Travel, Good Times Come From Section Tournaments

Pelham is a favorite destination

By Ron Cioffi, USTA Southern

Gary Sunshine is quick to admit that, while he's enjoyed the experience of playing at the USTA Southern Super Seniors Section Championships, his teams haven't had much success.

"We've made only one final. That was 2005. It was strongest team I've ever had," Sunshine said. "Some years we've gotten wiped off the court. Some years we're competitive." He leads a men's 3.0 70s team from The Landings Club in Savannah, Ga.

Sunshine has captained many teams to this tournament and has memories of three different city sites.

"My wife always travels with me. We make a vacation out of it," he said about his trips to the Section Championships.

"I really liked Pelham (Alabama). We went there a few days early and stayed late to play golf on the Robert Trent Jones Trail.

"Columbus had an old, elegant restaurant downtown that we especially enjoyed," the captain said.

"Of course, Hilton Head is a vacation, too. There's a lot of camaraderie with the team, especially here with so many great restaurants." Even though he lives only about 30 miles away, he is staying at a hotel on the island.

As a 70s team, Sunshine said they've had a few senior moments. "It's all too common that we can't remember the score. Once I thought it was the first point but it was the fourth," he joked.

Sunshine has one evaluation that brings a chuckle to all that hear it. "I'm one of the weaker players on the team," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "But, I'm always in the lineup."