Swinging and Smiling for 28 Years
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort has had some incredible staff throughout the past 50 years! Year after year, they provide friendly, knowledgeable service and take pride in making sure your stay at Palmetto Dunes is the best it can be. Perhaps one of the greatest examples of our passionate and dedicated staff is our Director of Tennis, John Kerr. We asked John about his time at Palmetto Dunes—all 28 years worth!
Televised Tennis
One of Kerr’s first duties when he started back in 1990 was creating and recording tennis tips to air on PD TV, the in-resort TV channel that played on all of the televisions around the resort to keep guests informed. “It was amazing to me the wonderful responses from guests that these tips generated,” he says.
Close Connections The Tennis Center at Palmetto Dunes hosts around 30,000 people each year, and yet with the personalized service John and his staff provide, he’s been able to form some wonderful relationships with guests over the years. “In my first year at Palmetto Dunes, I met a young family from Switzerland,” he tells us. “My family and their family both had two children laddering in age 4, 5, 6, and 7. They ended up buying a villa in Palmetto Dunes and return 2–4 times a year, which still continues. At the beginning, their children didn’t speak English well and it was a great learning experience for all. Fast forward to March 3, 2018 and both Swiss girls, ages 27 and 29, were bridesmaids in my daughter’s wedding!”
Resort Relationships
During John’s time at Palmetto Dunes, the Tennis Center has won awards and prestigious titles, including placing on the Top 20 Tennis Resorts in the World and one of Tennis Magazine’s 50 Greatest U.S. Tennis Resorts as well as the #1 Tennis Resort in the Carolinas. When thinking back on his time at Palmetto Dunes however it’s not the accolades that John remembers, it’s the people. “My favorite thing about Palmetto Dunes would be all the wonderful relationships I have made through the years,” he says, “with guests returning year after year as well as the tremendous employees I have had the opportunity to work with.” He’s even had the chance to meet some bona fide tennis pros in his time at the Tennis Center at Palmetto Dunes! “Back when the Family Circle women’s tennis tournament was on Hilton Head Island, [our tennis center] served as the official practice facility for the pros. It was great getting to meet them as well as watch their practice sessions,” John remembers.
John’s love of tennis, and love of Hilton Head Island is apparent to everyone who meets him. “I have met and become friends with so many guests over the years. Many have ended up being lifelong friends who have subsequently relocated to the Island.” Thanks for sharing your stories with us, John! We love you for it, no pun intended.
Spend some time with John, and all of our tennis pros, on a tennis vacation at Palmetto Dunes. Browse our Tennis & Pickleball vacation packages.
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