My Tennis Court Hunt Begins
So last Tuesday I woke up thinking, man I really wanna play tennis today. Problem is, all I know is that public park court downtown with cracked concrete. Figured Charleston must have better spots, so I grabbed my phone and just started searching around.
First thing I did was text my buddy Mark who plays in some local league. He’s all like “Dude, you gotta check out that Mount Pleasant complex” but couldn’t remember the exact name. Then I spent like an hour going through random forum posts where people argued about court surfaces and lighting. Total info overload.
Hitting the Courts in Person
Decided screw it, I’m just gonna drive around and test these places myself. Packed my racket, extra socks, and giant water bottle – Charleston heat ain’t no joke.
First stop: That place near the marina everyone talks about. Looks nice with 8 courts lined up, but holy crap the wind coming off the water was insane. Could barely keep the ball in play during serves. Nice view though.
Second stop: Tried the public park near the college. Big mistake. Three courts had nets sagging like laundry lines, and some kid’s birthday party was using court four as a picnic area. Grabbed a Gatorade and bailed.
Third stop: Almost gave up when I remembered Mark’s tip about Mount Pleasant. Took me 20 minutes to find the entrance hidden behind some condos. But wow – proper clay courts with actual maintenance! Paid the $5 drop-in fee and played for two hours straight. Legs were jelly after.
What Actually Matters
Here’s what I realized matters most when picking courts:
- Surface condition – cracked asphalt ruins your knees
- Actual working lights if you play evenings
- Do they have water fountains that don’t taste like metal?
- Can you actually get a court without waiting an hour?
Final Thoughts After Testing
After trying six different spots, here’s the real deal:
For serious players? Head to the Mount Pleasant complex. The clay surfaces play true and they actually sweep the lines. Costs a few bucks but worth it.
For casual hits? The marina courts are decent when wind isn’t crazy. Bring a jacket though.
Public parks? Honestly only if you’re desperate or doing practice serves. Saw two people trip on uneven concrete – not worth the ER bill.
Next mission: finding partners who don’t get mad when I double-fault!