Welcome to Gate Pa Tennis Club

Tennis Western Bay of Plenty - CLUB OF THE YEAR 2022/2023

Our club has been part of the Western Bay Community since 1953.  

A short history of Gate Pa Tennis Club:

Around 30 members of the community met at the Tauranga South Primary School back in 1952 to look inthe possibililty of forming a tennis club in the south city area. 

A previous club known as the Tauranga South Tennis Club had successfully operated before World World II at Memorial Park, but this stopped in 1940.

At this meeting Mr E. S Hylton was elected president, Mr J.C Erkkila secretary, with a full committee including club captains, though no facilities existed. 

The name of the club was called Tauranga South Club.  Land was currenlty present at the current site and was then offered by the Gate Pa Domian Board. 

The first two sealed courts (now courts 2 and 3) were laid in 1953.

The club opened its first playing season at the Gate Pa Tennis club on October 1953.

A small shed with basic facilites served as a clubhouse in common with the bowling club. 

Improvements over the years included the relocation and extension of the clubhouse in 1955 and this remained until 1959 when the new clubshouse was built and in 1971 enlarged .

The playing area was also extended by two lawn courts in 1955 and three further hard courts (1958, 1960 and 1963).

The two grass courts were converted to hard courts in 1975.

We aim to provide the community a place where they are able to play tennis in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for the full 12 months of the year.  We cater for all levels of ability starting at junior level and  right up to seniors. We are known as Tauranga's Family Friendly tennis club with many intergenerational families.