Sports

SMITH STEARNS TENNIS ACADEMY CELEBRATES 20 YEARS.

BY MARK E. LETT PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

World-class commitment

When the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy hosts junior athletes at The Sea Pines Resort, more is offered than a worldclass training opportunity.

Much more.

The team at Smith Stearns also is setting out a welcome mat for players and families from across the nation and around the globe to enjoy the Hilton Head community and its warm, satisfying lifestyle.

Time and again visiting players and their families have found the island academy and island life so rewarding that they frequently become permanent Hilton Head residents.

From engaging with schools, community service and community partnerships, the academy is a committed corporate citizen.

It starts with Stan Smith, a former World No. 1 tennis player whose familiarity with Hilton Head extends 50 years to his days as a touring pro.

Smith and his wife, Margie, raised four children on Hilton Head during the two decades of the academy’s operations at Sea Pines. The experience established a bond that has proven a win-win-win for the academy, the community and the families of Smith-Stearns trainees.

Likewise, the Stearns family has deep roots on the island. Academy director and co-owner B.J. Stearns — son of founder, Billy — was on hand when operations began in 2002.

B.J. and his wife, Kelley, have two school-age children and a third child is expected in October.

“Our family feels so fortunate to live on such a wonderful island, in an amazing community like Sea Pines,” B.J. said. “There isn’t a better place around.”

Sharing that enthusiasm and experience is essential to the academy’s overall mission, said Smith.

“It’s important to us to be integrated with the community and all that family-friendly Hilton Head has to offer,” he said.

Inseparable from the academy’s reputation for player development is a dedication to education. An emphasis on academic development — and preparation for college — has helped Smith Stearns students earn more than $15 million in college scholarships.

To develop student as scholars and citizens, the academy has close ties with Hilton Head’s highly regarded education community, including public and private schools. Over the past decade, Smith Stearns customized a program with Hilton Head Preparatory School, minutes from the academy’s training center.

Flexibility and carefully tailored schedules enable academy students attending “Prep” to take full benefit of on-court training and in-school classwork.

Working together, the academy and school choreograph schedules for players to include quality time with Prep students, including initiatives for public service and community involvement.

“It’s the best of both worlds,” said Beckie Bart, whose son, Bobby, is entering his senior year at Hilton Head Prep. The Bart family left Bermuda for a Hilton Head home after Bobby began training at Smith Stearns.

“It’s wonderful to pursue his ambition for tennis while getting a great education,” said Beckie.

Added Tina Webb-Browning, Head of Upper School at Prep:

“The combination of Smith Stearns tennis expertise and our rigorous educational program builds resumes for those students who continually impress college admissions officers and college coaches.”

Bobby Bart, 17, said the academy-school relationship puts him on course to play college tennis and study entrepreneurship and finance.

“Both Smith Stearns and Prep make sure we do our best, on and off the court,” he said.

Smith Stearns alumnus Mariana Gould is testament to the program’s effectiveness. Her family moved to Hilton Head in 2011 from Boise, Idaho, as Mariana began training at the academy.

Mariana won two Junior National Gold Ball Championships and earned a tennis scholarship to the University of Georgia. She earned three degrees in public health and administration and now works in clinical research at the Medical University of South Carolina.

“A great combination —Smith Stearns Academy and Hilton Head Prep,” said her father, Jay Gould.

Mariana Gould said the academy “has had an immeasurable impact on my entire life – not just from the tennis perspective.

“The academy taught me hard work and responsibility from a young age, and gave me a home away from home,” she said.

Home to Smith Stearns for two decades has been The Sea Pines Resort, described as “Hilton Head’s Most Celebrated Resort.”

As partners, the resort and the academy honed a reputation as the No. 1 resort for tennis programs, as rated by Tennis Magazine.

Steve Birdwell, president of The Sea Pines Resort, said the facility’s standing in the tennis world “remains vibrant to this day, thanks in no small part to the top-level talent drawn” to the academy.

“We are fortunate to have an ongoing partnership with Smith Stearns and play a role in the growth of the game for the next generation of champions,” Birdwell said.

