Tennis Instruction

Tennis instruction is provided by very experienced professional instructors in a program designed for tennis players who play mainly doubles at the club level. Singles strategy is available for those who are interested.

Daily clinics from 8:30 - 11:30 at the South Beach Racquet Club in the Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island.

• Three-hour clinics of stroke instruction, singles and doubles drills, doubles (and some singles) strategy, and match-play evaluation.
• A pro for each four to six players.
• Open (and enjoyable) to all levels including beginners. 
• Free tennis is available in the afternoon and private lessons can by arranged at extra cost

Our instructors: Gavin Cox, John (JR) Robinson, Mike O'Keefe,. Other club professionals may be added, depending on the number of clinic participants.

Gavin Cox
Program Director

Born in Ndola, Zambia and currently resides in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Certified teaching professional for 20 years for the PTR and a former Head Pro at the Van Der Meer Tennis Center in Hilton Head. Gavin currently owns and operates the Lowcountry Sports Network tennis company and oversees the programs at Colleton River Plantation, Belfair, Hampton Hall, and Berkeley Hall.
Runs summer leadership camps for high school age players.

John Robinson
Program Organizer/Tennis Professional

John Robinson has lived on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina since 1990. Originally from Maryland, John attended college in South Carolina on a tennis scholarship and, upon graduation, immediately relocated to Hilton Head Island as he thoroughly enjoys the Island’s southern lifestyle and climate. John has been a tennis professional for over 20 years at various facilities around the United States including the John Newcombe’s Tennis Ranch in Texas, the John Gardiner’s Tennis Ranch in California, Columbia Country Club in the Washington, DC area, the Sea Pines Racquet Club and the Van der Meer TennisUniversity on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and the Athletic Club of Weston in South Florida. John has been a United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Professional 1 member since 1988 and a Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) National Tester/National Clinician since 1993. John was voted PTR’s “National Tester of the Year” in 1998.

Michael O’Keefe
General Manager/ Director of Tennis

A native of Nantucket, MA, Michael played his college tennis at Div III Ithaca College, where he was the captain his senior year.  Michael has an extensive tennis teaching career. A former Head Pro at the Van Der Meer Tennis Center here in Hilton Head, Michael was formerly the Director of Racquet Sports at the Garden City Country Club in New York.  He has also worked at tennis clubs in California, Colorado and Massachusetts.  A PTR National Tester and Clinician, Michael has also been certified by USPTA, PPTA (Platform Tennis) and PSIA (Skiing).  Michael and his wife Helaine have one daughter, Phelan.