Artificial Clay Tennis Courts In West Sussex

Installing and maintaining artificial clay tennis courts for the Tennis Sussex Club of the Year

Four miles from picturesque Horsham in West Sussex lies Slinfold Tennis Club – a prime example of a tennis club that’s committed to actively promoting a love of the game in the local community. The club boasts a state-of-the-art eco clubhouse and three full-sized, floodlit artificial clay tennis courts designed and installed by ETC Sports Surfaces in 2017. It’s all part of an ongoing development programme which, over the past two years, has grown Slinfold’s membership by 60 per cent and won the club the impressive accolade of Tennis Sussex Club of the Year 2018.

ETC Sports Surfaces has been supporting Slinfold Tennis Club throughout this upgrade journey. Initially, we were chosen as the main contractor to replace the club’s old tarmac surfaces with new clay tennis courts. Now, we’re supporting them with ongoing strategic advice and regular tennis court maintenance. We recently caught up with Mark Ponton, Club Treasurer and Match Secretary, to find out how things are going since the club unveiled its impressive new facilities.

Improving the playing experience with LTA approved clay tennis courts

Our first task for the club was to replace their three outdoor courts with new artificial clay tennis courts manufactured by Playrite. We helped the committee to choose Clayrite, which is crafted from a tufted monofilament surface – the preferred artificial clay carpet design of the Lawn Tennis Association. Clayrite’s sand filled tufted surface imitates the playing properties of natural clay, whilst also providing all year usage thanks to its efficient drainage properties.

According to Mark, the new courts have been popular since day one. “Our growing membership really enjoys playing on our new clay tennis courts,” he says. “We have found them to be much kinder on the body joints, footwear and – of course – the tennis balls! We regularly liaise with ETC Sports Surfaces as we learn more and more about the new surfaces, which look as good today as they did when they were installed.”

Following completion of the artificial clay tennis courts in December 2017, Slinfold Tennis Club celebrated the launch of the new fully floodlit courts and clubhouse at a special opening ceremony in March 2018. MP for Horsham, Jeremy Quin, attended the proceedings, which marked the start of a new era of twenty-first century tennis for the club’s expanding membership. Then, in November 2018, there was more cause for celebration, as the club was awarded Tennis Sussex’s prestigious Club of the Year award in recognition of its investment in industry leading artificial clay tennis courts and club facilities.

Supporting Slinfold Tennis Club with ongoing tennis court maintenance

Appreciating the quality and value of our design and installation work, Slinfold’s committee have also chosen ETC Sports Surfaces to carry out a five-year maintenance contract to keep their new courts in great shape. Artificial tennis court maintenance is an important consideration when you install or upgrade your tennis facilities, and we’re committed to providing high quality, affordable and unobtrusive maintenance services that deliver a sound return on investment.

“The maintenance contract is working well,” Mark says, “with ongoing helpful advice and dialogue, and ETC representatives always available on the phone quickly when we need to seek their advice. ETC Sports Surfaces have also recently provided consultancy advice for us, should we decide to go ahead and build more clay tennis courts at the club.”

This is a great example of the long-term, positive relationships that we work hard to develop with our customers across the UK. Repeat business and recommendations are at the heart of our business, and they’re a testament to our team’s dedication and meticulous working practices – both onsite during tennis court construction and at every stage of the customer service journey. We have really enjoyed supporting Slinfold Tennis Club thus far. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with them and to seeing the club evolve even further in the future.

Find out more about artificial clay surfaces for tennis

Explore the advantages of artificial clay tennis courts

Consult our quick start guide to tennis court construction

Read customer testimonials and case studies on our sports surface solutions blog

For friendly, expert advice, a free site survey and no-obligation quote, just contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

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More from the client

Review taken from Google Reviews

Slinfold Tennis Club is approaching two years since it selected and engaged ETC using Clayright base carpet to replace its three painted macadam courts with the artificial clay surface. The growing, more regular playing membership, really enjoy playing on the surface which is much kinder to body joints, footwear & of course the balls! We regularly liaise with ETC as we learn more and more about the surface which looks as good today as it was new. We have recently signed-up with ETC for a five year maintenance contract which is working well with ongoing helpful advice and dialogue with the operatives attending. Very pleased indeed and always available on the phone quickly. ETC recently also provided consultancy advice too should we decide to go ahead and build a fourth tennis club at the club with the same surface.