Tennis club opens new facilities

A TOP Northside sports club has opened a new gym and fitness centre which cost almost €750,000. 

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton officially opened the new facilities at Sutton Lawn Tennis Club.

The ambitious project also includes the upgrading of some of the club’s existing clubhouse facilities including changing rooms and junior facilities.

Minister Bruton said he was delighted to open the state-of-the-art gym and fitness centre.  

“This project was supported by the Government through the very successful Sports Capital Programme which has provided massive investment to sports clubs across the Northside,” he said. 

“I would like to congratulate Alan L’Estrange and his team on this great occasion for the club and I wish them all the best for the future.” 

Mr L’Estrange, outgoing President of Sutton LTC, said: “This is part one of our Three Phase Development Plan. It is a very large investment by the club, which will hopefully attract a lot of new and younger members from the local community.” 

Since last December the club has already attracted over 200 new members. Funding for the new facility included a Capital Sports Grant of €297,000 from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for which the club is extremely grateful.

Sutton LTC was also recently awarded a Local Sports Capital Grant of €200,000. This will be used towards two additional squash courts and is part of Phase 2 of their Development Plan.

The club currently offers 11 tennis courts, ten of which are floodlit. It also boasts three squash courts, a snooker room with two full size tables in addition to the new gym and fitness centre, while there is also a bar and lounge area. 

As part of Phase 3, the club is hoping to add more indoor tennis courts and new tennis court surfaces.