McConnell Golf’s eight properties offer some of the best tennis facilities and USTA-certified professionals in the region. Meet the four newest pros who are bringing a breadth of experience
to the club’s courts.

ADVICE FROM THE PROS
• Why take up tennis? Because, according to Tito Poplawski, “the sport is engaging in so many different ways; it’s exercise, fun, social and even therapeutic.”
• Best tip for beginners? “Take it little by little every day,” says Beck Bond. “Tennis is not a sport you are going to master in a week or a year; it is a sport of a lifetime.”
• Best tip for competitive players? Tennis can be a very solitary sport, says Jacob Fuqua, and competitive play can be “rough” at times. The solution, says Fuqua, is to lean on teammates for support and encouragement.
• There’s no such thing as a loss. “Focus on how you are playing and have a goal for the match (make more balls in play, play aggressively),” says Caitlin Whoriskey. “If you can come off the court and say you did what you had in mind, then count it as a win.”

CAITLIN WHORISKEY
ASSISTANT TENNIS PROFESSIONAL AT THE COUNTRY CLUB AT WAKEFIELD PLANTATION

Caitlin Whoriskey’s long list of tennis achievements includes being named a three-time NCAA Division I All-American while at The University of Tennessee and playing Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Now Whoriskey wants to use her experiences to coach players at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation where she became an assistant tennis professional in May 2021.

Whoriskey says she focused on the “finer details” in her practices and matches, and she continues to “perfect the little things” as a coach. “My favorite part of the job is when I get out on the court
with a member and they finally get the hang of a particular shot,” says Whoriskey, “and they are just beaming with excitement and satisfaction.”

WP member Bobbi Ingold says Whoriskey’s focus on the details has greatly improved her daughter Traci’s skills. “Caitlin breaks down the fundamentals for Traci and talks to her about point strategy,” says Ingold. “Traci has improved her footwork, groundstrokes, volleys and serve since working with Caitlin.” Ingold, who played tennis at Georgia Tech, says she was very picky when choosing a coach for Traci. “We have worked with several pros in the Raleigh area and Caitlin is by far the best,” Ingold says.

Along with coaching, Whoriskey’s duties include running tennis clinics, tournament events and club socials.

BECK BOND
DIRECTOR OF TENNIS AT PROVIDENCE COUNTRY CLUB

Beck Bond began playing tennis at just 3 years old, and he’s been playing ever since. “It [tennis] is something I truly love and am passionate about,” Bond says. Bond had a very successful tennis career at North Carolina State University and coached at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte before becoming director of tennis at Providence Country Club in May 2021. Bond says his years of competitive play and his time as a coach prepared him to work with players at all levels at PCC. “I get to pass along my knowledge of the sport I love to eager members wanting to better themselves and their tennis games,” Bond says.

Joan Bullard, a PCC Interclub team member, appreciates the experience Bond brings. “His clinics are very informative, and he quickly taught us a great deal from the moment he stepped on the court with us,” Bullard says. She says attendance at Interclub clinics has grown with Bond at the helm. “He’s been a breath of fresh air at PCC,” Bullard says.

Along with coaching and running clinics, Bond oversees the day-to-day tennis operations for the club, and manages his staff.

JACOB FUQUA
TENNIS DIRECTOR AT HOLSTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

Jacob Fuqua says the best part of his job as tennis director at Holston Hills Country Club is the relationships he’s formed with members and staff. When Fuqua became tennis director at HHCC in June 2021, he says he was “immediately welcomed into their membership family.” He adds, “The tennis membership here is such a close-knit group and I absolutely love that. The amount of support I get from them is truly overwhelming.”

HHCC member Laila Yoder says it was easy to welcome Fuqua into the tennis family. The Interclub group can be a bit rowdy, explains Yoder, and Fuqua brings the perfect blend of “energy” and “cheek” to manage the group. A bonus, Yoder says, is Fuqua’s accessibility. “When I have matches to play, I can text him for helpful hints on how to play particular opponents and he gets back to me pretty quickly with strategies even though I’m not in a lesson.”

A few of Fuqua’s many job responsibilities include teaching tennis, planning all tennis events, and maintaining the courts and tennis center.

TITO POPLAWSKI
DIRECTOR OF TENNIS AT COUNTRY CLUB OF ASHEVILLE
“Having this job is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a teenager,” Tito Poplawski says of his role as director of tennis at Country Club of Asheville. Poplawski, a former high school tennis state champion who went on to play at Lees-McCrae College, began playing tennis at CCA when he was 13 years old. At 16, he started working at the CCA tennis pro shop. “The country club has played an important role in my passion for tennis, and I want to provide the same experience for tennis and pickleball players,” Poplawski says. “It inspires me to keep the facility a fun and exciting place to play tennis and pickleball.”

CCA member Anne Russo says Poplawski’s enthusiasm for tennis is “infectious.” Russo, who started playing tennis two years ago, regularly does group lessons with Poplawski. He also coaches her three children. “He’s patient, kind and encouraging with both children and adults,” she says.

Poplawski’s many responsibilities include programming clinics and events, maintaining the tennis facilities, and managing his staff. He says the members’ enthusiasm for the sport is very rewarding. “There are so many great families and people who want to share their passion for tennis,” Poplawski says. “It is a pleasure to work with them.”