TENNIS / JEFF RILEY : SCTC Expands to Meet a Growing Need

The Southern California Tennis Club was formed more than a decade ago as a necessity in a burgeoning sport, one of its founders says. In its 11 years of existence, it has become a hub for its competition-minded patrons.

Ron McCabe of Studio City founded the SCTC immediately after he resigned from his volunteer position as men’s vice president of the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Racquet Club. He believed that the club was reluctant to increase its membership.

“So a few of us were sitting around my living room one night and decided we should start our own club,” said McCabe, a part-time actor at the time. “Of course, they pretty much decided I was in charge because I had more free time.”

The club began with six founders, and it charged $10 for membership fees that covered the costs of purchasing a business license and producing a one-page newsletter.

Today, membership has ballooned to more than 700 and includes most of the region’s finest players. Annual membership fees have increased to $75, “but people tell me it’s the best deal in tennis and that I could easily get twice that,” McCabe said.

The SCTC operates out of an office in Studio City and provides members with a network of competitive players, and allows them to schedule matches at their convenience. The matches take place at a variety of locations.

“We’re a workingman’s club for the competitive, improvement-minded player,” McCabe said. “Most people are limited in the time they can play because of work and families. We try to work with their changing schedules.”

McCabe, who is certified with the United States Tennis Assn.’s national tennis rating program, provides scouting reports on players, who then set up matches with other players and earn points toward the club’s ladder.

McCabe organizes 80 weekend tournaments a year and two Challenge Series tournaments in which winners receive prizes from several sponsors. He also reports, edits and publishes the SCTC’s bimonthly newsletter, which has increased to eight pages.

“It’s kind of a labor of love,” said McCabe, who has turned the idea into a full-time job. “If you know how involved I was. . . . It all started out so innocently.”

Gar Glenney Cup: Three junior teams from the Cabrillo Racquet Club will be among six from Southern California that will compete against Northern California teams in the Gar Glenney Cup this weekend in Fresno.

The boys’ 18-year-old team consists of Mark Ellis, Jon Cicone, Josh Deschamps, Mike Morgan, Scott Hill, Chris Karas and Jonas White (all of Camarillo); R.J. Cutting (Ventura); and Mike Bannister (Newbury Park).

A boys’ 15s team consists of Pete Webb and John Tobias of Ventura; Fred Wu, Larry Wu and Andy White of Camarillo; and Jason Gaona of Simi Valley.

The girls’ 12s team consists of Annie Doud, Katy Messmer and Bettina Rettenmaier of Camarillo; Rhi Potkey of Ventura; Danica Hardy of Santa Maria; and Lauren Gaona of Simi Valley.

The teams are coached by Dave McKinney, Budd Booth and Wayne Bryan.

Team tennis: Eight USTA adult-league teams from Ventura County will be among nine from the region that will compete in sectional playoffs today through Sunday at Los Caballeros Sports Village in Fountain Valley.

Teams qualified by winning their respective district titles in July.

Three women’s teams from Sunset Hills Country Club will compete in the 4.5, 4.0 and 3.5 divisions. Team captains are Mary Rudolph (4.5), Dailene Silverberg (4.0) and Jane Henderson (3.5). Oakridge Athletic Club, whose captain is Belinda Romero, will compete in the women’s 3.0 division.

Men’s teams include the Cabrillo Racquet Club (5.0 and 3.5), Sunset Hills Country Club (4.5) and Oxnard Tennis Center (4.0). Captains include Randy Kinsling (5.0), David Jaffe (4.5), Glenn Hamashita (4.0) and Douglas Rosecrans (3.5).

Porter Valley Country Club will represent the San Fernando Valley in the men’s 4.5 division. Bill Marrs is team captain.

Surprise invitation: Stacey Jellen of Calabasas High had competed in several $10,000 women’s professional tournaments during the past two summers, but she was nevertheless surprised when she received a late invitation to compete in a $225,000 tournament in Carlsbad last month.

Jellen, 16, had earned only half a point toward a computer ranking in nine previous tournaments. She received a full point for a 6-2, 6-2 loss to Woodland Hills’ Karen Shim in a qualifying-round match at Carlsbad. Shim is Jellen’s former practice partner.

“I was very nervous,” Jellen said. “But I earned a point, so that was exciting.”

Jellen earned $400 for the match but did not accept it in order to remain an amateur. She says her next appearance in a professional tournament could come in October in the Bahamas. Jellen currently is ranked 886th in the world by the Women’s Tennis Assn.

Doubles grand prix: The Westlake Tennis and Swim Club will play host to the 10th Grand Prix doubles championships Sept. 7-8.

The tournament is open to the public. Entry deadline is Thursday.

Information: 818-889-6164.

Tennis academy: Registration has begun for the Top Seed Tennis Academy at Calabasas Park Tennis and Swim Club. The academy, open to players of all abilities aged 6 to 18, begins Sept. 9 and runs Tuesdays through Fridays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The program will continue until next summer.

Information: 818-222-2782.

Add junior instruction: The fifth junior tennis camp will be sponsored by the Glendale Parks and Community Services Dept., Aug. 26-30 at Fremont Park.

The camp, open to players aged 10 to 18, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon.

Information: 818-548-3796.

The department also will play host to a junior tennis tournament that begins Aug. 31 at Fremont Park. Play will continue Sept. 1 and Sept. 7-8.

Information: 818-548-3796.