The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-08-13
BOROUGH TENNIS | PLAYERS KICK ON FACILITIES
Poor Playing Conditions in Naugatuck Tres Many;
 Lack of Money
tspecial to The Democrat,


 his fans here are complaining that their sport, tennis, seems to be the ugly duckling'' as far as tie local school department is concerned. Either that or the victim of inefh- ciency.
 The reason for the murmurs heard daily among tennis players here is the comparatively bad con- ditions of the five tennis courts at the Recreation Field. The location of the courts 1t good one and lately at least two and sometimes more men have been hired to keep the courts in shape.
 But it is a fact that they are far from being in even fair shape. They are used frequently and would be even more used if they were in bet ter condition and had better reputation. There is only one other court available to the public in town, that being the one near St. Hedwig's church. This is court composed of red clay and there is not better court in town. Because it is such fine court it is much in demand and it is necessary usually to apply for it a day in advance. The Naugatuck Golf Club has two good courts but these are for use by members only.
 So 1t can be seen that the main number playing tennis would in- evitably go to the Recreation field. However, they are not doing so, Ak vHeo nk oil Q nthnTc playing on other courts.
 Poor Material
 The reason is that there seems to be either no money to spend or a reluctance to spend money for good material for the tennis courts at the field. A sandy composition is used there. This usually contains much stone and more accurate bounds could be obtained from the balls if match were paved on a sandbar than on some of the Re- creation field courts.
 Even though several men work on the courts, there are many stones and pebbles left there and there are many soft spots in the courts. Tennis players have dis gustedly thought after meeting awkward bounces that it would be necessary to be prophet or clair voyant if one would wish to play tennis wei there.
 On some of the courts there is grass near the outer edge and some bushes have gown up, hampering a running player when he goes af- ter a bounding ball driven across court in doubles match.
 Such conditions make good play out of the question. The red clay material used on St. Hedwig's court costs more than the sandy stuff used at the Recreation field but much better results are secured from it. It dries off much more quickly after rain and it pays in the long un for 1t does not have to be replaced each year.
 Pleasure to Play
 It is fact that better tennis players are turned out in the Vest ern Union City section than are de- veloped in the main section of the town. Many believe that this is be- cause more enjoy the game at the St. Hedwig's court which is pleas ure to use.
 The Recreation field courts are ideally suited for a ping-pong pat the. .ball-back sort of game which is often being played there but a consistently good game of tennis cannot be played there in the shape the courts are in now.
 The newcomers zee how the best players in town play because most of them use the St. Hedwig's court. Many do not use the Recreation field courts because of the poor condition and thus there is little chance for exhibition of really good play there.
 It would be better, tennis fans here believe to put the money being used to pay several men at the Re- creation field toward the purchase of much better material for the courts for it is very tough job to kep these courts in sahpe with the material now being used. With the red clay material, rolling occa- sionally and sprinkling are the only thing required.
 Don't Skimp Elsewhere There is no attempt to skimp al putting the baseball grounds in shape or keeping them there, the track is usually in fine shape al- though it would be safe wager that not as many use the track as play tennis at the field.
 There does not seem to be much skimping toward procuring athletic material needed for the field but the thought of spending few extra dollars for better material for the courts, which would in the long run many believe, is apparently viewed with horror. This condition is mol something new but has been going on for some time and fans are won- dering just how long 1t vii con- tinue.