TampaBayVolleyball.com "Club-V"

[Troy]

Saturday I had a chance to get out to the new Club V Beach facility
off US 19 near Ulmerton and play a few games.

Imagine a place with sand finer than Clearwater Beach's and flatter
than Siesta Key's, without the shells, the dead fish, the cigarette
butts, the discarded wrappers, and other trash. No Red Tide, no
parking meters, no tourists trying to beg into your game. Best of
all, no cattywompous poles and saggy nets that look like they're
hurricane survivors. Sound pretty good? That's Club V Beach.

First, let me explain that I had intended to bring a camera, but in
my haste to get out of the house I forgot it. But I will try to get
out there and get some shots this weekend after the Gasparilla
Distance Classic races. I'll post shots over at the
TampaBayVolleyball Yahoo Group when I get some. Until then, you'll
have to make do with this review.

The courts:

* 18 sand volleyball courts, some configured for doubles (26'3") and
others for fours/sixes (30').

* thick aluminum poles, steel top and bottom cables, heavy-gauge net
with dowel rods as thick as broom handles, and antennaes.

* heavy-gauge court boundary line tape, adjustable so that any
doubles court can be re-made into a 4's/6's court and vice versa.

* all nets can be raised or lowered to men's and women's heights.
In fact, Alan Hafez told me that all of the poles fit in sleeves, so
that he can completely remove the poles to re-design the entire
facility to accommodate bleachers and sponsor tents for future pro
tournaments.

* stadium lights for night play. And these babies are big enough to
put some football fields to shame!

* the sand is clean, soft, white, level, AND DEEP! I've played in
apartment complexes where the sand was only a foot deep, and after a
couple of hard matches we'd be digging into topsoil. At other man-
made courts I've played where, after a game, your feet looked like
you were crushing diamonds between your toes.


The facility:

* plenty of parking. Unlike other places (*cough-Undertow-cough*)
Alan has provided enough parking to accommodate about 10 courts
worth of players, with additional parking available at the office
lots next to his facility.

* plenty of courts. Unlike some places (*cough-Crabby Bill's-
cough*) where the wait time can stretch to over an hour on some
nights, there are plenty of courts for all skills and abilities.
Didn't bring your A game? There's a B court right over there.

* well-lit (see "stadium lights" above).

* bathrooms - right now there are two portables because the County
only recently approved the water connections. Showering is provided
via hoses for the same reason. My wife used a portable and said it
was one of the best ones she's used (and she's used plenty). I'm
pretty sure Alan plans to have some regular ones built, but if not
that's cool, too.

* ball stops - lots of the plastic signage to stop balls from
escaping.

* Wilson AVP Game Balls are provided, so you don't need to bring
your own.

* Canopies are provided near most of the courts for shelter. Alan
says he plans to add seating as well, so for now you may want to
bring your own chairs.

* no alchohol, so its juniors-friendly. I plan on telling my club
team about it. Its going to be a great place for the kids to play
and learn.

On the day my wife and I were there, it was his first day open to
the public and he had 3 courts going: one for 2's and two more for
3's. My wife sat and listened to the music and read her book while
I played some doubles. Alan provided free water, fresh fruit, and
sodas, and all participants (along with my wife) received free
yellow Club V Beach t-shirts (100% cotton Hanes Heavy Duty, baby!).

If I had to find faults with anything, it would be (1) needs more
fencing along the grass lot to the north (which Alan says is in the
plans and will be installed) (2) public showers (which Alan will
also be installing) and (3) needs center court dancers (which Alan
says if I want that, I'll have to bring my own).

If you're a Kahuna's and/or Gebe's refugee, or looking for someplace
better than Undertow and Crabby Bill's to play, or tired of dropping
big money to play at Adventure Island just to have the courts get
camped by picnic ball, definitely give Club V Beach a try. The EEVB
tour is coming to town in a couple of weeks so now's the time to get
your sand legs back.

