Tennis Anyone?
With The US Open tennis championships in full swing, my thoughts, naturally, are turned to tennis. I have always loved this Grand Slam tennis tournament, held annually for two weeks before and after Labor Day weekend, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. Before moving to this current venue, the US Open was held at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, New York. Like Wimbledon, the US Open was originally played on grass until Forest Hills switched to clay courts. In 1978, the event moved to its current location and the surface changed again to hardcourt.
I am the proud owner of three tennis courts. Skylands, my home in Maine, boasts two beautiful side-by-side courts, built by the previous owners. Because of damp and harsh weather conditions, a hardcourt surface was installed, which is easier to maintain and makes for a fast tennis game. At my farm in Bedford, I opted for a Har-Tru court, which is made from crushed stone. Har-Tru is a softer surface that many players prefer. Here is a little tour of my tennis courts and I hope you enjoy the rest of the US Open!
1 This is the pathway to the tennis courts. The crew has begun gathering the pine needles that cover all the paths. The needles are lifted, sifted, and stored for the winter.
2 After a short trot through the woods, you come upon two tennis courts, side by side. They are hardcourt, a fast surface to play on. It's a wonderful place for a game of tennis.
3 From the court, a granite staircase leads to an observation gazebo.
4 The gazebo is a rustic Maine design.
5 From the looks of things, I think a few trees need some pruning.
6 A pink granite millstone lends curiosity and appeal to the outdoor decor.
7 This is a granite bench and patio located at the top of the stairs.
8 I love the circular design detail on the edge of the stone slab seat.
9 Across from the tennis court is a fenced-in backboard for practicing tennis strokes.
10 My tennis court in Bedford is tucked away in a far corner of my farm.
11 The court is surrounded with the same fencing as the vegetable garden. It, too, is painted Bedford gray.
12 The surface of this court is gray clay, a wonderful surface to play on.
13 Clay is very forgiving on knee joints and other body parts. Clay courts are unique in that the ball bounce leaves an impression in the clay, which can help determine whether a shot was in or out.
14 The court lines are actually tapes that are nailed down in the spring and taken up during winter. When a tennis ball hits the tape, it makes a distinctive sound, indicating that the ball is in.
15 After play, the clay is brushed smooth with this wide broom.
16 This clever device is used to clear the lines after sweeping.
17 The tapes covered with clay
18 Pushing the Line-Master along the tapes - the spinning bristle wheel sweeps the lines clean.
19 The official tennis net is 3-feet-6-inches high at the end posts and 3-feet high in the center.
20 The net is made of a heavy-duty weather resistant fiber.
21 This is the net crank, which is used from time to time to keep the net 'true.'
22 A cold water fountain is useful and refreshing between change-overs.
23 Across the court is an observation pergola, designed to look like the other pergolas on the farm using antique Chinese granite posts.
24 The slatted wooden roof provides generous shade.
25 The pee gee hydrangea backdrop is stunning this season.
26 It's a great place to sit and watch the competition happening on the court.
Martha, from looking at your pictures, it seems that Skylands was built with great love way back in the day. Why else would you have all the beautiful rock steps, and all of the other things made from rocks and placed just so, and for them to look so natural, as if they "grew" that way?
Gloria!!
Posted by: Gloria | September 8th, 2010 at 12:20 am
How beautiful and fun! Enjoy tennis at home!
Posted by: Wendy | September 8th, 2010 at 12:40 am
Martha you are lucky to have two sets of courts,especially if you like to play~not sure if you do? I love to play outside on har tru courts, it is always a treat! Your extras in the landscape are lovely.
Posted by: amy@maisondecor | September 8th, 2010 at 6:52 am
Oooooh, I would love to have a setup like picture #9. Who needs a partner, right? Just play against yourself. I remember my tennis playing days very fondly.
Posted by: Judy | September 8th, 2010 at 8:38 am
I bet Serena Williams would come and play on your courts if you asked. It would be a great fundraiser. The scenes are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Teresa Touey | September 8th, 2010 at 9:26 am
I like Teresa Touey's idea!
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport, ME | September 8th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Tennis, the #1 sport to drop funding for in College as reported by Sports Illustrated. Sad really, tennis is inexpensive to get into and a fun time regardless of experience level. I have even read many stories of cities and municipalities ceasing funding of tennis courts because they are too expensive [!] to maintain.
Keep the sport alive Martha!
Posted by: R. | September 8th, 2010 at 10:56 am
I am not sure why the pine needles have to be stored but I am sure it is important. Like the classic courts. On an old ranch in New Mexico the daughters just scratched out a court and away they went. They were and still are a spirited bunch.
Posted by: Margie | September 8th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Hi Martha, I just love the fact that you post such a wonderful variety of blogs about everything that has to do with LIVING! These photos of your fantastic tennis courts are so much fun to look at and how fun it would be to see you and your delightful friends playing on these courts! Congratulations for the 2,000,000+ followers on Twitter! I knew you would get there and you did! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | September 8th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Martha, thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | September 8th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
What a healthy sport to have in your life - is there ANYTHING good in this life that you don't have in yours? I think not! Kudos to you Martha - you inspire the rest of us!
I too would like to know what you do with the pine cones in the winter. Decorations? Bird seed?
