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Aw, man, we hardly have adjusted to the loss of Daylight Saving Time and already are getting calls about New Year’s Eve. Partying on a Wednesday night sounds immoral — so let’s do it. But first, there’s the matter of a holiday gift to keep your tennis partner happy enough to want to go with you to the party!
As usual, and maybe even more so this year, Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Beaufort tennis clubs and specialty shops are offering some end-of-the-year deals. Credit cards ready? Shop! For starters, Tennis Association of HHI members already know to ask for the discount shops give to TAHHI and/or USTA members.
The Van Der Meer Pro Shops – Shipyard and DeAllyon Road – are promoting the Head Tour Team Package for the holidays. The package includes a Microgel racket of your choice, a Head racket bag/backpack and a Head cap to top it off. All Microgels are available: the Instinct, Prestige, Extreme and Radical. Manager Shelley Hume offers the holiday Tour Team Package for $199 and that’s good through the 2008 holiday season. For questions, call (843) 686-8804 (Shipyard) and (843) 785-8388 (DeAllyon).
Out by Hilton Head Island’s heel, the Island Club keeps a small inventory of shop items but is big on private lessons and clinics with its pros Jim Flory and Pat Child. If you schedule a series of five half-hour lessons, Shop Manager Sandy Leath will give you 30 percent off any shop item not already on sale. Call (843) 785-8012 for more details.
Rackets will be the main item on sale at Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center. Director of Tennis John Kerr is giving 20 per cent off all rackets. In addition, a retail sale to the general public will give 10, 15 and 20 percent discounts, depending on amount of purchase. TAHHI members will get an additional five percent off. Tennis balls and refreshments are excluded from the sale and the discount may not be combined with the racket sale.
The PD specials started the day after Thanksgiving and will continue through December. Call (843) 785-1152 for more information.
Port Royal Racquet Club is offering 25 percent off selected men’s and women’s tennis clothing, as well as 10 percent off racquet bags and its new boutique holiday gift collection. In addition, Shop Manager Tanda Bianco has set up a sale section with discounts ranging from 25 to 50 percent.
PR’s clothing includes Tail, LBH, Bolle, Lejay, Jerdog, Wimbledon and Peachy Tan for women and Diadora and K-Swiss for men. New lines to look out for in the spring (think gift certificate) will be Down the Line Sportswear for women and Fila and Wilson for men. Call (843) 686-8803 for hours and info.
At South Beach Racquet Club, owner/manager Rachel Sigmon is keeping it simple. SBRC is offering a $20 discount on any purchase of $100 or more through the end of December. For questions or information on any other gift ideas, call (843) 671-2215.
Perhaps when your team is going to Spring Lake Racquet Club for an Interclub match, you can check out the special price there for Wilson men’s and women’s tennis shoes: $49. For any other information call the Pro Shop at (843) 681-3626.
Sea Pines Racquet Club is offering something for the holidays to get you ready for the “spring” season that begins in late January. Director Eric Wammock has set up a deal for all Hilton Head Island USTA members of 30 percent off racket restringing from Nov. 15 through Dec. 15 (labor not included in discount – gut 15 percent off ). Strings range from $19 for synthetic gut to $55 natural gut prediscount. Get more information at (843) 363-4495.
Players World pretty much has it to itself for nonclub tennis shopping. In the Fresh Market Shoppes, PW has holiday specials of 20 percent off all Nike, 40 percent off all Tommy Bahama and seasonal items (skim boards and all remaining beach toys, towels, chairs, umbrellas).
Manager Jill Swanker will be in house to show off apparel from Under Armour, Adidas, Tail, LBH, Bolle and more for tennis, as well as soccer and baseball. In regular stock are tennis and running shoes from Nike, Adidas, New Balance, K-Swiss, Wilson and Prince, as well as Babolat, Prince, Wilson and Head rackets. Call Jill at (843) 842-5100.
Aside from the shopping trips, many of the shakers and movers of area tennis, especially league coordinators, will be in Myrtle Beach Dec. 12-14 for the USTA South Carolina annual meeting. Our coordinators had been spoiled the last few years because the session has been held in our backyard (Westin Resort). The meetings will set league and tournament schedules, as well as rules for 2009 play and programs. The Hall of Fame Banquet is set for Dec. 13, during which Hilton Head Island’s Sandra Morrissette and Myron Meister and Bluffton’s Bob Brown will receive state awards. The general business meeting and most committee sessions are open to all USTA members. For more information call (803) 781-2574, or visit sctennis.com.
TAKE A TIP FROM ...your elbow. No kidding, although sometimes we do kid when saying that the way to cure tennis elbow is $1,000 in tennis lessons. That’s correct up to the dollar amount. Good strokes and footwork do NOT give you tennis elbow. And every tennis player will greatly appreciate a gift certificate for a series of lessons. All clubs offer certificates. A new shirt or shorts might look jazzy, but they won’t last as long as a set of good strokes. Happy holidays.
