ABOUT THE CLUB

SUFFOLK PARK TENNIS CLUB

Founded in late 2022, the club continues to grow thanks to the vibrant community support. Learn more about the club’s short history below.

CONTACT THE COMMITTEE

ourbyrontennis@gmail.com

Damian Kassabgi, President, 0455 155 709
Phil Wallace, Secretary, 0421 498 905
Jason Bronts, Treasurer, 0413 332 599
Ami Shoesmith, Vice President, 0435 400 988
Charlotte Bigel, Committee Member, 0414 224 993

Our Executive

Tim Lanyon, Head Coach

Jesse Taylor, Head of NET League

late 2022

Byron Bay Community Tennis Association is established to ensure club representation in our area. Neighbouring tennis clubs have been in existence for around 100 years (Altsonville, Bangalow). The Byron Bay Tennis Club closed circa 2018, around the time Byron Shire Council privatised the operation of the main courts in Byron Bay. 

The new club was created with different experts in the local tennis community in the Byron/Suffolk area.  

  • Damian Kassabgi, President, background in public policy and community advocacy 

  • Phillip Wallace, Secretary and consulting Engineer based in Byron Bay and has built multiple tennis courts in the region 

  • Jason Bronts, Treasurer, who is a CFO for a major property fund 

  • Ami Shoesmith, Committee Member, social media, marketing and community engagement 

  • Charlotte Brigel (added more recently), Committee Member, background Sports Marketing

  • Jesse Taylor (added more recently), Adult regional competition coordinator. 

JANUARY 2023

Byron Bay Community Tennis garners community support to take over management of the Suffolk Park Courts. The courts had been badly flood-damaged and had not been upgraded for 15+ years. The courts were not being maintained, there was no gate, or an effective booking system and the lights were permanently turned off by the council. The old surface was ripped and sometimes unsafe to play on. The fences and gates are old and rusting in parts.

MARCH 2023

Byron Shire Councillors voted unanimously to appoint the Byron Bay Community Tennis Association to manage and operate the Suffolk Park tennis court’s Folio 122/831214, 46 Beech Drive Suffolk Park known as Linda Vidler. The club also worked with council to turn the old metal halide lights on for the first time in a number of years.

JULY 2023

Byron Bay Community Tennis signs its first lease with the council and appoints Tim Lanyon as Head coach for the Suffolk Courts.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023

Byron Bay Community tennis works with council and finds flood grants to upgrade the surface at Suffolk Park.

JANUARY 2024

Our coach offers further services to the community for holiday periods 

MARCH 2024

With the help of our coach and committee member Ami, we started receiving support from local organisations such as Yulli’s and Lifecykel

JULY 2024

The lights!!! Too dark to play. 3 out of the 8 lights are out. Some of which were only replaced 6 to 12 months ago. The old metal halide lights are expensive to replace and are not a lasting solution. Both the council and Tennis NSW have advised that this is the right time to move to LED. The cost of simply replacing the current halogen lights that are out could cost over $4,000, which would only be a temporarily solution -  this is not a good use of member or taxpayer money. Although the timeline is frustrating, the club prefers a more permanent solution.  

LED lights will be: 

  • Brighter than current lights, better player visibility 

  • Be more cost-effective (at least 50% cheaper to run over time from electricity bills)

  • Be more focused on the courts and reduce spillover to the neighbours 

  • Be more environmentally friendly 

  • Have a 15-year warranty

AUGUST 2024

Community Fundraising Day to enhance our facility

  • In addition to LED, as you can see from the photo below, there is no clubhouse or shaded area next to the courts. Funding for a shade cloth is our next priority.

  • Byron Bay Community Tennis members and locals have raised circa $2,500 from the community to enhance our courts at Suffolk Park with further support from Council and Tennis NSW'.

SEPTEMBER 2024

Byron Bay Community Tennis hits 81 paid members, with a view to reaching 150 members by mid-2025 with enhanced facilities. 

  • There are roughly 90 people participating in weekly activities and 160 people booking courts each week 

  • Tennis NSW HIT assessment sees Suffolk Courts increase its sustainability measure from 28% in 2020 to 66% in 2024. Noting that a 50% rating is considered acceptable. 

2024

We managed to work with council on a major upgrade on the drainage around the courts, so the courts are drying out much quicker.

MARCH 2025

Suffolk park tennis Club hosted the first Community Day of the year, theme “Tropical”.

March also saw the start of the first season of the newly created NET (North East Tennis) League, with two Suffolk Park Tennis Club teams (A&B) competing against other regional Clubs (Bangalow, Byron Bay, Mullumbimby, Brunswick Heads, Alstonville/Wollongbar/Lismore). This has been a great success and all Clubs have been very supportive, with the aim to expand the competition going forward.

2025

We are working with council and a shade cloth and seating area next to the courts have been approved. Also an additional footpath behind the courts has been approved, which will provider better accessibility and safe access to the facilities. The work will begin as soon as possible.