Thanks to a recent $200,000 Federal Government funding injection, Book-a-Court technology will now benefit an additional five WA communities improving the accessibility of tennis to the wider community.
The five new Book-a-Court facilities are in addition to the existing 13 Book-a-Court venues accessible across WA and will join 165 venues across Australia already enjoying the benefits of the online system. Dunsborough TC and Mundaring TC Book-a-Court capabilities are operational, whilst Peppermint Grove TC, Range View TC and Kelmscott TC will come online throughout the year.
The grant, championed by Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, Minister for Sport, is part of an initiative which aims to improve the health of Australians through sport.
“Australia has a long and proud history of tennis champions from Evonne Goolagong to Lleyton Hewitt and by encouraging more people to get involved playing tennis, we are encouraging all Australian’s to lead healthy and active lifestyles and potentially unearthing the next Australian Open champion,” Minister McKenzie said.
“As part of the national sport plan – Sport 2030 – our Government is committed to reducing the level of inactivity in Australia by 15% by 2030 and to do this, we need more Australians to get more active, more often.”
The online court booking system, which provides online payment, keyless entry and around-the-clock court access via pin pad technology, is available to anyone who enjoys a hit of tennis. Court bookings are easily accessed via the club’s website, where payment is taken in exchange for a unique booking pin provided for pin-pad use at the tennis club gate. The system is available to both members and non-members, with a primary focus of encouraging greater accessibility and convenience to all members of the local community.
Dunsborough Tennis Club Treasurer Mr Michael Howes says the Book-a-Club installation would not only benefit the local community, but also the large volume of tourists that visit the region throughout the year.
“Book-a-Court expands the clubs capacity to offer court hire to anyone and everyone, it removes a historical barriers that have limited our previous capabilities,”
“Within the first week of operation we had six or seven new members join. The technology is a win win for everyone involved,”
“With Easter upon us, we look forward to seeing many holiday makers hitting the courts and taking full advantage of the ease of the new Book-a-Court technology,” Mr Howes said.
Treasurer of Mundaring Tennis Club, Mr Barry Roff looks forward to the benefits that the system will provide to both the club and the wider community.
“The Book-a-Court System will allow easy court access to members, social players and the wider community” Mr Roff said.
“The Book-a-Court system instantly removes the hassle of the previous method where players needed to pay a cash deposit before collecting the key from the local petrol station.”
“The club looks forward to a new era of hassle free access,”
“What we really look forward to, is seeing more people playing tennis,” Mr Roff said.
Tennis West CEO, Michael Roberts believes Book a Court is the way of the future for tennis and is a positive step forward for WA clubs who can now provide a new offering to the local community.
“The Book a Court platform meets modern consumer expectations by providing a convenient, easy, online platform to book and access your local court. From the club’s perspective, this will reduce the administrative burden, and help to increase court hire revenue.” Mr Roberts said
“This system will help to change the tennis landscape in WA by making our courts more accessible and open to the community,”
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said the new online booking platform, which has been piloted in all states, is already encouraging more people to take to the court and welcomed the funding announcement which will help the program expand.
“I’m delighted the federal government is helping more clubs become more accessible with this tremendous grant,”
“Tennis provides lifelong health and social benefits, and research shows that playing the sport can increase your life span up to 9.7 years. Making courts and clubs easier to access will help us bring more people – from seasoned players who may have taken a break from tennis to first-timers – on court and into clubs to enjoy our great sport.”
The Book-a-Court system recently won an award for Excellence in Innovation at the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Participation Awards, recognising an ASC-funded sporting organisation that continues to evolve and encourage participation through various strategies and initiatives.
To book online visit: play.tennis.com.au/court-hire
For more information about the Book a Court program, visit http://www.tennis.com.au/clubs/book-a-court
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