DESIGN + RENOVATION
As part of the entire renovation process, an outdated golf course maintenance building was torn down to accommodate the resurfaced courts and create a pad for the four pickleball courts. The club is currently in the midst of updating six additional tennis courts. “The new surface will make Har-Tru courts much more playable,
safer and easier to maintain,” Gunter adds. While The Moorings does not have the ability to host any sanctioned professional events, its stadium court is utilized for single-court events. Thanks to the recent conversion, the club will also be able to use its adjacent court #1, which offers a prime viewing location.
BACK TO ITS ROOTS AT SAND VALLEY in Nekoosa, Wis., tennis players can experience the game in a setting that resembles the early days of the sport. Known for its grass-course tennis court design, the resort boasts 15 natural-surface courts against the backdrop of sand dunes, creating a spacious oasis for discriminating players. Amassing a 3.6-acre footprint, the grass tennis courts are located near the golf practice range and just off the first tee of Sand Valley’s first golf course, which opened at the same time in 2017. Made up of a combination of ryegrass and fine fescue, the courts create firm playing conditions that harken back to the purest form of traditional tennis. “Our ryegrass/fescue courts have a similar grass mix to the courts at Wimbledon, the oldest and most
famous of tennis’ Grand Slam tournaments,” says General Manager Michael Carbiener. “From our perspective, grass-court tennis is ‘tennis as it was meant to be.’” To maintain the courts, general upkeep requires two to three mowings a week, and lines are painted twice per week. Nets are rotated across all 15 courts to evenly distribute their wear and tear during the peak season for play. Before the colder weather sets in, a preventative snow-mold fungicide treatment is applied, to counteract the effects of long-term damage. “Fescue is highly resistant and tolerant to snow molds, but ryegrass is very vulnerable,” notes Carbiener. Since the courts were constructed, Sand Valley’s grounds have been snow-covered for close to 100 days.
Sand Valley’s 15 grass tennis courts feature a ryegrass/fescue mix similar to the courts at Wimbledon. 26
l
Club + Resort Business
l
August 2020
Whether hosting an event, practice or member games, the club is taking the necessary precautions to play safely. In addition to posting guidelines on all court entrances, a sanitation team disinfects the entire racquet sports facility on a daily basis. IMPROVED PLAY Attractive amenities aren’t the only advantage of the renovated tennis and pickleball courts at The Crosby Club in San Diego, Calif. “[They] see a lot of use every day, and the update is not only pleasing aesthetically, but also improves the playability of the courts,” says Athletic Director Matt Seideman. Last January, the club’s three tennis courts were resurfaced with brand-new windscreens, paint, nets and fence work. The addition of pickleball courts were also part of the project, giving an extra boost to the club’s sports center. Court designs were selected to benefit different aspects of play and maintenance. Tennis courts feature a hard-court construction with a cushion underlay that Seideman credits for being “great on the joints when running and lunging, compared to traditional, concrete-based hard courts.” Hard courts also offer the benefit of durability and ease of maintenance. In contrast, the pickleball nets are heavyduty with steel, screw-in posts, in case the nets need to be removed temporarily. To differentiate each playing zone, The Crosby Club opted for a distinct coloring scheme for various sports. Tennis courts tout a powder-blue inside zone, with a green outside zone for separate “in” and “out” areas. Pickleball courts are represented by dark- and light-blue zones (see photo, pg. 28)—spaces which, according to Seideman, can help players “differentiate between the back court and kitchen areas, or the ‘no-volley’ zone. ” Along with the tennis-court resurfacing and pickleball-court construction, the area has also been beautified by a new patio area, where players can take a break or wait for an open court. “A viewing ledge was installed for a small audience [to] stand and rest their arms www.clubandresortbusiness.com