1. CHAIRPERSON : Jan Pienaar 083 303 6734

2. VICE-CHAIRPERSON: Charl Opperman 082 619 3236

3. TREASURER : Antoinette Grobler 082 295 0724

4. SECRETARY : Magda Nortje 074 624 3710

5. CLUB MANAGER : Xandré Labuschagne 081 776 0280

George Tennis Club was founded in 1920.

  • The minutes of 1951 are still in possession of George Tennis Club.
  •  Annual General Annual Meetings were held at various places such as inside the Restrooms of Modern Shoes, the Committee Room of the City Hall, and at homes of various committee members.
  • Membership fee 2.15 pounds per year for men and 2.5 for ladies.
  • In 1956-1957 the Franklin Shield was played, which still continues to this day – (January 2023).
  • In 1959-1961, plans are drawn up for the enlargement of the club house’s facilities. A new kitchen is being built.
  • The club holds annual tennis dance functions, concerts, rummage sales and club dinners to raise money.
  • The Paul Jones tournament is held yearly and is well supported.
  • Club championships and leagues are organized and played every year.
  • In 1970/1971 the seventh court was built.
  • The ladies senior team wins the league competition for the first time in around 15 years. Other teams were from places such as Heidelberg, Barrydale and Riversdale.
  • Hotel rooms were provided free of charge to S.W.D. (South-Western Districts) league teams.
  • The Tennis Club and Sports Club are looking at building a joint complex.
  • In 1977, the Sports Club crest (George Lelie) is taken over by the tennis club.
  • The new clubhouse is the biggest undertaking, a product of many years of planning and fundraising.
  • Sports complex project costs R127 000. The tennis club had a big part in collecting funds for the new sports complex.
  • Official dedication of the clubhouse was observed during April 1978 by His Excellency the Minister of Sports & Recreation, Dr. Piet Koornhof.
  • In 1982, lights are approved on two courts. Erection thereof was done by Sports Club and Municipality.
  • 2004 – Courts are made available by George Tennis Club for use by UP with Down’s.
  • 2015 George Tennis Club obtains a liquor license.
  • George Tennis Club seceded from the sports club.
  • Own facilities are set up.
  • 2016/2017 – some of the courts are re-surfaced by the Municipality.
  • 2023 –Watch the space for new developments!!!

Do more than just playing Tennis

Several tournaments such as the 190’s (founded in 2016), Eden Tennis Masters tournament and Eden Junior tournaments are played in George. The courts of George Tennis Club are made available for their use. League, club championships, social tennis on Wednesdays and Saturdays, regular tennis sets during the week and tennis coaching – this is what GTC offers to members.

In the photo are George Tennis Club ladies having refreshing drinks after social play on a Saturday afternoon.

Wall of fame

ADAM MYBURGH

Adam Myburgh has represented South Africa in the World Tennis Championships for the 7th time this year (2023). We are very proud of him.

KARIN DELTENRE

Karin Deltenre has also represented South Africa in the World Tennis Championships 2019 in Portugal.

SONJA BOTHA

Sonja Botha, a SA player in ITF Seniors World Team Competition. Played a total of five times.

ELSABE FERREIRA

Represented South Africa five times.

From a young boy to a tennis star

Damien Nezar

Damien’s tennis story started at around 4 years old, when he used to hit against the wall in his grandpa’s garage. His grandpa, John Ripsold, was a member of George Tennis club for many decades and as he was watching young Damien’s enthusiasm unfold in his garage, he took to the courts with him on Sunday afternoons. The rest, as they say, is history. As many boys do, Damien loved competing in ball sports from a young age (soccer, cricket and hockey), but when it came time to focus on his favourite sport in high school, tennis was tops.

His love for the game has never faded and he is currently on a 4 year tennis scholarship in America, where he is in year 3 (2023-2024) of heading up the Men’s Tennis team for Campbell University in North Carolina. They compete in Division 1, the strongest league in university tennis. After being part of the Big South Conference for the past 2 years, they have now moved up to the CAA conference (Coastal Athletics Association).

Damien is as excited about his academics as he is about his tennis and he is currently pursuing a Business degree with a Marketing major. He is expected to graduate in May 2025, after which he would like to pursue his Masters degree in Business while assisting the tennis team as a Graduate student.

Then... there is just playing tennis

Winners play the game