Introducing Southland's latest sport - beach tennis
“People thought a combined sporting hub in the heart of the CBD, built right in the middle of covid, was a crazy thing to but three years on the Otepuni Community Hub is about to paint the town red."
A left-field quest three years ago to set up a beach volleyball facility in inner city Invercargill was one thing, but it’s now extended to a new beach tennis club.
Yes, you read that right.
Invercargill has just become home to one of the first beach tennis venues in New Zealand.
Beach tennis - previously known as paddleball - is popular in many countries, in particular in Italy, Brazil, and Spain.
It’s now being introduced to New Zealand with Invercargill playing a lead role.
Three years ago, Volley South executive officer Donna Milne led a plan to repurpose a closed-down lawn bowling club in Forth St in Invercargill.
The Otepuni Community Hub was created at the space, now owned by the Invercargill City Council, with the hub including beach volleyball courts where the lawn bowling greens once were.
Milne has been working hard behind the scenes to find another sand sport for the Otepuni Community Hub.
Hence the creation of the new Otepuni Beach Tennis Club.
“People thought a combined sporting hub in the heart of the CBD getting built right in the middle of covid was a crazy thing to but three years on the Otepuni Community Hub is about to paint the town red as it celebrates its third birthday,” Milne, a co-chair of the hub, said.
Milne was thrilled with the latest addition to the community hub which is also home to the Southland Darts Association.
She has worked with Tennis NZ and the International Tennis Federation who were keen to bring beach tennis to New Zealand.
Tennis NZ club support manager Ali Telford said: “Beach tennis has been enjoyed by players around the country on a participation basis, we are now excited to align with ITF to bring both casual and competitive beach tennis to Invercargill”.
The International Tennis Federation has provided equipment to kick-start beach tennis in Invercargill.
There’s also work happening around the prospect of developing “Foot Volley” opportunities at the beach complex as well.
On top of beach tennis, the Otepuni Community Hub has developed another addition to celebrate its third birthday.
The Hub has introduced a new “super-convenient” online booking system.
The public can book the sand courts online and they are also offering annual or six-monthly memberships, as well as event bookings.
“It’s all about making the hub your second home, accessible to everyone. This move underlines the hub’s commitment to making sure everyone in Southland can enjoy its amenities hassle-free,” Milne said.
“We have to thank the Invercargill Licensing Trust, and our landlord, Invercargill City Council for helping our fundraising efforts to make the hub and fully fenced facility.”
Milne is determined to ensure the hub is well utilised. She said there was some downtime from May and hoped some sports like football and rugby might opt to use - what is effectively a big sand pit - as possible alternative training venue.
For bookings of the Otepuni Community Hub you can book online at: http://www.volleysouth.org.nz/book-a-sand-court-1/book-a-sand-court-1#