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By David M. Brandon / Thursday, December 26, 2013

 

High up in the hills of Los Angeles sits one of the world's most interesting privately owned tennis courts. 

Photo credit: David Brandon

During the course of the past 10 years, an incredible structure in the hills above Los Angeles has been taking shape. In fact, many might call it the most interesting tennis court in the world. And indeed that title might just be true.

Now it goes without saying that we are not talking about the most famous or hallowed of tennis courts in the world. That list would begin with Wimbledon’s Center Court and Court Central at Roland Garros, for starters. No, here we are talking about the most incredible, fantastic, unique and, in a word, “coolest” court in the world.

The man behind building this temple to tennis is visionary owner Jim Goldstein— tennis aficionado, basketball super fan and runway fashion show junkie. If James Bond had a house, it would be Jim Goldstein’s house. It was designed by the late famous architect John Lautner, who was an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright. The house has been on the cover of Architectural Digest, as well as the site of thousands of photo shoots featuring many of the world’s top models. It has also been the backdrop for movies such as The Big Lebowski and Charlie’s Angels and even in the scene of a Snoop Dogg music video.

And just behind this house sits a tennis court perched and quasi-cantilever above Los Angeles and up Benedict Canyon north of Sunset Boulevard. A multimillion dollar house was razed to put this court in place. Give respect to the priorities—sometimes a tennis court is more important than a house.

On one sideline, the court is framed by a glass railing that is 3.5 feet tall, which is good because just on the other side of the railing is a 30-foot drop to the ground below.

Stepping on the court gives you an experience for all the senses. From one baseline, you have a yellow bamboo forest with trees almost 80 feet tall, much like a scene taken right out of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. On the other sideline you have a well-manicured, elevated grassy hill with slate rock pads where low profile lawn chairs rest, providing the perfect vantage point to watch the tennis, soak up some rays or take in the infinite view that stretches from Beverly Hills to Santa Monica and out to Catalina Island and the Pacific Ocean. And finally, from the other baseline you have view of a hillside full of towering palm, eucalyptus and pine trees.

Though Goldstein declines to disclose the cost of this 10-year project, real estate agents estimate the cost at around $10 million. Goldstein has made a monument to tennis while simultaneously creating an architectural landmark in Los Angeles on par with the Getty Museum.

With views like this, who wouldn’t want to play a match on this court? Do you know of a more interesting court anywhere in the world? If the National Park Service allowed a court on the edge of the Grand Canyon, that might win. However, at present it doesn’t exist. But we invite you to nominate other locations for the crowning of the world’s most interesting court. 

David M. Brandon is an attorney in Los Angeles and attended the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy during high school and played for the Tufts University tennis team.


 

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