BLUFFTON, S.C. (0-.5 HOUR AWAY)

Explore Old Town: Visit local shops on Calhoun Street (from art galleries to a bookstore) or grab a bite to eat at a local establishment. The Bluffton Farmers Market on Boundary Street is a fun place to visit on Thursdays for fresh, locally grown vegetables and fruits. Burnt Church Distillery on Bluffton Road has welcomed 80,000 customers since it opened last year. Enjoy one of its 22 original cocktails. Old Town also includes the pre-Civil War Church of the Cross. A site worth visiting, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more, visit blufftonsc.com.

May River Shrimp Festival: A marque event, the three-day May River Shrimp Festival offers live music, arts and a craft beer garden. The event, July 13-15 this year, is about enjoying delicious shrimp and seafood, all with the beautiful backdrop of the May River. The Shrimp Fest Sunset 5K opens the festival weekend.Visit blufftonsunsetparty.com.

Slide into Summer: Enjoy waterslides, video games and win prizes at the town of Bluffton’s “Slide Out of July” event, set for July 16 at Oscar Frazier Park. The event gives families a chance to socialize with neighbors and children in the community.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.

(0-.5 HOUR AWAY)

HarbourFest: For more than 30 years Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina has hosted the summerlong HarbourFest. The free family-fun event features a firework display, live music with Shannon Tanner, and children’s activities with Cappy the Clown.

Enjoy fireworks one night a week through the end of August. Go to sheltercoveharbourfest.com.

Hit the Beach: Beachgoers rejoice, Hilton Head is the perfect place to enjoy a day in the sun and water. Nationally renowned Coligny Beach is the most trafficked (and has a full array of shops and restaurants within walking distance). Burkes and Driessen beaches are equally beautiful public beach options.

Beat the Heat: Take a respite from the sizzling temperatures by heading indoors to watch a movie. Visit Northridge Cinema 10, which has 10 screens, or enjoy Park Plaza Cinema or Coligny Theatre. Park Plaza is an independent theater. Coligny is a single-screen theater that shows mostly art house movies. If you want some action, Adventure Cove Mini Golf & Arcade on Hilton Head features air hockey, video games and a creative mini golf course.

BEAUFORT, S.C. (.5-1 HOUR AWAY)

The Kazoo Factory: The Kazoo Factory features one of the largest collections of kazoos in the world. Visitors can tour the factory and get an opportunity to make their own kazoo. Choose among 14 colors of bodies and caps. Fun for all ages. Fully guided tours are available Monday to Friday. For more information, visit thekazoofactory. com.

Highway 21 Drive-In Movie Theater: Under new ownership (Jake Higgins), but it still has that same feeling of nostalgia. You can watch an outdoor movie on one of three big screens. A mainstay since 1978, the Highway 21 Drive-In Movie Theater offers double features. For an updated schedule, visit hwy21drivein.com

Hunting Island: Hunting Island attracts more than a million visitors a year. The main attraction is the island’s lighthouse, built in 1859. Visitors can stand 130 feet above the ground (in 167 steps) and absorb a panoramic view of the Atlantic Coast. Visit the nature center and you might see an alligator. Learn more at southcarolinaparks.com/ hunting-island.

SAVANNAH, GA. (.5-1 HOUR AWAY)

Explore a Ghost Tour: Savannah is considered one of the country’s most haunted cities. There are a variety of tours, from walking tours to trolley tours and even a hearse tour. A new attraction is the Savannah Underground, which features spooky tales. For more tours, go to visitsavannah.com.

Telfair Museums: Experience culture, history and art at the Telfair Museums, which includes the Telfair Academy, art exhibits at the Jepson Center and the historic Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters. Founded in 1883, Telfair Museums is the oldest public art museum in the South.

The buildings and collections bridge centuries of art and architecture to the city. Visit telfair.org.

Fort Pulaski: Located on Cockspur Island, just 20 minutes from downtown Savannah, Fort Pulaski has stood over the Savannah River for more than 170 years. It was built to protect the city of Savannah and has become a prime attraction, with more than 374,000 visitors in 2019, according to the National Parks Service website.

