County Tennis Celebrates Centennial

The County Tennis Club on the Bronx River Parkway will celebrate their 100th anniversary next year. They are looking back on their illustrious history and looking forward to continuing to be a vital venue for Westchester’s racket enthusiasts. According to Harry Phillips, who has been a member of the club since 1955 the County Tennis Club of Westchester was built in 1912 to encourage people to buy homes in a new development called Greenacres, and was run as a private membership club until 1980. Since then, membership has been open to residents of Westchester and beyond who enjoy the club which is devoted exclusively to tennis.

To mark the occasion, two longtime club members have provided highlights of the club’s history.

Here are Phillips recollections:

“In the 1920s, the Club was acquired by what became the Bronx River Parkway Commission, part of Westchester County government. The County leased the property to County, which continued to run it as a private club.

When I joined County in 1955, one had to be a “good tennis player” (or know somebody) to be admitted. Truth be told, I knew the Club treasurer and the team captain, so I got in. Back then, County had the best tennis in the entire Metropolitan area, a 10-year waiting list, and everyone wore traditional tennis whites.

In the 1980s, a court case involving a hangar at Westchester Airport led to a decision that public lands could not be used for private purposes. Westchester County told the Club it would continue the lease but on new conditions: all members had to reside in Westchester, and people would have to be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. A few years later, as membership declined, the County agreed that members from outside Westchester could again be admitted.

When I joined, all the courts were red clay. Six courts were soon converted to Har-Tru, although some members wanted all to be converted. Bill Greenawalt, whose father Kenneth was Club president 1953-54, told me that as a boy he played barefoot on the clay, and that he remembers linesmen and ball boys at championship matches. Bill, who followed in his father’s footsteps by serving as president 1979-80, also recalls a piano in the clubhouse and a working paddlewheel in the river.

The Club’s one tragedy was the arson of the historic two-story clubhouse in 1985, the same night nearby Hitchcock Church was set afire. With the help of member/architect Sy Breines, the clubhouse was rebuilt.

County has been fortunate to have great members and the stability of long-serving pros including Frank Brennan, who went on to legendary status as the architect of the women’s tennis program at Stanford University and the coach of Billie Jean King, and since 1963, Bob Frey, now in his 38th year with us.

All in all, our historic club, built 15 years before the oldest parkway in America would run past its courts, is looking very good indeed as its nears its centennial.”

Herb Haber, a member since 1965 also provided his reflections:

“Because the Club was on County land, there could be no discrimination as to religion, race or color. From its origin, County was the only club in the area with an “open membership” policy.

My late wife Faith and I moved to the Fox Meadow area in the fall of 1952, as did many of the World War II era. We first made tennis friends at the Brite Avenue courts, and grew those friendships at County.

In 1953, I played in the State clay court singles tournament at County, advancing to the second round (after a default) where I lost in three sets on Court 1. The tournament winner, as I recall, was a top ten U.S. player from New Jersey. Other tournaments were held at County back then: Bobby Riggs won an event, and players often came to practice on our red clay before leaving for Paris and Roland Garros. Later, when I was president and for some years afterward, regional senior events were held at the Club.

Back then, we were very social, with parties and dances, often with live music. We had fun on and off the courts with our County friends with special events on Memorial Day, the 4th of July and Labor Day, and a well-attended mid-winter dinner at a local restaurant.

We also had a strong junior program run by Lois Steckler, wife of Phil Steckler, who with Bill Adolph formed a highly ranked senior doubles teams in the 1960’s. My son Ed came through that program and went on to captain the Scarsdale High team and then play for the University of Michigan.

In 1985, the last year of my presidency, the clubhouse burned to its foundation, leaving only the fireplace standing as a lasting memorial to those who have played at County for nearly 100 years. When that tragedy struck we asked fellow member and noted architect Sy Breines to design a new Clubhouse. Donating his time and talents, Sy was on-site virtually every day to direct rebuilding activities.

We were under-insured faced with difficult decisions about rebuilding. In a very important Board meeting, former Club President Max Kahn made an impassioned plea, and the necessary funds were raised by assessment to build the “new” Clubhouse more than 25 years ago. If not for Sy and Max, who knows if County would still be around and be the great Club it is today."

Today the club hosts informal play, competitive tournaments and special events on nine well-maintained soft courts, three red clay and six Har-tru. They have both intra and interclub teams for men and woman and hold round robins, twilight tennis, a monthly social barbeque and member-guest days.

County Tennis Director Doug Proudian recently became the club’s head pro, filling the shoes of Bob Frey who served for 38 years and retired at the end of the 2010 season. Proudian played college varsity tennis, coached the University of North Carolina team and competed on the international pro satellite circuit. He is available for individual lessons, group clinics and runs a tennis academy for kids and teens. In addition breakfast, lunch and snacks catered by Lange’s of Scarsdale are available in the Club’s café.

The club is now welcoming new members. To learn more about joining, contact countytennis@gmail.com or call 917-414-2179. Members can join for this season and fees will be pro-rated depending on the enrollment date. Rates are competitive with other tennis only clubs and full and limited memberships for individuals of various ages as well as family memberships are available. The club can be accessed from Greenacres Avenue and Brook Lane in Greenacres or from the Bronx River Parkway.