smaller courts than older players. The program was launched a few years ago by the
USTA and received a financial boost recently in the Lowcountry. Along with the honor of being named the best tennis town in the United States came a $100,000 prize. The committee appointed by the Lowcountry Tennis Association to determine how the money would be distributed decided to split it among organi- zations concentrating on starting new tennis programs and bringing new people to the game, with an empha- sis on 10 and Under tennis. The LCTA gave $10,000 each to seven entities –
the town of Mount Pleasant, the city of Charleston, the city of North Charleston, St. Andrews Park and Playground, Berkeley County Schools, Dorchester-2 Schools and the Charleston County School District. The remaining $30,000, according to Eppelsheimer, helped launch 10 and Under tennis programs and pay for 10 and Under tournaments at Dunes West, I’On, the Daniel Island Club, Live to Play and the Mount Pleasant Tennis Complex on Whipple Road. Tough the Family Circle Tennis Center hosts a tournament featuring the world’s best female tennis players and is currently developing a top-notch 10 and
Under program, the public facility has much to offer to players whose talent on the tennis court falls somewhere in between. From men’s and women’s leagues to mixed doubles competition to combo leagues, USTA Team Tennis keeps the parking lot full for much of the year. In addition, the Center offers a wide range of pro- grams for younger players, ranging from the Farm System, for those up to the age of 10; the Academy, for 10- to 12-year-olds; the Advanced Academy, for 10- to 15-year-olds “who have already picked tennis as their sport,” according to Eppelsheimer; and the Elite Acad- emy, for talented 15- to 17-year-olds.
Te Center also is among many tennis facilities that host the Charleston Area Ladies Tennis Association on Tuesdays, except in the summer. “When you put 800 women together, that’s a very
strong organization,” Eppelsheimer commented. And the sport of tennis, with an estimated 15,000
participants in the Charleston area, is vibrant as well. “Charleston has a thriving tennis community,” Ep- pelsheimer remarked. “Te Family Circle Cup is a major focal point of the community. People come out and watch, and the one thing they want to do after that is to go play tennis.”
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