Stowmarket Lawn Tennis Club

If you live or work in or around Stowmarket, this is the place to play tennis and from Summer 2024 - Pickleball.

All year round and Winter membership packages are available, including a new 'Off-Peak' winter package From Oct 24 - please see our 'Join & Play' page for further details.

We have 5 recently resurfaced hardcourts with an Airdome in the Winter months over 3 of them to ensure all year round play, whatever the weather.

We also have 4 Pickleball courts ready for you, your friends and family!  If you want to find out more about one of the world's fastes growing sports - take a look at our Pickleball taster events, competitions and coaching on the CLUB NEWS page.

We cater for all abilities, genders and ages and you can learn to play or improve your game through our excellent and regular coaching programmes. 

We have a very strong juniors section, cater for pre-school and school children, families, students and adults of all ages.

As of 31 March 2024 the Club had 346 members, including almost 100 Juniors. Some members have been in continuous membership for over half a century, and we will celebrate our 125th birthday in 2026. 

The Facilities & Club

Two or the five courts were recently resurfaced and the other 3 were resurfaced in this summer and are now ready for play. A new Airdome was acquired in 2023 and there is a recently improved Clubhouse. This means that we have some of the best facilities for playing tennis in the area. There is plenty of parking, at a subsidised cost and free on Sundays, after 6pm and on Bank Holidays.

All year round play, balls, floodlights, subsidised parking and use of the club house is included in your membership fee, itself highly competitive. Key features are:

• Daytime and evening club sessions
• Electronic court booking means you can book to play with friends or family any time. Guests welcome.
• We have an effective way of integrating players, new and old
• We also offer Walking Tennis for those who need to play at their own pace, demonstrating that tennis really is for everyone.

In addition to social tennis, we run Club tournaments and play against other Clubs in the Ipswich and District League - Ladies, Mens and Mixed doubles teams. Internal tournaments are also run all year round, for beginners and other players of all abilities.

New members are offered a buddy to help them integrate into the Club, we have an energetic management committee of volunteers engaged in running things and a ongoing programme of development projects. 

We have clearly stated values relating to Respect, Inclusion, Excellence & Enjoyment. 

In addition to Club membership, we are actively pursuing ways in which we can open up the facilitities to more people by introducing 'Pay & Play' for casual users and enabling Community groups and organisations to use the facilities, either to play tennis or for other activities. For example - hiring the courts, the dome and clubhouse for social events, parties or other things.

Coaching

Our Head Coach, Ben Smith, is Level 4 qualified and fully LTA accredited, providing group and 1:1 coaching for all ages and abilities. He has an amazing track record as a player and in coaching performance players and all abilities. A full coaching programme for juniors and seniors, from beginners to high performance players is on offer all year round. Cardio tennis focuses on fitness and conditioning and tennis skills are not required. 

FIND US

Turn left into Iliffe Way off the B1115 heading west through Stowmarket (away from town). As you go up Iliffe Way, on the right hand side you’ll see a car park. The entrance to the tennis club is at the top right hand side of that car park. There is no access for the general public but we will be happy to meet and greet you, and show you round. See our Contact Us page for details.

There is access for people using wheelchairs, mobility scooters, buggies and bicycles via the back gate in Lake Side but please get in touch in advance to ensure the gate is unlocked for you.