3 replies to this topic

[Lorne Carnes]

My family joined the Victoria Lawn Tennis Club back in the '50s. Eventually the land on Fort St was sold and a new Racquet Club of Victoria was built in Gordon Head. I'm trying to find out why it eventually failed. Mom's 93 now and a little fuzzy on the reasons. Can anyone point me to a history somewhere?

[Bernard]

My family joined the Victoria Lawn Tennis Club back in the '50s. Eventually the land on Fort St was sold and a new Racquet Club of Victoria was built in Gordon Head. I'm trying to find out why it eventually failed. Mom's 93 now and a little fuzzy on the reasons. Can anyone point me to a history somewhere?

I thought I remembered what happened to the Raquet Club when I hit reply, but now that I think about it, my memory is not clear enough on it.

There was a major issue with being able to maintain the buildings, especially the ice rink. I wish I could remember the details, I got it told to me in gory detail when I was on the board of Victoria Minor Hockey

[Lorne Carnes]

Thanks Bernard

The original Club relied on lots of volunteer labour. They had a number of lawn tennis courts, two hard courts, a clubhouse, pool and badminton hall. As kids we would spend our time playing under the big grandstand against this hall.

I was a teenager for the Gordon Head days.... but remember it being more like a country club. We had badminton, tennis, squash, racquetball, curling, hockey, figure skating and swimming. There was a full service cafeteria, large adult lounge and teen lounge in the basement.

Our family was grandfathered in, but anyone joining the new Club had to pay a membership fee. It was the place to belong for all the new families moving into Gordon Head.

I've always assumed that as wages for all the required employees rose, membership dropped... leading to increased dues, and subsequently less members to carry the load. Hoping someone can confirm or set me straight.

[Bernard]

The rates to play minor hockey through the Raquet Club were about 50% higher than other minor hockey in the region, but given the lack of arenas and the complete over subscription of what is out there, people were willing to pay it.