Raleigh Pro League is coming to The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation! Founded in 2010, Raleigh Pro League was created to showcase the best adult tennis players in the greater Raleigh area. Wakefield has been granted the opportunity to host one of their events on Friday, August 12 at their sports club, located at 3350 Canes Way in Raleigh. Wakefield's assistant tennis professional, Caitlin Whoriskey, will be joining Wake Ortho's team and competing that day. Whoriskey, who was a touring pro until 2020, has a long list of tennis achievements which includes being named a three-time NCAA Division I All-American while at The University of Tennessee in addition to playing Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

Join us at the sports club at Wakefield as Team White Dahlia takes on Team Wake Ortho, beginning at 6:30 PM. The matches begin at 7 PM and admission is free for everyone. We will have a full bar and grill open in addition to live music, starting at 9 PM, from Dizzy Melon. Outside coolers are not permitted. For more information about this event at Wakefield, please contact the tennis shop at (919) 488-1930.

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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.”

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During the month of October, McConnell Golf invites you to get involved and participate in fundraisers held throughout our properties. Members at each of our clubs can also give back with $1 from every Meyer Filet and McConnell Golf Salmon BLT sandwich order going toward our Susan G. Komen fundraiser. On Sunday, October 17, every McConnell Golf cart fee booked will also go towards our fundraising efforts. Click here to donate and to follow our progress throughout the month of October! Read on below to see how several of our properties are also contributing to Susan G. Komen.

The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation – Yoga for a Cause & Rosé Drink Specials

On October 5, the staff at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation hosted an outdoor yoga class. Participants paid $15 to attend the class as proceeds benefited Susan G. Komen. They also wore pink and enjoyed a complimentary glass of rosé. Additionally, during the month of October, the main clubhouse and Breaker Bar & Grille will donate a portion of funds from their rosé sales to Susan G. Komen.

Country Club of Asheville – Family Fun Run, Yoga on the Lawn, Pink Cocktails, Pickleball Social & Tennis Clinic

On October 11, Country Club of Asheville is hosting their first Family Fun Run. Participants will meet at the driving range for drinks and snacks before taking off for the walk/run. They will have the option to walk or run along the back nine of the course, which is 2.3 miles, and the run will end at the range where a wall of foam awaits participants. There is a $10 minimum donation to participate.

Members also have the option to participate in a special evening yoga class on the lawn or a pickleball social on October 13. All proceeds will go toward our Susan G. Komen fundraiser. Afterwards, members will meet by the firepit for "pink" cocktails and watch the sunset over the mountains. There is a $20 minimum donation to participate in the yoga class and a $25 minimum to participate in the pickleball social. Finally, on October 14, the tennis staff will host a morning clinic followed by tennis play and a luncheon at the clubhouse. The cost to participate is a $20 minimum donation per person. 

Brook Valley Country Club – Drink & Entrée Specials, Tough Day Scramble, Closest to the Pin Contest & 50/50 Raffle

Every day during the month of October, Brook Valley Country Club has drink specials and two dinner entrée offerings will $1 going toward our Susan G. Komen fundraiser. On October 3, Brook Valley also hosted a Two Person Tough Day Scramble and Closest to the Pin Contest. The entry fee for the Tough Day Scramble was $50 with $25 going toward the event. Entry for the Closest to the Pin Contest was a wager of the participant's choice as they competed against the club staff on the 18th tee. 

Raleigh Country Club – Sunset Yoga & Cocktails

On October 20, Raleigh Country Club will host a sunset yoga session on the pool deck. The cost is $20 per person and all proceeds will benefit Susan G. Komen.

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Royalty siblings earn McConnell Golf Scholarships for Golf & Tennis

In 2020, Keenan and Sierra Royalty became the first pair of siblings to earn McConnell Golf Scholarships.

Keenan, a 16-year-old high school sophomore, is one of the state’s most accomplished junior golfers, having captured numerous local, state and regional titles since he began competing when he was just five years old. In May, Keenan was awarded a McConnell Golf Scholarship.

