Entry management is no longer a back-office task — it’s a key part of the modern tennis and pickleball club experience.
Today’s racquet clubs are expected to offer more flexibility, faster check-ins, and tighter security — all at once. Modern access control systems help clubs deliver all three — while reducing front desk traffic, extending facility hours, and taking daily entry management off your team’s plate.
In this guide, we’ll show you why access control matters for racquet clubs, what options are available, and how the right setup can help you create a more secure, efficient, and player-friendly club.
Let’s get started.
Skip ahead:
Types of smart entry systems
Components of access control systems
How it works
5 key benefits
Best practices for using access control at your racquet club
What is “access control” & Why does it matter for tennis & pickleball clubs?
“Access control” refers to a system that helps you manage and automate entry to your tennis or pickleball club — without the hassle of traditional keys, manual check-ins, or constant supervision.
In other words, it allows you to control:
- Who can enter your club – players, staff, guests, or vendors.
- When they can enter – based on reservations and time of day.
- Where they can enter – including gates, doors, and restricted areas.
This creates a more secure and efficient experience for both your members and your team.
You might also hear “access control systems” referred to as:
- Smart entry systems
- Door and facility access systems
- Keyless entry solutions
- Member entry systems
- Automated entry management
- Remote access control
- Cloud-based door entry system
- Unstaffed software solution and more
Here’s why it matters for racquet clubs:
With an access control system in place at your tennis or pickleball club, you can enable off-hours court access without needing staff on-site. And, it helps reduce operational friction by eliminating lost or stolen keys, manual entry processes, and bottlenecks at the front desk.
More on these and other benefits later!
Common types of smart entry systems
There are several types of access control systems and providers available on the market. Choosing the right system for your club will depend on things like your facility’s layout, operating hours, player volume, existing technology, budget, goals, and so on.
To help you identify the best solution for your club, let’s review the most common types of access control systems used by racquet clubs — each offering different levels of flexibility, security, and convenience.
Key fob or RFID card access
Visitors simply tap these small, scannable devices against readers to gain entry. Since you can set permissions by location, they’re especially useful in clubs with multiple entry points. Lost or inactive fobs can be instantly deactivated, minimizing risk and hassle.
PIN or keypad entry
Assign unique PINs to members or rotate universal codes for different user groups (like pros, guests, or seasonal players). This is a straightforward and cost-effective solution with lower upfront investment and minimal ongoing costs.
Mobile app-based entry
Allows visitors to unlock gates and doors with their smartphones. Entry is tied to the visitor’s court reservation or membership status. This offers a low-maintenance, high-impact access control option that integrates well with club management software. And, it’s ideal for clubs already using a third-party or branded mobile app for bookings or communication.
Key components of access control systems for racquet clubs
A full access control setup typically includes:
- Entry barriers
Physical barriers like gates, doors, or turnstiles help prevent unauthorized entry and protect your courts, clubhouses, and amenities.
- Infrastructure and hardware
This includes the wiring, entry readers, access control panels, and backup systems that keep your access points secure and functional.
- Access management software
Access management software gives club administrators the ability to control and monitor facility entry in real-time. You can add or remove players, assign or adjust access, review detailed entry logs, and manage all access permissions remotely from any device.
How does it work?
Here’s how a modern access control system works at a racquet club — step by step:
1. Set access permissions.
Assign access based on roles (member, coach, vendor, etc.), schedules, reservations, or specific areas within your racquet facility.
2. An authorized user receives access credentials.
Authorized individuals receive their access credentials corresponding to their assigned permissions:
- Mobile app or keypad users: Receive a PIN code.
- Key fob or RFID card users: Issued a physical device linked to their access rights, which can be updated or revoked in real-time.
3. User arrives at your facility.
Whether it’s a member, coach, guest, or vendor, their access is automatically tied to their reservation, schedule, membership status, or assigned role.
4. Credential is used to request entry.
The individual taps their phone, swipes their fob/card, or enters a PIN at the designated gate or door. Access is granted if it matches the predefined permissions within the allowed time window.
5. Access is denied when…
If an individual’s membership expires, a reservation is canceled, or their role changes, the system automatically updates their access rights, preventing unauthorized entry. No manual updates needed — permissions adjust in real time.
6. Activity is logged and tracked.
All entry attempts are logged, providing system administrators with real-time data on who accessed which areas and when.
With access control in place at your racquet club, you can offer a modern, secure experience while reducing operational friction and time spent on managing daily access.
