Inventing and reinventing hardcourts since 1926
From influencing new skills and techniques, to enabling the explosion of public facilities and the standardization of play that democratized the sport, explore how Laykold hardcourts have been a catalyst for growth.
“Laykold Tennis Courts possess the following qualities which contribute to the full pleasure of playing tennis… Resilience… True plane surface… Freedom from glare… Rapid drying… All-weather playability… Attractive appearance… Durability… Economy in upkeep.”
Laykold has been at the heart of tennis’ evolution for 100 years
Take a journey back through tennis history with our timeline which maps the development of cold pour asphalt in the 1920s (and the origin of Laykold’s name as the early leader emerging from this ‘lay cold’ innovation), to the birth of hardcourt tennis courts and the boom in courts and court innovation that followed from the 1940s and to the present day.
Discover the complete evolution of Laykold
Journey through our interactive timeline below or immerse yourself in the full story:
1930s Laykold brochure
We have in our archives a wonderful Laykold brochure from the 1930s. Page two features a photo of tennis legends, Don Budge and Fred Perry playing on Laykold at Berkeley University in 1939. This was part of their 35 match tour of the USA and Canada, with Budge dominating, winning 28 of the matches.
The brochure also features a rooftop court in LA, which must have been unusual at the time. There is also a photo of a court beside the original club house at the famous Fishers Island Club in NY.
Crandon Park
the ‘winter wimbledon’ - the miami Open since 1985
Laykold has been the official surface provider of the Miami Open since the tournament began in 1985 (then held at Delray Beach), marking the longest partnership between a tournament and surface provider.
The Miami Open was the brainchild of Butch Buchholz, a legendary tennis player and promoter. He created the two-week tournament and secured $1.5m in prize money from the Thomas J. Lipton Company. Dubbed the ‘winter Wimbledon’ the first winners where Martina Navratilova and Tim Mayotte.
In 1986 the event moved to Boca Raton and in 1987 it moved to the iconic Crandon Park. To millions around the world Crandon Park alongside Miami Vice which hit TV screens in 1984, established a vision of Florida - sun, beaches, palm trees, glamor and vivid colors.
The Miami Open relocated to Hard Rock Stadium (home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins) in Miami Gardens in 2019, after 31 years at Crandon Park.