Indoor Courts Challenges faced by the Club

1
Indoor Courts Challenges faced by the Club

• Michael Byrne
• Sutton Lawn Tennis Club

2
Background

• SLTC Strategic Development Plan
• Timing - Need to replace some of our existing old
  courts
  
• Indoor Courts aired at a number of AGMs in the
  past 7 years
  
• The Big bang solution (Option 5A!)

3
Challenges faced by the Club

• The right strategic decision
• Is there a logical opportunity to do it
• Hearts and Minds
• Financial Implications
• Local /Internal issues

4
The Strategic Decision

• Communicate the Long Term vision
• Buy in to the Plan
• Quotes

5
The Hearts and Minds

• Internal Club Profile?
• Different stakeholders different needs and
  Perceptions
  
• Parents of Juniors
• Coaches
• Social Players
• Competitive players
• The non tennis players
• Squash
• Pavillion

6
The Opportunity

• What else is happening with our facilities
• Does it fit with other necessary work
• Timing

7
The Financial Implications

• Find a solution that fits the financial
  capability
  
• Member Commitment Up Front
• Lottery Feasability
• Borrowing
• Levies

8
The Local Internal Issues

• Impact on our Neighbours?
• There will be additional charges for usage
• Only elite and junior players will get to use
  the indoor facility
  
• The weather is generally not too bad so why do
  we need indoor facilities?
  
• Why do we need consultants to manage and
  implement, sure havent we put in courts and
  lights before without them?

9
Where are we now

• We have a long term vision for the upgrading of
  all our 12 courts to ITF standards for court
  layout and floodlighting
  
• Our members approved 2 Projects in February
  2006.
  
• Project 1 complete
• replaced 9 tennis court surfaces and fencing
  installed inmproved floodlighting
  
• Electrical infrastructure signifiantly upgraded
  on the grounds to facilitate all future
  development
  
• Project 2
• We have completed a detailed design of the
  relocation of 3 existing courts and the
  installation of ITF standard floodlighting on
  these courts and a Covair Indoor Air Hall
• Planning application submitted to Fingal CC last
  week. We await their decision

10
What have we learned?

• Over Communicate!
• The Club Strategic Plan must be sold
• Get a mandate from the members and then drive it
  forward
  
• Be less conservative
• Focus on the Majority (usually the silent)
• Go abroad for advice as well on the specific
  designs and solutions
  
• Put lots of time into the details particularly
  with consultants
  
• Dont be held back by negative thinking!