The Court Company Blog

More than just racquetball or squash courts?

2012-01-04T15:35:00.002-06:00

As we commence into the new year, I thought I’d keep our blog simple for this start to 2012. Obviously, if you are visiting our website then you are here for a reason – you are looking for information on our racquetball and squash courts. Our website contains product information on both types of court systems with information related to our prefinished wood wall panels, athletic wood flooring, impact resistant glass walls and windows, impact lighting and court accessories. But, did you know that we also offer other recommendations for sports that can also be played in a racquetball or squash court or that we can assist with materials that can be used in a different type of athletic space?

Probably the most exciting product to hit our industry in the last 10+ years is the introduction of the Auto Hoop® retractable basketball assembly. What is cool about this newer product is that it can easily be installed in a racquetball or a squash court while maintaining the requirement for the flush surface of the court walls. The Auto Hoop® was originally created as a way to help a home owner play basketball outside of their home without affecting the guidelines of their local Home Owner’s Association (HOA). From there, the Auto Hoop® became a perfect fit for a court space and the need for a concealed basketball assembly. Even though we promote the Auto Hoop® as part of our court package or as an exterior option for a homeowner, it can be installed in just about any type of athletic space.

If you are not building a racquetball or squash court but you are looking for materials to use in another type of athletic environment, our same impact materials can be used in other types of spaces. With AthleticRooms.com the same high impact wall panels, durable athletic floor surfaces, basketball/volleyball/badminton accessories, and impact resistant glass can also be integrated into any type of athletic space. Basically, if you need it, we can probably provide it for you. So, the door is open when it comes to planning out the finishes of your athletic room.

Even though our forté is racquetball and squash courts, as you can see, we can offer assistance with other areas of construction. If you cannot find what you are looking for on our website, give us a call to discuss your needs in more detail. We look forward to working with you and creating the perfect court environment for your project.

www.racquetballcourts.com
www.squashcourts.com

Are You Getting What You Pay For?

2011-11-21T12:16:00.002-06:00

I read somewhere once that “quality is remembered long after price is forgotten” and thought how true that is. For some reason it sounded much better than “you get what you pay for” but they both have the same sentiment. We’ve recently heard back from a few of our projects, projects that we lost based on price, and realized how true these sayings can be. As I am sure with many of us, we have all encountered situations where we did get what we paid for and it made a big difference in the long run as well as other situations or products that might not have affected us as much.

It is understandable in this economy to be careful about the money you are spending on products. I am sure that you have to consider if certain aspects of your facility, building or home are “wants” or “needs” . Our types of products can easily turn into something on a wish list and can sometimes be deleted with regret and we understand that each big ticket item needs to be carefully evaluated based on its rate of return. We understand that which is why we try to give you the best value for your dollars. With this in mind, we recommend that you do your homework and evaluate what you are buying, what the end product should be, and what the process of the installation will be like. Our portion of the project should run smoothly, thus, giving you a quality end product to look forward to.

So, as you are starting to work on your project, make sure to consider all aspects of the company you are choosing:

• How long has the company been in business? Keep in mind if they’ve been in business less than their warranty (e.g., 10 years on the panels) then how can you expect them to stand behind a warranty that is older than their company?

• Can the company provide you with legitimate references whether that includes projects you can go visit or owners whom you can speak to? Remember that nobody is ever going to give you a bad reference so it may be challenging to find somebody to say something negatively but hopefully you can gain better insight via the references.

• Can the company meet or exceed your expectations regarding scheduling or other promises? I’m sure that we can all attest that actions speak louder than words so bear witness to the actions of the company and use them as a good (or bad!) sign of what could come.

• What is the level of communication on the front end of negotiating the project? If the communication is good in the beginning with all persons involved it is likely to stay that way, but if the communication is a little iffy than it is unlikely to improve over time.

We are not in control of your pocketbook and budgets but we are in control of how we respond and respect our prospective, current, and past clients. Hopefully in knowing that we are here to be your partners for our scope of work will help the process become easier for you. We may not always be the cheapest company in our industry but we do have top of the line products and the best customer service. We do hope that as you make your decision that you remember the quality of the products and the company knowing that sometimes you do get what you pay for.

I Choose The Court Company!

2011-09-07T14:46:00.005-05:00

It's always nice to receive positive feedback from one of our many construction projects. Below is a reference from another satisfied Court Company client:

The City of West University Place installed two of the Court Company’s new racquetball/squash court systems in our recreation center. I offer the following testimony in regard to your specific inquiry:

• All of our racquetball and squash players love the performance of the courts, walls and floors.

