Court size and net height are the only things that have not changed in Tennis Director Scott Blackburn’s 40-year tenure at the Club. What has changed is the way the game is played, due to the wider range of player ages, balls, racquets, clothes and court surfaces.
Developments in racket and string technology mean that tennis can now be played, and played well, from ages 9 to 90. Even so, the true essence of tennis: low intensity exercise, social interaction and friendly competition, remains constant.
A new constant, says Scott, is the accelerating use of mobile phones and social media which is rapidly altering the way we interact, exercise and engage in tennis. As the public face of the Club, the Manly Tennis Centre (MTC) is using these technologies to make it easier for players to book courts, lessons and competitions.
It’s a far cry from when Scott first held a racquet at the age of ten – introduced to the sport by his father Boyd, a keen social player despite being a footie tragic.
By the age of 15 he was a member of the historic Manly Lawn Tennis Club (MLTC), going on to play 1.1 Badge for the Club on what was then a grass court oasis in the heart of Manly. However times were changing at Manly Lawn and in the late 70s, two of the grass courts were converted to the new synthetic surface. The general public could use these courts, so the hiring of courts and scheduling was handed over to a local Manly sports store.
The young Scott, together with a mate, saw an opportunity. Backed by his experience working part time providing coaching and general management duties at a local Dee Why centre with indoor tennis and squash courts, Scott put a proposal to the MLTC Committee and in February 1983, while still a playing member of the Club, he began the full-time management of the facility, continuing what was to become a 45 year relationship with the Manly Lawn Tennis Club.
By the end of 1984, the grass was gone and all courts were synthetic, opening up the court usage to members and non-members alike, irrespective of time or conditions for play. Scott continued to co-ordinate usage of the courts in conjunction with the Club and under the banner of MTC, developed coaching opportunities and competition programs open to all players.
While Scott’s playing might have slowed a little, as Tennis Director, life continues to pick up the pace. With the recent re-launch of the Manly Tennis Centre post COVID, Scott, his wife General Manager Carmela Blackburn and their support team marry their playing experience with today’s communication technologies to access and fine-tune their programs and services.
Programs which include extended coaching, play and tennis camps for juniors, midweek day and night competitions for men and women, intensive coaching sessions for adults and the holistic Tennis Whisperer program.
“Tennis is a sport for life”, says Scott. “And at MTC it’s tennis for today’s life. Electronic payment facilities, online booking, QR codes (quick response via your smart phone) to get immediate information to determine which program or support service is the one you’re after, are all services we provide to enable you to choose in what ways tennis can best fit into your life.”
Today, after some 40 years at the helm, Scott potentially holds the record as the longest continuous manager of a Club/community tennis facility in NSW, possibly in Australia. He is a well-known and gregarious identity in Manly and has helped position the Club as a critical part of Manly’s local and international attractions, including the Manly Seaside championships
“As a sport, tennis is a fantastic social tool for players at all levels. You can travel anywhere in the world and turn up at a local court for a game,” he says. ”As Tennis Director of the Manly Tennis Centre, I’ve made a lot of great friends.”
Good Luck for the future, Scott!
Pamela Lloyd, Goss Editor, interviewed Scott for this article.
