Staff

• Head Groundsman - Eddie Seaward (since 1991).
• 14 permanent ground staff.  A further 12 join for the period of The Championships.

• 19 courts in total for 2005 (Centre + Nos 1-19, except for No.12 which was removed in 2002 as part of preparatory works for the remodelling of southern end of the grounds).
• Centre, No.1, 2, 3, 13, 14, 18 are Show Courts.
• There are 22 grass practice courts.
• Courts are not floodlit as dew on the grass would make them too slippery for play.

Court Preparation

• See separate sheet Grass Courts - Preparation for The Championships 2007 for further details.

Court Maintenance

• Centre, No.1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 have been re-laid or newly built in the last 10 years. 
• Court grass composed of 100% rye grass (chosen for its durability).
• 1 tonne of grass seed is used each year.
• Maximum of 3,000 gallons of water used during the Fortnight - weather permitting.
• All courts re-lined, rolled and mown daily during Championships.
• Court wear, surface hardness and ball rebound are all measured daily.  In general, the men are tougher on the courts than the ladies.
• The Championships playing height of grass is 8mm.
• No!  Paint is not used to colour the Centre Court green towards the end of the event.

Hawk-Eye

• Adopted in 2007 on Centre and No.1 Courts to decide on line-calls.

Service Line Monitors

• Nicknamed 'Cyclops' - the full name is the CPE Service Line Monitor.
• Adopted first on Centre and No.1 Courts in 1980 and on No. 2 Court in 1981.
• Only used for service line calls and is also used at other tournaments.
• 2007 - Cyclops on Centre and No.1 Court replaced by Hawkeye.
• Court 18 will gain Cyclops in 2007.

Lines

• Paint is not used to mark the lines on the court.  A transfer wheel marker is used to apply a white compound (500 gallons used yearly) containing china clay to make it durable.
• All the lines are 50mm wide, except the baselines, which are 100mm.

Covers

• All courts have been provided with covers since 1971.
• Centre Court received a new cover in 1998.  Weighs 1 ton (wet and dry) and takes 17 people approx 22-28 seconds to cover the court.  Made from a translucent material, the cover allows a greater amount of light to the grass.  Air ventilation under the cover is aided by four large fans (two at either end).
• No.1 Court received a new cover in 1999.  Properties similar to that on Centre Court.  Air ventilation is the same as Centre Court.
• Extra fans provided on Courts 2, 3, 13 and 18 to quicken the drying of the grass after rain.
• No.2 Court has 8 coverers and the remaining courts 6 coverers.

• 160 Court Coverers.
• Trained two weeks prior to The Championships.
• Gradual training, which then builds up on the speed.
• Safety is paramount, but speed essential - approx timings 22-28 seconds.
• Pushing the umpire's chair with umpire still in it introduced in 2001 for the first time!

Centre/No 1 teams

• 17 people to cover the court
• 2 to remove the nets
• 2 to remove umpire/linespersons chairs

Outer Courts teams

• Cts 2, 13 and 18:  8 persons
• Others:  6 persons
• No 11:  11 persons

• A system of numbers is used to alert and instruct the court coverers when rain or bad weather is expected:

1. Court covering teams to be courtside
2. Cover at Chair Umpire's discretion
3. Compulsory cover as soon as possible
4. Inflate the covers
5. Deflate the covers
6. Uncover
7. Dress the courts

• Referee inspects a court once the covers are taken off and before the court is dressed with the net etc.  Decision on timing of process made by the Head Groundsman or Referee.

• Total area of grass on each of Centre & No.1 Courts is 41m x 22m.
• Singles Court is length 23.77m (78') x width 8.23m (27').
• Doubles Court is length 23.77m (78') x width 10.97m (36').