Guests are invited to explore exhibits and hike or bird watch. At the fort, visitors can walk the rooms inside, view exhibits and read panels that tell stories about its history. You can also explore numerous walking trails. Visit nps.gov.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (2 HOURS AWAY)

Charleston City Market: In the heart of downtown Charleston, more than 300 local artisans line four city blocks to display their craftsmanship. Browse decor, art, jewelry, and clothing. Native Gullah artisans hand-weave the beloved sweet grass baskets and similar treasures from local bulrush, a Lowcountry sweet marsh grass. For more information, visit thecharlestoncitymarket. com.

South Carolina Aquarium: This waterfront location on the Charleston Harbor features more than 5,000 animals.

It offers outside views where visitors can spot wild dolphins and birds. A top attraction is the 385,000-gallon, two-story Great Ocean Tank. Tickets purchased online. Learn more at scaquarium.org.

Park Circle in North Charleston: Outside of the hustle and bustle of downtown is a thriving community in North Charleston. Park Circle is anchored by a central circular park and includes nearby green spaces. Within walking distance are plenty of local shops (pizzeria, an independent bookstore, dinner spots) and a fantastic cidery, the Ship’s Wheel Hard Cider. If you stop by for a drink we recommend the “High Seas.” Park Circle is close to the Hunley submarine, which is always a great attraction. Visit charlestoncvb.com.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (2-2.5 HOURS AWAY)

South Carolina State Museum: The South Carolina State Museum has more than 210,000 square feet of art, natural history and science-technology exhibits. It has four floors of modern design for curious minds of all

JACKSONVILLE ZOO AND GARDENS

SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM

IT’S TIME TO VOTE! FOR MONTHLY’S CUTEST PET

DOG | CAT | OTHER

It’s time to vote for Monthly’s Annual Cutest Pet! Vote for the photo of the cutest pets for them to win a pet photoshoot. This year we have three categories featuring dogs, cats and others.

Go to hiltonheadmonthly.com to vote on the cutest pet. One vote per category is allowed. Voting is open July 1–10th. Winners will be announced July 11th. Previous winners are ineligible to win again.

HUNTING ISLAND FORT PULASKI

ages. There’s an interactive 4D theater, Boeing Observatory and the 55-foot, 145-seat dome planetarium. Learn more at scmuseum.org.

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden: Natural habitat exhibits on 170 acres of greenery are home to more than 2,000 animal species. Feed giraffes, mingle with monkeys, and ride the Spots and Stripes train. Experience interactive fun and learning opportunities. Beautiful blooms and greenery are another attraction. “Horticulture Magazine” voted them one of 10 gardens that inspire. To learn more, visit riverbanks.org.

Pawley’s Front Porch: Voted 2021’s best hamburger and food truck for “Best of Columbia Metropolitan.” Homemade pimento cheese and jalapeño bacon top the Isle of Palms burger.

Crawfish tail or mahi mahi tacos, plus cinnamon sugar sweet potato fries, make for happy, porch-rocking customers. For the latest info, visit pawleysfrontporch.com.

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. (2.5-3 HOURS AWAY)

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens: Jacksonville has a variety of entertainment options, but this is a prime attraction. See more than 2,400 rare and exotic animals, plus 1,000 varieties of plants. Feed giraffes, watch otters float and tigers roam. Learn about the earth’s wildlife through interactive and educational experiences. Visit jacksonvillezoo.org.

Chamblin Bookmine: A large independent bookstore with two locations. Get lost in selection of thousands of books. There are used and new books from an endless collection of subjects. This is 60,000 square feet of browsing heaven.

The original store opened in 1976 and moved to its current location on Roosevelt Boulevard in 1991. By 2004, a new space opened on N. Laura Street.

Plan to blissfully spend hours roaming the aisles. Go to chamblinbookmine.com.

Adventure Landing and Shipwreck Island Water Park: The amusement park includes go-karts, an arcade, laser tag, miniature golf and batting cages. The water park includes a half-million gallon wave pool, four slides, water cannons and waterfalls.

The waterslide complex (Pirates Play Village) features a slide with 360-degree loops and an open-body slide with twists and turns.

Visit jacksonville-beach.adventurelanding.com.