From Left to Right: Scott Harrington, Joel Hampton, Lee Williams, & Dave Dooley
As we raise our rackets high in celebration of National Tennis Professional Day, it is only fitting that we take a moment to shine a spotlight on the incredible Tennis Professionals who make our Shadow Wood Tennis community thrive. From coaching to competing, our Tennis Professionals are the backbone of our courts, inspiring players of all ages and skill levels. Join us as we introduce the dedicated and passionate professionals who bring the love of tennis to life at Shadow Wood.
Dave Dooley – Director of Sports
Dave Dooley joined the Shadow Wood team in 2002 and has been an active member of the United States Professional Tennis Association for over 30 years. Dave is from Seattle, WA and currently lives in Bonita Springs. Dave started playing tennis when he was 12 years old because he always wanted to be a professional athlete and, in Dave’s own words, “was too short to play basketball.” His biggest inspiration in tennis is his father, Raymond Dooley.
Dave earned his degree in Business Administration from Washington State University where he played on the Varsity Division 1 Tennis Team. In 2004, Dave was ranked #1 in Singles in the Men's USPTA Florida 40+ and was the Doubles Masters Champion USPTA Florida 35+. Dave has been ranked Florida USPTA Pro of the year two times.
Dave’s best tennis tip is to always move your feet and watch the ball to minimize unforced error.
Scott Harrington – Director of Tennis Instruction
Scott Harrington joined the Shadow Wood team in 2012 as an Assistant Tennis Professional and was promoted to Head Tennis Professional in 2013. Scott started playing tennis when he was 8 years old. His dad was a Tennis Pro in Jacksonville, Florida and sparked his passion to start playing. His biggest tennis inspiration is John McEnroe, American former tennis player.
Scott has been a member of the United States Tennis Professional Association (USPTA) for 30 years. Scott is also the seasonal Tennis Director at the Siasconset Casino Club in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Scott was an All-American tennis player at Palm Beach College and ranked #1 in the nation Men's USPTA Open Doubles. He is one of the top players in the area.
Scott’s best tennis tip is to hit the big target on the court when you are playing a match. It is human nature to hit the ball close to the lines and away from the opponent, but this often results in errors and lost opportunities. Instead, A serve to the middle of the service box usually ends up at the body of your opponent and causes all kinds of problems on the return of serve.
Joel Hampton – Assistant Director of Racquet Sports
Joel Hampton, USPTA is a Fort Myers native. He has been active as a tennis professional for over 17 years. Joel started playing tennis when he was just 6 years old and says he was watching Andre Agassi at Wimbledon on TV when he decided he wanted to start playing. Andre is still Joels biggest inspiration in tennis.
Joel has held the Tennis Director position at The Quarry Country Club in Naples and the Head Professional position at Gulf Harbor and Olde Cypress Country Clubs. He brings to Shadow Wood a wealth of experience and a fun upbeat personality. Joel is a veteran of the Fort Myers Pro League so Shadow Wood members will have a professional to support on Friday nights during the season.
Joel’s best tennis tip is to keep your eye on the ball. The longer you attempt to track the ball after it leaves your opponent's racquet, the better you can predict its path and put your strings on it.
Lee Williams – Head Tennis Professional
Lee was born in Atlanta and primarily raised on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Lee's journey in tennis began when he was 6 years old playing with his parents at the local level, gradually progressing to state, Southern, and National competitions during his formative years. Lee says he finally beat his parents when he was 12 years old. His tennis inspiration is his former coach, Pete Poole.
Lee attended Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where he continued his passion and commitment to the sport. In 1993, he achieved certification with the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), solidifying his expertise and dedication to tennis coaching. Lee is certified in Cardio Tennis. Throughout his career, Lee actively participated in 7-8 tournaments annually until 2009. His remarkable achievements include attaining the impressive rank of #2 in Florida Men’s 35’s in 2009 and winning the USTA Bronze Ball Men’s 30’s in 2002. Lee has been an integral part of Country Clubs since 1999, contributing his expertise to clubs in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Recently, Lee worked as the Head Professional at Dothan Country Club in Dothan, Alabama, and then as the Head Professional at the Island Country Club on Marco Island.
Lee’s best tennis tip is to keep your wrist up on your volley. Any movement in the arm should come from the shoulder and to a lesser degree from the elbow joint.
The Pros say their favorite part about coaching/playing professionally is seeing the Members progress over time and the camaraderie that comes along with the tennis events we host here at Shadow Wood. When asked what their favorite surface to play on is, they all agreed that a clay court is the best because it is easier on your body and your joints, you can slide, and it is the highest quality surface to play on.
Their advice to aspiring players would be to play hard and have fun!
