A grass tennis court is built in layers — 150mm of base loam beneath 100mm of seed bed loam, matched in specification so the whole profile roots and binds as one. Build with the classic GOSTD 100 range, proven in the top tennis venues of the United Kingdom and Europe for over 40 years — or with the new GameChanger Tennis Loam.
Choose your range and see our recommended court build drawn to scale — the same profile, in the loam that suits your club.
Sown, Never TurfedThe seed bed is sown with grass seed — we always recommend sowing a new court, never turfing it. Turf growers favour light, free-draining soils, so laid turf would bring a lower-clay layer to the top of the profile.
*Clay figures are typical values from independent analysis; individual batches vary around them.
Typical Analysis: 59% sand / 19% silt / 22% clay
Typical Analysis: 59% sand / 19% silt / 22% clay
Typical Analysis: 59% sand / 19% silt / 22% clay
Typical Analysis: 57% sand / 21% silt / 22% clay
We always recommend establishing a new court from seed sown directly into the seed bed loam, rather than laying turf. Turf growers favour light, free-draining soils — easy to grow, and far easier to cut and roll than a clay loam. No turf is currently grown in a GOSTD tennis loam, so laid turf would bring a lower-clay layer to the top of the profile — for the same reasons we never turf a new cricket square.
For a properly constructed court we recommend a total loam profile of around 250mm — 6 inches (150mm) of base loam, topped with 4 inches (100mm) of seed bed loam, laid and consolidated in stages so the layers key together into one continuous profile — the same build as a cricket wicket.
Base, seed bed and top dressing are produced to the same specification, giving complete compatibility throughout the construction process to ensure good root growth and a healthy, vigorous sward.