Our Macon-Bibb County tennis community showed up and showed in 2024 and was celebrated at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) of Georgia Annual Awards this month. Macon-Bibb was represented in seven out of 26 categories. This includes our Recreation’s Tennis Division winning USTA Georgia Adaptive Tennis for teaching tennis to blind and visually impaired students from Georgia Academy for the Blind.  

Our very own Tennis and Pickleball Manager Bobby Walker was named the Tennis Director of the Year! Walker has been the Manager for four years, but his career began 40 years ago. 

“The Tennis Director of the Year award is totally a team effort.  I am in the later stages of my career, so I am dependent on facilitating and empowering others to be productive.  A leader can only do that if they are blessed with talented staff and supporters,” said Walker. “Robert Walker, our Recreation Department Director, is one of the best bosses I have ever had.  The two senior managers who work for me, Sarah Witherspoon and Robin Bateman, are dynamic and competent.  I am truly blessed with a great team.  I am thankful for them.  We move the ball down the field!” 

“I’m honored to have Bobby Walker as our Macon Bibb County Tennis and Pickleball Manager,” said Robert Walker, Director of Recreation. “Bobby Walker’s leadership and experience has made Macon Bibb County one of the top destinations for tennis and pickleball.” 

The Macon Area Tennis Association (MATA) also took home three awards: NJTL Chapter of the Year, Special Tennis Event of the Year, and Dr Robert Bunnen Community Tennis Association of the Year.  

“MATA has turned the corner in being a cog for community programs.  Mary Cay Morgan and her staff work closely with our staff,” said Walker. “We put aside the idea of credit and work toward the greater good of the citizens of Macon.  The other awards signify just that.  Both organizations have the goal of bringing outside dollars into Macon to create economic impact and to create local tennis programming so the citizens of Macon can be healthier.” 

Congratulations! 

Jerry Baskin Scholar Athlete of the Year 

Alex Hamlin 

NJTL Chapter of the Year 

Macon Area Tennis Association 

Special Tennis Event of the Year 

Back to Tennis Bash 

Macon Area Tennis Association 

Adaptive Tennis Award (Blind and Low Vision Program) 

Macon Bibb County Tennis Division 

Signature Tennis Courts Award for Tennis Director of the Year 

Bobby Walker 

Dr. Robert Bunnen Community Tennis Association of the Year 

Macon Area Tennis Association 

James Kinkaid Family of the Year 

The Angela and Robbie Bedgood Family