Four months later, his 14-year-old sister, Sierra – an eighth-grade honors student at Wakefield Middle School – received a McConnell Golf Tennis Scholarship. Sierra, who is currently ranked 68th in the Southeast, recently won a USTA Level 4 tournament in Kinston, North Carolina; then beat the No. 1 seed in a Level 4 tournament in Snow Hill, North Carolina, catapulting her 14 spots higher in the rankings.  

The McConnell Golf Scholarship program is designed to offer instruction, practice and playing opportunities to young golfers and tennis players who may not have the financial means to practice at first-class facilities. To qualify, certain criteria must be met, including level of talent, need and commitment — as well as proven dedication and value to the future of the sport.

Keenan and Sierra hail from an athletic lineage. Their father, Doug, was drafted by the Houston Astros and pitched in the minor leagues for a couple years. One of their brothers, Alex, is a pitcher within the Cleveland Indians organization, while their oldest brother, Paul, played baseball at Wakefield High School.

Keenan says coming from an athletic family had an important influence on his approach to golf.

“I'm very competitive when it comes to my family, so that has helped me aim to become the best I can be at golf,” he says. “I’m very motivated to become the most accomplished of all of us.”

Keenan has navigated quite a journey. By the time he was just a year old, he was walking and swinging a plastic, 18-inch golf club. His parents gave him golf balls, but Keenan quickly began hitting them so well that he was breaking things in the house.

He then progressed to a golf mat outside the front door, and was quickly able to hit a ball across the cul-de-sac and close to the neighbors’ house. So, his parents bought a net.

“We had a park at the end of our street, so we would take Keenan there to hit golf balls,” recalls his mother, Karen. “All the neighbors knew him, and loved to see him tote a golf bag bigger than he was.”  

Keenan’s first tournaments were with U.S. Kids Golf and his parents both caddied for him. When he turned 11, he began to play on a wide variety of state and regional tours.

His parents decided to pull Keenan out of public school in seventh grade, so he could incorporate more golf time into his schedule.

 “Homeschool has been the best way to budget his time. He currently attends homeschool classes at New Life Camp in Raleigh one day per week, then studies at home or on the road. He maintains straight As and is finding a great balance,” Karen says.

When Keenan was in sixth grade, his feet began to swell when walking long golf courses. He learned that each of his feet had an extra bone that needed to be removed — meaning 2016 became a long year, including foot surgeries and no golf.

Now, Keenan’s true talent has begun to shine through.  

In 2020, when golf tournaments were on hold, Keenan spent all day, every day on the practice range. He also spent time on the putting and chipping greens, while playing as many holes as possible from sunup to sundown.

Keenan is coached by The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation’s Director of Golf Adam McLaughlin, whose expertise has been instrumental to his development. Keenan has also met several PGA professionals who practice at Wakefield — and often ask Keenan to join them in a putting contest — along with numerous other high school golfers, with whom he practices and plays tournaments.  

“Since becoming a McConnell Golf Scholar, Keenan has made some drastic improvement in his game as shown in the results over the past few months,” says McLaughlin. “I’ve been impressed with his work ethic and attitude during the time that I’ve spent coaching him. Keenan is a humble young man with excellent manners. He exemplifies the characteristics that we all look for in junior golfers. I expect big things from him over the next few years.”

Since August 2020, Keenan has consistently finished in the Top four from among nearly 150 high school boys, other than two tournaments where he placed 11th and 18th. He plans to not only play collegiate golf, but also work toward competing on the PGA Tour.

“The McConnell Golf Scholarship has seriously taken my entire game to a new level,” Keenan says. “Since starting, I’ve dropped my state ranking about 125 placements, and my national ranking by more than 700 placements. I’ve competed in countless tournaments since then, and I’ve consistently been finishing around the top. The scholarship is the greatest thing that has ever happened to my golf game.” 

The youngest Royalty sibling, Sierra, “has always been an overachiever,” says her mother. “(Vice president) of student council and now president of the Beta Club, which is an all-A club in middle school. She is also involved in our church and volunteering in the community, prior to COVID.”  

Sierra started competing in sports at age five, and tennis became her passion fairly quickly.  

“At first, I experimented with different sports and activities such as dance, gymnastics and tennis, and I did all of them for quite some time,” she says. “But tennis was the sport and activity that I loved doing the most… At around eight years old, I stopped doing gymnastics and ever since then, tennis is the only sport I’ve really done and enjoyed.”

