How Collaroy Tennis Club runs better social tennis sessions with Setsy
Marty Freer
Marty Freer
Collaroy Tennis Club was dealing with crowded social sessions, long waits and a manual whiteboard system that made matching players stressful and inconsistent. On busy Saturdays, more than 60 players would turn up, and the “court captain” had to create fair rotations under pressure while players surrounded the board suggesting partners. The club wanted a simple and fair way to organise social tennis sessions without the chaos.
After trialling other apps, the club switched to Setsy. “Setsy is very well thought out by developers who actually run a tennis club,” they said. With Setsy, they now run smooth, timed rounds where everyone gets fair court time, balanced skill levels and clear visibility of match-ups.
How Setsy changed match days
“Setsy takes away the stress and pressure from the person organising social tennis,” the club said. “They no longer have to remember who has played with whom, how many rounds that player has played or sat off, and what their playing level is.”
Setsy takes away the stress and pressure from the person organising social tennis
The club now runs sessions with Setsy’s simple structure of courts, players and rounds:
- Add the number of courts available
- Flag players who want to play
- Let Setsy generate fair and equitable match-ups each round
To support the new system, Collaroy made a few small adjustments:
- “We purchased a touch-screen tablet and connected that to a big-screen TV and the internet so members can see the rounds per court.”
- “Instead of playing 8-game or 4-game sets, we now use a timer per set. Timed sets are crucial to using Setsy.”
- “We ask players to inform the ‘court captain’ when they arrive and when they’re about to play their last set. This helps Setsy select the right players for the next round.”
The change has made weekends smoother, fairer and more enjoyable for players of every level.
About Collaroy Tennis Club
Collaroy Tennis Club on Sydney’s northern beaches has been part of the local community for more than a century. Founded in 1922, the club has six courts, five synthetic grass and one cushioned acrylic hard court, and a strong and growing membership base.
“We cater for everyone, whether social, competition or tournament,” the club shared. “Standards range from basic ability to world-ranked players. We currently have around 225 members and membership continues to grow.”
Collaroy is known for its inclusive and friendly culture. “Our club provides a safe and welcoming environment for all, embracing diversity, equity and inclusion,” they said.
The club has earned several major awards:
- Most Outstanding Tennis Club – Metro (Tennis NSW 2021, 2022, 2025), awarded by Tennis NSW
- Most Outstanding Tennis Club – Australia (Tennis Australia 2022), awarded by Tennis Australia
- NSW Community Club of the Year (Sport NSW 2025), awarded by Sport NSW
- Silver Tier Status in the 2025 Pride in Sport Index, recognised by Pride in Sport
The club blends tradition with modern practice. “We’ve embraced technology like ClubSpark for member management and Setsy for running social tennis sessions,” they said. “We’re also committed to sustainability through solar panels, batteries and LED lighting, and we host major community events such as Pride, All Abilities and ADF Veterans tennis.”
Finding a better system
“We had been looking for an alternative to the way we’d been running social sessions for about a year,” the club said. “We initially looked at using an app called MatchUp, but it only worked on Apple devices. It also had other limitations and was not so easy to use.”
“In conducting further research, club member Anna Cosio came across Setsy and it seemed to tick all the boxes in terms of what we were seeking.”
A standout experience for members
We have in fact already recommended Setsy to other clubs, telling them it has become a game changer for Collaroy
The club has already encouraged others to try it. “We have in fact already recommended Setsy to other clubs, telling them it has become a game changer for Collaroy,” they said. “We only have positive reviews and experience to share. If your club is struggling with organising social sessions, don’t add to your stress and frustration.”
They also shared some advice for organisers: “First of all, you should be using Setsy to run your social sessions unless you have only a few players or members. Then maybe you can do things manually. But if it’s getting out of hand, it’s time to switch to Setsy. You don’t have to buy a new laptop, but we recommend getting a touch-screen tablet or laptop. It’s quicker, easier to use and portable.”
They recommend creating a list of players with skill levels to help Setsy produce the most enjoyable and fair match-ups. “This will greatly help Setsy select the most enjoyable and equitable match-ups.”
A club always looking to improve
“Collaroy is a club always looking to improve the member experience,” they said. “We embrace relevant technology, maintain our facilities in excellent condition and aim to be seen as a community asset.”
Setsy has made for a more enjoyable member experience, especially when social sessions are extra busy.
The impact of Setsy has been clear. “We’re very grateful for the development of this excellent app, which has helped us even out social sets in terms of standard while improving the expectations of members during social sessions. Setsy has made for a more enjoyable member experience, especially when social sessions are extra busy.”
If your club is looking for a fair and easy way to run social tennis sessions, Setsy can help you organise courts, players and rounds in minutes.
Learn more at setsy.io.