Better late than never is the attitude of the Prince George Tennis Club.
A deal for the tennis club to relocate from its current spot to the former driving range at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club is already in place, but due to the legal complexities involved in closing the sale of the city-owned land the tennis club occupies and the number of businesses involved, the sale hasn't been able to be completed yet.
Rob Prideaux, president of the P.G. Tennis Club, said construction on the new courts will, hopefully, begin in the next couple of weeks with a tentative target date to open set for August.
"At this point in time, there's a sale that's supposedly very close to being done," said Prideaux. "At that point, we will have the money to start building new courts and we will be asked to vacate these premises."
The old clubhouse is already cleared out but Prideaux said they're still using the old courts because the playing surface is nicer then at the temporary courts they'll be required to use at Peden Hill elementary and Duchess Park secondary schools.
"It's somewhere to play but not nearly as satisfactory as these courts for people at a higher level of tennis," he said.
Colleen Van Mook, director of community services for the City of Prince George, said the sale of the land to a local auto dealer is in the hands of the provincial land titles office.
Prideaux said the cost to build the new courts and install the lighting is more than $800,000. The tennis club will save money by partnering with the golf and curling club for office and storage space and use of the clubhouse and lounge.
"We've had some very good rapport with them in negotiations and feel as if we're very close to setting up an agreement with them where we can work together and maybe even add other sports groups over time," said Prideaux. "We've talked with other sports groups, for instance pickle ball is going to be coming on board with us and we've also talked with the badminton club."
Pickle ball is a popular fast-growing sport in the United States among seniors and people who have injuries and are less mobile. Played on a tennis court, the boundaries are tighter and there's less movement involved.
While waiting for their new home, Prideaux said both members and nonmembers are invited to join them for a game of tennis or single and multiple lessons. The club plays Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 7 p.m., while lessons generally are Monday to Thursday between 3:30 and 6 p.m. People can sign up at the blue hut located on the golf premises during office hours Monday to Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Prideaux said the board decided to maintain the blue and green colour scheme for the eight new courts. Court 4 will be dedicated to Matt Altizer, the Prince George Citizen's systems manager and popular tennis club member who died in a car crash last February along with his wife, their two kids and his sister.
"Matt Altizer was one of the best players in our club, he could run like the wind," said Prideaux. "He spent tons of time on the courts and was very dedicated to making things happen here. Our feeling was because he always played on Court 4 and because he was such a prominent member of the club that to honour him and his family, we'd dedicate his favourite court to him and his family."
Prideaux said once they move into their new home, there will be a formal ceremony for the dedication. Court 4 will also be the feature court where tournament finals are played.