Posted by: Donna | September 8th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
I like to play tennis...
Thank you for the post..
Posted by: Naresh Khatri | September 8th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
That is just fabulously inviting isn't it? Thanks for sharing! We love to watch tennis here and are really enjoying the US Open, hoping to go and watch it live next year!
Posted by: Julie | September 8th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Martha, I so loved the series you showed on The Martha Stewart Show over the last few weeks. I was in awe at the tour of Skylands in Maine. I can think of no one else more appropriately equiped to take over the care and maintenance of such a historic property! The tennis courts are in such a 'chapel' of trees, I can just imagine the only sounds would be just the bouncing and/or smacking of the balls in the game.
I would love for you to post the entire show
giving the tour of the property and house. The kitchens with those fantastic storage closets and cabinets for the unique table cloths and placemats were such a snapshot of how 'old' money used to live in quiet dignity. The incredible tableware. The luxurious placing of the house to take advantage of the rising and setting sun, the magical landscaping-which makes everything seem so 'naturally' occurring.
You also have a real jewel in your show that you filmed with Ted Turner on one of his ranches. His effort to quietly save America from 'building' over it's greatest assesets the rolling hills of the Western Prairee Lands. His brilliant rebuilding of a huge herd of Bison in their natural habitat. I would never have seen such breathtaking beauty without your platform of the Martha Show.
I love the shows you do seasonally from your gardens and greenhouses at your farms. You have built such exquisit gardens, and given those of us who have less than you in both money and property a hope of being able to build just one feature to our yards or balcony's that 'Martha' showed us how-to-do.
While I'm telling you the shows you have made that should be made retreiveable [in my humble opinion] you have done some 'classic' work in the kitchen. Two cohosts I wish you would show yourself with are 1) you and Julia Child when you demonstrated that gorgeous diamond shapped wedding cake decorated with homemade marzipan fruits, and 2) every show you had your Mom on with you [Big Martha] teaching us how to make your family's recipes. I know you have put together a few of those shows, but there were gems ie: making the Easter bread with the dyed eggs baked into it, and the Christmas Show you made with her baking and frying Christmas Cookies-I seem to remember your beautiful Niece Sophie there with you showing the generations carrying on those traditions together.
If I sound like I am biding you farewell, sadly I am. When you move to the Hallmark Channel this Fall I won't be able to see you, except as a guest shot on Everyday Foods on PBS. Believe it or not, there are a lot of Americans who simply cannot get Cable-or at least the upper tiers where they stole away the really good channels like Hallmark. I am sick at the idea that I won't see your Halloween show and/or your Christmas Crafts ever again.
You are always speaking of your 1,000's of photos taken from your travels, your gardens, and so many wonders you have shared with us. I am torn as to whether I love more your trip to Mexico and the lovely Hacienda you used as a homebase as you traveled and explored the areas near there, or the trip you made to Paris-for Fashion Week-and were invited to Valentino's Estate and gardens. Then he came on your Show as a guest. Wow, do you know fabulous people!
You have been a fixture in my home and the homes of my friends as we famously call each other with "are you watching Martha, right now because-----" it is too sad that those of us who love your Show, will now be unable to see you daily. Oh, yes, we will be able to buy the Magazines, and Books-even get the on line newsletters but while static photos are wonderful they are not the same as your live interactions with Joey, your guests, and many special themed shows where you carried us with you to a special event like when you went to send Charles into space from Russia, etc. Have you ever considered putting together any Specials to perhaps be broadcast on PBS during their fundraising drives? I know many folks who would run to support the PBS organization if they could get a reward of your Greatest Moments! That should provide many years of programing in such an effort.
I'm so sorry, I did not intend writing a book myself. I am an Avid fan and sharer of many of your fabulous 'Good Things'! Thank you, dear lady.
Posted by: Jean Campbell | September 9th, 2010 at 12:20 am
Martha, I feel I was gushing in my admiration for you and TMSS, but failed to tell you how impressed I am by your stewardship of the lands you own. You are an extraordinary example of how conservation and sustainable gardening and good husbandry can give an amazingly beautiful look to your grounds and healthy production from your animals ie: your hens laying such a high quantity of eggs, the increase in the number of donkeys thriving on your farms. You inspire through example. 'Big Martha' was an excellent teacher of her daughter as well as the students she taught in school. Your Dad also made you unafraid of a toolbox when he showed you how to use those tools. It is a blessing for a oldest daughter to get to learn these lessons from both parents. Being encouraged to be the best you could be at whatever you wished to try, was such a wonderful gift from your parents to you.
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Jean Campbell | September 9th, 2010 at 12:56 am
Great courts. When and how often are these courts used? Ever hold a fundraising event at one of the courts? YOu should install a good old-fashioned grass court. Thanks so much!
Posted by: http://twitter.com/Geotravel | September 9th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
first and foremost i am thrilled that your new season will soon be here.Secondly, should you ever decide to make a "coffee table book" it would definitely be a best seller with your photography. Your eye is so great.
Now for my question: you state the pine needles will be lifted, sifted and stored. What will they be used for next spring? Best of Luck for your new and many seasons to come.
Posted by: cynde | September 12th, 2010 at 7:04 pm