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Wimbledon in Iowa: Farmer shows off full-size replica of Wimbledon's grass tennis court

Wimbledon in Iowa: Farmer shows off full-size replica of Wimbledon's grass tennis court
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Updated: 11:51 AM CDT Jun 9, 2025
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Wimbledon in Iowa: Farmer shows off full-size replica of Wimbledon's grass tennis court
糖心vlog logo
Updated: 11:51 AM CDT Jun 9, 2025
Editorial Standards
It was in 2016 that 糖心vlog took viewers to Floyd County, where a farmer showed off his fascination with the game of tennis.Mark Kuhn lives on a gravel road just outside Charles City marked with blackbirds, a giant metal mailbox and a different kind of 鈥淔ield of Dreams.鈥漈he runway by Kuhn鈥檚 tractor marks his most-prized crop: a full-size replica of the All England Club in London, England that hosts Wimbledon. 鈥淎s a child, I started getting interested in tennis,鈥 Kuhn said.Five decades ago, only a shortwave radio could bring Wimbledon excitement to the Midwest.鈥淔or a 10-year-old farm boy, that鈥檚 a long way across the pond,鈥 Kuhn said.He wanted the real thing.Tennis players from across the United States visit to play in his front yard on the cherished court.鈥淚鈥檝e been to Wimbledon to see it, but that鈥檚 how it looks,鈥 said Brett Joyce, of Rochester, Minnesota. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 pretty cool.鈥滽uhn makes sure to maintain the real-life court by taking delicate care of the surface.鈥淭here鈥檚 irrigation built throughout it,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very similar to a golf green. We mow it with a mower.鈥漈he process takes about an hour of manicuring each morning, making even grown men giddy.鈥淢ost (tennis players) have never played or even seen a grass court, let alone one that features the Union Jack Slazenger logos,鈥 Kuhn said.'If you build it, they will come' proves true for tennis in Iowa, too鈥淭his is the best day off I鈥檝e had in a while,鈥 Joyce said.So why would an Iowa farmer dedicate most of the summer to tourists with reservations and not charge a dime?鈥淚t is my passion,鈥 Kuhn said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great time for me, the way it works out. The corn is laid by now. The beans are sprayed. I鈥檓 just ready to host people on my grass tennis court.鈥滶xcept players can鈥檛 visit during Wimbledon.Kuhn doesn鈥檛 just have a ticket to the tennis tournament 鈥 he has a job.鈥淚鈥檒l be a volunteer court attendant during the fortnight at Wimbledon,鈥 Kuhn said.Wimbledon officials have paid a visit to see what the Iowa farmer has done, and they love it.鈥淭hey鈥檙e a great bunch of blokes, those guys are,鈥 Kuhn said.鈥淚 knew it鈥檇 be neat, but I had no idea,鈥 Joyce said.After Kuhn returns from Wimbledon, he鈥檒l open the All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club again, but reservations are required.Visit alliowalawntennisclub.com/reservations to reserve a court time.

It was in 2016 that 糖心vlog took viewers to Floyd County, where a farmer showed off his fascination with the game of tennis.

Mark Kuhn lives on a gravel road just outside Charles City marked with blackbirds, a giant metal mailbox and a different kind of 鈥淔ield of Dreams.鈥

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The runway by Kuhn鈥檚 tractor marks his most-prized crop: a full-size replica of the All England Club in London, England that hosts Wimbledon.

鈥淎s a child, I started getting interested in tennis,鈥 Kuhn said.

Five decades ago, only a shortwave radio could bring Wimbledon excitement to the Midwest.

鈥淔or a 10-year-old farm boy, that鈥檚 a long way across the pond,鈥 Kuhn said.

He wanted the real thing.

Tennis players from across the United States visit to play in his front yard on the cherished court.

鈥淚鈥檝e been to Wimbledon to see it, but that鈥檚 how it looks,鈥 said Brett Joyce, of Rochester, Minnesota. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 pretty cool.鈥

Kuhn makes sure to maintain the real-life court by taking delicate care of the surface.

鈥淭here鈥檚 irrigation built throughout it,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very similar to a golf green. We mow it with a mower.鈥

The process takes about an hour of manicuring each morning, making even grown men giddy.

鈥淢ost (tennis players) have never played or even seen a grass court, let alone one that features the Union Jack Slazenger logos,鈥 Kuhn said.

'If you build it, they will come' proves true for tennis in Iowa, too

鈥淭his is the best day off I鈥檝e had in a while,鈥 Joyce said.

So why would an Iowa farmer dedicate most of the summer to tourists with reservations and not charge a dime?

鈥淚t is my passion,鈥 Kuhn said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great time for me, the way it works out. The corn is laid by now. The beans are sprayed. I鈥檓 just ready to host people on my grass tennis court.鈥

Except players can鈥檛 visit during Wimbledon.

Kuhn doesn鈥檛 just have a ticket to the tennis tournament 鈥 he has a job.

鈥淚鈥檒l be a volunteer court attendant during the fortnight at Wimbledon,鈥 Kuhn said.

Wimbledon officials have paid a visit to see what the Iowa farmer has done, and they love it.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e a great bunch of blokes, those guys are,鈥 Kuhn said.

鈥淚 knew it鈥檇 be neat, but I had no idea,鈥 Joyce said.

After Kuhn returns from Wimbledon, he鈥檒l open the All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club again, but reservations are required.

Visit to reserve a court time.