By Cindy Cantrell
Mike, Rick and David Burke lead NGI Sports, which recently renovated the nine tennis courts at Ripp Park in Waunakee, Wis.
Throughout its 31-year history, NGI Sports of Chattanooga, Tenn., has continued to thrive due to the constant development of new surfacing products for the tennis industry—specifically overlay technologies for new construction and reconstruction of courts.
“We don’t make paint to color courts,” says Vice President of Marketing Mike Burke. “We design processes to create long-term economical fixes for the infrastructure of existing facilities, according to emerging trends.”
NGI Sports has been instrumental in the development of modern-day synthetic turf, cushioned all-weather tennis and clay-court systems. After initially specializing in synthetic golf green, synthetic hockey pitches and artificial turf tennis courts, the company expanded into the tennis court market. The goal was not only to create a new niche of systems to assist in revitalizing aging infrastructures, but to reintroduce the sport to older players while engaging the next generation.
According to Burke, the company’s product development process is part of a sustainable approach incorporating renewable resources, recycled industrial materials and low-impact manufacturing and construction methodologies.
“Everything we do is driven by our mission to serve owners, athletes, dealers and licensed installers alike,” he says, noting value-adds such as multi-year warranties and exceptional customer support from the staff and trained dealer group.
The family business was founded in 1991 by Rick Burke, former president of Omnisport North America. His sons, Mike and David, also a vice president, joined the growing company following their respective graduations from Clemson University.
Cory Brisbin, based in northern California, serves as western sales manager. Office manager Terri West has been instrumental in the growth and development on the business side of NGI Sports since its inception.
One aspect that has remained constant, according to Mike Burke, is the company’s solution’s-driven philosophy. For instance, NGI Sports developed its ProBounce monolithic pavement system to retrofit over crushed rock. As a result, old, uneven asphalt may be broken up, pulverized onsite and reused as a new base under the ProBounce pavement, he says.
ProBounce is more affordable than post tension and cushioned, making it “an ideal playing surface for athletes young and old,” says Burke. In fact, three ProBounce projects have been recognized in the past two years as distinguished outdoor tennis facilities by the ASBA and RSI.
The company’s newest patented surface is designed for the renovation of pickleball courts. TitanTrax PK converts old, cracked courts to new pickleball pavements incorporating a locked base mat and an infilled grid.
NGI Sports also offers a full menu of individual tennis court site evaluation services, planning assistance and detailed technical specifications. The company also supports professional education seminars.
“Our background is in solutions rather than sales,” Burke says. “From materials to installation methods, engineering to environmental considerations, NGI surfaces have you covered.”