Directions from Tampa:
Its on the eastern frontage road bordering US 19. Take the Howard
Franklin bridge over to Ulmerton and take Ulmerton west, past the
airport, to US 19. US 19 is an overpass but get in the leftturn
lane to go south on US 19 (as if you were going on US 19). Go under
the pass, but instead of continuing left, stay on the frontage road
that runs parallel to it (you can see the stadium lights off to your
left on the other side of 19) and go down to the traffic light at
the next intersection. Turn left at the light and go under the
overpass and turn left again (as if you just made a U-turn). You'll
see the driveway entrance on the right. You can't miss 18
volleyball courts.

Alan is currently taking registrations for leagues. Some divisions
already have enough teams to get started, others are waiting for
more players. If you've paid your money and don't have a start date,
that's because he's waiting for more teams/players before announcing
the league start date. No big deal - you can still play there and
you'll still get the full league duration (8 weeks I think?).

You can get the details at the Club V website:
http://www.tampabayvolleyball.com

Troy

PS: weather forecast for this weekend's tournament there: cloudy, hi in the low 70's, which is pretty good for playing.

[Troy]

Right now its free and open to the public. There will be a charge for tournaments and leagues, once those get going.

If you're flying in to TIA you'll pass by US 19 on your way to the beach (just see my directions in my review). In one of the formal announcements I saw an address (12901 US 19, Clearwater, FL). You can plug that in to Yahoo Maps and the address of your hotel and get an idea of where/how far it is. I'm guessing maybe a 10-15 minute drive depending on which hotel you're at.

[Troy]

Its about a 10-15 minute drive from Clearwater Beach, depending on which hotel you're staying at.

You can map the addy (12901 U.S. Highway 19 North, Clearwater, FL) on Yahoo to get a better idea of where it is and how far from your hotel it is.

[mycena]

Hey Troy thanks for posting that review. I had jsut been wondering the other night if anyone had stopped by Club V and how it was looking. If I ever get down to Florida, I wil have to go check it out.

[NewEnglandRT]

Maybe we can build one of those inside a steel building up here in the NE! That sounds AWESOME! I'm wicked jealous of the VB available in some places.

[Troy]

Well, its an outdoor facility, so if it rains, you're in trouble!

[Troy]

No resto's on site and alcohol is prohibited, but there's a whole slew of places up and down Ulmerton (the cross street). Mostly sit-down family places and fast-food like McD's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, etc.

and you didn't hear it from me, but there's a strip joint a couple of blocks down just across from the Bally's health club, if you're into that sort of thing.

[VBLIStaff]

Club V new seasons are about to ready to start

Indoor Volleyball League

Monday night (6 persons Co-Ed B)
Season Starts March 20th

Tuesday night (6 persons Co-Ed BB)
Season Starts March 21st

Wednesday night (6 persons Co-Ed A)
Season Starts March 29th

Leagues will be held at the Minn-Reg Air-Conditioned Gym in Clearwater (US 19 & Ulmerton)
6 persons Co-Ed (Minimum 1 male or female)
League Fee is $60.00 per player.
Matches Starts at 7:030 till 10:00 pm.
Best of 3 games, Rally scoring (25 pts) Let serve.

================================================== ============

Beach Volleyball Leagues

March Special Offer
Open play $5.00 per person per Visit
existing league members play for free on Saturday.

Tuesday night (Co-Ed A-AA 2s) Also (Open Play All Levels) from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm

Wednesday night (Open Play All levels from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm)

Thursday night (Co-Ed BB & AA 2s)(King of the Beach Format)

Saturday ( Open Play All levels ) From 11:00am Thru 6:00 pm

================================================== ======================
If you are planning to participate in our upcoming Leagues

Please register and pay for your league fee ASAP
or contact me By Phone (Some leagues have very Limited Spaces available) .
Whether you are an orphan player or a complete team.

Looking forward hearing from you soon.
Have a great season everyone and good luck.

