The line from the movie Forrest Gump goes that "life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're going to get." The same holds true when it comes to private tennis courts. In the dream-like state, a private tennis court conjures up visions of smooth lines, expansive territory, comfortable resting spots, and a highly subdued environment.
Reality is something else. Private courts come in all shapes of sizes. Many are squeezed into the property, barely providing space to return serve. Then there are the private courts that are cluttered by trees, which in turn generate frustrating shadows and scatter dangerous leaves. Some appear to have last been resurfaced when VHS tapes ruled the world. In other cases, it’s a crapshoot if the net is the proper height, if random pets aren’t strolling all over the court, or if the ground beneath the court is solid. And let’s not talk about the quality of the lights.
But all those concerns vanish when you enter James Goldstein’s court. Located high up a canyon in Beverly Hills, this court is exceptionally open and spacious, including ample width on the sides and plenty of length behind the baseline. To the north, trees and leaves rise high, but are appropriately far enough away from the court, creating a feeling of tranquility. To the south, a four-foot clear glass fence offers a spectacular view of Los Angeles, spanning from the Pacific Ocean on the west, all the way across the vast scenic spectrum of office towers, apartment buildings, golf courses, homes, hills, and roads that comprise America's second-largest city.
