1 /5 Alex O: For some context: YMCA Hawker used to have a basketball court. It was a very poorly maintained court with uneven surface (it even had a massive pothole for a long time until it was eventually patched up), broken backboards and rims without a net (some even missing hooks to attach the net), positioned at the wrong height (off by approx +/- 10cm).
While this description does fit something out of a horror movie scene - regardless, this basketball court was better than not having a basketball court at all.
That said - its beyond me why places like this dont care about the quality, standards (being fit for purpose) and maintenance of something like a basketball court? Maybe because it wasnt a paid facility? At some point I decided to buy my own nets and had to bring own ladder to install the net replacements.
About a year ago (2024), the court was removed completely and replaced by Padel Court! While I was told the basketball court will be moved to a different spot and reinstalled - a year later, at the time of writing this review, as you may have guessed - nothing happened.
YMCA stands for "Young Mens Christian Association", essentially - a youth organisation. Not really sure how a paid Padel Court fits into this framework?? I do visit occasionally to play tennis here but at this point in time - the centre feels everything but a youth organisation..
Truly sad, ridiculous and just pathetic...