UQ Tennis is back in action! After being M.I.A. for the first few months of 2011 due to the…read moreunprecedented amount of damage caused by the January floods, the UQ Tennis club is back into the swing of things. Progressively, the courts have been resurfaced and a number have opened throughout the year, but now all 21 courts are fully functional. I've been a member of the club for 2 years and have played some interesting games in my time (one may include being blinded by the sun and swinging my racquet into my face [yes there was blood]). Fortunately for me, the floodlights come on and the courts are open until 11pm, so I quickly changed to night sessions. The club caters for beginners through to the professionals, so you can hire a court, racquet and set of balls, grab some mates and game-on for 2 hours. Alternatively, for your inner Federer or Sharapova, you can compete in social or competitive tournaments that are held most nights of the week. Need to work on that backhand or perfect your slice? Then you can also sign up for coaching sessions, which are also held most nights of the week. You don't have to be a university student to play - the place is packed with school groups in the afternoons, and adults getting in a quick hit on their way home from work. All you need to do is become a member of UQ Sport and you're well on your way to competing in the next Australian Open.

For one year, believe it or not, I actually played indoor cricket at Kedron Indoor Sports Stadium…read more I may have also played in the team that won the beer league. Since that memorable year, my squad, Team Rad has disbanded and we no longer play together. Now and then I take my wife to Stadium so she can play mixed netball. Sure enough it's still the same giant tin shed, hot and echoey, AstroTurf underfoot, giant nets from end to end. A multitude of men and women chasing, throwing, catching, hitting and shooting balls of various sizes. They may be of different skills and abilities but they're all enjoying themselves and getting a little fit time in. Doesn't matter if you got mad skills or can hardly co-ordinate your hands and eyes. Across the week and on different night, all grades from the gumby to the top tiers play those of similar ability to insure everyone gets to enjoy their chosen sport whether it be indoor cricket, soccer or mixed netball. All you have to do to get amongst it is make up enough numbers to play a weekly fixture and sure enough good times will be had by all. Because Stadium is licensed, after you're game's over you can enjoy the warm down with a beer, rumbo, or a water. If you're a bit hungry they've got a barbecue on crank putting together some tasty burgers to refuel your engine. All I can say is GO team sports!

I'm really not sporty. I hate getting hot and I'm not built for it. However for some reason I…read morereally enjoy tennis (watching, not playing - I can't hit a ball over the net). The Brisbane International is used as a bit of a warm up event by the big names for the Australian Open. It shakes off the dust of Christmas and is a good way to acclimatise to our often brutal January weather (although this year it is cool and rainy in Brisbane which would have been no help as Melbourne has been an oven). The big names are pretty much all fixtures at this tournament and Katie is right, it's a much cheaper way to see them play than flying to Melbourne for the Australian Open. I'm seriously considering actually making tennis a true spectator sport next year, by which I mean getting off the couch and heading to the Brisbane International.

Smash. Drop. Short. Shuttle. Net. High Clear…read more If these words are words that you get, you obviously play badminton. In the south west suburb of Jindalee, badminton lovers gather twice a week, once on Wednesday night at 7-10pm and again on Sunday afternoon 2-5pm. Cost is $5 if you are a member ($35 to join as a member) and $10 for a non-member. This is by far the most social sports club I have ever been to. Everyone is friendly, not competitive and very welcoming to new people. In fact, new people are encouraged! A rostering system on a white board to ensure that everyone plays with everyone. It's a social club, so even a new person can play with someone who is a seasoned player... even learn a thing or two! I like the fact that people don't create their own games here, the experts play with beginners, and vice versa. There is always a good conversation happening when you're waiting for a game. Definetely come and check Majestic Badminton out. New courts and new floors after the flood as well, so come support the local club!

The Cornubia Sports Centre comes as somewhat of a surprise to a lot of first time visitors. The…read moreenormous complex fits four basketball (or netball, or volleyball, or futsal) courts, a gym, a rock climbing wall and a canteen, while outside you'll find two full-sized soccer fields and an awesome children's playground. Although it's probably around ten years old now, the structure is still very modern, clean and feels quite new. They run competitions for numerous sports, and whenever organised competition is not taking place the courts are sure to be used by amateurs perfecting their slam dunks. They also organise activities for kids on school holidays, so if you're about to throw that Xbox controller out the window, you might like to take a look at their program.

I've only played croquet twice, but it makes me feel so Alice in Wonderland. It doesn't have the…read moresame trendy pizzazz as bocce or petanque, but it's fun and there's no cuter place to play than at the Wynnum Croquet Club. The members meet on Tuesdays and Saturdays and are happy to provide tuition to new players. You can also hire the cute-as-a-button venue, but there are obviously rules about keeping the green gorgeous. I fancy having a little party here, learning more about the rules of croquet, playing a few fancy shots, a double tap and a roquet, eating a few cucumber sandwiches and downing a Pimms or two on a sunny afternoon.

The Wynnum Manly Junior Rugby League Club has been a stalwart for our people who love playing rugby…read moreleague from little tiny 'ants' learning the game to the men and women who play Open grades. It's a great Club with dedicated people at the helm. The Board and it's Sub-Committees do fantastic work and have really 'put their money where their mouth is' in supporting the Members both young and old and in-betweeners. I really enjoy the atmosphere, the people, and of course sitting on the balcony watching the night games. Even if there aren't any games on a Friday evening its just a lovely cool spot to sit and have a quiet ale with Friends. It's simply the best.

This club has produced some great players over the years, and Wynnum Manly is very proud of its…read moreRugby League traditions, fielding greats including King Wally Lewis. The junior club moved away from the seniors at Koogari Oval in the early '70's and has been operating from its dedicated junior headquarters a few kilometres away at Kitchener Park, opposite the Wynnum golf course, ever since. It's a common sight to see teams from the very young juniors to the almost grown teenagers training and playing on the four fields throughout the week, and to hear the weekend games echoing around adjoining streets on Friday nights and on Saturdays throughout winter.

Ssssh! This place is a secret!!!…read more Sorry, but sometimes you get a little bit like that when you find a blast from the past like this. This is a proper bowls club, complete with little old men and hilarious bar staff. Drinks are CHEAP, chips are decent and if you can be bothered bowling it's also very well priced (where else can you have fun for $4?) Just don't spread it around too hard please. Oh, and make sure you have a designated driver. It's at the bottom of Bardon so walking anyway is a long, up hill trek.

I've always generally considered Bardon as the sticks. It's beautiful, overgrown with lush trees…read moreand plants. As you're heading out from Paddington, the row of boutique stores, pubs and cafes tapers off and all of a sudden you find yourself following a long, winding country like road, driving over quaint little bridges and dipping down into gullies. The Bardon Bowls Club is nestled in one of these said gullies. It's a well hidden gem. Bardon Bowls Club is a no frills kind of establishment. The most notable decor feature is the XXXX backing against the beer taps. The drinks are ludicrously cheap. Since when can you get a cider for $4.50? You can take a seat inside the club, but I reckon it's nicer if you head outside to the lawn. The bowls club has a lush backdrop of wilderness that sets the scene for an easy afternoon. If you hand in a $20 deposit, you can play bowls for $4. Because it's well tucked away, the bowls club doesn't really get a whole lot of business. It's really a place for the locals. Personally, I like being able to have an entire bowls club to myself whenever I want it.