Ambitious plans are afoot for the Bega squash courts.
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Bega will next year form part of the official Australian Squash Tour after successfully hosting a PSA tournament earlier this year.
Players in the tournament said it was well-run and provided some good feedback to the governing body.
Bega squash club president John Stylianou has since been in talks with the PSA and a deal has been struck to see Bega host a full stage of the tour.
But the PSA has also accommodated for the running of the regular Bega Open tournament as well.
Mr Stylianou said this meant Bega would get to see more internationals and the country’s best in a professional showdown, while still hosting the 80-player local comp.
He said the PSA tournament welcomed nearly 20 internationals to the area and the inclusion on the official calendar only meant more good things for the town with an increase in visiting players and competition officials when the tour lands in town next year.
The club is also hoping to refurbish the courts to an international standard and met with eight-time world champion Sarah Fitzgerald earlier this week to discuss plans.
Ms Fitzgerald and her husband Cameron Dalley operate CourtTech, a court-fitout business and visited the area to discuss options and the requirements for genuine world-class courts.
Mr Stylianou said the courts already played host to about 1500 competitive games per year, which could grow under the refurbishment proposal.
Mr Stylianou said it would be a timely process and could take up to three years.
However, he said the club was looking at a 10-year plan for redevelopment, so the refurbishment could become the first stage in expanding the courts to a full-service indoor sporting arena.
“It’s about consolidating the infrastructure to become a multi-use facility,” Mr Stylianou said.
“You could use it for dance, for yoga, you can provide a venue for about 12 different indoor sports and I would love to see that.”
Mr Stylianou said the club would now have to raise funds towards the refurbishment and also begin the process of grant applications.