THE Pinelands Tennis Club is appealing to the community and eThekwini Municipality for assistance as it struggles to stay afloat amid rising maintenance costs and steadily decreasing funds.

Club member Joy Geldenhuys said the facility, which has served the community for decades, is on the verge of shutting down if additional support cannot be secured.

“All we ask is to keep the club serving the community. There are fewer and fewer places where people can socialise, and we want to keep this space available for everyone,” said Geldenhuys.

According to club members, tennis clubs have faced significant challenges in recent years, with many closing their doors following the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The decline in participation has also affected local leagues. We used to play league tennis here, but there are no more leagues. Being part of the community, we want to keep the club going, but the maintenance costs are becoming impossible to manage,” said Geldenhuys.

One of the club’s biggest challenges is the condition of its courts.

“The City last resurfaced two of the club’s four courts approximately 20 years ago. Although tennis courts typically have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years, they should ideally be resurfaced every 10 years to remain playable and safe,” said the concerned member.

As a result, only two of the four courts are currently in regular use. In addition to court maintenance, another member, Willem Maloney, said routine upkeep such as weekly grass cutting, adds to the club’s financial burden.

“We are scared that we are going to have to close down. In an effort to generate additional income, the club has converted the third court for pickleball, a rapidly growing sport that is attracting new players.

“We hire it out to people who want to come and play. We provide all the equipment, so they don’t need to bring anything with them,” explained Maloney.

The club also rents out its hall, which can accommodate around 50 people, for private functions and community events. “We appeal to people to make use of this venue and our courts to help keep this place running,” members said.

Geldenhuys said they fear that closure of the facility could have wider consequences for the neighbourhood.

“If this place shuts down, it could become vandalised. The grass will become overgrown and it may attract unwanted activity,” said Geldenhuys. “The club is in the middle of the community, surrounded by a crèche, a school and a church. It is an important community asset.”

The Highway Mail emailed the eThekwini Municipality but there was no response by the time of publishing.

To assist, join the club or hire the venue WhatsApp 084 530 3212.

For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter here