Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a preferred destination among even the most discerning tennis travelers, as they have earned one of Tennis Resorts Online’s top slots within the Top 50 Tennis Resorts rankings for more than a decade and a half.
The foundation of this success is a direct reflection of the hard work and commitment of Roy Barth, who established Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s tennis program in 1976 and served as long-time director at the center that now bears his name. It is also a representation of the dedication of his son, Jonathan Barth, who has helmed the program for close to seven years.
In addition to advancing the immense popularity and growth of tennis—and now pickleball—at the resort, the team at the Roy Barth Tennis Center also acknowledges a genuine, deeply felt sense of responsibility towards Kiawah Island and its neighboring communities. In fact, philanthropy almost serves as much of a driving factor in their operations as does their love for the game.

The Annual Haygood/Grady Memorial Tennis and Pickleball Championship
Honoring the life of a beloved resort employee, Prinella Haygood, the Roy Barth Tennis Center launched a special tournament in 2011 called the Haygood/Grady Memorial Tennis and Pickleball Championship. After waging a courageous battle with cancer, Prinella left two young children, then two- and six-year-olds, and the tournament was initially established to help fund college educations for them. In the years since its inaugural run, this event has grown to become a beloved annual fundraiser at the resort.
In addition to Haygood, the event now commemorates the lives of two more community members: Linwood Grady and Michelle Nemeth. Today, the proceeds are dispersed among the education trust for Prinella’s two boys, local Roper St. Francis Cancer Care, and the Lonon Foundation, which helps children impacted by a parent or other caregiver’s cancer diagnosis.
An Evening to Remember: Championship Dinner & Silent Auction
Now in its thirteenth year, the Annual Haygood/Grady Memorial Tennis and Pickleball Championship is more than a sporting event—it’s a celebration of athleticism and community spirit. At the heart of this much-anticipated occasion is the Championship Dinner and Silent Auction held at Kiawah Island Golf Resort.
While competition on the courts is fierce, the Championship Dinner and Silent Auction provides a time to reflect and connect amid the natural beauty of the resort. The evening serves as a unifying experience for players, sponsors, and community members alike. Attendees of the event, hosted at the beautifully scenic Mingo Point, are greeted by lush salt marsh and Kiawah River views that befit the sporting nature of the weekend.
The Haygood/Grady Memorial Championship has grown over the years to embrace both tennis and pickleball, drawing participants and fans from across the region. The event pays tribute to the memory of its namesakes by holding true to the values they embodied: dedication, sportsmanship, and a deep love for the game.

Expanded Community Outreach
When Roy Barth retired as director of tennis in 2018, his son, Jonathan, assumed the reins, having worked at the resort for nearly two decades, including as head pro. In April of 2019, Jonathan welcomed Bruce Hawtin to join him as co-director of a new junior training academy focused solely on cultivating and nurturing tennis skills and competitive aptitude in youth athletes, the Barth-Hawtin Tennis Academy. Five years into the endeavor, the academy is experiencing notable success, including numerous top placements in tournaments throughout the country, as well as collegiate placements for many of its graduates.
Since its inception, the Academy has maintained strong ties to its community. In 2021, Jonathan and Bruce launched Third Serve Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides transportation, as well as tennis equipment and training for young racquet-sport enthusiasts on neighboring islands that may lack access to such resources.
In addition to introducing individuals to a lifelong sport, the long-term goal of the foundation is to identify promising young athletes and provide them with Barth-Hawtin Tennis Academy scholarships, where they can further develop their skills and potentially secure a future in collegiate or professional tennis.
In 2024, Kiawah Island Golf Resort ran two additional fundraising tennis tournaments to benefit Parkinson’s and ALS research, respectively. These events illustrate the many ways the tennis academy at Kiawah Island Golf Resort continues to live out its mission–not only to provide robust racquet sports programming but also to foster the community it is blessed to share.
If you’re interested in learning more about Kiawah Island Golf Resort, visit their listing page, which includes guest reviews directly from players who have visited the property.