Tennis anyone?

It’s great exercise, it’s a lot of fun, and we’ve got the perfect venue for it right here in Cranford at the Cranford Clay Courts on Springfield Avenue.

Cranford Clay Courts has announced the availability of 2015 Membership Applications, as well as the schedule for this season’s Tennis Academy for both Youth and Adults, as it embarks upon its 23^rd season.  Registration for the 11th season of the Tennis Academy sessions for both youth and adults is already underway, and the adult sessions for Monday evenings in both May and June are scheduled to begin on May 4th. Three two-week youth sessions are scheduled to begin in June, to coordinate with the completion of the school year.  Each youth academy session offers six lessons over a two- week period, for ages 6-9 and 10-16. Charlie DeNicola, the Academy’s popular Instructor, will return for this season’s Academy classes.

The Club anticipates the opening of the courts later this month.  They offer individual adult, junior and family memberships, on a first come, first served basis.  The playing season normally continues throughout the summer and lasts through at least the end of the Daylight Savings Time, but in some years members have been able to play on the courts right into December. The Club is a neighborhood friendly facility and offers open round robin matches most mornings and Wednesday evenings, League Team Tennis matches, as well as private and group instruction at all levels of play. Members enjoy a great social atmosphere where fun and fitness can be enjoyed! For more information on the Club or to download a Membership Application, visit www.cranfordtennis.com  or call 201-394-2870.

“Back in the day,” Cranford Clay Courts were originally a part of The Cranford Canoe Club, one of several canoeing clubs popular from 1870 to the 1920s. Cranford was then a small rural hamlet growing from a population of 800 to 1500. People visited from New York and Brooklyn with many establishing summer homes here. With its numerous parks and a river meandering through it, Cranford became an idyllic place for leisure recreation … especially canoeing, swimming and tennis.

At the time, the clay courts attracted numerous excellent players,  including the legendary Bill Tilden,  who won major national and international tournaments during his career.  In 1920, he became the first American to win Wimbledon, and he then repeated his victory in 1921 and 1930. One of the best players of all time, Bill Tilden was named outstanding athlete for the first half of the 20th century.

The courts were run by the town for several decades. Local tennis players were given the opportunity in 1992 to lease the courts and create a private club, which was organized as the Cranford Clay Courts Club. Open April through November, weather permitting, the Cranford Clay Courts Club draws its members from Cranford and a number of surrounding towns. The Club is privileged to be one of the few “soft” court Clubs with a lighting system for night play.

The Tennis Academy Schedule and the Membership Application Forms are available atwww.cranfordtennis.com  or can be requested by calling 201-394-2870.