Long Reach Tennis Club honored with USTA excellence award
AUGUST 2, 2018 — The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has selected Long Reach Tennis Club in Columbia, Maryland, as one of just 24 winners of the 37th annual USTA Facility Awards, which recognize excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country.
Long Reach Tennis Club, which is owned and operated by Columbia Association (CA), will be honored at the USTA Semi-Annual Meeting in New York City on August 30. The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in America and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level, from local communities to the highest level of the professional game.
“We are very proud to receive this recognition from the USTA,” said Anish Manrai, CA’s assistant director of sport and fitness. “This award serves as a confirmation that CA now has one of the best tennis clubs in the country.”
Long Reach Tennis Club opened in March 2018, proudly adding the state-of-the-art facility to Columbia Association’s portfolio of tennis clubs. The club opening follows years of support by Tennis Advisory Committee members and the community. Long Reach Tennis Club features six indoor climate-controlled hard courts; PlaySight Smart Court technology that allows players to live-stream matches online, review their strokes, track their stats and work with coaches to improve their games; energy-efficient lighting that provides more visibility and a better playing experience; two levels of viewing; and CA’s first on-site restringing service.
“We built Long Reach Tennis Club with our players in mind, committing to providing the best possible playing experience for our members and guests,” said Maury Bozman, CA’s tennis general manager.
Long Reach Tennis Club hosts several programs, including junior development and competition programs; USTA tennis teams; adult instruction; and Cardio Tennis. Columbia Association serves players of all ages and skill levels at its 10 indoor tennis courts, 27 outdoor tennis courts, and six outdoor pickleball courts. Learn more about CA’s tennis program at columbiaassociation.org/tennis.
“Great tennis facilities like Long Reach Tennis Club help us to grow the game at the grassroots level, and we are proud to recognize Columbia Association for its ongoing impact on the sport of tennis,” said Kurt Kamperman, chief executive of the USTA National Campus. “Columbia Association has embraced many of our tennis initiatives and kept the sport at the forefront of its community each year.”
To be considered for an award, facilities must be under the jurisdiction of a park and recreation department, an educational institution, a nonprofit corporation, or be a private or commercially owned and operated facility that offers both USTA and public programming designed to help grow tennis.
Facilities were judged on the following criteria: overall layout and adaptation to site; excellence of court surface and lights; ease of maintenance; accommodations for players, spectators and press/officials; aesthetics; graphics, including the use of signs and landscaping; amenities such as casual seating for spectators, food services and social areas; and the facilities’ participation in USTA programs.
About Columbia Association
Columbia Association (CA) is a nonprofit community services corporation that manages Columbia, Maryland, a planned community that is home to approximately 100,000 people and several thousand businesses — and was named the No. 1 small city to live in by Money Magazine in 2016. Additional information about CA is available at columbiaassociation.org.