William J. Kellogg of the high-profile family that has owned and operated the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club since 1927, was recently inducted into the Southern California Tennis Association Hall of Fame.
A long-time tennis player, Kellogg is the fourth-generation member to serve as president of the Kellogg-family properties, which include the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, The La Jolla Shores Hotel, The Marine Room Restaurant, The Shores Restaurant, the Playa del Oro Apartments, and the F.W. Kellogg commercial building in La Jolla Shores.
Kellogg’s induction ceremony was held Oct. 1 at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach. His induction class included two of tennis’ greatest players of all-time, Rod Laver and Bobby Riggs, as well as Herb Flam, Helen Perez, Debbie Graham, Bob Kramer, Ken Stuart, Henry Talbert, Jim and Annette Buck, and Stella Sampras-Webster.
Kellogg noted he is following a family tradition: His grandfather, William Scripps Kellogg, received the same tennis honor many years ago. Kellogg is proud to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, noting the beach and tennis club he founded has been a mecca for the sport ever since.
“We’ve had Pancho Gonzalez, Jack Kramer, Ted Tilden, Maureen Connelly — everyone you can think of who, at one time or another, has played here because of my grandfather promoting tennis,” William Kellogg said.
Tennis in the family genes then?
“That is exactly right,” replied Kellogg.
William Kellogg has been a tennis pro, taught the sport and visited some of the sports most storied locales.
“I played a couple of pro tournaments,” he said. “I served as a linesman and umpire at Wimbledon.”
Kellogg described having a role to play at the most famous tennis local as “very cool,” especially getting a front-row seat on those famous grass courts.
Kellogg has a long tennis pedigree. He was instrumental in bringing the Davis Cup, Fed Cup and ITF’s Seniors World Championships to San Diego. He has served as a member of the USTA board of directors, on the ITF’s Seniors Committee, on the USTA Nominating Committee and was named a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s International Advisory Board. He has also served as president of several organizations including the San Diego District Tennis Association, Youth Tennis San Diego and the Southern California Tennis Association. He currently serves as the Southern California Tennis Association delegate.
Designated one of the “Top 25 Tennis Resorts” by Tennis Resorts Online, the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club’s reputation as a top tennis destination began in 1942 when it began hosting its first major tournament, the Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Championship held annually in March. Today, in addition to the Pacific Coast Doubles, the Club annually hosts the USTA National Hard Court Championships for the Women’s 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 age groups in May, the USTA National Men’s & Women’s’ 40 and over Hard Courts and the USTA National Father/Son and Grandfather/Grandson Hard Court Championships – held in December.
Reflecting back on his distinguished tennis career, Kellogg commented, “It’s been a wild ride. I’ve done a little bit of everything.”
Kellogg said he and his father used to play in father-son tournaments hosted at their club.
“I love the parent-child divisions,” he said. “But I had no sons, so I had to play father-daughter tennis with my daughter, Tiffany. That’s been a lot of fun.”
Originally opened in 1927 as the La Jolla Beach & Yacht Club, Frederick William Kellogg (known as F.W. Kellogg) purchased the property in 1935 envisioning an oceanfront resort that would attract out-of-town visitors, as well as La Jollans. Kellogg broadened the Club’s appeal, building four tennis courts and a swimming pool, and promptly renamed the resort the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.
Kellogg never lived to see the opening of the Marine Room. He died in 1940. The responsibility for managing the club fell to his son William Scripps (W.S.) Kellogg, who was the driving force behind the resort’s success as a tennis and vacation destination. William Scripps oversaw extensive changes, including the expansion of the Beach Club Apartments in 1948, the addition of the North Wing in 1957, and construction of Playa Del Oro Apartments and the F.W. Kellogg commercial building. Other work included the completion of the Marine Room restaurant, construction of a nine-hole par-3 golf course, and extensive landscaping at the main entrance.
In 1973, W.S. Kellogg retired after 34 years, and his son, William Crowe Kellogg assumed management. Under his leadership, two more tennis courts were added and an extensive renovation of the facility was started. Today, operation of the cub, Marine Room restaurant and the neighboring La Jolla Shores Hotel and Shores restaurant is in the hands of fourth-generation family member William (Bill) J. Kellogg.
