CRYSTAL LAKE – The Racket Club, a Crystal Lake Park District facility, will commemorate its 40th anniversary with a free open house from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Nov. 10 at the club, 9101 S. Route 31, a mile south of Rakow Road in Algonquin.
In 1972, the club was founded by Crystal Lake businessman Walt Herrick Sr. as a private indoor tennis club. Herrick and four other tennis enthusiasts and businessmen, Nick Carter, Steve Morgan, Jack Thomas and Chuck Schunk, formed a partnership and bought land in Algonquin.
The club prospered through the 1970s “tennis boom” years, adding two indoor courts in 1974, three outdoor courts in 1974, three clay courts, an outside Pavilion building and outdoor practice wall in 1976.
In 1981, the partners decided to sell The Racket Club because, although it was still profitable, they found they could not devote sufficient time to the business.
The Crystal Lake Park District Board was offered the opportunity to buy the club and took it.
The club has prospered through the years, generating enough income to make needed improvements, including expansion and renovation of the club’s indoor and outdoor facilities.
These renovations were highlighted by a complete clubhouse renovation in 2006, the replacement of the outdoor hard courts in 2010, and the resurfacing of the indoor courts with a U.S. Open blue and green cushioned hard court surface in 2011.
For information, call 847-658-5688.