Update 12/10/10

Visit Florida in January, February, and March  to play the
“2011 Florida Super Senior Grand Prix”

Tournaments will be scheduled on both the
East and West Coast of Florida!!
Ages 55 to 90

January 10 – 16, 2011 – Colonial Country Club
9171 Independence Way, Fort Myers, FL 33913
Director – Jeff Timmer
Phone: 239-768-1334 / Fax: 239-561-5188
Email: jtimmer@troongolf.com
Deadline: January 3rd, 6:00pm
ID #153701911

January 17- 22, 2011 – Cape Coral Racquet
Club* ITF Sanctioned Event
1300 Ceitus Terr., Cape Coral, FL 33991
Director: Jack Dunmead
PH 239-573-3210 / Fax 239-573-3254
Email: jack@capecoralrh.com
Deadline: January 9th 6:00pm
ID # 153710711

January 24–29, 2011 – The Club at
Sterling Oaks* ITF Sanctioned Event
822 Sterling Oaks Blvd., Naples, Florida 34110
Director: Richard Flach
PH 239-566-1800 / Fax 239-566-3558
Email: rick@theclubatsterlingoaks.com
Deadline: January 17th 6:00pm
ID # 153711311

Jan. 31 – Feb. 6, 2011 -  University Park CC
National Category II – ITF Level 1
7671 The Park Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34201
Director: Jared Grose
PH 941-359-8888 / Fax 941-351-7778
Email: jgrose@univerisitypark-fl.com
Deadline: January 23rd 6:00pm
ID # 151800411

Feb. 7 – 13 Break Week

Feb. 14 – 19, 2011 – Payne Park / Sarasota P&R
2050 Adams Lane, Sarasota, Florida 34237
Director; Daniel Olson
PH 941-861-8193
Email: dolson@scgov.net
Deadline: February 13th 6:00pm

February 21 – 26, 2011 – Meadows Racquet Club
3100 Longmeadow, Sarasota, FL 34235
Director: Don Caprio
PH: 941-378-5265 / Fax: 941-379-9869
Email: tennis@meadowscc.org
Deadline: February 13th 6:00PM
ID #153510011

Feb. 28 –March 5,  – Tennis Center St. Petersburg
650 18th Ave South, St. Petersburg, FL 33705
Director: Alberto Sarmiento
PH: 727-823-2225 Fax: 727-823-2245
Email asarmien@tampabay.rr.com
Deadline: February 23th 6:00pm
ID # 153313010

March 7–13, 2011 – St. Petersburg Country Club
National Category II
2000 Country Club Way S., St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Director: Sam Vuille
PH 727-867-9105 / Fax 727-867-1686
Email spcctennis@aol.com
Deadline: February 27th 6:00pm
ID # 151211311

East Coast Swing
East Cost Tournaments are singles only

January 10–16, 2011 – Boca West Country Club
USTA Florida Designated Tournament
20583 Boca West Drive, Boca Raton, Florida 33434
Directog: Mike Vandenabeele
PH: 561-488-6996 / Fax: 561-451-0127
Email: myvandenabeele@bocawestcc.org
Deadline: January 3rd 11:59pm
ID # 15153608211

February 14–20, 2011 – Polo Club in Boca
Raton
USTA Florida Designated Tournament
5400 Champion Blvd., Boca Raton, Florida 33496
Director: Jean Mills
PH: 561-995-1280 / Fax: 561-995-1223
Email: jeanhmills@comcast.net
Deadline: January 6th 11:59pm
ID # 153610411

Feb. 28–March 6, – Woodfield Country Club
USTA Florida Designated Tournament
3630 Club Place, Boca Raton, Florida 33496
Director: Jeff Cohen
PH: 561-995-5214 / Fax: 561-989-0749
Email: jcohen@woodfield.org
Deadline: February 20th 11:59pm
ID # 153604811

March 14-20 2011-Broken Sound Country Club
USTA Florida Designated Tournament
2401 Willow Springs Dr., Boca Raton, Florida 33496
Director: Greg Wheaton
PH: 561- 241-6888 / Fax: 561-998-3775
Email: greg_wheaton@brokensound.org
Deadline: March 6th 11:59pm
ID # 153601311

East Coast Singles Only
Ages 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80,

The Florida SSGP Circuit- A Tennis Odyssey

By Larry Turville

Can you believe it is almost 2011, and we’re still traveling around in cars?  I thought we’d all be zipping around on some kind of floating air device by now.  Ok, we’ll shoot for 2020 to get to the tournaments easier.   You could have your own plane which some of the players do; I just haven’t had my inventions come through yet.  So let’s talk tennis and the 2010 Super Senior Florida Grand Prix Circuit (aka SSGP).

You want to see some guys who play amazing tennis and generally look a lot younger than their age?  Come out and watch some tennis on the Florida Super Senior Tennis Circuit.  The great appeal about competitive senior tennis is that you actually do get younger as you get older.  Besides the youth producing magic about playing tennis which will keep you younger than you are supposed to be, every five years you are the youngest guy in your division even though you just got a year older.    Example: when a guy like me turns 60, he gets to play in the 60 and over.  Zip; immediately I get rid of all those fast guys in the 55’s.   Naturally, the problem is there are still a few fast guys in the 60’s, but if I’m lucky, I’ll at least be younger looking than they are.   Now granted there are a few guys like my doubles partner who wears braces on calves, knees, back, elbow and gloves.  Most players feel sorry for him until they find out he’s won 39 National Doubles Championships and 3 World Titles.  Speed isn’t everything.

Now that I’ve got you excited to see some amazing tennis wonders, where and when are they?  The Florida SSGP Circuit is a series of 13 tournaments ; nine on the West Coast and four on the East Coast which run in the months of Jan, Feb and March.  The ages run from 55 to 85.  Maybe you think you’re pretty good and want to play in the tournaments?  Fire away; just go to the USTA FLA website and as long as you are a USTA member and over 55 you are eligible to enter.  We take all comers singles and doubles.  Let’s say you get beat up in the first round; there is another tournament for first rounders (aka consolation).   Just keep plugging; it’s a learning experience.

The Florida Super Senior Grand Prix is a great Florida tradition which attracts players from all over the US and world.  Last year the World’s #1 player in the 60’s Peter Adrigan from Germany came over for two of the tournaments.  Besides great competition, it is a time to renew old friendships and even start some new ones.  I met an old tennis friend that I hadn’t seen in 20 years last year; and now we’re staying in touch.  So join us for fun in sun and you might just see me out there running around trying to look fast.  Below is the circuit: