Fountain Gate Tennis Club

THE CLUB OPENED AT ITS PRESENT SITE IN AUGUST 1976 WITH TWO EN TOUT CAS COURTS AND A SMALL CLUBHOUSE. WITHIN FOUR YEARS ANOTHER TWO COURTS HAD BEEN ADDED AND THE MEMBERSHIP GREW QUICKLY IN A SUBURB WHICH WAS YOUNG AND EXPANDING.

Saturday and mid-week teams were entered in the well established Dandenong and District Tennis Association and then the newly formed Berwick and District Tennis Association. By the late 1980’s Fountain Gate fielded the strongest junior teams in the area. The membership by this time reached almost 200.

Another two porous courts were built, the clubhouse was extended and a sprinkler system and lights were added. Night competition flourished with strong in-club competitions on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The Club was very strongly family oriented. Social functions were well supported and the Club raised most of the money required for these developments itself. Volunteers were ready to assist in many ways.

As the Narre Warren area grew older, the Club (and several neighbouring clubs) suffered a decline in numbers. Our strong juniors of the 1980’s mostly moved away, the number of teams dwindled and the local Associations struggled and only survived in a reduced way. By the start of the new millennium, our senior Saturday teams had to join the Waverley Association. Our membership collapsed to about 30 in 2004-5. We actually had one season with no junior teams. Two of the courts became unusable and were replaced with artificial grass.

Since that low point the Club has experienced a resurgence as long-time committee members refused to let the Club die and Gunn Tennis coaching joined us and helped to revitalise the Club. Since then our membership has increased. In summer 2011-12 we entered 13 junior teams and 4 senior teams in Saturday competition.

Currently the club has employed wearetennis as partner coaching company.  We  are Tennis is a highly professional and very well experienced team of some of the best coaches in Melbourne. Head Coach, Sean Wilkinson,  is a tennis coaching professional with over 30 years experience within the Australia Tennis industry.  Sean has coached players to the International Professional Tennis Tour level.

Further changes were made to the clubhouse and our four en tous cas courts were changed to Euro Clay. Light meters are installed for Courts 3 and 4. Recently the council has upgraded the facility with brand new fences and new car park. We are constantly upgrading the club by obtaining grants so it is the most beneficial for all club members. Fountain Gate Tennis Club has again become a vibrant place to be and new members are always welcome. We are committed to providing a range of tennis opportunities for our members.