• The quality of the installation was outstanding – we have had no issues.

• The laminate panels and the flooring is very easy to maintain, if done on a daily schedule and the suggested cleaner is used.

• The court systems look as good today as they did when they were installed.

Another important consideration with us is the customer service philosophy and policy of the Court Company. Erika and her technical support folks have been very responsive and most helpful in regard to all of our questions – this includes pre-purchase, during installation and post-installation. We had an issue regarding the replacement of a return air cover in one of our courts, installed by our HVAC contractor and not the Court Company, and Erika provided us with an effective solution within a matter of twenty-four hours. I highly recommend the Court Company, Erika and the entire Court Company support team – we are very satisfied customers!

Here’s wishing you all the best.

Tim O'Connor
Director of Parks and Recreation
City of West University Place, Texas

Are you ready to begin construction on your new court?

2011-06-29T15:05:00.004-05:00

So, you're ready to begin construction on a new racquetball or squash court. What next? The key is to make sure that the court space is ready for the installation to commence in order for us to ensure a quality court installation.

Below are a few items to help us complete a quality installation of The Court Company’s panelized court system:

Rough Opening Dimensions
If you are providing the court framing or furring, please ensure that the rough opening dimensions for the court are within the dimensions listed below. Also ensure that the framing and furring members are straight and plumb since variations in the framing can affect the installation. A vapor barrier cannot be installed over the face of the framing or furring; insulation can be installed between the framing and furring without a problem.

If we are supplying and installing the court framing or furring, please make sure the court space requirement is adequate to accommodate our framing members. Below are the finished dimensions and rough opening (face of stud to face of stud) dimensions for our standard racquetball and squash courts:

Racquetball Courts
(Finished) 20’0” x 40’0” x 20’0” (ROs)20’1-3/4” x 40’2” x 20’5/8” a.f.f.*

WSF Squash Courts
(Finished) 21’0” x 32’0” x 18’6” (ROs) 21’2-1/4” x 32’1-1/8” x 18’6” a.f.f.* (min)

Squash ceilings are out-of-play. The above finished height dimensions for squash is to the lowest point at the ceiling. Our ceiling panels are not required in a squash court so figure the RO ceiling height based on the thickness of your ceiling finish. The above RO length for the squash court is from the front wall surface behind the panels to the face of the glass rear wall.
*a.f.f. = Above Finished Floor

Refer to the specifications outlined in the court proposal and/or shop drawings for any variations or comments pertaining to your specific court construction.

HVAC Requirements
Products will not be delivered until the court space is thoroughly dry, the heating and ventilating system is operating, and the inside conditions are maintained for at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the installation. The wood court materials must be placed inside the court to climatized prior to the material installation unless otherwise advised. Temperature and humidity shall be maintained during storage, installation and thereafter as follows: temperature range is 65-78° and humidity to be controlled between 40-60% at all times.

It is highly recommended that areas above and behind the panels be evaluated to ensure the wood panels will not be affected by other conditions once installed. Take every precaution to eliminate moisture, temperature fluctuations, and other circumstances that could cause movement in the panels. We cannot control expansion of the panels during and after the installation.

For racquetball, HVAC openings are typically located in the rear 16’0” of the ceiling and/or above 12’0” at the rear wall. For squash, the HVAC openings are typically anywhere in the ceiling and/or above the wall play lines.

Concrete Slab & Wood Flooring
The industry specifications state the concrete slab is to be 1/8” over 10’0” throughout the court with the concrete steel troweled and smooth. It is important to ensure that the concrete slab is within this tolerance to avoid dead spots, gaps or an uneven floor surface – such challenges are beyond our control.

Make sure to check the levelness of the slab within the swing of the door inside the court since any variance could keep the door from opening properly.

Permanent lighting must be in operation before the sanding and finishing of the court floors can commence. In addition, 220V power is required for the operation of the floor sanders.

When it comes time for the installation of our court system, we will work with you through every step. We want you to be another satisfied Court Company client!

Our Products are Featured on HGTV!

2011-05-31T18:41:00.002-05:00

We're on TV!

We are excited to announce that one of our racquetball/squash courts installed in a residential project was recently featured on HGTV Million Dollar Rooms 3. You will see our high end court system along with the Auto Hoop retractable basketball assembly featured within the first 4-1/2 minutes of this episode.

So, what does it take for us to be able to help you build a high end racquetball or squash court for your dream home? Contact us to find out.

