• B'ham Women Compete at Intersectional Tournament
• Alabama Super 70s Wins Sectionals
• Flex League Registration Closes January 27th
• Junior High Tryout Camps at Hoover Country Club
• Registration is Open for USTA 65 and Over League
• USTA Alabama Seeks Awards Nominations
• 25th Annual Polar Bear Tournament
• Pelham Tennis Center FREE Tennis Clinics
• Men's USTA League Update
• John Callen Selected for USTA Southern Hall of Fame
• George Ward Tennis Special
• Altadena Valley Country Club Tennis

Three Birmingham women were invited to play at the 2012 USTA National Intersectional Championships. Mrs. Becky Holland (Trussville, pictured on right), Dr. Jane Phillips Roy (Mountain Brook, pictured in middle), and Mrs. Jenny Merrill (Greystone, pictured on left) represented the USTA Southern Section (AL, AR, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN) in the over 55, 45 and 35 age group categories respectively, at the National Intersectional Team Championships in San Antonio, TX in November. Jenny's team won the Over 35 Intersectional National Championship, and she earned a Gold medal. Jane's team placed third in the Over 45s, and she earned a Bronze medal. Becky's team placed fifth.

Alabama's super 70s 4.0 USTA team won the sectionals in Columbus, Ga. Nov. 30th-Dec.2. They played, South Carolina A, South Carolina B, Georgia, Tennesse, and Arkansas and won all 5 matches. Captains were Catherine Cocke and Sarah Kelley. Kelley was out with shoulder surgery. Players were Bea Clark, Caffey Litkenhous, Mariah Markwalter, Dottie Robinson, Mildred Barnes, Patsy Burns and Pat Lewis. Marla Sayers was on the team but did not get to go. Louise Melvin is on the team but elected to play on the 60s team that was also at the sectionals. Awards were paper weights that were tennis racquets made of glass and engraved.

Play tennis on your schedule! Flex league registration closes January 27th. The season will run February 4th to April 28th. This league is perfect for people who can't commit to a specific time to play each week as well as those who want extra practice. One advantage of flex is that results DO NOT count toward one's league rating. Register at www.ustaflex.com. For more information, contact Kevin Theos at theos@sta.usta.com or 205-790-7256.

ATA awards are given annually at the USTA Alabama annual meeting. This year's meeting will be on February 16th at Vestavia Hills Country Club. Please consider submitting candidates for one or more of the following awards:

League Player of the Year - Awarded annually to the male and female league player who exemplifies the spirit of league play. The player must have participated in a minimum of two league events during the year; demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship on and off the court; and had an outstanding record in league play.

Local League Coordinator of the Year - Awarded annually to the individual who has been outstanding in the coordination of league play at the local level. Factors to be considered are increase in team participation; increase in player participation; and overall management of coordinator's responsibilities.

Community Tennis Association of the Year - Awarded annually to a member organization to recognize outstanding service to the local community, to the organization members, and to the game itself.

Family of the Year - Awarded annually to a family that has been outstanding in its promotion of tennis.

Tournament of the Year - Awarded annually to the sanctioned tournament that best demonstrates the USTA and ATA standards of organizing and conducting a successful tournament.

Charity Tournament of the Year - Awarded annually to the tennis event that generously donates its proceeds to a philanthropic cause.

Tennis Professional of the Year - Awarded annually to the professional that demonstrates a significant contribution to the game of tennis through their promotion of the USTA's programs and their support to the USTA Mission Statement.

Volunteer of the Year - Awarded annually to a volunteer who has demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to all aspects of the game of tennis.

Umpire of the Year - Awarded annually to the certified official who has made outstanding contributions to tennis officiating in Alabama.

Junior Player of the Year - Awarded annually to the male and female junior player who best exemplifies the finest qualities of sportsmanship in tournament play and the finest traditions of the great sportsmen of tennis past and present.

The award nomination form and list of last year's winners can be found at www.alabamata.com.

Sunday, January 27th 1-4pm

Sign up as an individual and play both regular and mixed doubles in a mini-match, round robin format.

Minimum donation: $25 per person

Monies collected will go to Shelby Humane Society and Two by Two Animal Rescue. Also, there will be a donation box if you would like to donate some dog food, blankets, dog toys, etc......

Please email Ken at kvines@pelhamonline.com or call Pelham Tennis Center (620-6428)

Entries will be limited so get your reservation in early!

Free Men's Clinics - Pelham Tennis Center - Beginners or low-level men are invited!

Instructor: USPTA Pro Steve Faulkner

Saturdays: 10:30am to Noon (starting Jan 12th) - there will be a series of 4 clinics - rain dates TBA.

Coach Steve will cover all the basic stroke techniques and related footwork. Plus, there will be fun play-type drills to teach doubles strategy.

To register, please email Ken Vines kvines@pelhamonline.com or call PTC (620-6428)

Numbers will be limited so please call/email early to reserve a spot. There will be some loaner rackets available if you need to borrow one.

Spring season will start in late February or early March. TennisLink registration will open Feb 1st for the spring season. Matches will be played on different nights and/or Saturdays depending on court availability for the home team.

Levels 2.5 à 5.0 are offered. Also, a 40+ league will run concurrently with the regular league. Players who are 40+ may participate in both the regular (18+) league and the 40+ league. If you have any questions, please email Ken Vines kvines@pelhamonline.com or call Ken at 620-6428.

Over the span of half a century, John Callen's contributions to Southern tennis cover the gamut of the tennis world. Starting as a noted junior and college player, he has also been a standout coach, volunteer and, ultimately, a leading tennis executive. In 1989, Callen was named USTA Southern Executive Director and now also serves as its Chief Operating Officer.

Callen grew up in Birmingham, Ala., where he was Student Body President, Athletic Club President, a member of the National Honor Society and a varsity tennis player who went undefeated in high school dual matches. He went on to play at the collegiate level at Georgia Tech from 1970-1974, where he served as co-captain and played #1 to #4 singles and #1 to #2 doubles player over his four-year career. In 1974, he began a fifteen-year tennis pro career as Head Tennis Professional at Big Canoe (Ga.), Director of Tennis at the Indian Hills Country Club and as the Athletic Director at Standard Club. Callen continued to hone his skills as a player, winning numerous Southern tennis titles and reaching the No. 1 ranking in the section for multiple years across many age groups.

Callen, of Johns Creek, Ga., has been dedicated to volunteerism in the Southern Section. He was a founder of the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame, founding member of the Georgia Tennis Patrons Foundation and founding member of Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA) Foundation. He served as Georgia Tennis Association President from 1982-1983. He was also elected to ALTA's Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors of the Georgia Professional Tennis Association. Callen coached winning Georgia Junior Davis Cup teams.

Callen is a member of three other Halls of Fame: the Alabama Tennis Foundation Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Georgia Tennis Foundation Hall of Fame in 2004. He is also an honorary member of the Georgia Professional Tennis Association and member of their Hall of Fame.

Besides volunteering as USTA Southern Vice President, he also served as Director of the Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation and takes great pride in its development over the past 24 years. He has been a member of numerous national USTA committees.

Callen's immediate family includes Frances, his wife of 37 years, and daughters Ashley, Melanie and Courtney.

A special is running through Thursday, 1/31/13, at George Ward. Between the hours of 4pm and 6pm from Monday through Thursday and on Friday from noon to 5:30pm the court cost per player will be $2 per person per hour.

To learn more about tennis programs at Altadena Valley Country Club, please visit www.credotennis.com.