The History of Hale Gardens Lawn Tennis Club

In the 1920s, New Milton was a very different place.  It is hard to imagine that cars were few and far between and New Forest ponies would have been seen wandering along the main road! 

Before cattle grids were eventually laid in the roads, the last players to leave the newly inaugurated Grove Lawn Tennis Club were under strict instructions to close the iron gates – but inevitably now and then they forgot! 

New Forest ponies are not tennis players, but an amble across the courts by two or three of them did wonders for the court surface!

In 1923 a small group of local people slowly bought adjacent parcels of land in the leafy enclave of Milton Grove and eventually realised their dream on 28 December 1928 when they made a Declaration of Trust and formed the Grove Lawn Tennis Club.  It was leased out for five years at £100 per year, with the strict proviso that the three grass courts and one hard court had to be properly maintained.  But, of course, by mid-June each year the grass courts were worn out – the baselines were just bare earth with a wandering white line.

It was a small country tennis club, although a rather snobbish one, which was typical of that time.  The Clubhouse was a simple wooden chalet with a glassed-in veranda.  In those days, the Club’s greatest rivals were from the New Milton Club, who played on the hard courts by the recreation ground, and they were normally victorious!  During the second world war, when so many of the men were away, the Club was kept going virtually single-handedly by Alfred Wheat who did just about everything including Secretary, Treasurer and Groundsman.  But of course, the austerity that followed was reflected in the Club, and nets were turned from “sides to middle” for economy.  Yet despite that, all-white tennis clothing was mandatory, with one lady apparently reduced to making a tennis dress from a bed sheet!

In the years following the war, the Club experienced severe financial difficulties, so a rescue operation was mounted by Mr Bottomley, who declared that it was time that “the Club belonged to the Club”.  He traced all the original freeholders and repaid them in full with interest-free loans from Club members and on 25 March 1947 Hale Gardens Lawn Tennis Club was “born”.

In the 1950s two members laid a second hard court (no 2) and what had been the car park was turned into hard court no 1.

During the 1970s the grass courts had become an expensive luxury so it was decided to change them to shale.  Also during this decade, under Gordon Pomeroy’s energetic chairmanship, the old Clubhouse was demolished and a larger, brick-built one erected in its place.  In 1978 courts 3, 4 and 5 were converted from shale to all-weather surface. 

In 1981 David Davies instigated the first LTA Open Junior Tournament which put Hale Gardens firmly on the tennis map.  Another major improvement programme commenced in 1987, with the complete resurfacing and painting of courts 3, 4 and 5, while the three remaining courts were colour-coated to match the following year.  Finally, in 1989 floodlights were installed on courts 3, 4 and 5 and in 1990 the floodlighting of courts 1 and 2 followed.  The club was flourishing with a healthy Junior section, friendly club play and competitive tennis played in five leagues.

By the late 1990s, the tarmacadam surface on courts 1 to 5 was a problem.  They were often slippery and needed constant sweeping and cleaning, so members decided it was time to lay artificial grass. The 1990s also saw the formation of the Star Club which encouraged a large number of juniors to take up the game and advance their skills. 

The Club continued to modernise both the Clubhouse and the courts.  In response to the requests from players, especially competitive juniors wanting to experience all court surfaces they might one day be called to play upon, Hale Gardens became the first tennis club in the south to invest in an artificial clay surface.  This was officially opened on 13 July 2014 by New Milton Town Councillor Geoff Blunden, supported by Euroclay’s Managing Director Jeremy Jayes and Club Chairman Barry Shillabeer.  It proved to be so popular and successful that the Club subsequently laid artificial clay to a second court.

In 2018, in celebration of the Club’s 90th birthday, courts 3, 4 and 5 were resurfaced with artificial carpet and court 1 followed suit in 2019. 

2022 saw Hale Gardens host its Junior Tournament for the first time after a gap of a number of years, also delayed due to Covid-19. 

2023 saw the club host its inaugural Seniors' Tournament, which was a resounding success and will be repeated in 2024.

The Club goes from strength to strength and continues to be known for its friendly and welcoming members and an exceptional place to enjoy great tennis.