By Greg Ellison

(Oct. 1, 2020) Since partnering late last year to manage the Manklin Meadows Racquet Sports Complex, Tim McMullen and Terry Underkoffler have championed proposed court expansions and last week began attracting nationally ranked tennis tournaments to Ocean Pines.

Underkoffler, a licensed U.S. Tennis Association instructor, said the complex hosted its first ever points tournament on Saturday.

“We’ve never held USTA tournaments previous to Saturday,” he said. “Tim and I, this is our first time running this place [and] we wanted to bring in new programming and really pay attention to the courts.”

The NTRP Tournament last weekend attracted a slew of USTA-member players to the Racquet Sports Complex from across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and even a competitor from Morgantown, West Virginia.

“That blew me away,” he said. “I thought it would be only locals.”

Underkoffler has also organized a subsequent USTA event, the Ocean Pines Beach Doubles Tournament, which is scheduled on Oct. 10.

“What’s unique about the NTRP Tournament is that these players are playing for points to qualify for USTA Mid-Atlantic sectionals,” he said.

While Underkoffler is networking through the USTA to attract more play, McMullen, who serves as racquet center facilities manager, is overseeing a proposed court expansion for tennis and pickleball under consideration for inclusion in the next fiscal year operating budget.

McMullen said Worcester County has granted approval to launch the permit process to build four additional pickleball courts and a “Net Generation” tennis court used for instruction.

“We have a great yacht club [and] golf course [so] why not take this facility here and make it the best … on the whole Eastern Shore,” he said. “That’s what we want to do.”

Underkoffler said the need for additional pickleball courts is pressing.

“Pickleball is exploding and we get over 100 people a day that come here to play,” he said.

While pickleball demographics are gradually skewing younger, the appeal is also significant for racquet players experiencing knee issues.

“They can play 2-3 hours of pickleball and it’s not torturing their legs and they’re still getting that competiveness,” he said. “It’s a highly desirable sport.”

Already the only Eastern Shore racquet sports facility offering platform tennis, pickleball and tennis, site expansion plans could add another wrinkle with wheelchair accessibility.

“We’re looking at bringing in tennis for children with disabilities,” he said.

Underkoffler said the intent is to train staff members how to conduct handicap or wheelchair tennis programs.

“I got the idea from the Tennis Channel,” he said.

Underkoffler said the highly competitive sport has been gaining in popularity.

“If you’re a kid in a wheelchair, what are your options for a sports activity?” he asked. “We’re giving back to our area in a way that’s unique.”

Underkoffler is making plans to pursue related training through the Professional Tennis Registry.

“They have a class on how to instruct and promote wheelchair tennis,” he said. “They put us in the chairs and you get to experience what they’re doing.”

The proposed facility expansion is also a response to market demand.

“We’re looking to expand our pickleball resources to have another full court because the numbers just dictate the fact that they need more space to play,” he said.

Underkoffler said besides reducing wait times, the additional courts would heighten marketing capabilities.

“We feel if we add one more court of four permanent pickleball courts, we can pickup big tournaments like we have going on with tennis right now,” he said. “That would help pay for our facility and help with costs.”