If you’re feeling inspired to take up a sport after the thrill of the Olympics, think about trying tennis. In her youth, Shellharbour’s two-time Olympian and world ranked professional tennis player Ellen Perez hit the courts at Oak Flats Tennis Club, so we spoke to secretary Viraj Keer to discover what the club has to offer.

“We have used the grants received from the NSW Government, Shellharbour City Council and Bendigo Bank to improve our facilities in order to provide a modern playing space for the whole community and to keep our talented players playing local,” says Viraj.

There are now six courts under the Oak Flats Tennis Club umbrella – four synthetic grass courts at Kingston St, Oak Flats and two hard courts at Graham Park, Warilla.

An online booking system for both court locations makes playing socially or practising very easy. Fees are some of the lowest in the Illawarra and are further reduced for members, with daytime tennis court hire as little as $2 per hour.

For beginners, or those looking for some one-on-one expertise, there are two tennis coaching options for both kids and adults – ‘Brett and Michelle Edwards Tennis Coaching’ and ‘Jones & Co Tennis Coaching.’

‘Hot Shots’ for kids starts at age 3 and includes colour-coded stages for each progression level.

Social tennis groups are run throughout the day and some nights during the week. These do not require a booking, or regular commitment. 

“Just turn up on the day,” says Viraj, “and have some fun. The Ladies Social Groups are really gaining momentum as a great way to meet new people and have some fun in the fresh air.

“It doesn’t matter if you have never played before, if you can hold a racquet, you can play tennis.”

For the more serious player looking for a step up from social tennis, Oak Flats Tennis Club competes in the Kiama/Shellharbour District Tennis Association Competitions.

The courts are popular with families and groups looking for something different to a park gathering. Hiring out a few courts for a children’s birthday party is economical and a great way for them to have fun playing tennis in the fresh air.

For further information about Oak Flats Tennis Club or to book a court go to:

https://play.tennis.com.au/oakflatstennisclub

Contact

• Club President Nathan Short – 0410 225 921
• Club Secretary Viraj Keer – 0414 488 370