Alan Hafez
(727) 540-0222
Club V Director
www.TampaBayVolleyball.com

[VBLIStaff]

This St. Petersburg Times story has been sent to you from:
Alan@tampaBayVolleyball.com

Light shines on a dream
By DEMORRIS A. LEE
Published April 9, 2006

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/09/Northpinellas/Light_shines_on_a_dre.shtml
Smack-dab in the middle of several warehouse businesses, near one of the
county's busiest thoroughfares, sits Alan Hafez's dream.

It's complete with soft sand that shifts with the slightest movement of the
wind. It has some of the sturdiest nets around the Tampa Bay area, players
say, and it's dedicated to one thing and one thing only: volleyball.

"This has been my dream since I was 10 years old," said Hafez, 47, looking
around at the self-made beach volleyball facility. "I'm living a childhood
dream. This country has been good to me. Volleyball has been good to me, and
I want to give back."

Last month, Hafez, who has run volleyball leagues in the area for nearly 30
years, opened Club V Beach, a beach volleyball facility on 2.3 acres south
of Ulmerton Road. The sand and palm trees are sandwiched between companies,
such as an air conditioning and heating business and a roofing supply
business.

The 20-court facility is here for a reason, Hafez said. "If I was in a
residential area, I wouldn't be able to have lights," he said. "This is
probably one of the only beach volleyball facilities in the country, that I
know of, that has lights."

Unlike Clearwater Beach, which also offers volleyball, the game doesn't stop
when the sun goes down. At Club V Beach, the lights come on.

"It's lit, it's very well lit," said Troy Whigham, 41, of Tampa, who plays
frequently at Club V Beach. "Now I can go out and play at night and my
weekends are free. This time of year, you don't have to deal with the beach
traffic."

Usually, inland beach volleyball facilities are found at bars that use them
to attract customers. But volleyball players said those courts typically
have hard sand and substandard nets.

"They have a bar in front and a couple of nets in the back," said Whigham,
who has been playing volleyball since 1987. "They set up a couple of nets to
give that beach atmosphere but they are never dedicated to volleyball.
Everybody goes for drinks and then plays volleyball. At Alan's, it's
different. It's the first time a facility is strictly for volleyball."

Hafez said he had 4,000 pounds of the finest sand trucked to the location,
which cost nearly $3-million to complete. He used nets with steel cables at
the top and bottom and thick aluminum poles. The city of Clearwater has
approved a fence that would enclose the entire area, he said.

Born in Cairo, Hafez played volleyball in two Olympics - 1972 and 1976 - for
his native country. He has been in Florida since 1979. Hafez said he wanted
a spot where beach volleyball lovers can play. In addition, he wanted a
facility that could host tournaments.

For some, the eight light poles with 1,500 watt lights give Club V Beach an
edge over the courts at Clearwater Beach.

Richard Heiles of New York is tournament director of East End Volleyball, a
professional tour. He has held tournaments at Clearwater Beach, but will
hold a tournament a Club V Beach this year, The Corona Light Beach
Volleyball Tournament begins Friday and ends Sunday.

"Clearwater Beach is a nice facility and one of the best in the country,"
Heiles said. "We are doing this one because of a change of pace. He has
lights and in the long run, we will be able to do something at night."

Clearwater Beach is considered one of the best beach volleyball facilities
in the country, but some players say it has its limitations. One, there can
be no lights on the beach. Also, May 1 to Oct. 31 is marine turtle nesting
season, and nothing can be done that impedes a turtle from going back to the
water.

Bob Barry, a recreation coordinator for the Clearwater's parks and
recreation department, said it's not a "major deal" that Clearwater Beach
doesn't have lights and has to observe turtle nesting season. "It's been
awarded one of the Top 10 beaches in the country," Barry said.

One day last week, players enjoyed volleyball at Club V Beach.

For the last eight years, Justin Phipps, 27, has played beach volleyball
about four days a week. In a few days, he's heading to California for a
professional tour. The Clearwater native said Club V Beach has everything.

