Club back on court

By Tania Martin
THE DAYS of abandoning matches because of rain are over for the Ferny Creek Tennis Club with the opening of their three new tennis courts just around the corner.
Club president Doug Wilson said match wash outs used to be an all too frequent occurrence at the tennis club.
Mr Wilson said over the years, the red porous surface and the sub-surface drainage system had deteriorated to a point where a light shower of rain was enough to render the courts unplayable.
However, the new courts are now finished after five months of construction work and are ready for the grand opening on Sunday, 12 February at 12.30pm.
Mr Wilson said committee members teamed up last year to prepare a compelling application to attract funding.
And it worked with the club receiving $15,000 from the Shire of Yarra Ranges, $60,000 from the State Government’s Sports and Recreational fund and other minor grants and fundraising events.
The total cost of constructing the new courts was about $73,000, which includes extra work on replacing the drainage pipes.
But, Mr Wilson said it has been well worth all the hard work.
“Up here in the Hills, we offer one of the very few opportunities for sport and recreation, and reconstruction of the court surface was the only way to make our courts more reliable,” he said.
Mr Wilson said the new courts were already proving themselves after a test run was undertaken last weekend.
He said it rained all morning on Saturday, 28 January, but players were able to resume play 20 minutes after it stopped raining.
However, Mr Wilson said in the event of rain the old courts used to delay play by up to three or four hours and in the end play would be abandoned.
He said the reason why the old courts where in such a bad condition was because of age, having been built 40 years earlier.
Tennis great Ian Barclay will officially cut the ribbon and have the first serve on the courts on Sunday.
Mr Barclay is an internationally recognised tennis coach, having coached players such as Pat Cash, and captained the World Cup team from 1986 to 1987.
Mr Wilson said the Sports Minister Justin Madden has also been invited to the grand opening of the courts.
Following the cutting of the ribbon a ‘Play Tennis Day’ will be held including a number of activities including fast tennis, a coaching clinic, serve speed check, games, prizes and giveaways.