Lea Sauls is celebrating his 45th anniversary this year, just another milestone in his

relationship with the Caswell Tennis Center.

Although the two arent legally married, 2015 should still be a special year. After 45
years of involvement at Caswell, the tennis pro was recently approved to manage the
tennis courts, located at the corner of 24th Street and Shoal Creek Road.
I know all the history of Caswell. I know the people. I knew Ann Caswell, the woman
whose father helped build Caswell, Sauls said.
The Caswell Tennis Center, a popular spot for Austin tennis players, will get a new,
modern reservation system, a renovated pro shop and much more thanks to a change in
management. Sauls won the contract, and hes excited to improve his favorite Austin
spot.
Sauls, who moved to the Austin area in 1970, spends most of his days at the Caswell
Tennis Center. When he heard the courts were seeking new management, he decided to
put his name in the mix of hopefuls. So he created Texas Tennis Consultants.
I started a company for the business end of it, Sauls said.
Included in the contract with Texas Tennis Consultants was a 36-month, $117,000 budget
with two possible 36-month extensions totaling $351,000, which was finalized at the City
Council meeting on April 2nd.
Austins tennis players said in a survey that several of the citys courts were not well
maintained. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department conducted the survey in 2014
to gain insight on the public opinion of the facilities.
Lonnie Lyman, an event coordinator senior for the Austin Parks and Recreation
Department said that the survey helped the city understand specifically what the
community wanted.
With going back out it gave the city an opportunity to listen to area-wide tennis
players, Lyman said.
Seeking approval by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department as well as the City
Council, Sauls and Texas Tennis Consulting competed against six other tennis consulting
companies for sole management.
Being judged on aspects such as experience and qualification, local business presence
and financial viability, the city chose Sauls business plan.
I really want to jazz Caswell up, Sauls said.

Karen Perkins, the executive assistant to District 9 council member and Mayor Pro Tem
Kathie Tovo, said that Caswell frequenters were seeking better programming and
cleaner facilities.
Thats exactly what Sauls said he plans on doing.
With additions such as an online payment system and a boosted social media presence,
Sauls said he is eager to begin the upgrade.
I want to make Caswell fit into the tech image of Austin, Sauls said.
The Caswell Tennis Center falls under District 9 jurisdiction for the City Council, which
is an area surrounded by young families and college students.
Clint Golman, a junior business major at the University of Texas, is a frequent visitor at
Caswell. Golman said he is excited about the changes to come.
As the UT tennis team has (started) to play there, it will be very beneficial to them to
play at a nicer facility, as well as improving the quality of play for the more recreational
players, Golman said.
Sauls and the Caswell Tennis Center have one thing in common: a history.
My goal is to bring Caswell back to a premiere tennis center. I want to brand it, Sauls
said.