So, I’d been hearing whispers about this place, Beaupain Tennis, for a while now. My mate Dave kept going on about it, saying it was, like, “an experience.” Never really got what he meant until I finally dragged myself over there last Saturday.
Finding it was a bit of a mission, tucked away behind some old industrial buildings. Honestly, thought I was lost for a second there. When I actually got to the entrance, it wasn’t what I pictured. Not your shiny, modern club, that’s for sure. More like something from an old movie.
First Impressions, You Know?
The courts looked… well, they’d seen better days. A couple of them were this weird, faded green asphalt, not the usual clay or hard court stuff I’m used to. And the nets? Let’s just say they looked like they’d survived a few too many battles. But there was something undeniably cool about it, a bit rough around the edges, but genuine.
I managed to get on a court pretty quick, which was a surprise. The place was busy, but not uncomfortably packed. Seemed to be mostly older guys, the kind who’ve probably played there every week for the last thirty years. Their swings weren’t always textbook perfect, but man, they knew exactly where to put the ball.
My first few games were a total disaster. I’m not kidding. The bounce on that green asphalt was completely unpredictable. One minute the ball’s skidding low and fast, the next it’s popping up right at your throat. Super frustrating at first, I gotta admit. I felt like I was learning to play all over again.
Getting into the Groove
There was this one old fella, must’ve been in his late seventies, playing in actual white shorts and a collared shirt. Proper old school style. He didn’t move around a whole lot, but his slices were just deadly. He had me running from one side of the court to the other like a headless chicken. It was humbling, to say the least.
But the atmosphere was different from other places I’ve played. No one was, like, overly intense or competitive in a nasty way. It was more about just folks enjoying their game, having a good hit. Heard a lot of laughter drifting over from other courts, which was really nice.
I started noticing the little things about Beaupain:
- The “clubhouse” was basically a small, wooden shed with a very old, slightly dodgy coffee machine.
- Someone had painted lines on a brick wall at the back, probably for practice when the courts were full.
- Dogs seemed to be welcome, which was a new one for me. Saw at least three chilling out by the side of the courts, watching the games.
After a while, maybe an hour or so, I kinda started to get the hang of those weird bounces. I had to focus way more, watch the ball like a hawk right onto the strings. It made me realize it wasn’t always about hitting the ball hard, but more about just getting it back in play and being smart with my shots.
It actually reminded me of when I first started playing tennis as a kid, on those cracked public courts in the local park. The conditions weren’t perfect back then either, but you just made the best of it and had a load of fun. That’s the kind of vibe Beaupain had. It was all about the love of the game, not the fancy facilities.
So, Would I Go Back?
Yeah, I think I definitely will. It’s not the place you go if you want pristine courts or, you know, a fancy smoothie bar and a pro shop. But if you just want to play some honest-to-goodness tennis, in a place with a bit of soul and character, Beaupain’s got something special. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s a good workout.
And my mate Dave? Yeah, I finally get what he meant by “an experience.” Definitely an experience. I’m already thinking about when I can sneak back for another session on those quirky green courts.
