Smash hit as tennis and pickleball club wins state award

ALSTONVILLE Tennis and Pickleball Club has been recognised for its rapid growth, technological advancements and major upgrades with a most outstanding venue award.

The club received the most outstanding country club or venue at the Tennis NSW awards night in Sydney last month.

Over the last two years, the club has spent more than $500,000 to improve the facility with eight new pickleball and two tennis courts.

It also operates six tennis courts at the new sports facility in Wollongbar.

 

“It was a very good award to win. No club in this region has won it, so we’re very proud of it,” club treasurer Andrew Leslie said.

“We’ve been clear about what direction we want the club to go, and the community have been at the heart of that.

“We visited several clubs with pickleball facilities and made sure we did our due diligence.

“Now we have one of the best pickleball facilities in Australia and that’s coming from players who have been here that compete nationally.”

The club has about 450 members and has nearly doubled its junior base with 174 players.

It has an integrated online booking and automated remote access, a pro-shop for the coach and has extended its Wollongbar clubhouse.

The club uses a Bluetooth booking system which sends a code to players phones where they can control court lights and access gates.

Alstonville is the first dual-venue club in the state to adopt the system through a single booking portal which was commended by Tennis NSW in its award criteria report.

“The courts are full most nights. It’s great for the community and it’s become a hub for the town,” Leslie said.

“We still have one of the cheapest court hire rates and the place has been buzzing.

“We’re looking at introducing Padel, which is another popular racket sport, and I think we’ll just keep building from here.”