3 September 2018 | Tennis Australia

Ten tennis clubs in the Cumberland area of Sydney’s western suburbs have committed to making tennis more accessible by giving the local community the opportunity to book tennis courts when they want via a new online booking system.

Cumberland Mayor Greg Cummings joined Tennis Australia’s Patrick McInerney to officially mark the occasion on Saturday.

The improved booking process allows local residents to book and pay online, with players then given a PIN that provides access to the court and turns on the lights at their designated time.

Cumberland Council is the first council in Australia to have all of their tennis venues set up with the new booking system, providing both flexibility and freedom for players who can now easily access courts within the Cumberland area.

The Cumberland Council venues that have committed to the installation are:
• Bathurst Street Tennis Courts
• Byrnes Street Tennis Courts
• Central Gardens Tennis Courts
• Civic Park Tennis Courts
• Dirrabarri Tennis Courts
• Fullagar Road Tennis Courts
• Greystanes Sportsground Tennis Courts
• Guildford West Sportsground
• Lawson Square Park Tennis Courts
• Merrylands Park Tennis Courts

Book a Court is an online court booking and payment platform that connects with pin pad technology on a club’s gate. It is easy to use for both players and club administrators, which means more time on court for everyone.

Cumberland Council Mayor Greg Cummings said he was excited that the new booking system had arrived in Cumberland.

“Cumberland has 26 tennis courts across ten locations available for the community to hire. The new booking system will make it easy for residents to take to the court and get active,” Mayor Cummings said.

“Whether you’ve played for years or are wanting to start out, now is the time to get involved. By visiting cumberland.nsw.gov.au/tennis residents can book their court and be ready to play in no time.”

The online booking system will help clubs offer the many health, social and other benefits associated with tennis, to an even wider cross-section of the Cumberland community.

Tennis Australia Director of Participation Paul Cammack said he hoped the new program would encourage more people to take to the court.

“The new online booking system continues to unlock tennis clubs around Australia by giving flexible and convenient access – encouraging more people than ever to take to the court,” Cammack said.

“Whether your last match was years ago or you’re a regular player, we encourage you to get back on court at your local club and benefit from the lifelong health and social benefits that tennis provides.”

Tennis NSW Facility Operations Manager Shaun Mulraney said the new booking system was a major coup for the local community.

“It is great to see ten tennis clubs within the Cumberland area take full advantage of the online booking system and commit to opening their courts and making tennis more accessible in our community,” Mulraney said.

“This innovative platform will allow for more spontaneous play and comes just in time for spring, with the warmer weather sure to attract more casual participants.

“I look forward to seeing more tennis clubs open up their venues to give club members, local residents, tennis fans and occasional players the ability to book courts at their leisure and provide easier access to courts across Sydney.”

The online booking system was first piloted in 2015/16 and has since been installed in more than 111 venues and 1,111 courts nationwide, with more than 70,000 bookings made in 2017-18.

The initiative 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 a court online for the Cumberland Council area please visit: https://www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/venues-hire/tennis-court-hire

For more information on the online booking system please visit: https://www.tennis.com.au/clubs/book-a-court