Family Affair:  by Jimmy Hyams  
Knoxville News Sentinel, Sunday, March 21, 2004

After all these years, the DePalmers are getting together to conduct a free clinic at Green Meadow Country Club.  

Mike DePalmer Jr. (above on left), hired March 1 as tennis pro at Green Meadow, organized the event, which will be Saturday 1-4 pm Players of all ages and skill levels are invited.

"This is the first time the family has done it," said Mike Jr., who will be joined by his father, Mike Sr., who lives in Bradenton, Florda, borthers Joe and Davide, and sister Michelle DePalmer Williams.

"I've thought about doing this for awhile.  We wanted to do it at Cedar Bluff Racquet Club a few years ago when Boris Becker (whom Mike Jr. once coached) was interested in buying that club.  But it didn't work out.  That was the closest opportunity.  This is the first time we've had a vacility."

Asked if his father could take instructions from him, Mike Jr. wasn't so sure.  "That's kind of up in the air right now,"  Mike Jr. said.  "I asked if he wanted to be my assistant, and I'd let him keep 80 percent of his pay.  He got a chuckle out of that." 

Chris Woodruff, a former Vol who once achieved a No.29 singles ranking on the ATP Tour, will make a special guest appearance and conduct an exhibition with Rhyne Williams, son of the former Michelle DePalmer and ranked No. 3 in the nation in boys' 12 and under.  

The clinic is being sponsored by Prince.  Demo rackets and T-shirts will be given away.  Famed tennis teaching pro Nick Bollettierri is donating one free week at the IMG Academy (formerly Bollettierri's Academy)  in Bradenton, Fla. -- a value of at least $1,000.    Green Meadows has four hard courts and two clay courts within eyesight of the Smokey Mountains.  In 1999, the club spent $1.5 million to renovate the tennis courts and swimming pool.

"It's very scenic and a nice family atmosphere,"  said DePalmer Jr., who has taught not only Becker and Woodruff but Justin Gimelstob, Mark Philippoussis and Anna Kournikova.    

    
Hunter Beal was the winner of the week at the 
IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla, compliments of 
teaching tennis pro Nick Bollettierri.

     First, I would like to thank Bob Perkinson and the Board of Directors for giving me the opportunity to come to Green Meadow Country Club. After spending the last ten years coaching on the men’s professional tennis tour, I was looking for the right club to settle down at in this area. I have found it in GMCC.

     Some of the issues that need to be addressed are: building up the tennis membership, getting the ladies interclub teams up and running and raising money for a bubble to cover two of the courts so that the members can play year-round and avoid losing memberships during the winter months.

     The first thing that I have planned is to have a Free Tennis Clinic on March 27^th from 1 pm - 4 pm for members and non-members. All ages, adults, juniors, beginners, intermediate, and advanced are welcome. The clinic will be sponsored by The Prince Manufacturing Company. I will be bringing in my father Mike Sr. who was the tennis coach at UT for 14 years; my sister Michelle who played at UT and was the pro at the Knoxville racket club for 10 years; my brother Joe who was a pro at Cedar Bluff for 4 years before moving on to other endeavors; and brother David, who has worked with some of the best juniors in the world including Anna Kournikova, Tommy Haas, Mary Pierce, and others. Our family was voted the number one tennis family in American in 1991 so it is a real treat to be doing a clinic with them. The clinic will include a tennis exhibition, instruction, drilling, games, and prizes. Tell all of your friends to come on out, because it will be a great afternoon with the DePalmer’s.

     There has been some concern that my prices for lessons and clinics will be too high. I can assure you that my prices are in line with all of the clubs in the Knoxville area. For the level of instruction you will receive; I can guarantee that you will be getting a bargain. If you have any questions feel free to call. I will be starting March 1^st and look forward to a long relationship with all of you at GMCC.

                                      Sincerely, Mike DePalmer Jr.