Middle Georgia State tennis seeks new home court

By Stanley Dunlap

November 25, 2016 9:57 AM

A group of regulars play a double match in at the improved John Drew Smith Tennis Center. Tennis fans and Macon-Bibb elected officials gathered Jan. 14 to celebrate the the completion of the improvements. The $1.2 million construction and improvement project began in March 2015. It included new locker rooms and restrooms, a second story observation deck, a new professional check in area for players, resurfacing of all courts, four new courts just for children under the age of 8 and more. WOODY MARSHALL wmarshall@macon.com

Middle Georgia State University tennis players could soon have a new home court.

The Macon-Bibb County Commission could vote Tuesday on allowing the men’s and women’s tennis programs to use the John Drew Smith Tennis Center for practices and matches. The agreement would have the school pay the county $11,000 over a three-year period for use of the facility.

The center could be upgraded as part of the next special purpose local option sales tax projects. The agreement with Middle Georgia State could lead to other collegiate matches at the courts, Macon-Bibb County Tennis Manager Carl Hodge said.

“(That’s) what I’m hoping will happen in years to come, because we’re expanding the facility and adding 12 courts. ... This gives us room to grow the tournaments we’re trying to do as well,” he said.

Stanley Dunlap: 478-744-4623, @stan_telegraph

This story was originally published November 25, 2016 at 9:57 AM with the headline "Middle Georgia State tennis seeks new home court."

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