Before she was awarded a tennis scholarship in September 2020, Sierra was practicing with the tennis coach at NC State. When NC State closed due to COVID-19, Sierra would hit with her father in the street or any tennis courts they could find, until she was able to play at The Country Club at Wakefield.  

Now she attends every clinic three days a week with high school players at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation. She also takes private lessons with McConnell Golf’s Corporate Director of Tennis, Kyle Thortsen, who is based at Wakefield.

“Kyle has helped Sierra’s game tremendously, and she absolutely loves playing with his group. Andrew Hodges is the other pro tennis coach who works with Kyle, and he has helped boost Sierra’s playing level,” her mother says.  

“Our first opportunity to get to know Sierra was from a Summer High Performance tennis camp that was being held at Wakefield Plantation,” says Thortsen. “From the start of camp, it was easy to see that this young lady was all business once she stepped inside of the gates. From conditioning to drills, Sierra gives us 100 percent effort and focus every time. There’s no doubt that her determination and want-to-learn attitude will take her to great heights, on and off the tennis court.”

Sierra aspires to play collegiate and professional tennis one day — and believes her McConnell Golf Tennis Scholarship will provide just the boost she needs.

“My goal would be to have a good education, of course, and I would love to take tennis into my future,” Sierra said. “The McConnell Scholarship has definitely made me want to work and train harder. Knowing how much it has already helped me, and how much more it will help me, makes me excited and eager to see what my future in tennis will be like.”

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It’s the fastest growing sport in the country, and McConnell Golf members have home-court advantage.

Pickleball is a paddle sport, similar to tennis or badminton, but with fewer rules and, some would say, even more fun.

“This year is our test year for pickleball,” says Kyle Thortsen, McConnell corporate director of tennis. “We’re educating our tennis pros on how to play and running demos at clubs, so be on the lookout for more details from your pro shop on upcoming pickleball socials this year.”

Holston Hills Country Club and Country Club of Asheville have seen a big interest in the sport; both clubs have a regular group of players who meet weekly.

“The biggest fans of pickleball are usually those who are aging out of tennis,” says Thorsten. “It’s a slower-paced game with an underhand serve, played on a smaller court. It’s great for tennis players who may have had injuries or can’t take the wear and tear of covering a full tennis court.”

At CCA, Director of Tennis Bill Barber says pickleball is bringing new people to his indoor courts.

“I’m seeing new people out here, which I love. It gets people active, and that’s a great thing. I’ve been shocked at the interest. There’s a very quick learning curve and it’s an incredibly social game. People are watching and laughing at the good, the bad, the ugly shots. It’s almost like adult ping-pong. I love when I hear members say ‘I haven’t laughed this much in years.’” 

CCA member Wayne DiCastri recently moved to Asheville from Minnesota, where he and his wife, Ingrid, played the sport regularly. They didn’t miss a beat when they joined CCA last fall.

“We have a great core group that plays regularly,” he says.

“It was a great way for us to meet new people and get some exercise. There’s less area to cover on the court and all the equipment is here. You just show up and start playing.”  

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McConnell Golf’s tennis program brings all the clubs together.

Each August since 2011, tennis fans have gathered at Wake Forest University for the Winston-Salem Open. The last men’s tournament on the Emirates Airline US Open Series circuit before the US Open, this event draws top pros and a large, enthusiastic crowd.

For the past couple of years, McConnell Golf members have joined in the fun. “It’s a good event,” says Kyle Thortsen, McConnell Golf director of tennis. “We start out with a tailgate in the parking lot. We have a tent, and cornhole, and food, and everyone hangs out until the gates open.”

Member Jill Uttridge agrees. “I attended the WSO with my husband and sons, who are 13 and 9. While the boys enjoyed cornhole in the parking lot, we mixed with friends from our club, Wakefield Plantation, and met members from other McConnell clubs. It was fun to hang with the pros in a non-instructional capacity.” The highlights for the kids? “My 9-year-old loved watching the players practice a few feet away and getting autographs on his big tennis ball. We love the small tournaments because you can really get up close to the players.”

