New tennis courts for Elmwood

Press, 29 February 1984, Page 56

New tennis courts for Elmwood

By

JOHN BROOKS

The country’s biggest tennis club, Elmwood, does not believe in doing things by halves. It is about to embark on a $125,000 development project which will provide the club with six synthetic grass courts, and three hard courts in the grounds of the adjacent ■ Heaton Street school. Coming hard on the heels of extensions to the pavilion last fsar, the provision of

the new courts will mean that the club has outlaid almost $250,000 in improving its facilities. The cost of the new surfaces will be met by a three-tiered debenture scheme. The project was enthusiastically backed at a special general meeting of club members; indeed, $50,000 was pledged on the spot. “The porous concrete courts at the club have served a useful life, and the remedial work required to restore them would have

equalled 50 per cent of the cost of the synthetic grass,” said Elmwood’s administration officer, Mr Brian Faulls, yesterday. “So we have decided to proceed with the laying of the new courts, after studying various possibilities over nine months.” Synthetic grass was enormously popular overseas, and about 200 courts had been laid this summer in the North Island. In Auckland synthetic grass was being credited with stimu-

lating a resurgence in club tennis, he said. The surface has all weather properties, and can be played on throughout the year. Mr Faulls said it would prolong sandshoe and ball life — “and the players will last longer, too.” The current concrete courts will provide an ideal base for the synthetic grass, and with the job expected to take only three weeks there will be little inconvenience to club members. It is hoped the new surfaces will be in April.

The club has reached agreement with education authorities over the construction of three courts in the Heaton Street school grounds, and sees this work as a community project. “They provide the ground, we provide the courts,” Mr Faulls said. “They will be under the jurisdiction of the club, and we will have the use of them at week-ends and after school. The school will have the use of them for a certain number of hours each week.” 1

As well as the six synthetic courts and the three school hard courts, the club also has three remaining porous courts. They cater for a playing membership of 1000. “Clubs have to make facilities as attractive as they can these days because players are becoming more sophisticated in their needs,” Mr Faulls said. “We decided that to tackle this project piecemeal would not work — it is easier and cheaper to have just one bite at the cherry.”