National Tennis Club facts for kids
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| Established | 1880 / re-established 1980 |
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| Type | Court Tennis, Sport Club |
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President
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Ross Cann |
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Vice-president
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Tom Rowe |
| Website | http://nationaltennisclub.org/ |
The National Tennis Club (NTC) is a special club in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It's all about a sport called court tennis, which is also known as "real tennis." The club's home is a rebuilt building at the Newport Casino. In 2004, the National Tennis Club even hosted the World Championship for Real Tennis! Robert Fahey won and kept his title against Tim Chisholm. The building where court tennis is played was first built in 1880. Then, in 1980, the National Tennis Club was brought back to life. This was largely thanks to Clarence "Clarry" Pell. It became a symbol for the sport in the United States.
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What is Court Tennis?
Court tennis, sometimes called "real tennis," is the original indoor racquet sport. It's actually the ancestor of the modern game we usually just call "tennis" (which is also known as lawn tennis). In the United States, it's called court tennis. In Australia, people say royal tennis, and in France, it's courte-paume. The word "real" was added by writers in the mid-1900s. This helped tell the old game apart from the newer "lawn" tennis. Even though modern tennis isn't usually played on lawns anymore, except at places like Wimbledon.
Today, real tennis is played on 45 courts around the world. You can find these courts in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and France.
How is Court Tennis Played?
The rules and scoring in court tennis are quite similar to lawn tennis. For example, points are scored by fifteens (like 15, 30, 40). However, in real tennis, a player wins a set by getting six games, even if the other player has five games. Most matches are played as the best of three sets. But for big tournaments, matches can be the best of five sets.
There's another cool difference: the ball! Modern lawn tennis balls are bouncy and made with latex. But real tennis still uses a cork-based ball. These balls are much less bouncy and weigh about 2½ ounces. That's a bit heavier than a lawn tennis ball, which weighs about 2 ounces. Players also use long racquets, about 27 inches, made of wood. They have very tight strings to handle the heavier balls.
A real tennis court is completely surrounded by walls. Three of these walls have sloped roofs, which are called "penthouses." The court also has special window-like openings below these roofs. If a player hits the ball into one of these openings, they can win the point right away!
The National Tennis Club's Story
The National Tennis Club (NTC) was started in 1980. This was after the original court tennis court was completely rebuilt. The old court had been damaged by fires in 1945 and 1946. Only the floor and some lower parts of the walls from 1880 remained.
A group of dedicated players and fans, called the National Court patrons, helped fund the rebuilding. This included Clarence C. Pell, who was a former President. They raised money through the United States Court Tennis Association (USCTA). The court, known as the National Tennis Court, unofficially reopened on September 29, 1979. Its official dedication happened in August 1980. This followed a big tournament for the Tiffany Cup.
Since its restoration in 1980, the National Tennis Court has been considered the official court of the USCTA. As the game has grown, new groups have formed. One example is the U.S. Court Tennis Preservation Foundation (USCTPF). These groups help lead and fund this amateur sport.
The Club used to only be open during the summer. But now, the court is used all year long! The club has about 100 active members. It's one of the busiest court tennis courts in the United States. It offers programs for all skill levels. This includes club handicaps, games between cities, night leagues, and national and international tournaments. Club members even compete worldwide.
The Club has been guided by many leaders over the years. These include Jonathan Isham, Barclay Douglas, Sr., Clarry Pell, Jim Wharton, Jonathon Pardee, and Jane Lippincott.
Joining the Club
The National Tennis Club offers different ways for people to join and enjoy the sport.
- Junior Membership: This is for young people aged 25 or younger. It helps train and encourage the next generation of players. Junior members get weekly lessons and support for trips to tournaments at other clubs.
- Other Memberships: There are also memberships for people who live close by, those who live further away, and even for people who live in other countries. Social memberships are also available for those who want to support the club and attend events. There's even a "Taste of Tennis" program for beginners to try the game. It includes court usage, a racquet loan, and an introductory lesson.
See also
