Programs at

the Peachtree City Tennis Center continue to grow, and

some of the players are very serious about them.

A mistaken

rumor about the cancellation of the center's Interclub or

Interleague program got the attention of a number of

participants, more than a dozen of whom took the time to

sign a petition saying they want to save the program,

according to Virgil Christian, director of the center.

Christian

showed the letter and petition to members of the

Development Authority of Peachtree City at a recent

meeting, assuring them that the program was not being

cancelled.

But

Christian was pleased that the players were so

interested. "It shows how passionate some players

are," he said.

The

Interleague program is for players who wish to compete on

a regular basis but do not have the time to play in

United States Tennis Association or Atlanta Lawn Tennis

Association events, many of which require travel to other

locations.

In just one

year of operation, the Interleague program is growing

fast, Christian said, as is everything else at the

center, which is planning to close its membership for the

third time very soon.

The center

now boasts about 470 members, and about 1,500 people play

there on a regular basis, Christian said.

The USTA is

considering a trip here in February to hold its annual

director's meeting in Peachtree City. This would be yet

another feather in the Tennis Center's cap, on the heels

of being given the state's Facility of the Year award

last week, and would also mean extra business for

Peachtree City's hotels and restaurants for several days,

Christian said.

The center

also is in the running to host sectional play for USA

Team Tennis in fall 2000, which would bring scores of

younger players from around the Southeastern United

States to town for a few days.

Christian

also reported to the Development Authority that he

recently met with a representative of the Planterra Ridge

Homeowners Association, saying that the relationship

between the center and the residential community closest

to it is improving.

Authority

members discussed pllans for improvements to the activity

building and the locker building, and a motion to

finalize the plans and get bids for the work was

approved.