Evie and Zac Harper (front) with Sport and Recreation Minister Mick Murray and Simon Harper.
Camera IconEvie and Zac Harper (front) with Sport and Recreation Minister Mick Murray and Simon Harper. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Tennis: State Govt grant to light up Wembley Downs Tennis Club

Kate LeaverStirling Times

WEMBLEY Downs Tennis Club will light four courts for night time games thanks to a $17,600 share in State Government community sporting funds.

Club captain Mike Underwood said lighting the courts would help to diversify the club’s membership and cater for working families.

“Night tennis is really important to the club, we’re trying to get young professional families involved and many don’t have time to play on weekends,” he said.

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“The lighting is essential to the club for increasing the membership and adjusting to what the community want.

“More and more people want to come and play casually as opposed to being full members; night tennis is popular.”

Underwood said Wembley Downs was one of the first clubs in WA to introduce an automated court booking system which had been a hit with casual players.

Head coach Simon Harper said he was hoping to launch a touch tennis league in September.

“Touch tennis is a new form of tennis taking over Europe at the moment which is played on smaller courts with a spongy ball,” he said.

“It hasn’t hit Australia yet but it is huge in the UK.”

Sport and recreation Minister Mick Murray said he encouraged other local clubs to “put their hat in the ring” for the next funding round closing on August 31.

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