tennis at Dunwoody Country Club in Atlanta and an energetic force in the Atlanta tennis community. Dave is pictured here (left) with Rick Macci. 11/08

Jorge Capestany: Drills! Drills! Drills!

GPTA members received the opportunity to spend an evening with Jorge Capestany of Hope College in Michigan and www.tennisdrills.tv. Many thanks to Jorge Capestany for sharing his time and talents with the GPTA this month at Atlanta Athletic Club. 11/5/08

 

 

 

 

 

 

GPTA Summer Party presented by Kia Motors

On Monday, August 4, Kia Motors showed its support of the GPTA and Atlanta tennis at Dunwoody Country Club for the 2008 GPTA Summer Party presented by Kia Motors. The record number of attendees enjoyed checking out the 2008 Kia cars, food courtesy of Carrabba's of Dunwoody, and the highlight of the evening--Kia Celebrity Team Tennis. The four teams were led by Karyn Greer and Sam Crenshaw of 11Alive news; Karen Graham of Fox Sports; and William King, a nationally ranked Atlanta-based player and original member of The Commodores. Team Amanti (pictured below), led by Karen Graham, won the tournament and took home the signature Kia and GPTA bag tags, as well as bragging rights. GPTA extended memberships to each of the celebrity judges at the event. More pictures coming soon in the GPTA newsletter, The Pro Approach!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tennis Community Mourns Cohen's Passing

The GPTA and it's members share with sympathy the news of the passing of Natalie Cohen, 94, of Atlanta. She died February 7, 2007, and was preceded in death by her parents, Dewald and Meta Cohen. A member of the GPTA Hall of Fame, Ms. Cohen also was inducted into the Southern Tennis Association Hall of Fame, the Georgia Tennis Association, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and the Georgia Jewish Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1991. She was a well-known tennis player and tennis official, winning many championships. She was an asset to the Atlanta tennis community, and her presence will be missed by all. 2/14/07

 

GPTA 2006 Award Winners

 

• Member of the Year: Dave Dvorak

• Facility of the Year: The River Club
• Assistant Pro of the Year: Ben Hestley
• Player of the Year: Kip Layman
• Senior Player of the Year: Bobbie Campanaro
• Retailer of the Year: Coach Matt's Tennis and More
• Head Pro of the Year, Small Facility: Tim Dutton
• Head Pro of the Year, Large Facility: Kevin Jackson
• Independent Pro of the Year: Danny Thiets
• Event of the Year: USTA Georgia Community Tennis Development Workshop
• Sponsor of the Year: USTA Georgia
• Pro Am of the Year: TPC Sugarloaf
• Program of the Year: Country Club of Roswell
• Director of the Year, Large Facility: Kip Layman
• Director of the Year, Small Facility: Alan Hartley

On December 14, GPTA members and guests congratulated the nominees and winners of the 2005 GPTA Annual Awards. The annual banquet and awards party was held at Country Club of Roswell. In addition to the awards, there was a silent auction and raffle to raise funds for the organization. The 2006 Board of Directors was announced as well. A list of award winners follows:

    Member of the Year: Paige Miller (right)

    Facility of the Year: Atlanta Athletic Club

    Assistant Pro of the Year: Ana Friganovic

    Male Player of the Year: Harlon Matthews

    Female Player of the Year: Marcy Hirshberg

    Senior Male Player of the Year: Hugh Thomson

    Retailer of the Year: Coach Matt's Tennis and More

    Head Pro of the Year: Beth Clay

    Independent Pro of the Year: George Hovsepian

    Event of the Year: The Thomasville Collegiate Invitational

    Volunteer of the Year: Cheryl Luchene

    Sponsor of the Year: USTA Georgia

    Pro Am of the Year: TPC Sugarloaf

    Program of the Year: Ansley Golf Club

    Director of the Year, Large Facility: Darryl Lewis

    Director of the Year, Small Facility: Paul Bartholomai

Georgia Tennis Community Mourns Loss of George Amaya

Tennis took George Amaya out of South America and made him a collegiate national champion and world top-200 touring professional. Sportsmanship took him further. The long-time tennis director of Cherokee Town and Country Club in Atlanta got his biggest break in tennis after a match he lost.  Playing in 1980 at what is now Racquet Club of the South in Norcross, Amaya drew a college player named Bud Cox. Amaya lost the match but impressed a spectator when he gave Cox a line call that the umpire had ruled in Amaya's favor. Six months later, the spectator  Bud Cox's father, Charlie, a Cherokee member and later a Georgia Tennis Hall of Famer himself--called Amaya and told him that he was the kind of player and sportsman that Cherokee needed. 

Amaya was instantly popular at the prestigious Buckhead club and has became one of the most respected teaching professionals in the city, a former director and player of the year, as well as president, for the Georgia Professional Tennis Association.

Amaya was born in Weymouth, Mass., and lived in New England until his father, Jaime, took his family to his native Colombia when George was five. Amaya would become become the No. 2 junior player in the country with little formal training, just a love of tennis that he shared with his father and six siblings. "We used to be more like students of the game," Amaya said. "Any time there was exhibition, like Rod Laver and Fred Stolle came to Colombia, us kids would just kill to go and watch them and take notes and try to emulate how they played." One of Amaya's fondest memories as a teenager was working as a volunteer lines judge in the singles final of a circuit event that came to Colombia. The finalists were Tony Roche and John Newcombe.

Amaya followed brothers Jim and Juan to Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C., and won the NAIA singles and doubles titles in 1971. He spent two years in the military and two in coaching before attempting the pro circuit age 25. In his first pro event, he made the semifinals of singles and finals of doubles in New Zealand. "For the doubles prize money, I got an envelope with a receipt that said, 'Prize money $5, Entry fee $4.50;' Then there was a 50-cent coin," Amaya said. "That's when I realized the circuit was going to be tough." 

Amaya got as high as No. 170 and played the U.S. Open three times. After retiring, Amaya remained one of Atlanta's elite players, competing in ALTA's highest flight, AA-1, into his 50s. He was a four-time singles champion and six-time doubles winner of the Atlanta Senior Invitational, which attracts more senior national champions than any other tournament in the U.S.