Once inside, the group gathered at center court for a photo. “That was really cool,” smiles Thortsen. “Last year, we had 25 members, and this year we had 50. We hope it will continue to grow and grow.”

The Country Club of Asheville trip took place in the spring, with members from the Raleigh area heading to the mountains. Member Mary Beth Corbin recalls, “We brought a lot of energy and were greeted with sincere enthusiasm. Everyone was so welcoming, and the clinic with the pros was well-designed to meet the levels of the different participants.”

These excursions also involve entertainment and local college players coming out for some sets. An event at Old North State Club in New London, North Carolina happened in November, and it was anticipated from more than just a skill standpoint. Corbin says, “Our group was discussing what our outfits would be — and we asked our coach to have us McConnell-clinic-ready!”

 

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A peek at the action from the director of tennis

Kyle Thortsen played his first tennis match in middle school and nev­er looked back. He played through high school, earned a scholarship to college, and then became a tennis pro. His life is on the court and his passion is get­ting others out there with him. Here, Thortsen discusses his favorite topic with McConnell Golf The Magazine.

Tell me about you. What’s your tennis background?

I’m from Charlotte, North Carolina — born and raised. I started playing tennis when I was in middle school. I played all four years of high school and got a scholarship to Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina.

After school, I went back to Charlotte and worked in the tennis industry. In the spring of 2011, I got the opportu­nity to go to Durham, North Carolina to join McConnell Golf at Treyburn as the assistant pro. I helped the current staff build that program and regrow it. In March 2015 I moved to Wakefield Plantation, and now I’m the director of tennis for the entire company.

What characterizes McConnell tennis programs?

In the past, all of the clubs have oper­ated with their own fingerprint. One of the great things about McConnell Golf is that we have these other properties that our members can go to and enjoy. On the tennis side, we haven’t done a very good job of promoting that. As we go into the future, our goal is to show off how great the company is and how great our properties are by taking groups to other clubs and traveling around. We don’t want clubs to stop operating as their own entities, but we do want to help each other out. We want to show members how much they have at their fingertips. You just have to travel a little bit, which can be a lot of fun.

What sorts of trips do you have planned?

This year, we have two ladies’ week­ends. [One weekend trip happened in late April to The Country Club of Asheville.] In October a group will go to Old North State for a little tennis boot-camp. We’ll rent out the lodges for the ladies to stay in for the weekend, and we’ve also lined up a college tennis match as an added entertainment feature. Those weekends are a way to experience something different from just an everyday tennis program.

We’re also going to take a group trip to the Winston-Salem Open in August. We had the first McConnell Day at the tournament last year and it was a lot of fun. We had about 25 members gather in Winston-Salem, North Carolina — we tailgated in the parking lot and then watched the matches all day. I can’t wait for that this year.

Are there any other standout programs you’re excited about?

We’re hosting tournaments at our facilities all year. They’ll be city tournaments, where both members and non-members can qualify. It’s a great way to show off how fantastic McConnell Golf clubs are. Tournaments provide a competitive atmosphere for a weekend, which is a fun and different format for our members to take part in, whether they’re playing or watching. All of our clubs will host several tourna­ments this year.

Where do the junior players fit into all of this?

Junior golfers have a McConnell Golf scholarship opportunity, and we’re introducing that on the tennis side, as well. This is an awesome opportunity for our younger players. We’re going to start with Wakefield Plantation, The Country Club of Asheville, Sedgefield Country Club, and Providence Country Club. Ask your club’s tennis pro for the details.

What keeps you going and inspired when managing tennis programs at a dozen different clubs?

The access our members have to go to these other clubs any time they want is so unique. That ability to use other facilities allows them to pursue their passion for the sport in different set­tings and meet great people across the clubs. That’s a community that I’m very excited to help foster.

Instruction Insight: A tip from Kyle about doubles play

“For the average club doubles player, constancy and placement are the keys to success. Many players become impatient while playing and compensate by using power to end a point. Instead, stay calm. The baseline player should look to keep the ball cross-court — aim to have the ball travel four feet above the net. This will result in a deep shot that will back your opponent off the court and allow your partner to move to the center for an easy put-away volley.”

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