WORKS to resurface the courts at Tavistock Tennis Club began this week, representing a major investment by the club.

The ambitious project, costing around £70,000, will see six of the Plymouth Road courts resurfaced, two of which will be upgraded to modern artificial grass. The courts are normally resurfaced every 12 years.

The club is also in contact with the Lawn Tennis Association over matching funding for plans to install floodlighting for the courts and an internet ‘gate’ system for booking. Funding has been provided by Tavistock Town Council to refurbish two of the courts to continue the ‘pay-and-play’ scheme which enables the public to enjoy a game. 

Dr Peter Rodgers, the chairman of TTC, said he was really excited that after many months of hard work by the club that the project is now underway. 

He added that this would not have happened without the hard work of many members, two in particular — Paul Newton and Tim Jackman.  

‘Without them the new lease arranged with Tavistock Town Council would not have happened and the future and prosperity of the club would have been in jeopardy. Carl Hearn and his colleagues at the town council have also been extremely helpful throughout the process.  

So if there are any budding Joanna Kontas or Andy Murrays out there come down to the club and have a go at tennis. Everyone is welcome at whatever level you play — beginners of all ages are particularly welcome.’  

The upgrade of the courts at Tavistock Tennis Club is part of their plan to encourage more people to take up the sport — particularly for youngsters ‘to have a go’.  

Dr Rodgers said tennis had many benefits to offer, builds up hand/eye co-ordination and general fitness and is also a lot of fun — especially for children unsuited to aggressive physical contact sports.  

He added: ‘The club also hopes to install a practise wall (Arthur Ashe, Tim Henman, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic all attribute their success to hitting a ball against a wall as a child) and is considering putting in mini-tennis courts, suitable for kids from about age three upwards, which could be used free-of-charge to encourage parents to bring their kids down to bat a ball about.’

Recent improvements at the club have seen success on the courts. Last season, coached by Rhys Dunford, TTC’s junior team was undefeated in the Plymouth and District Junior league and earning promotion to the next division.’

The club’s press officer Richard Hendin told Times Sport: ‘This is a big step forward not only for Tavistock Tennis Club, but for sport in the area as a whole. The club is particularly keen to encourage children into sport, because many children are more suited to a non-contact sport such as tennis.  

‘It’s a lot of fun for them to learn how to play, and, like riding a bicycle, once a child has picked up the motor skills he or she is set up for a life of fitness and companionship through sport — we have a member actively playing our club sessions well into his eighties.’