A tennis gem in Glen Ellyn just got a whole lot better

 

A tennis gem in Glen Ellyn just got a whole lot better

 

Tucked away in the western edge of Glen Ellyn's scenic Lake Ellyn Park is likely the oldest recreational facility in all of Glen Ellyn: a pair of century old tennis clay courts

 

 Upon entering the gated facility with a membership key, one is transported back to a bygone era when tennis was played on clay or grass instead of the hard surfaces developed in the modern age. The packed green clay on the two courts forms a subsurface topped with a gritty material which gives the courts their soft, natural feel. The ball bounces higher on clay, slowing down the game and extending rallies past those possible on hard surfaces.

 

 Surrounded by abundant trees and nearby Lake Ellyn, one forgets about the fast paced modern world lurking just yards from the old time tennis action. The feet and knees take less of a pounding and if you fall you're more likely to wind up with dirt stains rather than cuts and abrasions.

 

No matter how exhausted after a couple of hours of competitive tennis, players must take up the rollers and brush implements to smooth out the now gouged court surface and clean off the white court lines. That is part of the special ambiance experienced with the opportunity to play the game as it was in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

 

But Father Time has not been kind to the clay courts. Weather and endless usage has taken its toll. So with some reluctance, we aging tennis gents said adieu to our favorite tennis venue this spring to play at nearby hard surface courts. The Glen Ellyn Park District closed them up for a 21st century renovation costing over a thousand bucks for each of the courts’ hundred years.

 

After 4 months, 2 weeks, 10 of us showed up August 16 for Opening Day. We had to wait a few minutes as workers hoisted up the two new nets before play began. The 21st century technology such as automatic watering of the dusty clay before play is nicely hidden from view. As far as we’re concerned it’s back in 1924 when tennis was mostly played on grass or clay.

We won’t be around to celebrate the second century of the Lake Ellyn clay courts. But if by some miracle they’re still standing, it sure would be cool if the 22nd century version of our current tennis gang will be out there celebrating their 200th birthday playing tennis the way the Man designed it.