King and His Court

Painted crowns, penthouses, and bobbles. Hand-stitched balls that ricochet around a court shaped like a medieval marketplace. Fanatical players dedicated to a sport that has hardly changed in more than four hundred years.

Welcome to court tennis.

Court tennis, sometimes called “the sport of kings” – is the original racquet sport from which the modern game of tennis is derived. Court tennis is also known as real tennis by our British friends, royal tennis by our friends down under, and jeu de paume by our French speaking friends. Although when I say known, I mean known by only a select few who have discovered what was once also called “the most beautiful game.”

It may be beautiful, but court tennis remains somewhat obscure here in the states. That is, until now.

Welcome to court tennis at Sand Valley.

Yes, court tennis has its newest venue — this one, at a resort best-known for another royal game, the game of golf. Brothers Michael and Chris Keiser, architects of some of the best golf you'll play anywhere, have constructed the country’s 12th court tennis court - the centerpiece of a sparkling new tennis center at Sand Valley that also includes 16 outdoor “modern day” grass courts.

“We are so excited to introduce our guests — and fans of golf and racquets in general — to the game of court tennis and this amazing facility,” said Michael Keiser. “It’s such a wonderful pairing with the rich traditions and history of golf.”

More about tennis in a minute, but there’s another feature of the Sand Valley Tennis Center that is equally fit for a king, queen, and even us less than royal folk - The Gallery restaurant, as it’s fittingly called because it overlooks the game of court tennis below. The Gallery is the newest dining experience at Sand Valley, which is as unique as the sport itself, and like no other in Wisconsin. Maybe anywhere.

The Gallery menu is one of those menus where each dish is definitely the one you can’t resist, until you’re tantalized by the next one. And the next one. But here’s the good news. The Gallery serves family style, where everyone at the table can share with everyone else. So you don’t have to choose just one. Order ‘em all and pass ‘em around.

Well, maybe not all, but be sure to treat the table to some of my favorites; for starters, Grilled Artichokes in Fresh Squeezed Lemon and Garlic. Follow it up with the ever-popular Chicken Parmigiana with Bucatini. For those who aren’t familiar with Bucatini, it’s like spaghetti, but hollow in the center, kinda like a straw. And lastly, leave room for the iconic Italian delicacy, Tiramisu. A dessert that when translated to English, literally means “cheer me up.” And boy, does it!

I’d list more delectable choices, but I recommend you check out the entire menu at the Sand Valley dining website. Better yet, just go. Go with friends. With family. With or without your tennis rackets. Just go.

As good as The Gallery is, we’re really here to talk about court tennis, so let’s get back to it.

The term “court tennis” was first used by British journalists in the early 20th century as a retronym to distinguish the ancient game from modern tennis. But what, then, makes court tennis so different? And what’s with crowns, penthouses, and bobbles? Generally speaking, the only similarities between the two games are both have a court, a net, a ball, and a racket. And though similar, even those are quite different.

In court tennis, the court can be constructed of dyed concrete or, in some older courts, flagstone. The surrounding walls are usually constructed of brick or cinder block and are plastered smooth. That’s right, I said walls. Court tennis is played on an asymmetric court with four walls. Sand Valley takes the game to a new level, though, with a glass-walled viewing balcony in The Gallery restaurant which overlooks the action below.

Three walls feature sloping wooden roofs, known as penthouses, reminiscent of the awnings  at an outdoor market. The fourth wall is called the main wall, and though it is without a penthouse, it does have a protrusion called a tambour.

Strung across the center of the court is a net, which at first sight is a little unsettling because it purposely sags in the middle, unlike the taut and resolute net in modern tennis. Like most court tennis courts, Sand Valley’s court features a trough and a sunken basket at the base of the net for collecting errant balls at the end of a volley. No ball boys or girls needed here to keep things tidy and play-ready.

Rackets are short and asymmetrical. Their design encourages accuracy over speed, although court tennis is by no means a slow game. Graphite rackets are currently being trialed for play, but the only approved rackets today are made of a combination of ash and hickory and strung tightly with nylon.

The ball resembles a modern tennis ball at first glance, but once you hold it in your hand, you’ll see the obvious differences. Court tennis balls are all hand-sewn, consisting of a cork center and a heavy, woolen outer layer which makes them less bouncy than our modern balls. Also, modern tennis balls typically get relegated to your Golden Retriever once they lose their can-fresh bounce, whereas the inner core of a court tennis ball can last several years, and the cover is replaced every two to three weeks, depending on usage.

If I’ve piqued your interest, here’s the best part; Sand Valley wants to encourage interest and participation in the sport, so they invite you to stop by or contact the resort for more information.

“We know this will be a very new experience for most people, so the best way to get people acquainted with the game is to make it easily accessible,” said Michael Carbiener, General Manager.

Not interested in playing the game? You’d much rather just watch? No problem. Remember, The Gallery was built for that very purpose. Incredible Italian food, an abundantly stocked bar, and observation windows spanning the length of the court.

By the way, to find the meaning of painted crowns, bobbles, and dozens more interesting terms unique to the sport, check out the very detailed Wiki page here.

For more information on The Tennis Center at Sand Valley and The Gallery restaurant, visit sandvalley.com or call 888-398-8671.

Written by: Lydell Capritta