Turner Tennis Center at Patriots Point

After receiving a generous, program-changing $1.5 million gift in June 2022, the College of Charleston Turner Tennis Center is officially opened on September 9, 2024.

In 2022, Robb and Lydia Turner pledged to fund the renovation and new construction of the program's previous tennis facility at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant. Charleston's Board of Trustees unanimously approved the construction project and renaming of the facility to the Turner Tennis Center.

The facility features nine outdoor lighted courts and a 3,000 square foot clubhouse with tennis offices and locker rooms. For tennis fans, it has a two-tiered terrace that overlooks the courts for easy viewing. Instead of bleachers, spectators sit in low-country style rocking chairs. The courts also have computerized scoreboards that are updated by the players during the crossovers.

The capital project at the Turner Tennis Center includes a renovation to the interior and exterior of the existing tennis building. Interior improvements include new windows, doors, floors and ceiling as well as lounge space, coaches' offices and a sports medicine treatment room.

A covered pavilion with dining tables and lounge furniture highlight the exterior enhancements. The renovations also include resurfacing all nine courts. The singles courts are also now named the Billy Silcox Courts in honor of the Charleston alum and long-time volunteer coach.

Robb and Lydia Turner have been ardent supporters of the College of Charleston as their daughter, Ava, spent four years competing for head coach Angelo Anastopoulo's women's tennis program. Ava graduated from Charleston in the spring of 2021 with a bachelor's degree in communications.

"The Turner family was happy to provide financial support to renovate the Cougar tennis center and is excited to see the newly renovated facility. We have seen how important the program was to the college experience of our daughter and many other players," said Robb Turner. "Our hope is the new facility continues to move the Charleston tennis program forward to premier levels of college tennis."