About Us

Tennis for the Whole Community

At Rookwood, our aim is to make tennis open and accessible for all ages and abilities, in a friendly and informal environment. Whether you play once in a blue moon or five times a week, you are welcome to be part of the Rookwood experience.

Our Journey

In the late 1990s, there were no public tennis courts anywhere on the Manhood Peninsula. Local resident and West Wittering Parish Councillor of 40 years, Bill Buckland, decided to change that and began petitioning the council. He persisted for many years, backed by support from Richard Shrubb and The Woodger Trust.

Finally, in 2015, Bill achieved his aim and received the official go-ahead from the WWPC. He took on the massive responsibility of researching, consulting, negotiating, and overseeing the entire project. Thanks to his unwavering dedication, our first two courts officially opened in 2016.

Put simply: without Bill, we would not have our courts, let alone our club. To honour his incredible contribution to the community, we proudly host the annual Bill Buckland Tournament.

Growing Our Community

What started as two public courts with a simple mission - to create an affordable, high-quality facility - quickly blossomed. Today, we're proud to be the only club on the Manhood Peninsula offering both the community feel of an annual membership and the flexibility of one-off public bookings. As local demand grew, so did we. With the continued generous support of the West Wittering Parish Council and the Woodger Trust, we proudly opened two additional courts in October 2023. Now a bustling four-court hub for over 270 members and regular visitors, our core goal remains exactly the same: keeping tennis accessible and fun for everyone.

The Future is Bright

The energy at Rookwood continues to grow. Our Head Coach and Club Manager, Aidan Hickman, oversees an ever-expanding coaching programme for adults and juniors of all levels.

We’re open 365 days a year - a commitment to the game that truly sets us apart!