For tennis players, the quality of a court surface can make all the difference. At Jupiter Ocean & Racquet Club, members are experiencing that firsthand following the recent renovation of the club’s 13 clay courts with Har-Tru surfaces.
Located in the Palm Beach County, Jupiter Ocean & Racquet Club has long been a destination for recreational and competitive players alike. Now, with freshly resurfaced courts, members say the facility is better than ever.
According to Director of Tennis Robert Fisher, the decision to invest in Har-Tru was an easy one.
“We recently renovated the courts with Har-Tru, and the ladies and the men at the club are really enjoying the new surface,” Fisher said. “We’re very pleased and happy to have chosen Har-Tru as our product.”
Fisher, who previously managed one of the largest private tennis clubs in the country, believes clay remains the ideal surface for most club players.
“The great advantage of Har-Tru is the ball slows down a little bit,” he explained. “It’s softer on your joints, so the stopping and starting and the sliding give players more comfort than hard courts or even grass courts.”
Beyond comfort, Fisher believes the surface helps players maximize their enjoyment of the sport.
“When you play on Har-Tru, you’re going to get an incredible experience of playing great tennis, playing without injury, and finding the joy in the sport,” he said.
The renovation was part of a broader effort to enhance the club’s facilities, which were originally built in the late 1970s.
“We’ve gotten a great result, and I would highly recommend it,” he added.
Club member Molly Apple has been playing at Jupiter Ocean & Racquet Club for five years and says the new courts have only strengthened what she already loves about the facility.
“I love Har-Tru. It’s such a great surface,” Apple said. “We play some teams that have hard courts, and it’s a totally different ball game.”
For Apple, the consistency of the clay surface is one of its biggest advantages.
“You know where the ball is. You know the bounce,” she said. “It’s very comfortable on your feet and your back, and I think it prevents a lot of injuries.”
While the courts are a major attraction, Apple says the community is what truly makes the club special.
“I love playing on a team here. The coaches are great. They’re friendly, and their constructive criticism is really good,” she said. “We just have so much fun together and love the sport.”
Longtime member Nancy Auth echoed those sentiments. Having played at the club for more than six years, she believes the recent improvements have elevated the overall experience for members.
“It’s really wonderful now because the courts have all been freshly resurfaced with Har-Tru, which is the kindest, gentlest court surface for us mature players,” Auth said.
She credits both the ownership group and the coaching staff for helping create a welcoming environment.
“We play league matches here. We play social tennis here. It’s just a great place to play tennis in Florida,” Auth said. “The owners are the most gracious, generous people, and the coaching staff is varied and diverse in their teaching characteristics.”
According to Auth, the club’s investment in its facilities has not gone unnoticed.
“The facilities now are better than they’ve ever been because they’ve really invested a lot of time and resources into improving the condition of the courts,” she said. “We’re all very excited about the coming season.”
For members of Jupiter Ocean & Racquet Club, the renovation represents more than just new court surfaces. It is a commitment to providing a better playing experience, fostering community, and ensuring that players of all ages can continue to enjoy the game for years to come.
To learn more about Har-Tru and its full range of tennis court surfaces, equipment, and maintenance solutions, visit Har-Tru’s website at hartru.com.
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Written by Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy. Video edited by Nathalia Suarez.