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Whew it's been hot, but that's what we wanted right? Okay, on to business... Take some time to read info for Athens tennis...Our public facilities are important and a large part of why tennis is so incredible in Georgia; these issues are not unique to Athens. ALSO, get involved in the Bitsy Grant event if you can - If you have a business or product that other tennis players in Georgia need to know about, let us know. We will share your information in a way that suits you and benefits tennis players around the state of Georgia. Stay cool, hydrated, fit, honorable, and happy…. BITSY HOSTS 2010 GEORGIA 
The Bitsy Grant Tennis Center (BGTC), an Atlanta-based public park/tennis center built in 1952, hosts the second consecutive Georgia State Adult/Senior Open Tennis Championship, an adult tennis tournament for players of all ages, Aug. 7-10, 2010. The tournament includes men's and women's open events as well as senior events. Players from outside of Georgia can also compete. Singles and doubles play kicks off on Saturday, Aug. 7, with the finals taking place on Tuesday, Aug. 10. The tournament weekend also features fun events for family and a cocktail celebration to benefit the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center. For the first time ever, Bitsy will host a Family Fun Festival to coincide with the tennis tournament on Saturday, Aug. 7 and Sunday, Aug. 8. The Family Fun Festival will feature exhibitors providing delicious treats (home-made sandwiches, frozen yogurt, frothy beverages, etc.), tennis merchandise, athletic apparel, a Moonwalk jumping machine for kids and more. Free tennis lessons will also be offered to young children (ages 5-10) through the United States Tennis Associations' QuickStart program. Saturday night, Bitsy will continue the celebration with the Bitsy Benefit, a vintage cocktail celebration featuring a world-class exhibition tennis match for entertainment. Tickets cost $60 and all proceeds go towards the Friends of Bitsy Grant, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of BGTC. For more information on the Bitsy Benefit and how to purchase tickets, visit www.bitsytennis.com or contact Manning Fairey at mfairey@jacksonspalding.com.
Men's and Women's Singles and Doubles Players (and any/all Spectators) Divisions Include: Open, 25s, 30s, 35s, 40s, 45s, 50s, 55s, 60s, 65s, 70s, 75s and 80s - singles and doubles. Additional doubles divisions include: father-son, mother-daughter as well as open and senior mixed-doubles.
Bitsy Grant Tennis Center
Bitsy Grant: www.bitsytennis.com
Peter Howell, Tournament Director Manning Fairey, for the Friends of Bitsy Grant
If you have followed the Athens-Clarke County Tennis Center saga, you know the recommended site of Bishop Park has all but been eliminated from the discussion. The official vote will come on Tuesday, Aug. 3, but at the agenda setting meeting two weeks ago, the commissioners indicated that they would not support Bishop Park, even with a scaled down alternate plan. Why? Primarily because the neighbors in the Bishop Park area persuaded the commissioners that adding more courts at Bishop Park would "upset the near perfect balance currently found at that park." The discussion now seems to be moving to the Lexington side of Southeast Clarke Park with Bishop Park. Remember, this site did not even make the original list of sites to be evaluated, because it did not meet the criteria set by the Site Selection Committee and approved by Mayor and Commission. It was put on the list when a handful of neighbors protested the recommended site on the Whit Davis side. Again, a vocal few persuaded the commissioners to change direction. We are now facing the very real prospect of having the tennis center located not only at the least desirable location, but also at the most expensive one to develop. By moving away from the recommended choice of Bishop Park to this location, we have moved from a true tennis center with 14-16 courts, an administrative building and restrooms to 8 courts -- that's it! This is no longer a tennis center, but rather some additional courts. If they select a different location in the park, however, we can likely get more out of the project. Since they seem poised to reject the recommended site of Bishop Park, let's at least convince them to select the best place in Southeast Clarke Park -- which is on the Whit Davis side as originally recommended. Tuesday night is our last chance. If we don't take action, we'll have a few courts wedged in between lighted soccer fields (night time play will be fun!) and a busy highway! Even more frustrating is that in order to squeeze the courts into this location, two fairly new practice baseball fields that are fully irrigated will have to be removed, not to mention part of a popular walking track. What a waste of our tax dollars! It brings back memories of the covered courts fiasco at Bishop Park! The ball is now in our court. Speak up now, or live with the decisions being made. Unfortunately, only the Clarke County residents' voices count with the commissioners, so the tennis community is depending on ACC players to make our voices heard. Three times in this process, small but vocal groups have influenced the commissioners. (The third time was when Little League supporters moved them away from Satterfield.) The tennis community is larger than these groups, but has not spoken up publicly. It's now time to do that! We need as many tennis players as possible, regardless of age, at this meeting. Only those from Clarke County will be invited to make a public statement, since their opinions are the only ones that count with the commission. However, the more who show, regardless of residency, the stronger our message will be. A large turnout will send a clear message that more than a handful of people are behind saving the ACC tennis center project. As a newly formed base of tennis players under COTA, we have our first opportunity to demonstrate a united front. By banning together to help Clarke County, we'll learn how to help other counties in the future. We're in this together. If we do not have a strong showing, the commissioners will have reason to believe we don't care. We cannot let that happen! It's time for them to hear from us. The Commissioners' meeting is on Tuesday, Aug 3, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. If you will attend, contact Walt Williams at waltgwms@charter.net. Walt can provide you with background information if needed. You can also view the agenda setting meeting on-line at www.athensclarkecounty.com under on-demand videos to get a sense of the situation. We are counting on seeing you on Tuesday!
K3 Gold Tennis Balls Case of 24 cans $54.99
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IN THIS ISSUE:
 www.tennisplayersnetwork.com
Ciao Tennis Players, Saluti, St. Simons
Tennis is one of the area's most popular sports. Sea Palms features professional events and collegiate championships, the Island Club is a hotbed of league and competitive play, Sea Island offers top-flight professional facilities and the King & Prince features four fine courts. Public play is available on hard courts at Mallory Park and Epworth Park. Jekyll Island's Tennis Center is among the best and other public courts are available on the mainland. Sea Palms Golf & Tennis Resort Ballard Park Blythe Island Epworth by the Sea Epworth Park Howard Coffin Park Jekyll Island Tennis Center Capt. Wylly Road Pete Poole, Pro. King Park Northwood Estates Sea Palms Golf & Tennis Resort -
Tennis & Fitness Center
Selden Park The Sea Island Resort |
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