Southampton Tennis Club asks Town to split $350,000 court rebuild cost

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The (tennis) ball is now in the Town’s court after the Southampton Tennis Club (STC) executives appealed to councillors for $175,000 to cover half the cost to resurface eight of its 15 ageing tennis courts. 

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Meeting as general committee June 10, councillors referred the request for consideration during 2025 Business Plan/budget talks this fall, with the understanding the project is not in the already approved 10-year plan. 

Noting that STC has one of the largest tennis facilities in Ontario and has grown to 1,500 members since it began in 1956, board chair Dave Stevens appealled for help pay for improvements and to “build on the long-standing partnership” with the Town.  

Since 1956, the STC had operated and maintained courts for eight months of the year, providing lessons and club activities, and they are open to the public when not in club use. 

Seven of the 15 courts are operated and maintained by STC volunteers on land leased from the Town to “provide recreational programming to the local community,” Stevens said, adding any tennis related costs are covered by memberships, not the Town’s recreation budget. 

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While the STC is proud of its heritage and history of operational independence “growing old sucks” Stevens said, adding that after 70 years, larger capital spending is required to rebuild from the ground up.  

Stevens said the courts – including the five on Lake St. that are the hub of the club – are important to all who live, work and play in Saugeen Shores, year-round.
He said the cracked, deteriorating condition of three courts and outdated facilities are safety hazards due to their deteriorating conditions, and that modernization is needed to meet community expectations. 

Stevens said with a strict repair program, including resurfacing every 10 years, this complete rebuild is a “generational expense” and the STC has a $250,00 reserve and faces “significant required capital expenditures” over the next five years, most for rebuilding courts.
“We anticipate a net deficit in 2028 of $346,000 – this deficit includes the estimated $350,000 repair costs – construction repair costs – of the Lake St. properties,” Stevens said, acknowledging that they have “lofty goals” that would require work. 

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Turning to club fundraising initiatives, Stevens introduced STC board vice-chair Mike Smith, who said they don’t want the Town to pay the whole cost but were “respectfully requesting” a 50/50 partnership split with the Town paying $175,000. 

He detailed a $100,000 fundraising goal with contributions from STC members and fundraising events, grants and corporate sponsorships, a target of $20,000 for corporate donations, and Ontario Trillium Fund and Tennis Canada grants. 

Smith said with a dedicated and loyal membership of people who love the STC, they’re “confident” they can raise $100,000.
“We kicked off our membership fundraising drive on May 19 – it runs through August 23, 2025. I’m happy to report at this early stage that we’ve raised $20,000, thus far,” he said, adding STC values and looks forward to continuing its 68-year relationship with the Town. 

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Vice deputy mayor Mike Myatt said the “vibrant” club offers good service to the community as the Town doesn’t have any municipal courts.  

In response to fee questions from Myatt, board member Wendy Buckley said the family membership fee is $400; it’s $190 for a single, and they have weekly, monthly and seasonal fees. She said they pay students to teach lessons and there’s a paid clubhouse staff of 10 teens.
With the two tennis courts at Lakeshore Recreation in Port Elgin converted to pickleball courts, Buckley said they realistically are the only ones offering courts to Saugeen Shores members. 

“Even though we suggest you have a membership for playing and for all the activities we do, there are often times when the courts are empty and people that don’t have memberships can go on (the courts),” Buckley said, adding they leave the nets up eight months a year so anybody can play. 

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Southampton Ward Coun. Cheryl Grace recounted her children’s involvement in the “wonderful” STC program and had staff confirm that free youth and adult lessons are included with the membership fee. 

“That’s one of the things I’ve always noted about this club – one of its strengths – it’s very egalitarian…” Grace said, adding people are attracted to Southampton to vacation and to invest because of the club. 

Southampton Ward Coun. John Divinski, who noted his wife made life-long friends at the club, said it would be a “shame” if the courts deteriorated beyond repair. 

Mayor Luke Charbonneau said council will have to set priorities and make “some sort of difficult decision,” during 2025 budget talks this fall. 
That could include “either to find more revenue or to move something out so we can move this in,” he said, urging STC to continue fundraising efforts to find as much money as they can. 

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