Standard Guide for Construction and Maintenance of Grass Tennis Courts

Abstract

4.1 A grass tennis court should provide a relatively uniform, high quality playing surface as it relates to footing and ball bounce. Undulations, rough surface, bare spots, weeds, and wet spots detract from good play. Playing surface quality is largely affected by construction and maintenance procedures, and this guide addresses those procedures. 4.1.1 During construction, consideration should be given to factors such as soil physical and chemical properties, freedom of large stones and debris in the soil, surface and internal drainage, grass species selection, orientation of the court, and provisions for distributing wear on the playing surface. 4.1.2 Maintenance practices that influence the playability of the surface include mowing height, mowing frequency, rolling, irrigation, fertilization, weed control, disease and insect control, cultivation, thatch control, topdressing, and overseeding. 4.2 Those responsible for the design, construction, or maintenance, or a combination thereof, of tennis courts will benefit from this guide. 4.3 This guide provides flexibility in choices of procedures and can be used to cover a variety of use and budget levels.