BERGENFIELD — The Ahdeek Tennis Club for a century has been a unique haven for lovers of the sport, with four clay courts and a system that uses playing cards to determine who gets on the court.

But this will comes to end Monday, when the club will no longer operate.

Bergenfield resident Howard Fields, a club member for more than 25 years, said the club's president, Gordon Voorhees, had informed members after meeting with borough officials in February that it would have to close down. The club owes the borough money and its membership is dwindling.

Fields said he will miss the club, as he had enjoyed the camaraderie and the proximity to his home.

"It was disappointing because it was a special little place and it's cozy and friendly," Fields said.

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Two tennis clubs — one dating back to the late 1900s and the other to the 1920s —merged to form the Ahdeek Tennis Club. Its season runs from May to November.

And unlike most tennis clubs, where games are scheduled in advance, Ahdeek members only have to show up at 9 a.m. Then, they are handed playing cards that determine what teams play on the four courts and who supplies the balls.

The club paid $17,000 annually to lease the courts on Pelham Place, which are owned by the borough of Bergenfield. And it paid $6,000 to get the Har-Tru clay surface ready for play for the season.

Last year, before the start of the season, the club was working with Borough Administrator Corey Gallo to try to attract new members to bring in revenue.

The courts could become the site of housing, since it is zoned for one-family homes and is on a narrow residential street.

However, Mayor Arvin Amatorio said the borough does not have any definite plans on what will happen to the tennis courts since it has to check if there are restrictions on developing the property.

Ricardo Kaulessar is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com Twitter: @ricardokaul