The Role Tennis Played in the Development of Palm Coast, Part 1 by George A
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Published by the City of Palm Coast Historical Society Editor: Kay Stafford Issue: Special Tennis Composite http://community.webtv.net/pchistorical/TheCityofPalmCoast The Role Tennis Played in the Development of Palm Coast, Part 1 by George A. Libonate Jr. he historical development of population cen- planned vision of “the perfect place to live.” This ters is an interesting study in contrast. A large vision was publicly voiced on June 16, 1969, at numberT of cities owe their location, settlement Princess Place before 175 county and state offi- and prosperity to geographic features like moun- cials, guests and members of the press. Dr. Nor- tain passes, river junctions, inlets and protected man Young, spokes- harbors. Many other cities come to prosperity person for ITT/Levitt near transportation hubs or in proximity to indus- and Sons, made an trial, production or manufacturing centers. Few announcement, “of cities, however, owe their existence to conceptu- great importance to al forethought, deliberate site selection, thought- all of Flagler Coun- ful planning and carefully orchestrated develop- ty....” He went on ment. That was typical of the comprehensive to explain that ITT/ planning that went into International Telephone Levitt was deter- and Telegraph (ITT) Corporation’s decision to mined “to incorpo- acquire a 70 percent stake in Levitt and Sons, a rate and merge the community development company, and Rayonier beautiful, balanced, Dr. Norman Young Corporation, owners of more than a million acres and diverse environ- of land, 65,000 of it here in northern Florida. ment that already The Palm Coast we live in today is a unique existed in the area with the recreational interests community because it was initially based on a (continue on page 2) Clubhouse Drive Canal off Intracoastal The first tennis courts were built next to the parking lot ot the original elcomeW Center Special Tennis Composite -2- The Role Tennis Played in the Development of Palm Coast (continued from page 1) of its prospective residents.” Inherent in that Two months later, this community spirit inspired plan was Dr. Young’s intention to build the new tennis players to join together to form the Palm community of Palm Coast around the recre- Coast Tennis Association. Participation on the ational amenities of tennis, golf and water sports. tennis courts and membership in the new asso- These three amenities were also intended to serve as magnets to attract potential residents and investors. And magnets they were. Poten- tial residents and investors flocked to the area; they purchased land and built homes as Palm Coast became one of the fastest-growing com- munities in America. And true to his vision, Dr. Young established the guiding principle for community development that would eventu- ally give rise to the Golden Age of Tennis in Palm Coast. Within a year, ITT/Levitt completed the first building, the Welcome Center with its 64-foot tower, and soon after two tennis courts were Officers of the newly-formed Tennis Association: Dot Griffin, built nearby next to the parking lot just off secretary; Bill Collier, president; Alberta Maloney, member- what would eventually become Clubhouse ship chair; Jackie Salley, treasurer; (standing) Mark Sundloff, Drive. By September 1971, the first nine holes youth representative; Pat Maloney, vice president. of a golf course were opened to residents, fol- lowed by the original yacht club at the marina, ciation grew rapidly. two additional tennis courts and a swim club lo- By early 1976, there were over 1500 residents cated near the intersection of the Intracoastal Wa- in Palm Coast; the courts at the yacht club had terway and the main canal. During the pioneering become so over-crowded that the Tennis Associ- stages of community development, the tennis fa- ation began urging the corporation to expand the cility played a crucial role by providing a social facilities. Agreeing that there was a need, Alan hub, a center where new residents from diverse Smolen, new President of ICDC, approved con- localities could first begin to make new friends, struction of four new courts, resurfaced the origi- bond and develop a sense of community spirit. nal two and added a pro shop ITT/CDC wisely promoted access to this popular and lights for night play. The amenity on billboards and in printed advertise- facility was renamed the Palm ments using the provocative slogan, “Love is a Harbor Tennis Club. Leon Ara- big thing in Palm Coast.” gon was hired as the pro and a By October of 1974, with only 850 residents, fee-for-play was established. this new-found community spirit became ap- For the official dedication of the parent when tennis players decided to enter the new