HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- More than $5000 were raised to help homeless animals in the Hilton Head area at a tennis tournament held May 15-17 at the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center. The Paws & Balls Team Tennis Challenge, benefiting the Hilton Head Humane Association of Hilton Head Island, was a round robin format tournament with six teams of women and men.
"This was an unbelievable group of great people, who were so enthusiastic not only for the friendly competition, but to make a significant difference for the animals," says Franny Gerthoffer, executive director of the Hilton Head Humane Association. "We are humbled and grateful to everyone involved and look forward to 2016!"
Tennis matches were comprised of men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed with six total sets played per match. The event was casual with music, laughter and cheering encouraged. To raise additional funds, organizers added twists to the format and rules, such as the option to buy more serves and change regulation tennis balls to slower red/yellow balls typically used for junior play.
Trophies were given for the top winning team, along with medals for best team name and best uniform. Lunatic Lisa won the event with the most games accumulated in two days at 175 followed by the Cut Ups with 164. Playful Paws won the best team name and The Bats are Back won best team uniform.
“This format already lends itself to a lot of fun, on and off the court, but to include the Pro League of Hilton Head, and for the benefit of HHHA just made the whole weekend totally a one of a kind event,” says Jackie Reynecke, group coordinator at the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center.
For more information about the Hilton Head Humane Association, visit http://www.hhhumane.org/.
About Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort is a 2,000-acre resort destination located in the middle of Hilton Head Island, S.C., bounded by 3 miles of Atlantic Ocean beach on one side and a sheltered Intracoastal Waterway marina on the other. Named to the top 25 World’s Best Family Getaways by Travel + Leisure in 2013, the resort features three world-class golf courses, an award-winning tennis center, an 11-mile inland salt-water lagoon system for kayaking and fishing, and Hilton Head Outfitters for bike rentals, canoes, kayaks, fishing and much more. The Mediterranean-style Shelter Cove Harbour, Hilton Head Island’s largest deep-water marina, located right across from Palmetto Dunes, features waterfront shopping and dining and a wide variety of charters, including nature cruises, dolphin tours, sport crabbing and fishing. For information about activities or reservations, please call 877-567-6513 or visit www.palmettodunes.com.
Partly cloudy