Alford Park Tennis Complex
Willow Street, North Toowoomba
Alford Park Tennis Club Members
Celebrating 100 Years
WELCOME
Alford Park Tennis Complex has 3 synthetic grass courts wich can be used all year round. There are opportunities for social play for players at all levels throughout the week. The Complex is used by club members twice a week and can be hired by other clubs and individuals at available times for sessions during the day. Social play involves doubles and comprises of mixed men's and ladies, and veterans. Our members are keen adult players from all walks of life, backgrounds and ages, who enjoy a game of tennis any time of the day, weather permitting.
We have recently renovated our club house where we meet, relax and chat over a freshly brewed cup of tea or coffee. There is ample parking on site and by the roadside. The courts and club house are locked when not in use. As part of our refurbishment, access to keys will be available onsite when you hire a court. If you want to have some fun, connect with your local community and improve your physical and mental wellbeing, come and join us for social play!
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100 Year History
Alford Park Tennis Club was established in 1925 at Milne Bay Pool; we subsequently moved to the present site at Willow Street in 1962. During the past 100 years Alford Park Tennis Club has attracted several famous local personalities which include the then Mayor, Duncan Thompson, and Jack McCafferty, owner of the regional coach service.
Queensland tennis legend Darcy Bianchi was instrumental in facilitating the move to Willow Street. Darcy coached 100s of new young tennis hopefuls over many years and maintained the Complex until his untimely death in 2011. On numerous occasions Darcy liked to remind his tennis fans that he owed his success to the supportive role of his family. Items of significance that belonged to Darcy can be found in the Darling Downs Museum of Tennis: trophies include the A Grade Singles Winners Cup from 1955, the Alford Park Champion's Cup from 1966 and the Blanch Cup Winner's Trophy from 1976. On show are also a wooden secretary case from Alford Park Tennis Club which contains many historical documents dating back to the 1940s, as well as programs and memorabilia relating to Darcy's participation in regional tournaments.
The current Club President of the Toowoomba Tennis Association is Allen Smythe, who incidentally married Darcy's daughter Judy. Allen is hugely supportive of our Complex and a real tour de force, and together with his our current Club President, Kel Vickery, both are committed and passionate about fostering the growth of tennis in our region.
Top Notch Tennis Courts
The tennis courts and grounds are well maintained.
We are conveniently located within the surrounds of Martin Klein Park
and its newly established public rest rooms, right next to Court 1.
Health and Social Benefits
Tennis is a fun way to maintain health and fitness, strength and agility. A game of tennis has social and mental health benefits and burns calories. Warming up the muscles and joints before hitting the court is essential to avoid injury, and it is not advisable to play with pre-existing illnesses. When off the court, conditioning and training exercises specific to the physical demands of tennis are highly recommended.
Good technique is also essential as it helps to avoid injuries caused through the repetition of strokes. Correct technique and playing the volume of tennis appropriate to your fitness level, keeping hydrated and sun protection are key healthy habits.
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HEALTH BENEFITS include increased aerobic capacity, lower resting heart rate and blood pressure, improved metabolic function, increased bone density, lower body fat, improved muscle tone, strength and flexibility and increased reaction times.
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OTHER BENEFITS include tennis as a great non-impact sport that offers a way to meet people and forge friendships, the ability to play with someone at your level, reducing stress, the ability to play tennis lifelong as tennis is not wholly dependent on youth or strength, and it can be played everywhere you travel to.
Tennis Etiquette
WAIT YOUR TURN - Don't barge your way onto a court until your allotted time. Let people before you finish the game they are playing before taking over the court.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS - To decide who will serve first, spin a racquet. The person who wins the toss can decide to serve, receive, pick the end of the court they would like or even leave it up to the opponent to decide.
WARM-UP LIKE A PRO - Keep your warm-up brief, the pros usually stick to 5 minutes.
SERVE THE RIGHT WAY - Before you serve, make sure your opponent is ready to receive. While the rules say you should take no more than 20 seconds between points, you don't want to win a point by serving at the opponent's back.
NO RETURN NECESSARY - If your opponent serves a first-serve fault, don't hit a return back unless the call was so close that you had no option but to hit the ball.
WALK WITH CARE - Don't walk behind another court during a point, across someone else's court while they are in the middle of a game, or interrupt a point on another court to retrieve a ball.
BE CAREFUL OF KARMA - Make line calls clearly and promptly and give your opponent the benefit of the doubt if you are unsure. Tennis karma is powerful, and no one wants to give an opponent short thrift.
IN OR OUT? While it is rude to question your opponent's line calls, if you really think you are being diddled ask once and firmly "Are you sure?" and then move on.
SCORING MADE EASY - If you are serving, call the score out loudly and clearly. It will help to minimise disagreements.
GOT TWO? Make sure the server always has two balls at their end of the court. When you are feeding the balls up the court, hit or roll them gently within reach of the server, don't delay by spraying them around the court.
TIME AND PLACE - Be respectful of your opponent. While it is fine to celebrate your successes it is not polite to pump your fists or hiss "yes" when your opponent makes an error.
DO THE RIGHT THING - Apologise if you win a lucky point or if you accidentally hit your opponent with a ball.
FOCUS ON YOUR MATCH - Keep your attention on the court, don't chat, interrupt a game to answer your mobile or do anything that might distract your opponent or delay play.
LEAVE THE TANTRUMS TO THE KIDS - Don't have a tantrum if things are not going your way. You can destroy a racquet or a chair but not both of them in the same match. Otherwise, this is the tennis of an immature person who clearly attended the wrong finishing school.
CONGRATULATIONS - Shake hands firmly and congratulate your opponent at the end of the match. Be a good sport. We are not playing for sheep stations.
Contact us
Call 0455075127 to become a member, hire a court,
or to join some of our regular groups that play
at various times during the day and week.
Annual membership is affordable and
we encourage all new players to join our club.
Court hire
We have three courts for hire during daytime hours,
every day of the week, all year round.
Bookings are taken over the phone.
Social Tennis Calendar
ALFORD PARK GROUP GAME DAYS
Thursdays and Sundays, 1 to 4 PM
Mixed Doubles
Levels A, B and C
We welcome all new players.
Please contact us prior to play.
