User:Realhistoryseeker

The Creation of Richmond Hill Tennis

How tennis begins in Richmond Hill

In winter 2003, Enny Ames and Phyllis Green held many meetings, phone calls, emails, and coffee about getting a tennis program in Richmond Hill. Enny Ames was determined to get the program running. With many sleepless nights and countless hours, Enny worked hard to make this program into a reality. She worked alone in creating the logo, drafting the programs, recruiting tennis instructors, and creating a website. With the help of her husband Jeffrey Ames,their children, David & Annastassia, Pratt Lockwood (Director of Bryan County Park and Recreation), and the support of Phyllis Green of SATA (Savannah Area Tennis Association), she was finally able to hold the first tennis program in Richmond Hill in the spring of 2004. The first program introduced to the city of Richmond Hill was Junior Tennis Program, where lots of junior players participated. The program went smoothly, and was a success and was able to hold first non-sanctioned (USTA) junior tournament there after. New programs were soon created, such as women's tennis and men's tennis ladder.

The Creation of the Richmond Hill Area Tennis Association (RHATA) In the spring of 2005, Enny Ames (SATA's Junior Program Coordinator)had a discussion with a group of women tennis players about the the possibility of forming Richmond Hill's own tennis program without help from SATA. Subsequent to this discussion was the first meeting on the bleachers of Richmond Hill Park and Recreation on Wednesday evening (7:00 pm), July 10 2005, where 10 people was in attendance. Enny Ames, Jeffrey Ames, Kurt Lauer, David Lamb, Christy Davis, Laurie Noonburg, Tammy Hall, Gabriella Pennington, Lois Stitt, and Judie Schneider. All are tennis players and wanted to help in getting the program to become successful. Next several meetings were held at the residents of Enny/Jeff Ames, Christy Davis, and Laurie Noonburg.

Meeting was held between the volunteers and Elaine Hamilton (USTA Georgia) and the discussion was very positive and encouraging. In the fall 2005 we held our first big event, Tennis Block Party. This event intended to introduce to event to introduce tennis to Richmond Hill Soon after Julie Lamb and Karen Guither join RHATA briefly and resigned within 3 months due to personal reasons.

See Picture: