Tennis Gardens wins USTA honor

The Tennis Gardens at the Longboat Key Club and Resort is one of 12 winners of the 28th annual United States Tennis Association Outstanding Facility Awards Program, the USTA announced Tuesday, Sept. 1.

The awards recognize excellence and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country. The Tennis Gardens is the only private facility in the state that will be honored in the 2009 USTA Outstanding Facility Awards Program.

The Tennis Gardens will be honored with other recipients at an awards ceremony at the USTA semi-annual meeting Sunday, Sept. 6, at the Grand Hyatt, in New York City.

The Key Club unveiled the $4.5 million Tennis Gardens facility in March. The complex has 20 Har-Tru courts with a state-of-the-art HydroGrid irrigation system, five lighted courts for night play, a tennis concierge to arrange matches and organize group events, Court 21 Café and Lounge, a pro shop and more. The Tennis Gardens stadium seats 500 people, but seats can be added to an adjacent court to seat up to 2,500 people.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].