facility on May 15, 1978, First Annual Regional Life and Breath Tennis Tom and Tim Gullikson were Tournament. Participation in this fund raising invited to play in an exhibition activity established a tradition of community ser- match. Shortly thereafter, ICDC Leon Aragon vice that players continue to support to this day. (continue on page 3) -3- Special Tennis Composite The Role Tennis Played in the Development of Palm Coast (continued from page 2) decided to hire Tom as the Palm Terre Swim and Racquet Club on the west side Coast Tennis Pro when he was of I-95. The Belle Terre club included four ten- not actively participating on the nis courts, a pool and a fitness center. With the professional players’ tour. earlier hiring of Tom Gullikson as a touring ten- With this new facility, Doro- nis pro, the eventual hiring of Jim Vidamour as thy Griffin, spokesperson for director of tennis, and the ad- the Tennis Association, was able dition of these four new ten- to enroll five women’s doubles nis courts, the Golden Age teams to represent Palm Coast of Tennis in Palm Coast was Tom Gullikson in the newly expanded Greater clearly advanced. The open- Volusia Tennis League, GVTL. ing of the I-95 interchange The men’s teams joined the new in May 1981 brought accel- league the following spring. In November 1978, erated growth to the com- Palm Coast women won their first league match munity. As a result, demand against Ormond Hotel Racquet Club, marking for additional tennis facilities Jim Vidamour the beginning of Palm Coast’s long and stellar re- stimulated their inclusion cord of play in the GVTL. Today, some 32 years in private communities like later, over 40 teams representing the Greater Fairways, Pine Lakes Village, Woodhaven, Plan- Palm Coast area are competing in the league at a tation Bay, Matanzas Shores and Marina Cove as variety of skill and age levels. In the season just they were built out over the next 10 years. completed, 2009-2010, 43 men’s and women’s When ICDC decided to build Hammock Dunes teams produced five division championships. and its golf course and a toll bridge over the ICW, In the spring of 1980, ICDC completed and it required the dismantling of the oceanfront dedicated a recreational facility called the Belle Sheraton Inn. This, in turn, required the construc- tion of a new Sheraton Hotel on the site where the six tennis courts were then lo- cated. ICDC asked Tom Gullikson and Jim Vidamour to work with the corporation’s architects to plan and create a new world- class, multi-surface tennis facility – the Players Club. It opened to stellar reviews in 1986. And true to form, tennis players from all over came to play and train at this beautiful facility, including famous pros, the likes of Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, Monica Seles, Manuela Maleeva, Jimmy Connors, Todd Martin and Jim Courier, to name just a few. Players had the option of playing on grass, clay or hard courts at a facility that featured two 400-seat stadium courts and a two- The Players Club (continue on page 4) Special Tennis Composite -4- The Role Tennis Played in the Development of Palm Coast (continued from page 3) story, full-service clubhouse the community’s fifth golf course. This project with a restaurant overlooking was eventually sold and renamed Grand Haven. the grounds, all of it laid out on By the middle of the ’90s, ITT had completely a beautifully landscaped site. reorganized its corporate structure and had made In 1987, the Players Club won a firm decision to divest itself of all its holdings worldwide acclaim as one of a in Palm Coast. select handful of multi-surface In February 1996, the Players Club, Belle Terre facilities available to the serious Swim and Racquet Club, the golf courses (except tennis pro and novice alike. It Grand Haven and Hammock Dunes), the Marina, Andre Agassi also won an award as one of the and the Sheraton Hotel were all sold to a division ten best tennis facilities in the of Lowe Enterprises called Destination Hotel and world. With Resorts. Lowe decided to contract with the world the opening of the Players renowned Peter Burwash International to assume Club, the Golden Age of Tennis management and operational control of the Play- in Palm Coast was no longer an ers Club and brought in Dave Neuhart as head aspiration; it had become a re- tennis professional. In his new capacity, Neuhart ality. For the next eight years, took over for the departing Jim Vidamour who with ITT’s support, the Players resigned in September of 1996, after serving 15 Club was home to social play years as director of tennis for the community. A among members, champion- year later, on September 13, 1997, Tom Gullik- ship tournaments, spectacular Jimmy Connors son ended his 17-year relationship with the ten- exhibitions and fund-raising nis community in Palm Coast.