TENNIS COURT REPLACEMENT PROJECT
FEB 2017
What is the problem?
• Back courts are 20 years old (laid in 1997)
–
–
–
–
Thinning
Slippery
Root evidence
Seam movement
• Front courts were laid badly 6 years ago
– No sub-surface remedial/levelling works
– No penetrating of base to improve drainage
– Thin carpet (9mm replaced 16mm)
• Wearing rapidly and shows everything!
What we need to do
• In order to continue having 6 playable, equal courts, we
require to replace all six carpets
– Replacement of 3 difficult due to access and LTA funding
• Sub-base remedial works are essential to provide a flat, good
draining surface for next 10+ years
• Approximate cost £100k
25%
Raised by member donations
25%
Cash provided by Sports Club
50%
Interest free loan to be repaid
over 10 years by Sports Club
The Process
Initial discussions
with contractors
Works Commence
(3-4 week duration)
Tennis Section start
fundraising 9/9/15
Contractor
Appointed
Approach to LTA for
interest free loan
Formal LTA funding
application
Sports Club start Court
Replacement Fund with
tractor loan repayment
funds April 2015
Q1
Meetings with LTA to
progress application
Q2
Q3
2015
Q4
Q1
LTA Loan
Approval
LTA Site Survey
Q2
Q3
2016
Q4
Q1
Q2
2017
£25,000
20th
Feb - £19,421
Gift Aid ≈ £2,300
20% of this
£11,859 from
Member donations
7th Oct - £14,721
24th Jun - £10,363
£7,562 from
Tennis Club Funds
Vendor Assessment
Fairways (1)
Fairways (2)
Malcolms (1)
Malcolms (2)
Removal and
Disposal
£8,058
£8,058
£6,615
£6,615
£5,910
£5,910
Preparatory and
Remedial
£1,000
£1,000
£24,679
£24,679
£27,856
£27,856
Centre Court
Advantage Red
Lano Club Court
Lano Grand Clay
12
Tiger Turf
Advantage Red
Surface Supply
& Install
£55,012
£75,620
£57,790
£85,326
£62,946
£72,510
Total (excl VAT)
£64,070
£84,678
£89,084
£116,620
£96,712
£106,276
Company
Surface type
•
•
•
Unknown pedigree
(no known reference
customers)
Didn’t agree with LTA
remedial
requirements
Existing relationship
with Edel
•
•
•
Good reference sites
(including
Drumchapel)
Inflexible in Carpet
options – unknown
references for Lano
Noncommittal,
unavailable in
“Spring”
Ecosse Sports (1) Ecosse Sports (2)
•
•
•
Many reference sites
(WhiteCraigs,
Newlands, Thorn,
etc.)
Extensive
maintenance
relationship
Flexible to
accommodate
Surface Selection - TigerTurf Advantage PRO
• Sand dressed, 13mm pile
• The “preferred” artificial grass
surface until 2016
• Installed at Newlands,
Drumchapel, Strathgryffe,
Hamilton and well rated
• Plays marginally slower than
existing carpet
• Can be bi-coloured
Pro’s
Tried and trusted
No change from present player experience
Relatively risk free
Con’s
Wet balls as present
Last years fashion!
Surface Selection – Edel Advantage Red Court
• Sand filled, 12mm pile
• Artificially manufactured sand
• Only at Whitecraigs to date
(but Western installing and
Thorn, Rutherglen, Thistle,
Rubislaw among others all
investigating)
• Can be red, green or blue
Pro’s
Better drainage and less dampness
Slower bounce and better rallies
Less imperfections – truer bounces
The new “fashionable” surface
Con’s
We’d be an early adopter in UK
Requires some player brushing
What’s all the fuss about
“these surfaces are considered to have desirable playing
characteristics not too dissimilar to European clay”
•
•
•
•
Consistent bounce in wet or damp
Balls bounce up and don’t skid through
Get to more balls, return more serves!
Sand dressing and brushing ensures nice
flat surface
• Fewer irregular bounces
• Top clubs now keen to get installed
Player brushing takes about
a minute per end. Not
compulsory but makes for a
lovely, flat, smooth surface!
Shoes after 3 hours play
It’s not clay though –
it’s just a carpet with
another sand in it!
The Science
Tiger Turf (& current)
Advantage Red
•
•
•
•
Kiln dried sand
Irregular, random
shape
Retains water
and binds when
wet
•
•
•
•
•
Manufactured
ceramic sand
Regular shape
Drains well and
doesn’t retain
water
Sand dressed to
support fibres
Moisture retained in
carpet fibres
Play on carpet fibres
•
•
•
Sand filled just proud
of surface
Moisture drains
through sand
Play on smooth sand
A New Consideration
• Craiglockhart traditionally host ITF and LTA competitions on
their 6 outdoor clay courts
• Major refurbishment has reduced outdoor courts to 3, meaning
tournaments need a new home
• LTA seeking ITF approved outdoor venues with suitable offcourt facilities
• Advantage Red Court only ITF approved outdoor carpet
• Tennis Scotland have approached us to
request potential use of Hillhead for some
tournaments
• Would require us to have Advantage Red
• Are willing to pay “hire fee” equivalent to
carpet cost difference (£10k)
• Would bring additional off-court revenue
The Choice is Yours