Lauderdale Tennis Club: Where Har-Tru Courts Bring Players Together

For tennis players in South Florida, few surfaces are as closely associated with the game as Har-Tru clay courts. They offer a unique playing experience that rewards strategy, encourages longer rallies, and is easier on the body. At Lauderdale Tennis Club, those benefits are on full display every day across one of the area's largest clay court facilities.

Located in Fort Lauderdale, Lauderdale Tennis Club features 20 Har-Tru clay courts and three hard courts dedicated to its academy. According to Executive Committee Member Tom Clark, the club has built its identity around providing opportunities for players of every level. 

"We have 20 clay courts. We also have three hard courts for our academy," Clark said. "We offer everything from leagues to singles play, doubles play, weekly round-robin tournaments, and USTA national tournaments."

The club's calendar remains active throughout the year, with competitive events, social play, and community fundraisers bringing members together both on and off the court.

"We also have some upcoming tournaments for fundraisers," Clark explained. "We have a cancer fundraiser coming up in February that we're very excited about."

Beyond the courts, Lauderdale Tennis Club offers amenities designed to create a complete club experience. Members have access to a patio bar, a fitness center with personal trainer Kelly Painter, and one of the club's most recognizable features—a swimming pool shaped like a tennis racquet.

Maintaining 20 clay courts requires a significant commitment, something the club takes great pride in.

"We have a full-time maintenance staff that gets here at 5:00 a.m.," Clark said. "The courts are groomed, brushed, and watered every day. All 20 courts are prepared after we close so they're ready the next morning."

That daily attention helps preserve the consistent playing conditions that Har-Tru courts are known for.

"Today, Har-Tru in Florida is much more popular," Clark said. "Most people are amateur players, and this is a great place for them to come and learn the game. It's a little bit slower than hard courts, but equally as challenging."

The slower pace encourages players to construct points instead of relying solely on power, making the surface enjoyable for beginners and experienced competitors alike.

"We are an all-encompassing tennis club," Clark added. "We're always looking for new members, but we also have a lot of established members that are very fun to play with and are always up for a game."

Coach Caroline Verhelle, who has been teaching at Lauderdale Tennis Club for the past 10 years, understands the advantages of clay firsthand. Originally from Belgium, where she grew up playing on red clay, she immediately appreciated having Har-Tru courts available after moving to Florida.

"I came here so I could get away from the hard courts and play on clay courts," Verhelle said. "It's much better on my joints. My body doesn't ache as much at the end of the day."

She also points to the movement and style of play that Har-Tru encourages.

"On a hard court, the stop and the go is much tougher," she said. "Here you can slide. You can also play a lot longer points because it's a little bit slower."

For junior development, those characteristics become even more valuable.

"It's good for the younger kids because they learn to build points," Verhelle explained. "They have longer rallies, so they have to work more on tactics. On a hard court, you can get away with one or two shots and the point is over."

Today, Verhelle focuses primarily on introducing the game to young players.

"I have kids from 3 to 10 or 11 years old, and then I have older ladies in the mornings for doubles drills and private lessons," she said. "I really like working with the juniors, especially the little ones, to give them a good foundation."

The appreciation for Har-Tru isn't limited to coaches. Members also value the surface for allowing them to continue enjoying the sport while putting less stress on their bodies.

"It's better on the joints," one longtime member said. "Har-Tru courts are what we all prefer, to the point where I don't think we'd even play on hard courts anymore. It's another reason to belong here."

Whether players are looking to compete in USTA events, improve their game with experienced coaches, enjoy social doubles, or simply experience one of South Florida's premier clay court facilities, Lauderdale Tennis Club showcases everything that has made Har-Tru such an important part of tennis in Florida for generations.

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Written by Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy. Video shot by Alex Binstok. Video edits and photos by Nathalia Suarez.