Why should tennis & pickleball clubs use remote access control? (5 key benefits)
Access control isn’t just about security — it’s a smarter way to manage your courts, protect your facility, and create a better experience for everyone at your club.
Here’s how it can transform both your member experience and your daily operations:
1. Offer after-hours or 24/7 court access without raising labor costs
Give members the freedom to play on their schedule — not just when staff is on the clock. With automated entry tied to reservations, you can safely offer early-morning, late-night, or even 24/7 facility access — without needing staff to be on-site to unlock doors or gates.
Staff no longer need to open early, stay late, or work overtime to accommodate extended hours. This helps keep labor costs low while still giving members flexible, secure access — a win for both your budget and your team.
2. Turn empty courts & off-peak times into revenue
More available hours = more revenue opportunities.
Access control allows racquet clubs to book more court rentals during off-peak hours that would otherwise go unused. This helps you maximize court utilization and increase revenue without adding significant overhead.
3. Protect your tennis or pickleball club with smarter security
With these systems in place, you decide who can access each part of your facility — and when. Every entry is automatically logged, giving you full visibility into who’s coming and going — no manual tracking or guesswork required.
As a result, you reduce the risks of unauthorized use, security gaps, theft, and property damage — protecting your facility, your revenue, and your community.
4. Deliver a frictionless check-in experience for your players
No more waiting at locked gates, standing in line at the front desk, or wondering where to check-in. Members simply tap their phone, swipe a fob, or enter a code to access the courts, clubhouses, and amenities they’ve reserved — quickly and confidently.
By removing friction from the check-in process, you create an intuitive entry experience that makes life easier for your players — improving their overall experience and giving your club a more modern, player-friendly feel.
5. Increase operational efficiency by syncing access & bookings
When you sync your access control system with your club management platform, your staff no longer needs to manually update access lists, handle check-ins, or monitor doors.
Instead of policing entry points, your team can focus on what matters most — delivering great service, running programs, and supporting your club’s growth — while the system manages check-ins automatically behind the scenes.
6. Simplify access management across multiple facilities
If you operate multi-location facilities, a cloud-based access control system lets you manage entry permissions for every location remotely. Whether you’re overseeing two clubs across town or dozens across the country, you can update access rules, monitor activity, and revoke or grant entry — all from a single dashboard.
Best practices for using access control at your racquet club
Rolling out access control is more than just installing hardware — it’s about setting your club up for long-term success.
Following a few smart practices will help you get the most out of your system, create a better experience for your members, and keep your daily operations running smoothly from day one.
Here are a few best practices for using access control at your racquet club:
Communicate changes with members
Before your new system goes live, start communicating with members about the upcoming changes. Explain how access will work, what they’ll need to do (like downloading an app, picking up a key fob, or using a new PIN code), and why the change benefits them. This will help reduce confusion and make members feel comfortable with the new process.
Start with a trial run
Before fully rolling out access control club-wide, run a short trial with a smaller group — such as staff, pros, or a few select members. This allows you to gather real-world feedback, identify any technical hiccups, and adjust your setup before opening it up to your entire membership.
Fine-tune based on real usage
Don’t just set permissions and forget them. Monitor how members, staff, and vendors are using the system in the first few weeks. Are time windows too short? Are certain doors not used as expected? Use this data to adjust access schedules, tighten security, and improve the overall experience.
Regularly audit access logs & permissions
Make access log reviews part of your regular club operations. This ensures only current members and authorized personnel can enter and helps you spot unusual activity early. Set a routine schedule — weekly, biweekly, or monthly — to audit who has access to different parts of your facility.
Integrate access control with your club management system
Many tennis and pickleball clubs rely on integrated access control solutions like Brivo and RemoteLock, which sync seamlessly with club management platforms like CourtReserve.
When access control is integrated with your club operations, everything gets easier: security improves, daily management becomes simpler, and your members enjoy a faster, more modern experience.
By connecting access to your bookings, memberships, and billing, you make sure only players with active reservations can unlock courts — and your staff can manage everything in one place, not across multiple disconnected systems.
Get started today!
If you’re ready to take the hassle out of managing entry, now’s the perfect time to explore your options. Start by identifying your club’s needs, looking for a system that integrates with your club management platform, and choosing a trusted access control provider.
After all, access control isn’t just a security upgrade — it’s a smarter way to manage your club, protect your facilities, and deliver a better experience for your members.
Ready to get started? Learn more about the CourtReserve and Brivo integration
