Hilton Head Monthly Magazine

The Split: It’s the biggest shake-up of the Hilton Head Island tennis world since the beginning of USTA Leagues. Now, if a hurricane or errant barge knocks out the bridge, not a problem. Island teams are in one league; off-island teams are in another. Well, except for Moss Creekers, who are across the bridge but play in HHI leagues. With the population growth, it wasn’t a matter of whether – but when; and the when is the Super Senior season starting this month. Numbers determine the format, so this first season will be transitional. The populous 3.0 and 3.5 divisions are operating under the Tennis Association of HHI (TAHHI) and Bluffton/Sun City/Beaufort under the new Coastal Carolina Tennis Association (CCTA).

One big plus of the new format is that TAHHI and CCTA, rather than having teams knock off each other locally, will send separate sets of category winners to the South Carolina State Championships in early November. Rating divisions with fewer teams, like the 4.0s, will continue this fall as they have been operating. Come spring, however, that is likely to change.

Super Senior numbers overall are up again this year. The combined men’s and women’s 60s, 70s and 75s had 86 teams last year and are up to 101 this season for the TAHHI/CCTA leagues.

Rosters remain open until well into October, so if you want to try out for a team, the contacts for Super Senior Islanders are Mary Ellen Arboe at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Don Grider at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . For CCTA info, go to Vivian Wayne at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Ernie Clark at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

USTA League Men’s and Women’s Combo teams already are in the heart of their Adult and Senior seasons. Although combo started in time for the new split format, the overall number of teams on both sides of the bridge was not sufficient for the change this year. Combo team numbers are virtually the same as last season – 26 Adult teams, same as in 2007, and 16 Senior teams, just two more than last year. Senior combo will finish late this month; Adult will finish by early October. For combo information, please contact Kathy Foulke at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Aside from the weekday league action, September is one of the busiest months for weekend tournaments, starting September 4-7 with the annual RE/MAX Children’s Miracle Network Doubles at Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center. Men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles will be played in rated divisions 2.5 through open. For information, contact Palmetto Dunes at (843) 785-1152.

The second Hy Tennis KidZone Tournament on September 13 will add a newer and very much younger look to HHI tennis. Kids 8 and under, and 12 and under will play in a day-long follow-up to a July Quickstart tournament at Chaplin Public Tennis Center. Hy Tennis pros Patricia and Yves Boulais use short courts and larger balls to bring the format to kid size, with emphasis on simply having fun while learning tennis skills. Though mostly beginners, some of these kids have strokes that shock and awe adults. For information on the event, the camp and the program itself, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , call (843) 298-4229 or visit kidzonetennis.com.

The September 13-15 weekend is the South Carolina USTA Mixed Doubles League State Championships in Charleston. Our 45 local teams wrapped up their season in mid-August, and league champions will be competing for state titles in combined rating divisions of 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0. Information on State Championships is available online at sctennis.com.

The South Carolina State Closed Senior Clay Court Championships will lure the HHI area’s top players September 18-21 to Litchfield Racquet Club, Pawley’s Island. Playing categories will be men’s (age 35-80) and women’s (35-70) singles and doubles; mixed age 35, 45, 55 and 65; father/son and mother/daughter. To enter online, go to sctennis.com, then TennisLink and use Tournament ID #704103708. For information, call (843) 237-3983.

September 24-28 will bring the annual PTR/ROHO $15,000 Wheelchair Championships conducted by the Professional Tennis Registry. Included in the activities will be workshops on teaching wheelchair players. Admission is free to spectators for the event that is part of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour.

New this year is that most play will be at Chaplin Public Tennis Center and the school courts. Some divisions will begin on Wednesday the 24th in the morning. Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks – ballpersons, lunch servers, check-in, etc. For information on the tournament and to volunteer, contact PTR’s Julie Jilly at (843) 785-7244.

Players of all ages will be busy the final weekend of the month. Adults will be engaged in the September 26-28 Fall Clay Court Championships at Fripp Island Racquet Club.

USTA-sanctioned, the tournament features men’s (age 35-75 odd) and women’s (35-65 odd) singles and doubles; rated men’s andwomen’s 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 singles and doubles; combo mixed doubles 6.0, 7.0, 8.0. To enter online, go to sctennis.com, then TennisLink, then Tournaments, using ID #704137508. For more information please call (843) 838-1504.

September 26-28: Van Der Meer Junior Championships – USTA-sanctioned boys’ and girls’ 18s, 16s, 14s, 12s and 10s in singles only, with consolation rounds included. Online entry: follow sctennis.com directions above and use Tournament ID #704110308. Call (843) 785-8388 ext. 119.