Family Circle Tennis Center
recognized as a "Top 50" facility
for promoting the growth of tennis
in the United States

Tennis Center staff lauded for its proactive role delivering tennis to the community

The Family Circle Tennis Center has been named a "Top 50 Tennis Welcome Center of 2006" for delivering a variety of tennis programs to new and current players of all ages in efforts to grow participation in the game, the Tennis Industry Association and United States Tennis Association announced. The Family Circle Tennis Center is one of only three sites in the state of South Carolina to be recognized for growing the game of tennis as a "Tennis Welcome Center", and providing top-quality instruction, exciting programming, and a great social setting to encourage people to enjoy tennis.

"The staff at the Family Circle Tennis Center has created a positive tennis experience for people in the Charleston area," says Jolyn de Boer, who is executive director of the Tennis Industry Association (TIA). "Tennis Welcome Centers serve a vital role in delivering tennis and we are pleased to recognize these efforts with this award.”

The Family Circle Tennis Center was selected as a "Top 50 Tennis Welcome Center of 2006" for its increased participation figures involving new and returning players, support of industry programs and community tennis development, and were active with Tennis Welcome Center facility requirements among other criteria.

"The operators of these Top 50 TWCs represent the best of the best" among thousands of teaching professionals who work hard every day to welcome new players to our great lifetime sport,” says Mark McMahon, USTA National Manager for Tennis Welcome Centers.

The Tennis Welcome Center initiative—backed by all sectors of the industry, from governing bodies and manufacturers to media, retailers, teaching organizations and facilities--has played a leading role in the sport's growth. Pro player Maria Sharapova is a spokeswoman for the program, which is free to tennis facilities who wish to support industry efforts to grow participation through specific programming and marketing.

"With our newly redesigned grass roots approach to growing the game of tennis, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in both juniors and adults taking up this sport of a lifetime" says Rob Eppelsheimer, Family Circle Tennis Center Director. "We offer instructional clinics, as well as junior programming, adult classes, and individual instruction for all levels. There’s really something for everyone here on Daniel Island."

WEB LINKS:
For information on Tennis Welcome Centers, go to http://www.TennisWelcomeCenter.com For the "Top 50 Tennis Welcome Centers" go to http://partners.tenniswelcomecenter.com/pdfs/top50twcs06.pdf