Covering your tennis courts with a steel frame building, air structure, or fabric structure will extend your clay court season, offering your membership the ability to not only playing during inclement weather but throughout the year.
There are hundreds of clay court tennis structures around the country with most being concentrated in the mid-Atlantic, northeastern US, and Canada where the tennis season is extended 4-6 months. The demand for play is so high some facilities are open from 6:00 am until midnight. This can be a great opportunity to cater to a tennis population that likes the soft sliding surface characteristics of a clay court. Reviewing the basics of environment and surface management can help your staff create better playing conditions.
First of all, you want tennis players to be comfortable. Make sure you have a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system capable of changing the air within the structure 1-4 times per hour. The winter temperature should be maintained at 55-62 degrees Fahrenheit. The relative humidity should be maintained between 55%-60%. If you plan to keep the structure open for the summer months, the temperature should be maintained approximately 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit below the outside temperature while maintaining 55%-60% humidity.
Secondly, try to maintain consistent playing conditions throughout the day. The daily maintenance routine inside the structure consists of grooming the surface with a Gator Rake, steel bristle drag brush or a soft bristle brush. On a periodic basis, every month or so, the courts will require a light scraping and removal of old worn material followed by a light topdressing with Coarse Blend. On an annual basis, schedule a basic spring reconditioning of removing the line tapes, patching any low areas, and re-dressing the courts.
For more information on keeping your indoor clay courts in the best possible condition, contact Har-Tru for the latest information on indoor clay court maintenance including a special guide developed just for the indoor environment.