It definitely is not the elitist sport that everyone thinks it is. If you want to see for yourself, come down to the club on Hereford Avenue, Grimsby.

The club's courts have just been resurfaced. Mike Watkinson, head of the operation, says the work took about two weeks, and now the grounds are coated in a smooth tarmac, ready for gripping the players' trainers. The court lines will get a repaint after December, with the colour scheme being put down to an all-members vote.

My brother and I often sacrifice our Saturday morning lay-ins to knock some tennis balls back and forth at the club. It's been around since the '30s, and I think it's a sport everyone should try. I've been playing for most of my life. As a child and now as a busy teen, the sport and community surrounding it give me a space to let go of all my problems and de-stress via the smashing of yellow felt balls to my opponent.

Paul Scrivenor, a graduate in sports coaching, and a coach at the club sits down with me to discuss the non-profit organisation. I sip my tea as Paul starts to talk about the club's achievements.

"We have sessions tailored so everybody can join in," Paul says with a smile.

I certainly agree - even in the polar winds of January and the parched, scorching Augusts, my Saturday sessions hold friendly half-court ladder play which refines your ball control and net play, and sometimes challenging mini tournaments where two teams rack up points in doubles.

"It really is a game for life," Paul assures me, "we have members in their 80s still playing doubles". The club offers tots sessions with softer balls inside Grimsby College, an under 18s session, one-to-one sessions and more. You can play competitively with the club (either in Lincolnshire leagues or internal club tournaments) or as a casual hobby. In the pictures, George is seen practicing his serve with the aid of Paul, and Freddie is hitting a deep backhand shot in an away competitive match. It is also comforting to know that Head Coach, Mark, also does work with a disability group, and we have had a deaf player who have represented the country before.

In my view, tennis (at the surprisingly cheap St James Tennis Club) is one of the best sports to pick up as an individual sport: giving the player a lot of responsibility in their wins and losses, as opposed to a team game where the squad may blame each other for a loss. This agency can help enforce a growth mindset. I, for one, find joy in the strategy of positioning and techniques like serving and volleying. The sport also has a high skill ceiling – even Paul says he's "still got a long way to go".

In the future, the club hopes to extend the floodlights across all six courts and continue their tradition of holding family events and themed 'Grand Slams' that coincide with international competitions like the French Open. They look forward to welcoming new members to enjoy tennis with, and hopefully it will be love at first sight!