HistoryFor Players & Presidents

A trusted name for over 75 years

In the 1920s, road manufacturers developed cold pour asphalt, which led to hard court tennis courts and a boom in courts during the 1940s in the US. The leader was Laykold – lay cold.

Over time, Laykold became one of the major brands that led in synthetic acrylic resin paints that literally changed the ‘face’ of tennis in the 60s. Sand was later introduced to control the ball speed and reduce sliding.

Since 1970 over 100,000,000m² of Laykold has been installed around the world, including at the the South Lawn of the White House, where a Laykold court was first installed by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. The court is still Laykold today.

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.

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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.

“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.”

— EXTRACT FROM A 1930S LAYKOLD COURTS BROCHURE