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Fine Points

For these seven residential court winners, construction excellence is all in the details.

By Peter Francesconi

Nothing can better show off the creativity and workmanship of a court builder than the care and detail they give to their private court projects. And the 2006 residential court winners of the Racquet Sports Industry/American Sports Builders Association Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards clearly demonstrate that excellence.

All seven of these winners are new construction, although one of these projects, the Powell Residence in Gladwyne, Pa., involved completely removing an existing court once the new home was constructed on the property, then lowering the sub-grade by 3 feet and building a totally new hard court. Six of these winners are hard courts, with two — the Fleckenstein Residence in Mukwonago, Wis., and the Robinson Residence in Radnor, Pa. — listing a “cushioned” surface. One court, the Wilson Residence in Rixeyville, Va., is a natural grass court.

Drainage was a key challenge for many builders, who worked with owners to design drainage systems or swales to channel rainwater. Also, as in many private residence projects, visually appealing retaining walls were an important part of most of these courts.

At least one court, the Gooch Residence in Rumson, N.J., installed wood fencing, and four of the seven courts installed lighting for night play. Seating and shade for players were important for most of these winners, and one project, the Seiderman Residence in Parkland, Fla., included a backboard.

They say “the devil is in the details,” but clearly these builders found creative ways to overcome challenges to give court owners and their families their own little piece of heaven.

Gooch Residence

Rumson, N.J.
(Nominated by The Racquet Shop Inc., Colts Neck, N.J.)
Surface: California Products
Net Posts: Edwards (wood)
Net, Center Strap: J.A. Cissel

Fleckenstein Residence

Mukwonago, Wis.
(Nominated by Munson Inc., Glendale, Wis.)
Architect/Engineer/Contractor: Munson Inc.
Surface: California Products
Fencing: Munson Fence Division, Munson Inc.
Post-Tension Cables: Tech Con Systems
Lights: Lee Tennis
Net Posts: Douglas Industries

Clayton Residence

Carmel, Ind.
(Nominated by Leslie Coatings Inc., Indianapolis, Ind.)
Specialty Contractor: Leslie Coatings
Court Coatings: California Products
Lights: LSI Lighting
Net, Net Posts: Douglas Industries

Powell Residence

Gladwyne, Pa.
(Nominated by Pro-Sport Construction Inc., Devon, Pa.)
General Contractor: Pro-Sport Construction
Surface: Nova Sports
Net, Net Posts, Windscreens: J.A. Cissel

Robinson Residence

Radnor, Pa.
(Nominated by Pro-Sport Construction Inc., Devon, Pa.)
General Contractor: Pro-Sport Construction
Surface: Nova Sports, Classic Turf
Lights: LSI Lighting
Net, Net Posts, Windscreens: J.A. Cissel

Seiderman Residence

Parkland, Fla.
(Nominated by Fast-Dry Courts, Pompano Beach, Fla.)
Architect/Engineer/Contractor: Fast Dry Courts
Surface: Nova Sports Combination
Lights: RLS
Net, Center Strap, Anchor: BP International
Backboard: Bakko
Net Posts: Lee Tennis
Basketball Standard: Douglas Industries

Wilson Residence

Rixeyville, Va.
(Nominated by Lawn Tennis and Supply Co., Medford, N.J.)
General and Specialty Contractor: Lawn Tennis and Supply Co.
Surface: Lawn Tennis and Supply Co. (Bentgrass Sod)
Fencing: Tennis Courts Inc.

See all articles by Peter Francesconi

About the Author

Peter Francesconi is editorial director of RSI magazine.

From the April 2007 issue
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