THE BALL'S firmly in the court of Okehampton Tennis Club following a change in administration of the facilities — and things can only get better, according to the club's chairman.
The six-year-old club has taken over the running of the courts in Simmons Park from Cannon Leisure and plans to offer a more friendly approach and greater flexibility for play.
Topping that, all the money raised through court booking fees will be ploughed back into the town.
The new developments have come from a good working relationship between the tennis club and the town council which manages the courts.
Club chairman David Carter said it was the town council's policy to encourage local sporting organisations to become more self-sufficient and promote themselves.
'Cannon Leisure are based at the swimming pool and it has been difficult for them to administer the tennis courts in the past,' he said. 'We hope to have a little more personal contact.'
Whereas before the courts were only accessible by members on certain days, they will now be available most of the time.
Mr Carter hopes these changes will help to get more people interested in playing tennis and boost the membership.
'We have a hard core of 50 members, juniors and adults, and there are probably 100 more who just pay as they play,' he said. 'We would still like to encourage more people to take it up.'
Mr Carter, who is starting adult coaching after Sportsweek, said his dream would be to get full professional coaching at the club.
'There is nothing like this on the north side of Dartmoor and it would service the large catchment of towns and villages in the area.
'We would like to go down the same road at Tavistock Tennis Club eventually and apply for lottery grants to develop the play here at Okehampton.'
As reported in the Times last week, Tavistock Tennis Club is £93,660 better off thanks to a National Lottery Sports Club award to improve its facilities.
Money raised through booking fees at Okehampton tennis courts will be used to help upgrade or replace the courts.
Mr Carter said the courts desperately needed refurbishment work but the club was waiting to hear how the latest lottery bid by West Devon Borough Council for a new sports complex, swimming pool and tennis courts would fare.
'We cannot take any steps forward until we know what is happening with the bid — it is not worth spending money on the existing courts if we are going to move in a year or so,' he said.
The club plays in several different leagues and tournaments and the men's first team is now up to division three having started in division seven.
Plans for floodlit courts mean that there will be more opportunities for both match and recreational play.
Mr Carter was keen to stress that the club welcomed any new members whether they had tennis experience or not.
'It is not an exclusive club — anyone can join,' he said.
Membership is £45 a year for adults and the cost to hire one of the four courts per hour is £3.
Mr Carter can be contacted on 01837 207360 for more information about the club or coaching.