The USTA announced the 12 winners of its 28th annual USTA Outstanding Facility Awards Program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country. Each facility will be honored along with the other recipients at an awards ceremony, at the USTA Semi-Annual meeting held on September 6, 2009 at the Grand Hyatt in New York City.
Award winning facilities must be under the jurisdiction of a parks and recreation department, an educational institution, a non-profit corporation, or private and commercially owned and operated facilities that offer USTA and other Growth of the Game programs to the public. Facilities were judged upon the following criteria: overall layout and adaptation to site; excellence of court surface and lights; ease of maintenance; accommodations for players, spectators and press/officials; aesthetics; graphics, including the use of signs and landscaping; amenities such as casual seating for spectators, food services and social areas; and their involvement in programs supporting the USTA and the growth of tennis.
Nominated facilities were voted upon in the following categories: Public Courts that are either small tennis centers with 2-10 courts or large tennis centers with 11 or more courts; Educational Institutions; and Private Facilities that support the USTA and other growth of the game programs open to the public.
In addition to being recognized with the USTA Outstanding Facility Award, the Mission Hills Country Club is also the recipient of the inaugural USTA Featured Facility Award, and will be honored at an awards breakfast on September 8. The annual "featured facility" exemplifies the highest level of excellence in facility design; court construction; court amenities; and other related components such as strong programming and implementation of the QuickStart format.
“These facilities have gone above and beyond to create a superior tennis experience for their patrons and community at large,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. “We are proud to honor each of their achievements and applaud their devotion to the sport.”
All 2009 Awards winners will receive a marble wall plaque and an all-weather sign, which can be mounted at the facility. Certificates of award will be made available to park and recreation departments, schools, and professionals responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the facility. In addition, a one-year complimentary membership to the USTA will be awarded to each winning facility.
The 2009 USTA Outstanding Facility Awards Program winners are:
Public Courts: Small Tennis Centers (2-10 courts)
Rancho Penasquitos Tennis Center – San Diego, Calif.
Glenview Tennis Club – Glenview, Ill.
Seaview Park Tennis Facility – Palm Beach, Fla.
Private Facilities
Mission Hills Country Club – Rancho Mirage, Calif.
The Tennis Gardens at Longboat Key Club & Resort – Longboat Key, Fla.
Reynolds Plantation Lake Club Tennis Center – Greensboro, Ga.
Green Spring Racquet Club – Lutherville, Md.
Courtside Racquet Club – Lebanon, N.J.
Educational Institutions
Cullman-Heyman Indoor Tennis Center, Yale University – New Haven, Conn.
Blythe Calfee Tennis Center – Willis, Texas
Washington State University Outdoor Tennis Facility – Pullman, Wash.
Oshkosh North High School – Oshkosh, Wis.