The Hudson Tennis Club welcomes all individuals and families who share a passion for the game of tennis and enjoy the sense of friendship and community fostered by this great sport. The HTC is a club run by its members for its members, it has no paid staff but relies on "member volunteers" to help organize and run tournament, activities and social events. If you enjoy tennis or if you want to learn the game, and if you like parties and meeting new people there is no better place than the Hudson Tennis Club. Join us in beautiful downtown Hudson at the Western Reserve Academy courts for another summer of fun. Club History After the conclusion of World War II in 1945, Hudson boasted a population of approximately 2,200 people including the village and the township. John Hallowell, a reasonably good tennis player, was appointed Headmaster of Western Reserve Academy, an institution, which then dominated the Hudson scene. In our then small town, a collegiate atmosphere prevailed with everyone seemingly knowing everyone else. Hudson had an Ivy League flavor influencing tennis interest and sociability far more than was usual in Mid-western communities. Two tennis enthusiasts, Tom Seelye and Jack Bennett, persuaded John to permit Hudsonites to use the Academy’s clay courts under the auspices of a group known as the Hudson Tennis Club which would be responsible for the maintenance and discipline. Dues were $10.00 per year for families and $5.00 for single membership. In the early fifties the number of members was small and it was difficult to raise enough money to start the season. When the Academy hard-surfaced the courts the Club worked out an arrangement to supply the nets and a more realistic dues structure was established. In 1955 Betty Spearman, having just moved to Hudson , suggested that it might be appropriate to wear “tennis whites” and hire a pro to offer lessons to children and adults. After the laughter subsided the “whites” idea was rejected, but Betty was authorized to persuade Jerry Evert (Chris’s uncle) to come out from his job as the professional at The Country Club in Pepper Pike, and teach lessons on Mondays when his club was closed. This sparked new interest in HTC and membership increased. Later Eddie McGrath, Jack March and Frank Longstreth helped to develop a number of notable young players, including the famous Todd Martin, during summers at HTC. Through the years The Hudson Tennis Club was privileged to have such notables as Don Budge, Frank Parker, the great Fred Perry, and, yes, Bobby Riggs grace our courts for exhibitions in the late fifties and sixties. The late Ash Graham, through his friend, Jack March, arranged to “shanghai” these gentlemen on their way to Canton Brookside, to entertain HTC members for a small fee, plus lunch and breakfast. Hudson’s interest in tennis has always transcended the level of attention manifested throughout the rest of the country and the Hudson Tennis Club has been a focal point of summer tournaments and social events. In the seventies and early eighties interest in the club rose to such a peak that new prospects often found themselves on a waiting list until spots opened up. |
The Hudson Tennis Club |