Rome Tennis Center at Berry College Earns Second National Award
ROME, Ga. — August 29, 2025 — The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has once again recognized the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College (RTCBC) as one of the nation’s top tennis facilities.
The Rome complex was named one of 45 winners in the USTA’s 2025 Outstanding Facility Awards program, an honor it first received in 2019. The award highlights excellence in the design, construction and renovation of tennis centers across the country. Recipients were celebrated this week at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York during the U.S. Open.
With 51 outdoor courts and six indoor courts, RTCBC is among the largest tennis facilities in the United States. It hosts tournaments and events nearly every weekend, ranging from junior competitions to professional-level play. Daily programming, run by Cliff Drysdale Tennis, includes beginner lessons, advanced clinics, junior development and league play.
Since its first award, the facility has added new amenities, including the “Top Spin Terrace” viewing deck, upgraded nets and patio furniture, and enhanced wireless capabilities for vendors and live streaming. In 2021, a Fairfield Inn and Suites opened on-site, giving coaches, players and fans direct access to the venue.
USTA officials praised the Rome facility for its continued role in growing the sport.
“Outstanding tennis facilities like Rome Tennis Center at Berry College help us to grow the game at the grassroots level,” said Theodore Loehrke, USTA Managing Director of Section Partnerships. “The great work of RTCBC continues to support our shared mission of growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere.”
RTCBC General Manager Colt Gaston credited the team’s commitment and the City of Rome’s support for the facility’s success.
“We take great pride in being one of the largest facilities in the country and recognize the responsibility that title holds,” Gaston said. “This award reflects the dedication of our team and the City of Rome’s ongoing investment in maintaining our award-winning reputation and delivering an exceptional tennis experience for both fans and players.”
Facilities were judged on layout, court surface quality, lighting, maintenance, accommodations for players and spectators, aesthetics, signage, landscaping, amenities, and participation in grassroots tennis programs.
The USTA also introduced a new “Innovation” category this year to honor facilities that have been especially creative in promoting the game. Each 2025 winner receives a wall plaque and an all-weather sign for display.
In a press release from Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism:
“The USTA has announced that Rome Tennis Center at Berry College (RTCBC) in Rome, Georgia, is one of 45 winners in the USTA’s annual Outstanding Facility Awards program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country. This marks the second Outstanding Facility Award for RTCBC, having received the honor previously in 2019.
All 45 recipients were honored this week at an awards reception held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York as part of the 2025 US Open.
As one of the largest tennis facilities in the United States with 51 outdoor courts and 6 indoor courts, RTCBC hosts tournaments and events most weekends of the year, from local junior events to national and professional competitions. The tennis program, operated by Cliff Drysdale Tennis, features diverse daily programming such as junior development, beginner classes, leagues and advanced clinics that cater to all skill levels and ages. Since first winning the award in 2019, RTCBC has made a number of site improvements including a “Top Spin Terrace” viewing deck, new tennis nets and patio furniture, and enhanced wireless capabilities for vendors and live streaming services. In 2021, the property also added a Fairfield Inn and Suites, providing coaches, players and guests with direct access to the tennis facility.
“Outstanding tennis facilities like Rome Tennis Center at Berry College help us to grow the game at the grassroots level, and we are proud to recognize them for their ongoing impact on the sport of tennis,” said Theodore Loehrke, Managing Director, Section Partnerships, USTA. “The great work of RTCBC continues to support our shared mission of growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere.”
“We take great pride in being one of the largest facilities in the country and recognize the responsibility that title holds for the broader game of tennis,” said Colt Gaston, General Manager of RTCBC. “This award reflects the dedication of our team and the City of Rome’s ongoing investment in maintaining our award-winning reputation and delivering an exceptional tennis experience for both fans and players.”
Facilities were judged on the following criteria: overall layout and adaptation to site; excellence of court surface and lights; ease of maintenance; accommodations for players, spectators and press/officials; aesthetics; graphics (including the use of signs and landscaping); amenities such as casual seating for spectators, food services and social areas; and the facilities’ participation in grassroots tennis programs.
Nominated facilities were voted on in the following categories: Public Courts that are either small tennis centers with 2-11 courts or large tennis centers with 12 or more courts; Private Facilities that offer both USTA and public programming designed to help grow tennis (small: 2-11 courts; large: 12 or more courts); and Educational Institutions such as colleges, universities, public and private grade schools, middle schools, or high schools. A new category, Innovation, was added this year to recognize facilities that have been particularly innovative when it comes to delivering tennis. All 2025 award winners will receive a wall plaque and an all-weather sign, which can be mounted at the facility.”
For more information about the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College, visit rometenniscenter.com
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