Grand Slam connections: Grass tennis courts located in the USTA Missouri Valley
The Grand Slam race rolls on from late June into July with Wimbledon. The USTA Missouri Valley may be far away from the All England Lawn Tennis Club in London, but players can still experience what it’s like to play on grass courts in the section.
Playing on grass provides a unique physical and tactical edge by acting as a natural cushion that reduces joint impact and strain. Because the ball skids and stays lower, the surface demands a deeper crouch and faster reflexes, significantly strengthening the legs and core.
Ultimately, grass rewards finesse and strategic variety over raw power, forcing players to master the slice and net play while developing a proactive, fast-thinking mental game.
The USTA Missouri Valley has a unique connection to grass tennis courts dating back to 1907, the inaugural year of the Interstate Lawn Tennis Tournament at the Roanoke courts in St. Joseph, Mo.
The event was organized by the St. Joseph Lawn Tennis Association, which joined the Missouri Valley Lawn Tennis Association in 1923. It quickly grew in popularity to become the largest tennis tournament in the state with thousands of spectators in attendance in 1911.
Here’s a look at the grass courts we found within the USTA Missouri Valley. Did we miss any? Let us know at communications@movalley.usta.com.
Illinois
Quad City Tennis Club in Moline, Ill. — part of USTA Iowa — recently completed construction on a three-court grass complex to go along with its six indoor and two outdoor hard courts. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grass courts is July 9.
Quad City Tennis Club in Moline, Ill., recently completed a three-court grass complex. Photo courtesy of Quad City Tennis Club.
Quad City Tennis Club took inspiration from the All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility is July 9. Photo courtesy of Quad City Tennis Club.
The All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club in Charles City, Iowa, has a Wimbledon-esque look and feel. Photo courtesy of All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club.
Also known as the “Court of Dreams,” the All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club was developed on the Kuhn family farm in 2003. Photo courtesy of All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club.
Tower Grove Park in St. Louis has three grass tennis courts to go along with nine hard courts. The grass courts are open to the public from July through October. Photo courtesy of Tower Grove Park.
The Interstate Lawn Tennis Tournament first took place in 1907 in St. Joseph, Mo., with beautiful trophies from the event making their way to the USTA Missouri Valley's office in Prairie Village, Kan.
- Quad City Tennis Club in Moline, Ill., recently completed a three-court grass complex. Photo courtesy of Quad City Tennis Club.
- Quad City Tennis Club took inspiration from the All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility is July 9. Photo courtesy of Quad City Tennis Club.
- The All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club in Charles City, Iowa, has a Wimbledon-esque look and feel. Photo courtesy of All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club.
- Also known as the “Court of Dreams,” the All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club was developed on the Kuhn family farm in 2003. Photo courtesy of All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club.
- Tower Grove Park in St. Louis has three grass tennis courts to go along with nine hard courts. The grass courts are open to the public from July through October. Photo courtesy of Tower Grove Park.
- The Interstate Lawn Tennis Tournament first took place in 1907 in St. Joseph, Mo., with beautiful trophies from the event making their way to the USTA Missouri Valley's office in Prairie Village, Kan.
The grass courts took inspiration from Mark Kuhn and the All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club. An accompanying clubhouse reflects components of Wimbledon’s clubhouse as well. The first public players to experience the grass courts were a father-son duo who traveled in from St. Louis and North Carolina.
Quad City Tennis Club will host its first grass court tournament, the Level 5 Open Lawn Tennis Championships, on Aug. 29-30. The prize-money tourney features divisions for men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
Check out videos of the grass courts by clicking here and here.
Iowa
The All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club was established on the Mark and Denise Kuhn family farm in 2003 in Charles City, Iowa. The Wimbledon-esque facility’s one-of-a-kind grass tennis court attracts guests from all over the world.
Also known as the “Court of Dreams,” the facility has been featured by national media outlets including Tennis Channel, Sports Illustrated, the New York Times and CBS TV News. Madison Keys, who grew up in Bettendorf, Iowa, played exhibition matches on the grass court in 2022.
Check out a Sports Illustrated article on the All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club here, and view a video on the court by clicking here.
Missouri
Tower Grove Park in St. Louis has three grass tennis courts that were refurbished in 2017. The park also has nine lighted hard courts.
The public grass tennis courts are available for reservations from July through October. The complex has played host to the Woodie Classic, a popular annual wood racquet tournament.
The 2024 rendition of the Woodie Classic at Tower Grove Park was played in celebration of the 150-year anniversary of the start of lawn tennis in the U.S. That was considered the beginning of tennis in America.
Check out clay tennis courts located in the USTA Missouri Valley by clicking here.
Related Articles
-
![Visit the Play on Grass page]( "While the USTA Missouri Valley may be far away from the All England Lawn Tennis Club in London, the section is home to multiple unique grass tennis courts.")
Play on GrassJune 29, 2026Though the USTA Missouri Valley may be far from the All England Lawn Tennis Club in London, players can still experience what it’s like to play on grass courts in the section. Read More -
![Visit the Plan Your Play page]( "The words Plan Your Play overlaid over tennis balls scattered on a court.")
Plan Your PlayJune 26, 2026Start planning your play in USTA Missouri Valley! Read More -
![Visit the Tennis Lives Here page]( "Park and Recreation Month takes place in July, and the USTA Missouri Valley is celebrating by featuring tennis facilities within parks.")
Tennis Lives HereJune 26, 2026With 49% of USTA Missouri Valley players primarily getting in their tennis at public parks, we celebrate the impact and improvements being made at parks in the section. Read More
Sign up for our Newsletter
Download the USTA App
