Malibu Racquet Club serves up new improvements
New grass court being installed.
By Olivia Damavandi / Staff Writer
Originally developed in 1974, the Malibu Racquet Club has long been well known as one of California’s premiere small private tennis clubs for its unique views and facilities, but general manager Trey Walke and head tennis instructor John McCampbell, both professional tennis players, say the club has improvements and refinements currently underway that will make it stand out even more.
Walke, who was on the professional tennis tour for 10 years, became general manager of Malibu Racquet Club in 2007, when it was purchased by Lawrence Investments, a company owned by entrepreneur Larry Ellison. Walke was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and began playing tennis starting at age six. When he was 17, he moved to Los Angeles on his own for “better tennis competition,” and attended UC Berkeley for a year before turning professional and being ranked among the top 40 players in the world.
Walke runs the club like he plays the game.
“Tennis has taught me persistence and planning,” he said. “If you’re going to win a tennis match, you have to have a game plan in mind and be willing to carry it out through the highs and lows, much like operating this club.”
Malibu Racquet Club offers eight tennis courts, and is currently constructing a grass court. After the grass court is built, the club will feature all four types of courts utilized in the professional league, which include the Australian, a spongy court that’s easier on the knees, a red clay court and a hard court.
Also offered at the club are a pro shop, gym facilities and café for a patio lunch experience that is open to the public. Though the club’s services are mostly geared toward its members, it offers public lessons from professional tennis players.
But its professional instructors shouldn’t hinder tennis newcomers from trying the sport, Walke said. The club teaches people of all ages to play, from small children to seniors, and has been regularly utilized by celebrities such as Sir Lawrence Olivier, Barbra Streisand, Anthony Hopkins, Linda Ronstadt, Pierce Brosnan, David Duchovny, Téa Leone, Tom Hanks and David Foster.
“It’s a great place to come because we have great pros that are great teachers for everyone, from beginners to advanced players,” Walke said.
There are currently five professional tennis instructors at Malibu Racquet Club: David Thayne, Doug Olen, Nina Eriksson, Scott Marvel, and head instructor John McCampbell, a 20-year member of the club who coached the Malibu High School boys and girls tennis teams from 1995 to 2004 and who has spent 23 years as an advisory staff professional for tennis company Prince.
“It’s [the club] a very unique atmosphere,” McCampbell said. “It could very well be the last tennis facility of its kind. This is a tennis-only club. It’s a very close-knit community of newcomers and of people who have been here a long time. There’s no place like it. It’s pretty ideal.”