The Kyabram Lawn Tennis Club on Lake Rd is throwing open its courts to anyone who wants to have a hit for free.
After a gruelling year of lockdowns, the club is keen to hit the ground running for the 2021-22 season and entice new members and old members to pick up a racquet.
Tennis coach and club member David Starling, who has also taken on the role of maintaining the grass courts since the tragic loss of the former groundskeeper last December, said he was looking forward to getting life back to normal and seeing more locals enjoying the facilities.
“Because we've all been doing it tough, the plan is for the next two weeks from Wednesday (September 22) to open it up,” Mr Starling said.
“No so-called hire fee will apply. Just come along.”
COVID-safe limits will apply, but Mr Starling believes the courts will be able to handle demand.
“At this stage we can have a maximum of 20 people in the complex,” he said.
“We've got 16 grass courts, 18 including the synthetics. By next week we'll probably have seven grass up and running along with the two synthetics, so nine in total to have a hit.”
Anyone is welcome to use the courts during the two-week period, according to Mr Starling, who will also be on site frequently in his roles as coach and groundskeeper.
The free offer comes ahead of the club beginning its competition program later in the year.
The competitions include juniors and seniors respectively on Saturday mornings and afternoons. A midweek ladies’ competition and twilight evening competitions are set to commence in October.
“Twilight will look to start probably at the end of October,” Mr Starling said.
“And then of course coaching will start back for group lessons and private lessons.”
For the little ones there is also a Hot Shots program played on a smaller court with an altered scoring system.
“(Hot Shots) is normally Saturday mornings, but we're going to extend it out to probably Friday nights, and we also do a school-based Hot Shots comp,” Mr Starling said.
The level of interest in tennis had grown in 2021, according to Mr Starling, due to the excitement of young players such as Emma Raducanu breaking into the top ranks and the COVID-safe nature of the game.
“If you think of COVID-safe sports, I guess you think golf and tennis and fishing,” he said, adding it was a pity such sports that were socially distanced by nature had been caught up in the lockdowns.
Registration for competitions and programs is available at play.tennis.com.au/kyabramlawntennisclub
Alternatively, for adult and twilight competition call Suzi Bennett on 0447 536 894, junior competition, Deanne Dodos on 0409 523 561, and coaching and Hot Shots, David Starling on 0427 004 457.