I hope that everyone had a great holiday season. The beginning of December was certainly cold enough to start putting us all in the mood. Long sleeve shirts and jackets were the norm on the tennis courts, especially in the mornings, but not even blustery mornings stopped us from playing tennis!
Bella Graf, Director of Racquet Sports, released the exciting events calendar for 2025. She’s planned lots of fun and challenging tennis and pickleball events for us to watch and participate in. First up will be the January 5th Men’s Doubles Tennis Exhibition on Stadium Court. Landings Pros Nathan and Tyler will be joined by Marcos and Thiago, originally from Brazil. Both men are on the Milligan University Men’s Tennis Team, so we’re sure to see some great tennis!
Other events will be the 4th Annual Lee County Girls’ High School Invitational, Madisen’s Match Charity Dinner and Pro-Am exhibition, as well as our annual Club Championships. The season is sure to fly by!
Two of the most important people in the Racquet Sports program at The Landings are Herbert Reyes and Steve Bowden. These men are responsible for maintaining our courts. Without them there would be no tennis program.
Herbert has been with The Landings for seven years. His work ethic and warm personality are greatly appreciated by everyone. He never fails to greet you with a smile. Originally from Puerto Rico, Herbert has lived in SW Florida for 24 years. Visiting tennis teams always comment on how great our courts are, and we know that a large part of that is because of Herbert.
Working alongside Herbert is Steve Bowden. Steve was born in Middletown, Ohio. After High School he studied at Florida Southern before transferring to Wright State University. He worked for Ford in Louisville, KY and then bought an expedite company that serviced Ford. Next Steve moved back to Cincinnati, OH where he bought a transportation company. In February 2023 he retired and moved to Fort Myers. The Landings was extremely lucky that he wasn’t quite ready to stop working and decided to join our maintenance team. We got doubly lucky when his wife Jen, joined the Tennis Office/Store staff.
Be sure to thank Herbert and Steve when you see them for all their hard work!!
Happy New Year and remember to always keep your eye on the ball!
FEBRUARY 15-16TH, 2025
Mark your calendars as we prepare to host the Lee County Girls’ HS Tennis Tournament at the Landings! This exciting event not only showcases the incredible talent of our young female athletes from all Lee County schools but also serves as a vital fundraiser to support their tennis programs.
The tournament aims to create opportunities for these aspiring athletes, providing them with the resources they need to thrive both on and off the court. Beyond just competition, participating in sports helps these young women build confidence, develop sportsmanship, and cultivate essential life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and discipline. These attributes are invaluable as they navigate both their athletic and academic journeys.
Moreover, your enthusiasm cheering on these talented girls is one of the tournament’s greatest draws. The girls look forward to coming here and playing in front of you all. Not only is it the competition on our beautiful courts but it’s also YOU who uplift their spirits and foster a sense of community pride. Let’s come together to support these young women as they pursue their passion for tennis and strive for excellence!
Stay tuned for further updates, and thank you for being a part of this fantastic initiative!
For more information about our Tournament, please visit: https://leecountygirlshighschoolinvitational.org/
