On Saturday evening, the Marlborough Tennis Club welcomed around 50 generous supporters to celebrate the official commissioning of the new light poles on courts 6 and 7 — a milestone achievement for the club’s long-term facilities plan.

The evening began at 5:00pm with drinks and nibbles, thanks to the superb effort of our Treasurer, Taylor Keen, who oversaw the catering, organisation, and cleanup. At 5:30pm, we had a presentation by our president Bill Taylor following which the lights were officially switched on in a brief but symbolic ceremony, followed by a vibrant 40-minute exhibition of tennis played by eight of our most talented school-aged players. The night wrapped up just before 7pm, with smiles all around.

A Story of Determination and Community

The lighting project was part of the club’s 2019 five-year plan, originally split into two phases:

Phase 1: Install lights on courts 6–10.

Phase 2: Upgrade lights on courts 1–5 to LED.

In August 2022, the club committee reversed the order. LED upgrades for courts 1–5 were prioritised and successfully completed at a cost of $62,000.

With traditional grant funding proving unlikely for the next phase, the committee adopted a more modest approach, focusing instead on lighting courts 6 and 7. Thanks to an extraordinary community fundraising effort, over $100,000 was raised to fund the second phase.

Key contributors to Phase 2 included:

Lumosa – design, specifications, approvals, and lighting supply

Findlater Construction – trenching, foundations, cages, and new pathway installation

Aotea – pole and lighting installation, connection to the main board and ClubSpark system

Accessman – provision of access equipment

Ian Hale (Eckford Engineering) – creation of a new equipment access gate

Marlborough Civil – installation of a rear gate near the Pro Shop

The installation is more than just functional. The lights meet Class Two international standards, are rated for a minimum of 70,000 hours, and are guaranteed for five years. Importantly, cabling has been future-proofed to accommodate a potential third phase, extending lighting to courts 8–10.

The Impact

Thanks to the tireless effort of the committee, the generosity of club members, donors, advertisers, and supporters — including principal sponsor Forrest Wines — Marlborough Tennis Club now boasts seven floodlit courts, a remarkable facility for tennis in our region.

As our president Bill Taylor noted on the night, this milestone shows what our club can accomplish when we pull together. With upgraded facilities and a community spirit that continues to shine brightly, the future of tennis in Marlborough looks well-lit indeed.