May 2005 -- Don’t let the grass grow over your tennis programs! Since many country clubs are filled predominately with golf members, tennis and swimming programs often are considered “extra amenities.” Even though it is common for many golfers to be current or former tennis players, enticing the sportsman to lay down his clubs (or goggles) to pick up a racquet can be a difficult proposition.
The Golf Tennis Swimming tournament is a great way to include all country club members in one exciting event – and perhaps to entice new people into your tennis program. The GTS tournament encompasses the major sports at most country clubs – golf, tennis and swimming – and if played over the course of the summer will attract players all season long. The concept is flexible enough, however, to make it possible for the event to be played over the course of a weekend – or even during a single day, if need be. Be sure to conclude the tournament with a clubwide party and you will have created a memorable event that is a versatile tool to promote your tennis program and enhance the summer experience of all your country club members.
The following is a proven format for running a successful GTS tournament at your club:
The competition:
- 36 holes of golf
- 10 putts from 10 feet
- 10 games of tennis
- 10 minutes of swimming
The events:
Golf – You and your teammate play 36 holes of golf.
Putting – Both players mark a spot 10 feet from any hole on the putting green. Both players putt 10 balls each. All shots made are counted.
Tennis – All teams play each other in a round-robin format (each team plays all other teams once). Matches are first team to win 10 games (win by two, tiebreaker at nine games each).
Swimming – Number of laps per team in 10 minutes (Example: teammate one counts the number of laps for three minutes, teammate two counts the number of laps for the next five minutes, and teammate one finishes out the remaining two minutes).
Scoring:
Begin the scoring with the team’s combined total on the golf course.
Example: Dave and John are a team. Dave shoots 173 on 36 holes and John shoots 180. The team’s total score for golf = 353 (Bonus: A hole-in-one is worth minus 10 points).
Subtract the team’s putting score.
Count all putts made from 10 feet and subtract from the golf score (if Dave makes four putts and John sinks six, subtract 10 from 353 for a team total of 343).
Have the teams compete next at tennis and subtract their score as follows: Dave and John play team two and win all 10 games. Their team score decreases by 10 points – each time Dave and John play another team in the tournament they will subtract the number of games they win in a match from their total.
The swimming portion of the event calls for the team to subtract the total number of laps swum by the team in 10 minutes from its total score.
Example: Dave swims the first three minutes and completes five laps. John swims the next five minutes, completing nine laps and Dave completes the event by swimming four laps in two minutes. Dave and John subtract 18 (total number of laps swum in 10 minutes) from the total score.
The winner of the competition is the team with the lowest total score.
Some additional thoughts on running a successful GTS tournament: Don’t overlook your juniors. They can be incorporated into the adult event or a parallel tournament can be created to keep the play competitive for each age group.
Promotion:
- Create a brochure to hand out each year all over the club and at every event (swimming meets, etc.).
- During the GTS event, have a running total board in all three athletic areas of the club as well as in the clubhouse for participants and club members to track the progress of the event.
- Take photos of players who are having a great time in their “new” sport for the club newsletter, the running-total board, and for the next season’s brochure.
- Contact retail suppliers about donating a racquet, a club, or other equipment to be offered as prizes.
- Identify members who may be willing to provide sponsorship or additional prizes to offset the expenses involved in running the event – perhaps a member has a friend or business associate willing to become involved in this fashion as well.
- Allow members to select a nonmember as a partner in the competition – assuring the prospective member/teammate a rewarding first experience with the club.
All of these ideas can be used to promote the event and pique the interest of your members – they get the opportunity to win cash, equipment, free lessons, and other swell prizes while enjoying the challenges of a unique athletic competition.
Wrap-up:
To reward participants and to inspire nonparticipants to become involved next year, throw a season-ending “Labor Day Pool Party” and make a big production out of the awards ceremony. Have a charismatic master of ceremonies recount comical and exciting incidents from the tournament; describe highlight shots witnessed by participants; call up the runners-up for the awarding of their prizes; and present the winners with an oversized check and trophy. Give away door prizes and small items from the pro shops to create a festive and inclusive atmosphere. Get everyone juiced up for next year!
Variations:
Indoor facilities offering squash, racquetball, tennis, badminton, paddle tennis or other various sports can implement a version of this event to encourage a broader use of the facility. Events can be run throughout the year sporadically.
Take it to the next level! Export the GTS idea to other clubs and issue a challenge – pit your two best teams against theirs and have everyone play equal amounts of the event at each club for a “best of the clubs” championship. Have a “cross-club” party to honor the winners and further promote the event.
A GTS tournament is an exciting way to build camaraderie throughout your club and can be used as an effective tool to increase the use of a club and to entice lapsed tennis players back onto your courts. Everyone benefits – while having fun!
