Swanage Tennis Club is to improve another of its tennis courts thanks to a generous donation served up by the Co-op.
The club at Beach Gardens, which has an open day on Saturday 2nd April 2022, was one of the community causes supported by shoppers at the local supermarket.
Swanage tennis club currently has two astroturf surfaces
More than 300 members
The Co-op cheque for more than £8,000 means the club now has enough money to upgrade another tennis court to an Astroturf surface.
Two of the six courts at the tennis club in Beach Gardens, already have the better surface. The improvements will add a third, with all three benefitting from floodlighting to extend the playing hours.
The club, which has increased its membership to more than 300, is hoping the upgrade will be completed sometime later this year. Installing the new surface will take about four weeks.
Team winners of fun club tournament (top) and spot the ball (bottom) club members enjoy a rally on one of the current Astroturf surfaces
“Better quality surface”
Alison Phin, welfare and inclusion officer, said:
“It’s a much better quality surface to play on. It causes much less pressure on the joints which means that senior players can carry on playing for longer.”
Swanage Tennis Club plays in the Dorset league and the new surface will provide improved facilities for visiting clubs. The courts are a public facility which can be used by anyone.
Children’s tennis holiday camp (top) and Emily and Ben (bottom) winners of a monthly fun tournament
“Very supportive”
Swanage Tennis Club committee member Leonora Stephen thanked the Co-op, its shoppers and all the local residents who supported the club’s fundraising efforts. She said:
“It has been great working with the Co-op who is very supportive of the local community. The extra funding now enables us to work with the officers of Swanage Town Council to progress the project this year”.
Margaret Needs (top) and Chris Lefevre (bottom) in action on the astroturf surface
Beach Gardens Open Day
The courts are owned by Swanage Town Council which has also contributed £6,000 to the project. A further £4,000 has been provided by Dorset Council.
To celebrate the start to the summer tennis playing season, the tennis club and town council are hosting an open day at Beach Gardens in Swanage on Saturday 2nd April 2022 from 10 am to 4 pm.
There will be opportunities to join in free adult and junior tennis coaching sessions, fitness sessions and watch an exhibition match. There will also be free putting on the greens and refreshments available throughout the day.
A fun Christmas jumper tournament in 2021