Squashing our Competition

2011-04-08T13:07:00.003-05:00

The Court Company is proud to announce that we are an authorized supplier and manufacturer of squash courts accredited and approved by the World Squash Federation (WSF). Although we have been supplying WSF certified squash courts for years, we’ve worked with different suppliers to complete our court system. The new step that we have taken with the WSF will give us more control over our products vs. the need to rely on other suppliers in our industry.

So, how does this change what we are currently doing? You as the end user will not notice a change – we will continue to supply and install the highest quality, prefinished wood panel system in our industry. This change does, however, open up the opportunity for us to supply court wall panels in any color or pattern as required for your project. Many squash court facilities like to see the court walls in a color other than white and The Court Company Panelized Squash Court system enables you to install other wall color options in your facility.

In order to comply with the WSF certification process, we will continue to ensure that you only receive the highest quality system to include WSF certified wood wall panels, wood flooring and glass walls. We want you and your fellow squash players to know that the court you are playing on meets the high standards of the World Squash Federation and that of our company. We hope that you will revisit our website in the near future to view our updated squash information. In the mean time, if we can answer any questions related to squash court construction, please let us know.

Why Should You Work With The Court Company?

2011-01-31T14:48:00.004-06:00

Why Should You Work With The Court Company?

I know this isn't something that many people ponder too much, but what makes a good court construction company? Heck, I'm sure that many people reading this blog or visiting our website may only require a racquetball court, squash court or an athletic room only once. Since it's a lot of money to invest and it is potentially a "one shot" purchase, why not go with the best company out there.

Building any type of athletic court is not cheap so the decision should not be taken lightly. The best thing that you can do is to do your homework and try to educate yourself on the products. If you don't have time to work on the background work then team up with an expert in the field and let them do the work.

In order to select the best company for your next racquetball or squash court construction project, here are a few things to think about:

How long has the company been in business? The typical warranty on a prefinished wood panel system is 10 years so make sure to work with a company who has been around longer than their warranty and who works in this industry; afterall, how can a "short lived" company stand behind a warranty older than their company?

How long have the installers been in the industry and working for the same company? In construction, I'm sure that you understand how unusual is it to find a company who still has the same installers working with them year after year so if you find a company with long term crews, that's to your advantage.

Do the representatives of the company quickly address your questions and provide the required information? Team up with a company where court construction is their forté since you'll have their undivided attention.

Ultimately, it's up to you who you want to work with and how you want to spend your money so why not consider spending it wisely. Make sure to work with a company who has your best needs in mind and who can stand behind what they say. The old rule of "you get what you pay for" applies in our industry, too. It's great to learn from mistakes but selecting a good qualified company no matter what your product requirement is a mistake you don't have to make.

Keep in mind that quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten! We're here to help provide you with that quality whenever you're ready.

Where Did The Time Go?

2010-11-29T12:38:00.003-06:00

It’s hard to imagine just how quickly this year has flown by. It seems like it was just January and we were looking forward to everything that we had to accomplish over the next 12 months and here we are almost in December about ready to embark on the end to another year! Where did the time go?

So, as with everyone, we’re looking back on 2010 remembering everything that we’ve accomplished this year. We anticipated the economy taking its toll on our industry but we seemed to have survived fairly well during this economic downturn. There are still courts being installed all over the country both in commercial and residential projects so that is encouraging, and somehow we continue to stay busy in this crazy industry.

This past year we continued to market our newest product, the Auto Hoop retractable basketball system. The response with this new product continues to be great and we’re continuing to get the product specified and included in the design stages of projects – many residential projects. Teaming up with and marketing Auto Hoop is one of the product bright spots of this past year. In this upcoming year, we plan to announce a new product advancement as well so we’re continuing to improve the marketplace with our products.

As we look back on what we accomplished this past year, we had the opportunity to work with some great general contractors and to be involved with some wonderful (non-residential) projects to include:

Texas Southmost College – Phase II
Cape Canaveral
The Center Building
Heritage at Boca Raton
Vermont Technical College
Gold’s Gym
Saint Francis Health Zone
Tellepsen Family YMCA
Fond du Lac YMCA
Grinnell College
West University Place Fitness Center
Graceway Squash Center
Columbus State University
American Family Fitness
University of South Alabama

We continue to be thankful for our wonderful staff (Randy, Mike, Richard, Erika and Marsha) and to our wonderful installation crews and our supportive suppliers. We wouldn’t be able to continue our success without the assistance of all of these people and we look forward to a busy and successful 2011 with our team. We hope that you too have a wonderful new year and we look forward to working with you in the new year!

Visit us in San Diego in December

2010-10-06T11:42:00.002-05:00

San Diego, California in December...that sounds nice!

Come visit us at the upcoming Athletic Business Conference & Expo in San Diego, California December 2-3,2010. This is a great opportunity to visit with us at our booth to discuss our racquetball and squash court products with you in more detail.

In addition to our court systems, you can also to talk to us about our one of a kind Auto Hoop basketball system. Auto Hoop is a unique disappearing basketball assembly that can temporarily transform any type of indoor athletic court or room into your own courtside seat for basketball. It's a cool way to make your space multi-functional at the push of a button.

So what are you waiting for? Contact Erika Milligan (erika@racquetballcourts.com) today for your free trade show pass. We look forward to seeing you in San Diego and showing you what we're all about!

Squashing the Competition One Court at a Time

2010-08-27T16:49:00.010-05:00

With squash court construction continuing to progress here in the United States, I figured it was time to mention a few of the design and construction aspects to consider when working on a squash court project. The information below is based on our experience in the industry but should not be considered the only way to design or construct a squash court.

First, most squash courts that we seeing being constructed are certified and approved by the World Squash Federation (WSF). What this means is that the court construction company is providing you with WSF certified materials. The court itself is not individually tested and approved by the WSF so ask your court company for the WSF certificates for the panels, flooring and glass walls to ensure you're being quoted WSF materials. In additional to having WSF materials installed, you want to confirm that the court size itself is exact and isn't "going against" the size requirements for a certified court.

Typically it is the manufacturer who has their materials certified and approved; not all manufacturers in the industy and not all systems of those manufacturers are certified and approved by the WSF. So, when comparing information on the materials, it maybe be challenging to review the information as "apples to apples" since what might be WSF approved with one company may not be the same for another. The best thing to do is to ask for help and ask questions so that you're more informed about what you are receiving.

When it comes to design and construction of the courts, many of the projects that we see want us to provide the WSF materials up to the play lines only - panels on the front and side walls and glass at the rear wall. The play lines are 15'0" at the front wall, 15'0" to 7'0" at the side walls and 7'0" at the rear wall. Granted, this is what we typically see but we can certainly provide the materials differently for your project.

With the panels stopping at the play lines, most courts will install the court framing from floor to ceiling (18'6" minimum) and then install drywall (or plywood) from floor to ceiling finishing with the installation of the wall panels over the face of the drywall up to the play lines. With this type of design, you create a "ledge" around the court which acts as a pretty defined boundary line once you finish the panel edge with trim or molding. As an option to finish out the white court walls, you can finish and paint the drywall area above the panels in a different color to better define the in-play and out-of-play areas even more. (NOTE: If you want a custom color wall panel in lieu of white, that is not a problem but not all companies have the ability to provide this option.)

As I previously mentioned, the information described above is what we typically see for squash construction but it's not the only way to construct a court. For example, if you want the panels to extend up to the ceiling, if you want panels on the ceiling or if you want a different size glass wall, that is certainly not a problem. The best starting point is to contact us and we can discuss your project in more detail and evaluate the best design for your project. Let us help you create a quality squash court.

For more information, you can visit the squash section of our website or you can contact Erika Milligan directly at (303) 663-8155 or at erika@squashcourts.com.

What have we been up to? Let me tell you...

2010-07-26T15:32:00.004-05:00

With summer typically being our busiest installation time of the year, we wanted to update you on what we've been working on so far this year. The summer is half way over but we're still staying busy with installations across the country...maybe one in your area.

Below are a few of the projects that we've recently completed or will soon be starting:

American Family Fitness
Cape Canaveral
Columbus State University
East Short Athletic Club
Family Fitness Works
Fond du Lac YMCA
Gold's Gym
Graceway Squash Center
Grinnell College
LAWA Firestation
Maryland Farms YMCA
Rice University
Tellepsen Family YMCA
Texas Southmost College
The Center Building
The Heritage of Boca Raton
The Village Midtown
University of South Alabama
Vermont Technical College
West University Place Fitness Center

So, where will we end up next? Who knows. We have installation crews traveling from coast to coast installing our projects. If you're ever looking for a reference in your area, feel free to let us know. With over 30 years in this industry, we have references all over.

Now you see it, now you don't!

2010-06-22T10:47:00.003-05:00

Are you one of those multiple sport players who always thought it would be cool to be able to play more than one sport in a single space? In our industry, we're always trying to make a space multifunctional and to determine how to get the most out of a court. We see this a lot with the addition of wallyball, badminton, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf practice nets, etc. being added into a racquetball or squash courts. Most of these games do not affect the play of racquetball except one sport: basketball. Well, we now have that obstacle tackled.

As you will see from our website, we have a great basketball product - the Auto Hoop. This is one of those products that you sit back and think "Geez....why didn't I think of that?" In the world of racquetball and squash court construction, it's not often that you come across a new product in an industry that doesn't change much. For us, the Auto Hoop just happens to be one of those cool products that we're excited about.

As you will see in the video on our website, the Auto Hoop is a retractable basketball backboard that hides behind the wall of the court. When you want to play basketball, you simply press a button and presto...a door folds down and the goal emerges. This is great for any type of court application, but is especially ideal for a racquetball or squash court where the walls need to remain flush for play. It doesn't matter if the court is a residential court or used in a more public setting, it's a great way to make the court multi-purpose without affecting the racquetball or squash players.

As with any new idea, we're all working to make sure that we have the best product available. So far, we've added a clear rectangular backboard as our standard backboard but we still offer the retro fan shaped backboard if requested. We've had great responses from contractors and owners who have installed the Auto Hooop and we have several more projects looking to integrate this into their design. So, what would it take to make you one of our newest Auto Hoop owners and users? The Court Company is the exclusive distributor of the Auto Hoop so contact us to find out more.

Who has your best needs in mind?

2010-05-11T15:41:00.002-05:00

When working on your racquetball or squash project, who has your best needs in mind? You may only need our services one time, but it's a lot of money to invest in these hard economic times so why not go with the best company out there...go with a company who you can trust.

I may be a little biased regarding who you should work with, but building this type of court system is not cheap so the decision should not be taken without some thought. We know that you need to stay within or below your budget so hopefully we can help you eliminate mistakes. Below are some suggestions to consider when doing your homework and making a decision for your project.

• How long has the company been in business? The typical warranty on a prefinished wood panel system is 10 years so make sure to work with a company who has been around longer than their warranty and who works in this industry; afterall, how can a "short lived" company stand behind a warranty older than their company? If need be, check out financial records and/or D&B reports.

• How long have the installers been in the industry and working for the same company? In construction, I'm sure that you understand how unusual is it to find a company who still has the same installers working with them after 20 years. Don't be afraid to ask for references or visit a local court installed.

• Do the representatives of the company quickly address your questions and provide the required information? A "one man shop" may not have the ability to handle all the requirements of your project to include bidding, submittals, project management, accounting, etc. Don't you want somebody to give you their full attention?

Ultimately, it's up to you who you want to work with and how you want to spend your money so why not consider spending it wisely. Make sure to work with a company who has your best needs in mind and who can stand behind what they say. The old rule of "you get what you pay for" applies in our industry, too. It's great to learn from mistakes but selecting a good qualified company no matter what your product requirement is a mistake you don't have to make.

One quote that I read somewhere rings so true...."keep in mind that quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten!" We're here to help provide you with that quality.

(Make sure to become one of our Facebook fans at www.facebook.com/courtcompany)

Do you really get what you pay for in court construction?

2010-04-05T11:51:00.001-05:00

I’m sure you’ve heard the old expression “You get what you pay for” right? I’m sure that expression might not be applicable to all things we encounter, but as I sit and type this, I can’t think of an area where that expression isn’t valid to one extent or another. Yes, even in the world of racquetball and squash court construction, you sometimes “get what you pay for”.

In this time of economic recession, everyone is looking for ways to stay within (or cut) their budgets and we understand that. Racquetball and squash courts are not rocket science but companies like ours have endured and stood the test of time so we know the correct ways to move forward. As any good company should do, we will work through the different details required in court construction and we know what costs and specifications you need to consider for your project. We feel that our expertise enables us to help you keep your court construction project within budget, on schedule and built to the highest standards required.

For the last 30+ years, we’ve helped people on residential and commercial construction projects work on realistic budgets for their projects. Not only have we evaluated projects from a financial standpoint but we also continue to offer feedback on the design aspects of the court systems as well. We don’t want you to have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to your project and there’s no need to so. With a little feedback from you on your specifications and “your wish list” we can help your project come to fruition and be built with quality in mind.

When we receive phone calls from people looking for budgets for their project, we try to portray a realistic picture of what costs are associated with your court system. Like you, we don’t like surprises and we want you to have as much information upfront so that we’re both successful in the completion of your installation. We’re not one of those companies who will cut corners strictly to have the opportunity to work on your project. We are, however, a company who is honest in working with clients and providing our clients with the best product at a competitive price.

I had somebody explain to me the other day about how in their industry they might typically be bidding against 3-4 other companies in a normal bidding scenario. Due to the recession, they may now encounter 6-8 companies bidding on a single project! Not only are there not 6-8 companies in their industry but they are now finding companies “becoming experts” in something that they are not strictly as a result of their sales and work being slow right now. To an experienced contractor reviewing multiple bids, you would assume that the contractor would take the most qualified and complete proposal possible. You would assume that, but in the middle of this economic recession, that doesn’t always happen. Everybody is trying to find a way to save a buck on projects right now and that is completely understandable, but do you want your project to be a guinea pig with the “new experts” giving out a low price simply to book work?

I’m sorry but racquetball and squash courts are not inexpensive and with the example given above, every dime is important. If it was my personal project, I’d want assurance that my money is being spent wisely and not foolishly….I’d want the expertise to ensure that my project (or court system) is completed on time and within budget without corners being cut.

So, I pose the question again “Do you really get what you pay for in court construction?” In my opinion, you do since you deserve to have the work completed right the first time vs. saving a little money and hoping everything is completed correctly by the cheapest company. The choice is always yours.

How to make your court system multi-functional

2010-02-11T18:25:00.003-06:00

Whether you are working on building a racquetball or squash court for your own personal use or if you are working on a court installation to be played on by groups of people, it is in your best interest to look at making the court as multi-functional as possible. If you are spending the money on a court system and dedicating a large space for a racquetball or squash court, why not get the most out of your investment.

To make a court multi-functional, you have different options to evaluate. The most common accessory to use to "transform" the court is with a wallyball kit. Wallyball is like playing volleyball but with the use of the impact walls and ceiling. It's an easy and inexpensive option to include in a court to incorporate another game for play.

Another common option is to incorporate basketball into the court. Up until recently, the only options were wall and ceiling mounted assemblies that were either stationary or folding units. Wall mounted options aren't the best option since they protrude into the court and interefered with play. The ceiling mounted option is nice because the basketball assembly can be customized to your requirements to fold up to the ceiling but it can still interfere with play. The Auto Hoop is the newest option for basketball installed at the wall while keeping the goal hidden during play. You can view a video of this disappearing assembly at http://www.racquetballcourts.com/auto_hoop.html.

If you're trying to incorporate both racquetball and squash into a single court then you should consider a moveable glass rear wall. The moveable rear wall is used to temporarily convert a racquetball court to a squash court. Even though the moveable rear wall isn't an inexpensive option, it is a nice option that is cheaper and conserves on space by building only one court for both games in lieu of two separate courts. You can view a video of an example of the moveable rear wall at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y2j0ZDM1N4.

These suggestions mentioned above are only that - suggestions. We've had other projects incorporate tennis, badminton and golf as a few examples of other sports to play in the court. If you find that you have another sport or idea to use in the court, incorporating that into the court design shouldn't be a problem at all....just let us know and we'll do what we can to make it happen.

I want to build a new court...now what?

2010-01-20T16:12:00.003-06:00

Ok, so you've decided that you want to build a racquetball or a squash court. Great...that's what we like to hear! Whether the installation is taking place in a residential or commerical project, the criteria to ensure a quality court installation is the same. The goal of a company like The Court Company is not just to sell you a unique product but also to walk you thru the different stages of the project from design to construction.

Some people are initially intimidated by a court because it's a different type of room, but look at it as a big box with a door. Yes, it's a much bigger "box" than a typical room but the process is made easy by using prefinished wall materials and not having to recreate the wheel in deciding what materials to use....we've already done that for you. So, as you start to envision your project, first outline the space to be used for the court and we'll walk you thru the rest.

Our intent is to help you build a court system as close to regulation size as possible. When working on the design of your court, contact us or visit our website to find out what the space requirements and minimum rough openings are for the court. Once you have that figured into the building design, the rest is fairly easy.

So, what do you need to consider when designing a court system? Let me outline a few questions that help us help you:

• How many courts do you want for the project? Obviously, if this is for a residential project, you'll have one court but if this is a public facility, you'll probably want to consider at least two courts.

• If you're building squash courts, do you want the courts to be certified and approved by the World Squash Federation (WSF)? Most squash courts that we install are WSF certified and approved.

• What size glass walls (or windows) do you want to include? Most squash courts use 7'0" high glass walls; racquetball courts use glass of different sizes. With glass, we can provide just about any size. Since the price is based on the size, deciding on this enables us to put together a proposal more accurate to your project.

• Do you want us to handle the court installation turn-key or are other trades providing some of the court materials?

These are just a few questions for you to consider when working on preliminary information for court construction. With a little feedback from you about your project then we can provide additional information and pricing to help get the ball rolling. So, if you need our assistance with information or reviewing plans for your project, please do not hestiate to let us know.

Greetings in 2010

2010-01-06T17:54:00.002-06:00

Welcome to the beginning of a new year - a year that we hope is filled with new opportunities for all. The construction and athletic industries seem to be on the tail end of this recession so it's possible that this could be a rollercoaster of a year. Our industry could definitely slow down, but so far though, with only a few working days into the new year, we're staying very busy.

We finished 2009 with numerous projects completed and "under our belt" to include installations at several colleges and universities across the country such as Rice University in Texas; military installations such as Camp Pendleton; many residential and fitness facility projects scattered across the United States and several projects in other countries. It's amazing to think that we are still going strong after 32+ years of this being our forté.

Going into 2010, we have many projects awaiting our arrival to include YMCAs, more residential work, athletic and recreation centers as well as corporate headquarters and more college and university work. We hope with the launch the end of last year of AthleticRoom.com as well as the release of a new product, Auto Hoop, that this new year will continue to be as productive as last year. We feel very confident about our position in the marketplace and our ability to continue with our success.

We hope that you will stay in touch and will continue to contact us should we be able to offer any assistance with your upcoming project. If you don't have a new project on the horizon, feel free to check back wih us every once in awhile to see what might be happening with The Court Company. Thank you for your continued consideration of our company and we hope you have a prosperous year.

It's been one heck of a year

2009-12-10T19:43:00.007-06:00

Looking forward to 2010

With the year winding down, as you can imagine, everybody is writing about what's happened this past year - the highs and the lows and the old and the new. Each year seems to fly by with us all wondering what really happened over the last 12 months. Pondering this now is no different than in previous years.

This year proved to us that people are still building racquetball and squash courts more than ever. Though we've seen fewer mega facilities sporting 10+ court systems, we're still experiencing great demand in an expanding sport. The facilities today are still building courts but are now focusing on how to properly market and program racquetball and squash in their building vs. just being the next giant facility.

As with most businesses, seeing how the economy affects our industry is one that we're waiting to see unfold. We anticipate some non-contracted projects to be put on hold or cancelled but we also anticipate seeing the private court sector to continue to increase as we're witnessing now. I know that sounds ironic but the residential market with court construction is still going strong.

As we continue to look back on 2009, we can honestly say that the last 12 months have been good. Court construction continues to be good and the visibility of our company continues to increase. This past year, we enhanced our relationships with owners and architects at trade shows, we created a nice marketing folder, we updated our website which enabled you to network with us via cyberspace, we introduced a new basketball product that will change the way that people build courts, and we continued to work with some great contractors/architects/owners on several projects across the United States and abroad.

So, as we move into 2010, we'll continue to work hard in providing quality court systems and attentive customer service while looking forward to celebrating over 34 years of success in this specialized industry.

Thank you for your continued support and we wish you much success in the new year.

We love our new basketball product!

2009-11-30T11:40:00.005-06:00

As you will see from our website, we have a great basketball product - the Auto Hoop. This is one of those products that you sit back and think "Geez....why didn't I think of that?" In the world of racquetball and squash court construction, it's not often that you come across a new product in an industry that doesn't change much. I am not trying to put down our industry but it's not often that we come across or are able to introduce a new product that will change how people design their courts. For us, the Auto Hoop just happens to be one of those cool products that we're excited about.

As you will see in the video on our website, the Auto Hoop is a retractable basketball backboard that hides behind the wall of the court. When you want to play basketball, you simply press a button and presto...a door folds down and the goal emerges. This is great for any type of court application, but is especially ideal for a racquetball or squash court where the walls need to remain flush for play. It doesn't matter if the court is a residential court or used in a more public setting, it's a great way to make the court multi-purpose without affecting the racquetball or squash players.

Some existing projects are evaluating how to integrate this into their existing court. This might be a little more of a challenge since space behind the walls is required but it is doable. The projects that will benefit from this the most are those that are still in the design stage since they can incorporate the storage space behind the court as part of their plans. No matter what phase of the project you are in, this is definitely one of those products that I foresee every court wanting to consider...it's just that cool!

