There's No Substitute
for a Well-Designed Tennis Facility
by Sheldon Westervelt
| If you've
ever tried to play tennis on a poorly constructed court, you know how frustrating
the experience can be. It doesn't matter how new your tennis shoes are
or how much your new racket cost; there's no substitute for a well designed
tennis facility.
When selecting a site for a facility, it's important to envision how large the facility will be. How many courts do you want to build? Should there be spectator seating? For a club or public facility, is there room for expansion? Tennis courts are often constructed on a small piece of land with insufficient space around the court for landscaping, walks, spectator viewing and parking. The topography of the land, drainage, utilities, wind, shadows and access to the site must all be taken into account. Once a site has been selected, the layout must be considered. No one wants to park 10 miles away from a facility or have a poor view of a match. Courts should receive top priority in the layout plan. The playing direction of the courts, as they lie in relation to the path of the sun from morning to late afternoon, must be laid out. Before deciding on the playing surface consider the climate, player preference, operating costs, frequency of court use and player comfort. It may be worthwhile to include court lighting in your plan to get the most out of a facility. When building a facility in a climate where outdoor court use is restricted, consider indoor or covered courts using a permanent structure or an air supported structure. Development in energy-efficient air structures enable people to use outdoor courts for indoor use during months when tennis would normally be restricted. When planning a facility, be aware of recent developments in court equipment including new technology in practice walls, ball machines and court maintenance equipment. A well-planned facility takes time and careful planning. It's important to select an architect or engineer with experience in all types of tennis court design. By doing careful groundwork, your facility can provide maximum player comfort, usability and enjoyment with low maintenance and operating costs. For further information on building a tennis facility, write to the USTA Education and Research Center, 729 Alexander Road, Princeton, N.J. 08540.
Sheldon Westervelt is President, Global Consult Group, Inc., of Manasquan, N.J. |
"When you play with the
best, you are the winner."
