St. Petersburg Tennis Center enjoys new look

After eight months in a portable trailer, staff at the St. Petersburg Tennis Center is finally in its shiny, new facility. On Dec. 26, the 4,500-square foot, $1.27 million building was dedicated and opened for business.

The building sits on the same Bartlett Park site it has occupied since 1935. But the old structure started to deteriorate, which forced the city-run center to seek money for the new building. The city approved $900,000 for the facility, and foundation members raised an additional $370,000 to help fund construction.

"We're hoping that this will help tennis in St. Petersburg and will give our membership a boost,'' SPTC general manager Jackie Keller said. "We think that it will allow us to bring some bigger tournaments to the area.''

The building is more than double the size of the old facility. It features locker room and shower facilities, a multipurpose club room, a pro shop and snack bar. It also has the signature wrap-around porch that offers a view of the courts.

There are 14 clay courts and four hard courts. All 14 clay courts have been refurbished over the past two years, although the stadium seating around the Chris Evert Stadium Court has been removed.

The center is also home to Courier's Kids after-school program. The program has more than 300 children enrolled, and they meet from 3-6 p.m. on weekdays to work on homework and play tennis. It is funded mostly by former professional Jim Courier's foundation.

There is still some cosmetic work to do on the building, but it's basically back to full strength.

"The new building will allow us to reach more at-risk kids, provide learning opportunities for all ages, and conduct day-to-day operations in a safe, fun atmosphere,'' foundation president Mike Carroll said. "It also establishes the center as a world-class tennis facility, capable of hosting nationally sanctioned players and tournaments.''

More tennis

The 12-year-old junior team from Treasure Bay Golf and Tennis won the USTA Florida Section Tournament championship on Dec. 12 and 13 at the Daytona Tennis Center in Daytona Beach. Members of the team are Alexa Sharbaugh, Samantha Hodges, Ashley Hodges, Darrys Reese, Cole Walters, Cooper Walters and Shea Donnelly. Coaches were Phil Girardi and Keith Walters.

• The St. Petersburg Tennis Center hosted the Super Series Jr. Championships on Jan. 2-4. The boys 18 singles winner was Trey Strobel and the 16 winner was Balaji Jothishankar. The girls 18 winner was Victoria Traynor and the 16 winner was Evgenia Rostarchuk. Timmy Berg and Strobel won the boys 18 doubles championship.

• Alex Saltiel of Tierra Verde and partner Grayson Goldin of Bradenton received a coveted "Silver Ball" as doubles finalist in the USTA Boys 14's Winter Super Nationals in Tucson. They lost in three sets to Yale Goldberg (Ohio) and Jack Murray (Michigan) in the final.

• Yasmin Franco of Largo won the girls 16 singles tournament at the New Years Lake Cane Tournament in Orlando on Jan. 2-4.

Golf

The County Golf Association held its weekly tournament at the Bayou Club on Jan. 4. It was a two-man better ball tournament. The regular division gross winners were Jim McComb and Jeff Pett, who shot 72. The senior division gross winners were Gil Day and Jim Hunter, who shot 70. The overall net winners were Sean Martin and Sandy Bunker, who shot 65. The ladies net winners were Sara Wold and Carolyn Murphy, who shot 65.

• The Largo Golf Course biweekly scramble was held on Jan. 2 and featured eight teams. The team of Wayne Moore (Largo), Joyce Webber (Indian Shores), Don Harvey (Largo) and Bill White (Largo) won the event with a score of 12-under, 50.