Last weekend, I checked off a bucket list item when I played a tennis tournament at the historic Longwood Cricket Club. Stepping onto the grounds was like something straight out of a postcard. It is undeniably the most beautiful place I have ever played tennis. The grass courts were pristine and the rich history of the site is omnipresent in the clubhouse and on the grounds. Even better, the members at this exclusive club seem genuinely excited to share this exceptional experience with tennis enthusiasts who enter the tournaments they host.
Walking onto the grass courts at Longwood is like entering a different era. The club enforces an “all-white” dress code that extends from head to toe. Looking across the courts when they are all occupied with players conveys a simple elegance. This is the first place I have played that enforces a strict all-white dress code, and while it was a minor inconvenience to find white tennis clothes in my local area, it definitely added to the experience.
This was not the first grass court I have ever competed on, but the turf at the club was by far the best. The grass was the consistency of a golf putting green, and the courts used for the tournament did not have any hint of the characteristic wear pattern around the baseline. It was about as immaculate as I imagine grass gets, with the possible exception of the All England Club at Wimbledon. It gave me an unparalleled sense of connection to the sport’s origins.
The Longwood Cricket Club was on my bucket list of places to play because it is a deep part of the history of tennis in the United States. Established in 1877, it quickly became a cornerstone of the tennis community. The clubhouse is decorated with vintage photographs and tennis memorabilia, and the original architecture feels carefully preserved. The sense of tradition is palpable.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Longwood is that it hosts USTA tennis tournaments. The one I just played was the combined Mother-Daughter and Father-Daughter National Grass Court Championships. It is always amazing when the members of such an exclusive club embrace hosting these events that provide a memorable tennis experience for those savvy enough to take advantage of it.
Now that I have checked the Longwood Cricket Club off my bucket list of places I would like to play, I am curious as to what courts other tennis players would recommend. I am open to recommendations for historic sites as well as stunningly beautiful places. Playing at Longwood was a privilege and a joy, and I am eager to have more experiences like that.
For the next few days, I am exactly where one might expect to find me during the second weekend of August. The first person to find me and asks, “Am I the first to tell you that pickleball sucks?” is going to win something very cool. It’s way better than an embroidered hat.
Teresa wrote: “For the next few days, I am exactly where one might expect to find me during the second weekend of August. The first person to find me and asks, “Am I the first to tell you that pickleball sucks?” is going to win something very cool. It’s way better than an embroidered hat.”
In the animated discussion about the merits of both tennis and pickleball, I rely on the wise Latin proverb, “De gustibus non disputandum” — “In matters of taste, there is no disputing.”
I’ve played pickleball several times and enjoyed it moderately—though vastly less than the multi-faceted, highly athletic, and fascinating sport of tennis.
My new book, “GAME CHANGERS: How the Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies” (published by Coaches Choice), highlights the many attributes of tennis. Part 1 is titled “The Sport We Love.” And Chapter 1 is titled “46 Great Things About Tennis.”
All these great things account for my lifelong love of tennis as a tennis writer and author, tennis coach, tournament director, tournament player, and tennis volunteer.
Tennis, no doubt, will face competition from racket and paddle sports for decades—even centuries—to come. It will also, no doubt, survive these challenges and even thrive in this competition.
As Ted Tinling, a Hall of Famer and former chief of protocol for the WTA Tour, said, “Tennis’s extraordinary mystique has been its capacity to survive, and that is due to its capacity to revitalize and present an image of totally contemporary people in every era.”
You’ve likely already been here but the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Club in Hilton Head is one of the nicest venues I’ve enjoyed. We lived in Charleston, SC, for 10+ years before I retired and moved back to Texas. An avid USTA player, I had the privilege of going down there 3 years in a row for the South Carolina State Championships. Beautiful shaded grounds and well maintained courts. My only wish was for the courts to be clay like my then hometown tennis center on Daniel Island. Its proximity to the ocean and incredible food is also a plus.