For the 65th consecutive year, the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club will host the Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Tennis Championships from March 1-4.
This year marks the 118th time the event has been held, from its inception in 1890. The Beach & Tennis Club began hosting the championships in 1942. While it is classified as “open” and available to almost anyone to enter, historically the event features a well-defined age group and level of play.
“This competition caters to open level doubles players, primarily from college teams and in their 20s,” explained Bill McGrath, tennis director at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.
To illustrate his point, McGrath noted some of the college teams planning to participate: UCLA, USC, Pepperdine, Stanford, University of California, Fresno State and local schools UCSD and San Diego State University. Those are just some of the California schools. Outside the state, Rice, Texas A&M and Villanova will also enter doubles teams. In all, close to 70 doubles teams will participate.
Preseason college rankings have UCLA as the No. 3 team in the country and Pepperdine as No. 10, according to McGrath. So the competition will be fierce.
While many people may be accustomed to seeing an event with this talent level win big prize money and other awards, this is not the case. Part of the reason is amateur players, like those in college, cannot accept prize money while maintaining their college eligibility.
“There is no prize money offered,” McGrath said. “The winners have their names inscribed on the perpetual trophy, which stays at the club, and they receive a silver plate.”
So why then would say a team such as Villanova travel clear across the country for this event? Certainly one reason would be for the competition. McGrath also noted the historical value of the event.
“It gives the participants the opportunity to be a part of something which has gone on for 117 years,” he said.
What a history it has been. Some of the greatest names in tennis have competed in this event and played at the club over the years. Jack Kramer, Bobby Riggs, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Arthur Ashe are just few of the many names on a long list.
Which also may explain why the club continues to host the event year after year, despite not creating significant revenue, since parking and admission are free of charge.
“Having this event allows the club to continue the great tradition of the tournament,” McGrath stated.
The tournament also represents one of a handful of opportunities during the year when the general public can access the private club’s facilities.
In May, the Beach & Tennis Club will host the USTA National Women’s Senior Hard Court Championships for women ages 50 to 90. At the same time, there is a USTA Men’s Senior Tournament for men ages 60 to 85. In December, there are the Men’s and Women’s 40’s National Hard Court Championships and the National Father-Son and Grandfather-Grandson Championships.
For all these events, admission and parking are free.
The La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club is located at 2000 Spindrift Drive. For more information, call (800) 640-7702 or visit www.ljbtc.com.