Building a Business
Certified Tennis Court Builders — or CTCBs — are becoming more and more important in the construction field.
Certified Tennis Court Builders — or CTCBs — are becoming more and more important in the construction field.
The search for a contractor to build, rehab or just repair a tennis court can be worrisome. After all, the court needs to look and play the way it should. It needs to hold up to constant foot traffic, withstand the weather and with any luck, not develop major problems that will translate into headaches for the pro.
Problem is, a lot of contractors (those who build sports facilities and those who build other structures) are selected because their bid came in lowest. But does that really translate into a company that is skilled in putting in a tennis court?
Those who want an extra tool in selecting a contractor might be able to use as precedent a recent ruling by the Attorney General of Massachusetts. The ruling allowed a local high school district to choose not just the company with the low bid, but the one that was judged to have the expertise to build an athletic facility.

In its In Re: Masconoment Regional School District Running Track Resurfacing (decision issued Aug. 8, 2008), the Office of the AG upheld the right of a local school district to mandate in its bid requirement that the bidder for a running track project employ an individual with the Certified Track Builder, or CTB, designation. The designation is offered as part of the certification program of the American Sports Builders Association. Another requirement was that the winning bidder be a member in good standing of the ASBA.
While this ruling involved a track construction project, the ASBA also issues a Certified Tennis Court Builder, or CTCB, designation. Many in the industry believe the same ruling would apply on the tennis side, too.
According to George Todd Jr., CTCB and chairman of the ASBA, the ruling is a landmark not only for ASBA and its certification program, but for those who are having facilities built or renovated, and who want the best for the athletes who will be using those facilities.
Both certified builder programs were developed by the ASBA in order to help raise professional standards and improve the practice of sports facility construction. In order to become a certified builder, an individual must meet specific criteria set forth by the ASBA; he or she must complete an application that shows he or she has a set amount of construction experience in the building of either tennis courts or running tracks, and then pass a comprehensive exam on either tennis court or running track construction. In order to retain the designation, an individual must recertify every three years by documenting a sufficient level of continuing education activities in the relevant field or by passing the examination again.
Those who are interested in hiring a tennis court contractor are always advised to do their homework: Check references, ask about professional affiliations and certifications, and look for a company that is licensed, insured and has a good reputation. While it’s impossible to eliminate all the uncertainty, it is possible to be proactive, and to bring peace of mind to the process.
Choosing a Contractor
Building or improving a tennis court? While there’s no foolproof way to find the perfect partner, these suggestions can help you narrow the field:
- Check references. Talk to a colleague at another club and get the name of their preferred contractor.
- Check for licensure and insurance.
- Look at professional affiliations and certifications.
- Ask about local projects that are similar to yours, and go look at them.
- Ask questions. Did the person return your calls promptly and answer all your questions, or was there only vague information?
- Go with your instinct: If you feel uneasy about a prospective contractor, look for someone else.
Certified Tennis Court Builders
These 46 court contractors have earned the right to put the “CTCB” designation after their names by demonstrating their expertise through their experience in the field and by passing rigorous exams.
- David Baird, Industrial Surface Sealer, Inc., Cleveland, 216-341-2662, corporate@insustrialsurface.com
- Richard Benson, Tenni-Trac Sport Surfaces, Louisville, KY, 502-815-4121, Rbensob567@insightbb.com
- Mark Brogan, Pro-Sport Construction, Inc., Devon, Pa., 610-296-3033, prosporttennis@yahoo.com
- David Clapp, Baseline Sports Construction, Knoxville, Tenn., 865-588-4320, david@baselinellc.com
- Jonnie Deremo, General Acrylics, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., 602-569-9377, jderemo@generalacrylics.com
