Dec 15, 2013 | Uncategorized
On December 2, 2013, that long awaited day finally came: the return of pro tournaments to the Tennis & Racquet Club in Boston. Of course, as most of you know, for the last few years the T&R has been unable to host tournaments due to the possibility of rain or snow which used to find its way onto our court, sometimes forming Lake Tambour. Those days are clearly over for us now. The court was tight as a drum and, in fact, was a bit warmer than it used to be. Thanks again to all those involved in the… Read the Full Story >
Oct 1, 2013 | Uncategorized
For our fifth anniversary, it was a small but rabid group of players. Nine of us played our favorite game in the “Casino” at Georgian Court. As I have expounded in the past, this building is just not to be believed. Besides court tennis, it has a former racquets court (finally being used as a student lounge and not as a random storage area), an indoor polo ring, bowling alleys, a pool, and squash courts. My favorite part of the court is the bucket built into last gallery for Gould’s famous railroad serves (ironic, as his grandfather was a railroad… Read the Full Story >
Apr 23, 2013 | Uncategorized
National League Final at National Tennis Club: April 23, 2013 Before I get to the match, I would like to apologize for submitting this narrative so late. Life got in the way of tennis-related activities. Let that never happen again! Last week Tuesday, we saw Team New England take the 2012-2013 championship in the United States National League. Congratulations to Camden Riviere, Tony Hollins, and Rich Smith in their win over James Stout, Barney Tanfield, and Mike Gooding. As you shall see, it was an offbeat night for a variety of reasons. First, New England swept the… Read the Full Story >
Mar 12, 2013 | Uncategorized
National League at National Tennis Club: March 5, 2013 By Ken Forton Photos by Bill Burgin This past Tuesday was anything but a normal night at the National Tennis Club in Newport. The attendees at that night’s National League match saw two of the world’s best court tennis players face off against each other in a singles match that was difficult to believe. And, the lead-off match pitted a veteran pro against a more recently declared pro in a tough two setter. While the doubles, which decided the night, was nearly violent. Let’s get down to it. The… Read the Full Story >
Oct 11, 2012 | Uncategorized
The T&R professional tennis drought has finally ended. Last night, Boston’s Tennis & Racquet Club hosted its first National League match in several years. And what a match it was. This year, Boston is teaming up with Newport and Aiken with a combined team of Tony Hollins, Rich Smith and Camden Riviere. If last night is any indication, Boston is fully prepared to host our game’s best players once again. Dedans seats were sold out and the galleries and Hamlen Room were stacked with 70 spectators watching these near super-humans compete. The rain broke just in time for the… Read the Full Story >
Sep 30, 2012 | Uncategorized
For the fourth year, a hearty group of court tennis players visited Georgian Court University to see and play the former private court built for Jay Gould, one of the 20th century’s most successful amateurs. Each year I go back, I marvel at the building that houses the court. Though court tennis must have been at the heart of designing the “Casino,” it seems like just one of a dozen or so things to do to divert oneself. Other fun could have been had at polo, bowling, hard racquets, squash, swimming, etc. It’s too bad that the racquets court has… Read the Full Story >
Oct 2, 2011 | Uncategorized
For the third year, intrepid Northeastern court tennis players packed in to the house that Gould built in scenic Lakewood, New Jersey for the 2011 Lakewood Invitational. True, Lakewood is a strange mix of influences these days, but parts of the Georgian Court University campus, where the court still remains, appear just as they did a hundred years ago. The court, for those not familiar with it, is housed in a larger building called The Casino. Court tennis was just one of the entertainments held within The Casino’s doors. Our fair game was accompanied by hard racquets, polo, bowling, swimming,… Read the Full Story >
Sep 22, 2010 | Uncategorized
In what has become a sort of unofficial kick-off to the tennis pre-season, more than twenty rabid court tennis players descended on the sleepy hamlet of Lakewood, New Jersey for the second annual Lakewood Invitational (where everyone is invited). What started last year as an extremely informal get-together to bat the ball around the court that Gould built evolved this year into a better attended event where the players were begging for some more structure. So be it. Next year will be a bit more formalized. From the T&R we had Bill Connors, Chris Blier, John Edwards, Phil Stockton, Paul… Read the Full Story >
Sep 21, 2010 | Uncategorized
In an unofficial kick-off to the court tennis season, the recently formed Team New England took on the also recently formed Team Tuxedo. Camden Riviere and Rich Smith represented NE, while Tim Chisholm and Josh Bainton represented Tuxedo In the first match, the sparks were flying as Rich Smith and Josh Bainton battled for supremacy. The first set saw some game swapping as Rich dominated the service. In the fifth game, a very long reste seemed to tire Rich out as Josh pulled ahead to 4-2. A couple more games were swapped when Josh cracked a straight force that grazed the inner thigh of Rich. Don’t worry,… Read the Full Story >