"It has great equipment, the sand and the lights," Phipps said, taking a
break from a game. "You can play 24 hours a day. You couldn't ask for more."

Chuck Moore, 32, has played on a professional tour and says he has played on
many beaches. Now the city of St. Petersburg firefighter and new father
plays pickup here.

"To me, volleyball is mostly about who you are playing with," Moore said.
"Some places might have good sand. Some might have good nets. Here, you have
everything."

Brenda Veldman of Largo just wanted a place to take her sister, who was in
town from Grand Rapids, Mich., for a quick game after work.

"My sister's on spring break and I can't play during the day," Veldman
said. "The sand is great. And you can't beat the lights."

Copyright 2002-2006, St. Petersburg Times

[VBLIStaff]

Hello All
We at Club V are proud to host the Corona Light Big Shot Volleyball Series 4/15-16 at Club V Beach Here in the heart of Clearwater

East End Volleyball is a proud member of AVPNext, the grass roots organization of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour.

1. Corona Light Big Shot Volleyball Series continues Sat. & Sunday, April 15-16 at Club V Beach in Clearwater (Complete tournament application online at http://www.eevb.net/beach.htm or http://www.eevb.net/clubv.htm)

Men's Open $500
Women's Open $500
MAA & WAA $200


Note: We now offer MAA & WAA both Saturday & Sunday. Each day is a separate tournament with separate entry fees and separate $200 prize purses.
Play open on Saturday and still have a chance to play/win in AA on Sunday

Club V will have food and beverages available on site for everyone to purchase at a very reasonable prices.



Special Sunday Divisions: Coed 4s (1 female required). You may even get to see the tournament director play on Sunday.

Coed Rec 6s: 1 female required)

WE SUGGEST THAT EVERYONE PRE-REGISTER. Events have been filling up.

Players Party on Saturday evening: Hooters: of North St. Petersburg, 10400 Roosevelt Boulevard , St. Petersburg, FL 33716 , 727-568-0685

Pre-register to insure you have a spot in the tournament: www.eevb.net/reg
Pre-registered teams will be listed the week before a tournament online at www.eevb.net/sitemap.htm

Update: Club V: go to http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/09/Northpinellas/Light_shines_on_a_dre.shtml for a nice story about Club V Beach

Beach Volleyball Leagues

Tuesday night (Co-Ed 4s BB) (Co-Ed 2s A-AA) Also (Open Play All Levels) from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Wednesday night (Co-Ed 4s BB) Also (Open Play All levels from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm)
Thursday night (Co-Ed BB & AA 2s) (King of the Beach Format)
Saturday ( Open Play All levels ) From 11:00am Thru 6:00 pm

April Special Offer
1- Open play $5.00 per person per Visit.
2- Existing league members play pick up for free on Saturdays.
3- We sell the AVP Pro Beach Ball by Wilson for our league Members for $ 40.00
4- $100.00 Discount off your Annual Membership fee if you attend
The upcoming Corona Light Tourney on April 15th & 16th

Club V Beach Tourney dates for 2006
April 15-16th Club V Corona Light (EEVB)
May 6th Club V (Summer Series)
June 3rd Club V (Breast Cancer benefit )
June 10th Juniors National USAV (High Performance)
June 17th Club V (Summer Series)
July 1st Club V (Summer Series)
July 22nd Club V (Summer Series)
July 29th Club V (Summer Series)
August 12th Club V (Summer Series)
August 19th Club V (Summer Series Championship)
September 9th Club V (Christmas Series)
September 16th Club V (Christmas Series)
September 30th Club V (Christmas Series)
October 7th Club V (Christmas Series)
November 4th Club V (Christmas Series)
November 18th Club V (Christmas Series)
December 9th Club V (Christmas Series)
December 23rd Club V (Christmas Series Championship)

Please feel free to contact me by phone for any questions or last minute registrations

Club V Director
Alan Hafez
(727) 540-0222
www.TampaBayVolleyball.com