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Royal Ascot Tennis Club’s Open Day on 22nd August proved a real smash hit for over 100 members, guests and their families as the popular Club celebrated the official re-opening of the newly refurbished clubhouse.
On a gloriously warm Sunday, the 115-year-old Club, situated in the heart of the community just behind Ascot Fire Station, hosted a spectacular Exhibition and Charity Open Day to mark the completion of an extensive project to revamp their facilities.
In addition, the Club - in partnership with tennis charity Bright Ideas for Tennis - raised around £1000 which will be channelled into initiatives which will help the local community.
The Club worked in tandem with Bright Ideas for Tennis to deliver a packed programme of coaching for juniors and adults, an entertaining Exhibition Match involving top class ex-Davis Cup professionals, and a highly enjoyable BBQ which contributed substantially to the final total raised for charity.
Additionally, the Club was delighted to declare their renovated clubhouse officially open (see photo below), with Trustee Graham Dennis and Club Chairman, Adrian Camp, performing the ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of around 100 chilled-out tennis enthusiasts relaxing on the spacious new sun deck.
Members and non-members alike took part in the fun, orchestrated superbly by former ATP doubles players Danny Sapsford and Luke Milligan of Bright Ideas for Tennis. Around 50 players took advantage of coaching from the professionals before Danny and Luke were joined by two more experienced pros, Manny Smith and Assad Khan, to how it should be done in an entertaining men’s doubles exhibition, watched by the enthusiastic crowd enjoying their BBQ and strawberries and cream in true Wimbledon fashion in the summer sunshine.
Chairman Adrian Camp said: “We are delighted to officially open our refurbished clubhouse and, importantly, provide funding for disadvantaged or disabled children in the local community, who will undoubtedly benefit from our activities by being able to participate in tennis.
“A big thank you to Danny and his team at Bright Ideas for Tennis, who helped to make this Open Day possible and to all those Club members and friends who contributed food and drink and to Cliff Roe Sports, our young DJ Ethan Southwell and musician Ben Parkhurst (@benthemusicdude), who delivered an enjoyable acoustic set at very short notice.
“Our Club has been in existence for 115 years, but we continue to expand and welcome all new members, young and old, to come along and enjoy competitive and social tennis in a relaxed environment on our four floodlit courts. They will be made very welcome.”
Danny Sapsford, Manager of Bright Ideas for Tennis, added: “Our aim is to support tennis clubs in the UK and to help increase membership numbers and levels of participation. We’ve enjoyed working with Royal Ascot Tennis Club to assist in creating opportunities for young people with disabilities to play tennis within their local community.”