The Bobby Jones Golf Course Foundation is excited to announce the opening of the new tennis courts at Bitsy Grant Tennis Center in Atlanta, Ga. Named after Ralph Foster, a beloved tennis center employee for years, the 12 new hard tennis courts are part of an ongoing project to completely renew the historic Bobby Jones Golf Course adjacent to Bitsy Grant. The Friends of Bitsy Grant Tennis and the City of Atlanta will celebrate the opening of the new courts on September 4, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. with a public commemorative event and dedication ceremony at the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center.

The twelve new hard courts, along with women’s and men’s bathrooms, will replace the tennis center’s previous ten hard courts demolished in July 2018. They are named in honor of longtime City of Atlanta employee and Bitsy Grant Tennis Center desk manager Ralph Foster, known by friends and players as “Tennis Center Ralph.” Foster, who passed away in 2007, was actively involved with the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center for more than 30 years. His natural charm, practical jokes and dynamite checkers skills kept players entertained and engaged through long court wait times.

“Ralph was the face and spirit of Bitsy Grant for decades, and we can think of no better way to pay tribute to our dear friend than by making him the namesake for our new courts,” said Dart Meadows, President of the Friends of Bitsy Grant Tennis.

The addition of the new hard courts was made possible by the Bobby Jones Golf Course Foundation and the generous support of the James M. Cox Foundation.

“He always answered the phone ‘Tennis Center Ralph’ so I started calling him that, and it became his nickname.  He called me ‘Newspaper Jim,’” said Jim Kennedy, Chairman of Cox Enterprises and the Cox Foundation. “He was a great guy and we are happy to name the courts in his memory.  He encouraged thousands of people to get out on the courts and be active.”

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