TWO TEXAS FACILITIES WIN NATIONAL AWARD

The USTA announced that the McFarlin Tennis Center in San Antonio and the Southern Oaks Golf & Tennis Club in Burleson, Texas, are two of 24 winners in the 37th annual USTA Facility Awards program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country. The two facilities will be honored at the USTA Semi-annual Meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City on Aug. 30. 

The McFarlin Tennis Center in San Pedro Spring Park is centrally located and is home to the 2016 Texas CTA of the Year, San Antonio Tennis Association. McFarlin Tennis Center offers 22 lighted hard courts with pro shop, lockers, showers and a variety of services. Courts can be reserved for corporate tennis events and open tennis play. Year-round programs include tennis lessons, camps, clinics, tournaments and leagues.

In 2016, SATA Inc. invested over $159,000 and SAPARD invested over $300,000 in renovating and upgrading the facility. McFarlin also hosted the 2016 San Antonio Open, a women’s professional WTA 125K Event. The McFarlin Tennis Center hosted 16 tennis tournaments in the year 2017, with approximately 5,900 players participating.

The Southern Oaks Golf and Tennis Club in Burleson, Texas, consists of 11 lighted courts. The pro shop on-site offers tennis equipment, accessories and a restringing service. Tennis professionals hold private lessons and group lessons. The club hosts various events and leagues throughout the year. The facility was opened in 2017. There were 5 hosted tennis tournaments at the facility with 1248 players participating. 

“Great tennis facilities like the McFarlin Tennis Center and the Southern Oaks Golf & Tennis Club help us to grow the game at the grass-roots level, and we are proud to recognize them for their ongoing impact on the sport of tennis,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, USTA National Campus. “These facilities have embraced many of our tennis initiatives and kept the sport at the forefront of its community each year.” 

To be considered for an award, facilities must be under the jurisdiction of a park and recreation department, an educational institution, a nonprofit corporation or be a private or commercially owned and operated facility that offers both USTA and public programming designed to help grow tennis.  

Facilities were judged on 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 the facilities’ participation in USTA programs. 

Nominated facilities were voted on 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; and Private Facilities that support the USTA and other “growth of the game” programs open to the public. 

All 2018 award winners will receive a wall plaque and an all-weather sign, which can be mounted at the facility. In addition, each awardee will receive a one night stay at the Grand Hyatt New York and two US Open Grounds passes.  

The 2018 USTA Facility Awards Program winners are: 

Public Courts: Small Tennis Centers (2 to 10 courts) 

Club de Tenis de Isla Verde, Carolina, Puerto Rico 

Oak Lawn Racquet, Fitness, & Gymnastics Center, Oak Lawn, Ill. 

Fort Boise Tennis Courts, Boise, Idaho 

Kings County Tennis League – Sumner Tennis Club, Brooklyn, N.Y. 

Public Courts: Large Tennis Centers (11 or more courts) 

Southeast Tennis & Learning Center, Washington, D.C. 

McFarlin Tennis Center, San Antonio  

Mercer County Park Commission Tennis Facility, West Windsor, N.J. 

John Mott Tennis Center, Utica, N.Y. 

Jekyll Island Tennis Center, Jekyll Island, Ga. 

Case Tennis Center at LaFortune Park, Tulsa, Okla. (Featured Facility) 

Palmetto Tennis Center, Sumter, S.C. 

A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center, Winnetka, Ill.

Private Facilities 

YMCA Lamar Tennis Center, Baton Rouge, La. 

Twos Athletic Club, Toledo, Ohio 

Long Reach Tennis Club, Columbia, Md. 

Aspen Racquet Club, Wooster, Ohio 

James Creek Tennis Center, Cumming, Ga. 

Five Star Tennis Center, Plainfield, Ill. 

Greene Ridge Racquet Club, Snow Hill, N.C. 

Chelsea Piers Connecticut, Stamford, Conn. 

Eagle Tennis Club, Eagle, Idaho 

White Bear Lake - Life Time, White Bear Lake, Minn. 

Southern Oaks Golf & Tennis Club, Burleson, Texas 

Woodfield Country Club, Boca Raton, Fla.