- Tom DeRosa, DeRosa Tennis Contractors, Inc., Mamaroneck, N.Y., 914-698-2404, dtennisinc@aol.com
- Colin Donovan, Renner Sports Surfaces, Denver, 303-825-3435, cdonovan@rennersports.com
- Mike Edgerton, DeRosa Tennis Contractors, Inc., Mamaroneck, N.Y., 914-698-2404, mike@derosatennis.com
- J. Russ Edman, The Tennis Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, 800-233-2970, russ@thetenniscompany.com
- Tony Edwards, Fraser Edwards Co., San Francisco, 415-826-9595, info@fraseredwards.com
- Will Ferguson, Baseline Sports Construction, Knoxville, Tenn., 865-588-4320, will@baselinellc.com
- Jerry Gray, Leslie Coatings, Inc., Indianapolis, 317-926-3411, jerry@lesliecoatings.com
- Matt Hale, Halecon, Inc., Bridgewater, N.J., 732-302-1234, Matt.halecon@verizon.net
- Corey Hardick, C.H. Court Tech, Spring Valley, Calif., 619-540-3456, tenniscourts@cox.net
- John Henzel, John Henzel Tennis Court Systems Inc., Tulsa, 918-587-1575, john@tenniscourtsystems.com
- Tom Josephs, Renner Sports Surfaces, Denver, 303-825-3435, tjosephs@rennersports.com
- Fred Kolkmann, Larson Engineering, West Allis, Wis., 414-475-2350, fkolkmann@larsonengr.com
- Nat Lee, Lee Sports Surfacing, Little Canada, Minn., 612-597-0544, natlee@leesportsurfacing.com
- Mark Litrico, Carolina Courtworks, Charlotte, N.C., 704-392-6556, marklcourtworks@bellsouth.net
- Linn Lower, Lower Bros. Co., Inc., Birmingham, Ala., 205-967-3901, linn@lowerbros.com
- Tony Mackay, Court Care Systems, Inc., Wantagh, N.Y., 516-326-6759, tonymackay@aol.com
- Carla Magers, Gerald Perry Tennis Courts, Springfield, Mo., 417-865-1217, Carla@gptennis.com
- Bruce Mahler, Boston Tennis Court Construction Co., Inc., Hanover, Mass., 781-826-2303, bostontennis@earthlink.net
- Fred Manchester, Manchester Courts, Lexington, S.C., 803-446-1622, tennismanctcb@aol.com
- David Marsden, Boston Tennis Court Construction Co., Inc., Hanover, Mass., 781-826-2303, demarsden@hotmail.com
- Joe Matoskey, General Acrylics, Inc., Phoenix, 602-569-9377, jmatoskey@generalacrylics.com
- Miles Minson, The Tennis Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, 801-328-1111, miles@thetenniscompany.com
- David Moore, Cape & Island Tennis & Track, Pocasset, Mass., 508-759-5636, dmoore@tennisandtrack.com
- Herb Osburn, Tennis Courts, Inc., Aylett, Va., 804-769-3030, tciherb@erols.com
- Steve Pappas, Papico Construction, Inc., Palm City, Fla., 772-288-1826, Papico1@aol.com
- Gerry Perry, Gerald Perry Tennis Courts, Springfield, Mo., 417-865-1217, gerry@gptennis.com
- Gordy Pierce, Cape & Island Tennis & Track, Pocasset, Mass., 508-759-5636, gpierce@tennisandtrack.com
- Bob Pratsch, American Surfaces Corp. of MN, Suamico, Wis., 920-434-8272, amersystm@aol.com
- Ben Rennolds, Tennis Courts, Inc., Aylett, Va., 804-769-3030, tciben@erols.com
- Basil Sabbak, M-C Sport Systems, Inc., Franklin Park, Ill., 847-455-4700, Mcsport1951@sbcglobal.net
- Bill Shaughnessy, The Racquet Shop, Inc., Colts Neck, N.J., 732-462-8866, tennis@theracquetshop.com
- Darrel Snyder, Mid American Courts, Wichita, Kan., 316-558-5920, midamericacts@cox.net
- Scott Starman, Renner Sports Surfaces, Denver, 303-825-3435, sstarman@rennersports.com
- Matt Strom, Leslie Coatings, Inc., Indianapolis, 317-926-3411, matt@lesliecoatings.com
- George Todd, Jr., Welch Tennis Courts, Inc., Sun City, Fla., 813-641-7787, george@welchtennis.com
- Mike Vinton, Vasco Sports Contractors, Massillon, Ohio, 330-832-5151, mvinton@vascoasphalt.com
- Rob Werner, Sportsline, Inc., Villanova, Pa., 610-526-9476, Track10s@aol.com
- Brian Wright, Court One, Granite Quarry, N.C., 704-209-3329, courtone@dialpoint.net
- Gerry Wright, Court One, Youngsville, N.C., 919-570-9255, Gw123@bellsouth.net
- Steve Wright, Trans Texas Tennis, Inc., Houston, 713-691-1006, swright@transtexastennis.com
- Richard Zaino, Zaino Tennis Courts, Inc., Orange, Calif., 714-744-1885, Richard@zainotennis.com
See all articles by Mary Helen Sprecher
About the Author
Mary Helen Sprecher is the managing editor of Sports Destinations Management Magazine, a niche business-to-business publication for planners of sports travel events, in addition to being an RSI Contributing Editor. She is the technical writer for the American Sports Builders Association and works as a newspaper reporter in Baltimore City.
TI magazine search
TI magazine articles
- Our Serve: Rally Point for Tennis
- Our Serve: It’s Our Responsibility
- Industry News
- Facility Management: Party Lines
- Retailing Tip: Enjoy the Game!
- Tennis Industry Hall of Fame: Honor Society
- Growing Community Tennis: Hispanic Tennis Stars
- Home of American tennis: The ‘Go-To’ Place for U.S. Tennis
- Become a Racquet Guru
- Court Construction: Winter Break