6 minute read
SGCC’s Grass Lawn Exhibition: Members Enjoy a Unique Experience Honoring Wimbledon
BY KATIE KISSAL | CHAIR, COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
History and Tradition of Wimbledon
The news of its first lawn tennis event was announced by the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club in June 1877. Open to amateurs, the event would be held on Monday, July 9 and the following days.
With no women permitted, a total of twenty-two men registered themselves for a £11 shilling entrance fee. With enough seats for thirty people on makeshift stadium seating, the event’s final had a total of two hundred people in attendance.
In the decades since its inception, Wimbledon has grown and evolved to include ladies, foreign winners, mixed doubles events, and more. The event’s longevity and well-known grass courts hosted royalty, paused for world wars, and served the 2012 Olympics. Tennis legends such as the Watson sisters, the Doherty brothers, May Sutton, Major Richie, Althea Gibson, Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King, Andy Murray, and the Williams sisters have graced these courts and added epic moments to this legendary tradition.
Grass Court Exhibition Arrives at SGCC
In 2022, SGCC’s new Director of Racquet Sports, Branden Beets, arrived with a plethora of ideas for our racquets program. One in particular was unique and exciting: a grass court exhibition in honor of and in the timeframe of Wimbledon. The idea was radical and well-received. Working closely with the golf and grounds staff, his vision came to life. We talked with Branden to learn more about his vision and how he brought this unique event for our members to fruition.
Katie Kissal: Other than Wimbledon itself, where did you get the idea to do a grass court event at SGCC? Have you seen it done at other clubs?
Branden Beets: Coming to SGCC last April, I really wanted to bring in some new and exciting events to the Club. I experienced a grass court fundraiser at a club in Florida and loved the concept. It’s something many people have never experienced. I thought, “If we can’t bring the membership to Wimbledon, let’s bring Wimbledon to us!” To improve the member experience this year, members are able to reserve grass court time the day after our exhibition.
KK: What are the challenges you face to put on this event?
BB: There are many challenges, and it’s a true team effort. First, we had to find a location for the event. We toured the golf course looking for flat usable ground before settling on the driving range. I did numerous trips to Home Depot for measurement and marking materials, and practiced for hours on a vacant field. We also had to find a net that was sturdy enough for a competitive match. We couldn’t simply insert net posts in the ground with sleeves—without a concrete base it was not possible to hold tension. We needed a portable net system with tension . With an eight-week delivery timeframe and an exorbitant price tag, our team was calling every racquet and country club within 75 miles. After days and days, I finally found one. I rented a U-haul, drove to the site, broke down the unit, packed it up, and transported it back to SGCC.
Now we had a net and knew how to set up the court, but rain was in the forecast. The rallying efforts of valued members and other local clubs provided tents and tarps. With the help of the golf staff, we were able to secure them together with bungee cords and stakes to cover and protect our grass court overnight.
KK: How popular are grass courts? Are they more prominent in Europe than the US?
BB: Absolutely. There are very few grass courts in the United States, let alone Virginia. The climate and maintenance required is substantial. We are blessed to have such an experienced Superintendent and his team to assist us in this extraordinary event.
KK: How is the grass surface different than other tennis surfaces? What happens to the ball? How do players have to adjust?
BB: In my opinion, grass is the fastest surface you will play on. The ball skids and doesn’t bounce up as high. It also speeds up and takes away your time to produce bigger or more powerful strokes. In our event last year, I felt like there was very little time to create an aggressive topspin loop swing, so my strategy morphed into more of a chip and charge approach to transition to the net. Standing closer to the baseline, taking more balls on the rise, and transitioning forward to get more balls out of the air is a good strategy on grass. The less the ball has a chance to get below your strike zone the better. Move in and fight closer to the net.
KK: In your opinion, what makes Wimbledon so special? What do you like about sharing that experience with members at SGCC?
BB: Wimbledon is about tradition. Dress in all white, play on a unique surface, and learn a new respect for the game. Grass court tennis will humble even the best of players. Similar to clay court tennis when the ball hits a line, there will be many unpredictable bounces. The ball bounces so low and fast that the player must possess a different type of skill set to succeed. There are so many players that rely on hitting the ball hard from all parts of the court. This style will suffer on grass. The all-court player who possesses a large toolbox of skills will be victorious. Serve and volley, slices, net play, efficient footwork, incredible balance, and patience are just some of the skills of a veteran grass court player.
This year’s Grass Court Pro Exhibition featured some fun new events: a fastest serve competition for members with men’s, women’s, and junior’s divisions; a showcase of some of SGCC’s Junior Academy players; and the chance for members to book their own grass court time the Monday following the Pro Match. This tremendous event is here to stay, so go ahead and mark your calendars for next summer so you don’t miss out!