I'm certainly not hear to try to toot our own horn, but this is a good product. Check out the latest issue of Athletic Business magazine for the press release outlining the Auto Hoop:
AB%20Auto%20Hoop%20Press%20Release.pdf.

What Makes a Good Court Company?

2009-11-12T12:29:00.004-06:00

I know there may not be too many people out there who stay awake at night wondering what makes a good court company. Heck, I'm sure that many people reading this blog or visiting our website may only require a racquetball or squash court or an athletic room only once. Since it's a lot of money to invest and it is potentially a "one shot" purchase, why not go with the best company out there.

I may be a little biased regarding who you should work with, but building this type of court system is not cheap so the decision should not be taken without some thought. So, what do you need to consider when selecting somebody to work with regarding your next court construction project? Let me give you some things to think about:

How long has the company been in business? The typical warranty on a prefinished wood panel system is 10 years so make sure to work with a company who has been around longer than their warranty and who works in this industry; afterall, how can a "short lived" company stand behind a warranty older than their company?
How long have the installers been in the industry and working for the same company? In construction, I'm sure that you understand how unusual is it to find a company who still has the same installers working with them after 20 years. Hmmm...sounds like the company who is posting this blog.
Do the representatives of the company quickly address your questions and provide the required information? A "one man shop" may not have the ability to handle all the requirements of your project to include bidding, submittals, project management, accounting, etc. The Court Company has the largest group of representatives solely focused on racquetball and squash courts. These types of court systems are our forté and we do not focus on other businesses that might stear us away from your project. So, you have our full attention.

Ultimately, it's up to you who you want to work with and how you want to spend your money so why not consider spending it wisely. Make sure to work with a company who has your best needs in mind and who can stand behind what they say. The old rule of "you get what you pay for" applies in our industry, too. It's great to learn from mistakes but selecting a good qualified company no matter what your product requirement is a mistake you don't have to make.

Something that I read one time rings so true...."keep in mind that quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten!" We're here to help provide you with that quality.

(Remember to visit with us at the upcoming Athletic Business Conference in Orlando, Florida December 3 and 4. For more information or for a free trade show pass, contact erika@racquetballcourts.com.)

Interested in a Courtside Seat?

2009-10-29T14:07:00.002-05:00

We have your courtside "seat" at the upcoming Athletic Business Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida December 3-4, 2009. This is a great opportunity to visit with us at our booth to discuss our racquetball and squash court products with you in more detail.

In addition to our court systems, you can also to talk to us about our one of a kind Auto Hoop basketball system. Auto Hoop is a unique disappearing basketball assembly that can temporarily transform any type of indoor athletic court or room into your own courtside seat for basketball. It's a cool way to make your space multi-functional at the push of a button.

So what are you waiting for? Contact Erika Milligan (erika@racquetballcourts.com) today for your free trade show pass. We look forward to seeing you in Orlando and making you another fan of The Court Company.

US Open Racquetball Championships

2009-10-09T11:00:00.004-05:00

The US Open Racquetball Championships are fast approaching once again. This is the 14th year of the championships that are being held October 21-25, 2009 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Did you know that The Court Company built the first portable court that was used at the tournament? The Court Company took their years of experience in court construction to help build a system that USA Racquetball used for this Memphis tournament.

Building this type of portable court is simply one example of how The Court Company works to customize your project whether it's for a court to be used in a tournament or a court for personal use. Players from around the world have played on The Court Company's portable court as well as permanent courts installed in countries througout the world.

If you're going to be in Memphis for the US Open, make sure to visit Randy Stafford at the History Booth to learn a little more about the history of this fast-paced sport as well as how the game, the equipment, and the products have improved over the years. The Court Company is proud to be a part of the history of this great tournament!

What's all the racquet about?

2009-09-17T18:02:00.005-05:00

The Court Company recently redesigned its website in order to communicate better with you about our company and our products. Not only is our company and information more accessible with some of the social networking options such as Facebook and Twitter but we've also updated the information so that you can learn more about our current and new products as well as what it takes to build a first class racquetball or squash court.

We've always tried to remain the best in our industry and the changes to our website along with the way that you can interact with us are only a few examples of what we're doing to help you - our clients. We hope that you enjoy the new changes that you see.

We invite you to forward any positive feedback about our products or our working relationship with you. We are also open to receiving any pictures and/or updates of your current projects that you want to share.

www.racquetballcourts.com
www.squashcourts.com