Great Bedwyn Tennis Club (GBTC) – Club Update

GBTC is a friendly and inclusive Tennis Club that has long encouraged and welcomed new members and has plans to grow the club further. Our well-established and thriving coaching programme, for both children and adults, punches well above its weight for a 2 court club. We have a popular Cardio Tennis session, three teams in the Swindon & District League and many opportunities for social play. Each court is booked for more than 20 hours per week on average throughout the year.

We want to expand our community outreach programme in 2025, including offering a free Walking Tennis course. Our aim is to bring all ages of the Great Bedwyn community together, supporting the practical, social and emotional needs of people in the village to improve health and wellbeing for all.

The club are purchasing a defibrillator machine to be installed at the Tennis Club. This will be available for those in need in the vicinity, not just for club members, offering a valuable third machine for the village.

Over the past 3 years we have invested c£12,000 in the club replacing drafty and crumbling windows with new efficient double glazing, installing new nets, court repainting and professional cleaning. Over the next 3 to 5 years we need to invest a further £65,000 to £75,000:

• Court cleaning and re-painting - £10,000
• New LED Lighting* - £25,000 (LTA Funding available)
• Full Court re-surface - £25,000 to £30,000
• Other remedial works and defib - £5,000 to £10,000

*We have a failing lighting system and will take the opportunity to upgrade to less light polluting and more environmentally friendly and efficient LED lighting.

Despite the considerable costs to maintain the club, we continue to keep membership rates as low as possible and more competitive versus other clubs we compete with in the area.

Great Bedwyn Tennis Club  – Expansion Proposal

As per a December Parish News article, GBTC, along with Simon Bushby from the Village Post Office, have separately been in discussions with the Memorial Playing Field and Village Hall Committee to look at options for the former bowls green area.

GBTC have put forward a proposal to erect two outdoor Padel Courts in between the Cafe and the Tennis Courts. This leaves ample room other activities, including space for bowls, and much needed outdoor space for the Cafe.

What is Padel?    

• Padel is a form of tennis recognised and heavily promoted by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

• Padel is the fastest growing sport in Europe with an estimated 40,000 courts currently in use which is expected to grow exponentially in 2025.
• The game requires less physical prowess than tennis, making it far more inclusive and accessible for all ages than tennis and other popular sports. People from 3 to 103 can play Padel!
• Over the past 3 years the LTA has invested £6m towards Padel and it has ambitious plans to invest further in over the next few years. We are in contact with the LTA on funding options.
• Playing a sport like tennis/padel offers numerous health benefits, mental and physical

Why Padel for GBTC?

The growth and success of larger clubs in area means we need to differentiate to protect our future. We can leverage the well-publicised growth and demand in Padel combined with the existing tennis club and the close proximity of the Cafe, Pub and Park. This provides an opportunity to create something that no other village in the area has, increasing the desirability of Bedwyn as a whole. It also provides a vehicle to allow considerable financial investment into the village in the medium to long term post initial investment payback.

Tennis will continue to be popular and we hope has a strong future for GBTC. Padel’s lower barrier to entry will get more people playing a racket sport than previously and we expect this will in turn lead to more people playing tennis at GBTC as a result. There are a number of people in the Village already playing Padel but have to drive to Swindon or further afield to play. This creates a facility closer to home.

The all-weather nature of the courts surface provides the opportunity for play all year round, barring the most extreme conditions. This is not the case for other more fair-weather and seasonal sports.

Membership v Pay As You Play

As per the Parish News article, Padel will not be based on a membership but a Pay As You Play structure. This is consistent with how other Padel courts run and is a key criteria for the LTA for  funding support. We would also plan free events and taster sessions throughout the year.

Feedback

We are now seeking feedback and ask that you share thoughts, concerns or questions with the Memorial Playing Field and Village Hall committee at bedwynhall@gmail.com, equally you can contact us at too at greatbedwyntennis@gmail.com. Please do take the time whether in support of Padel, Simon’s plans to revive the bowls club or other suggestions you may have.

Proposed area for the Padel courts