The TenniSphere
Heather and Gary developed the TenniSphere, a personal utopia that goes far beyond tennis. Upon entering, people are immediately awe-struck by the overwhelming beauty, serenity, and exquisite taste of The TenniSphere. We sincerely believe that our guests will feel an overwhelming sense of awe, wonder, joy, and belonging from the moment they enter the property. We wanted to create a place where people who love tennis and lead lives focused on health, wellness, and relationships can meet other like-minded people or strengthen their bonds with those they already know.
While tennis was central to the vision of The TenniSphere, it is only one aspect of this extraordinary property and experience. The TenniSphere is ideally suited for any group of people sharing a common bond who want to spend time together in a very intimate and beautiful setting with countless activities available to guests both on the premises and outside. In addition to tennis excursions, The TenniSphere is perfect for retreats focused on leadership, personal growth, and team building and for families and close friends to have a beautiful getaway and create extraordinary memories together.
The Eleven
The name of the court started as a tongue-in-cheek joke based on me (Gary) having so much more invested than originally projected that I said it would put me into Chapter 11. There’s also a song by the Grateful Dead called “The Eleven,” which has a highly complex time signature, poetic lyrics, and quite a jam, so I’ve tended to have a positive association with The Eleven even before embarking upon this development.
As Heather and I started talking more about the number eleven and its symbolic value, it resonated with us. Our last names each have two LLs, like two elevens uniting. There’s also the notion that eleven represents excellence and going above and beyond. And, of course, it is comprised of two 1s, so it’s two people uniting in their love of tennis.
The court is ATP length (120 feet, 21 feet from baseline to back walls) and 60 feet wide (12 feet from edge of doubles alley to side walls). One would be hard-pressed to find better lights on a private court in all of Southern California. There are eight pairs of LED lights that, when fully illuminated, turn night into day. Each pair can be controlled by an app set from 0% to 100%, a great feature when entertaining and wanting an ambient environment. With 16 lights, every part of the court is illuminated, with no shadows or dead spots. The poles are 32 feet high, and they are also aesthetically pleasing and add to the overall beauty of The Eleven.
The Eleven’s colors were inspired by the beautiful courts at Indian Wells, of which Heather and I are members and love attending the BNP Paribas Open each year. The court area is purple, and the surrounding exterior is green. There is a retractable awning to protect one from the sun on bright days and comfortable seating for players taking breaks or for those who wish to be on the court as spectators.
Looking over The Eleven, one can see a spacious lower deck with ample seating, a greenbelt, and a gorgeous stream stocked with fish between the greenbelt and the court wall. There is also a bar area with a barbecue and television for those who want to socialize. Finally, there is a firepit with couches for people to gather to keep warm when the temperature drops. There is also a public bathroom for those who want to shower and change after playing tennis.
The TenniSphere also has a separate structure comprising a casita on the first level that we call The Ad-Inn. It has a living room, kitchen, and bedroom with a bathroom and shower.
The second level comprises the Catalina Deck, which offers a terrific view of tennis on The Eleven and Catalina Island on a clear day. The Catalina Deck also has an enclosed game room and bar area we call the G-Suite, which has a television, refrigerator, air hockey, and seating. It can also be used as another sleeping area if necessary.
Throughout the entire area, there is a very high-quality speaker system that enables music to be played or whatever is on the television.
Pool Area
The property has a separate area with a pool, jacuzzi, gazebo, plenty of seating, and doors that open fully to create an indoor-outdoor space with the main house. There is a television for swimmers and loungers to enjoy, as well as one inside the home in the family room that people near the gazebo can watch. There is also a second barbecue area here.
Stay and Play
The primary residence has five bedrooms and five and one-half baths. In addition, there is a gym with a Murphy Bed that can sleep two and the potential to house others via blow-up mattresses. The Ad-Inn has a bedroom that can sleep two and a sofa in the living room that can sleep another person. The G-Suite has a couch for a person to sleep on as well.
There are six bedrooms (excluding the primary bedroom) and the potential to sleep up to 15 people, assuming two people per bed and one per couch and blow-up mattress.
The kitchen is open and can accommodate a large number of people by allowing guests to bring in a chef or do their own cooking. The two outdoor barbecues complement this. There is a beautiful dining room with a round table that can seat eight and a nook area that can seat between eight and ten.
The family and living rooms are large enough to hold at least eight people in smaller groups.
The home also has a room dedicated to working out. It is air-conditioned and has a television to provide a more motivating and comfortable exercise environment.
Location
The TenniSphere is located in a beautiful residential area of unincorporated Orange County, California, known as North Tustin, or as we affectionately call it, Tustiny. Hills and luxurious homes surround the property. It is conveniently located to allow access to major freeways, enabling visitors to enjoy the beauty of Laguna Beach and Newport Beach and the exceptional shopping at Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza.
Disneyland is approximately 12 miles to the north, and if one continues in that direction, one can enjoy the incredible variety that Los Angeles has to offer. For those looking to explore more distant beauty, the Palm Springs area and San Diego are within two hours of The TenniSphere.
The home is situated in a very private nine-home gated community. For those interested in hiking and strenuous walks, The TenniSphere is near Peters Canyon and immediately outside the gate, an incredibly challenging incline that we affectionately call Ass Hill. One can traverse the neighborhood and embark upon a strenuous walk that rewards one with beautiful views from the top.