The St. George's Lawn Tennis Club of Dartmouth Nova Scotia, was founded on St. George's Day, April 23. 1885. Tea parties, balls and garden parties abounded in the early days of it's existence. The origin of lawn tennis, known variously as indoor, court, and royal tennis, was a handball game played on indoor courts in the thirteenth century France. Wooden paddles or bats were eventually replaced with rackets in the sixteenth century and the indoor court game became what we would likely recognize as  a form of  tennis. An outdoor version of tennis may have been seen in England as early as 1859, when Harry Gem and J.P. Perera set up and played on a grass court. Credit for popularizing the game goes to a chap from Wales named Major Walter Clopton Wingfield.

     Prior to tennis, the stately game of croquet  was played primarily by wealthy individuals, but due to Wingfield's marketing efforts and for a more active outdoor sport, tennis quickly replaced croquet.

Lawn tennis is thought to have made it's first appearance in Canada in the Toronto area with the Toronto Tennis Club being formed in either 1875 or 1876. The St. George's Club after it's founding in 1885 is similar to all successful organizations and it comes with it's own unique stories of people and events, aspirations and achievements, which you can read about in a book written in 1985 as a commemorative book to help celebrate St. George's Hundredth Anniversary.

     The first days of tennis were played on grass. Keeping five grass courts in playing shape today would be a matter of a few hours atop a modern-day riding mower.  St. George's  Lawn courts ,at the turn of the century, were kept trim by use of  horses fitted with leather boots so that their hooves did not cut into the turf while pulling a mower over the surface.

    The subsequent transitions from grass to clay to plexi-pave to Har-Hru with an in-ground automated watering system were necessitated by problems with maintenance, consistency and water retention.

      Night-Lights were erected in 1984 which was a welcome addition. St. George's has contributed significantly to the strength of local and regional tournament play and has hosted a number of such competitions in the course of it's history. It was the setting for a number of Provincial Championships in the 1950s, '60s and '70s and was often commended for its organization, hospitality and friendly atmosphere. Interclub play stressed the social aspects of tennis. The Lornedale Club of Truro visited St. George's in 1901 and the account of the event was printed in the Dartmouth Patriot and the Truro News. The friendly rivalries between the two clubs still carries on today as each takes turns hosting a one-day tournament every year.

     One of St. George's strong points is it's Sunday Tennis Tea Socials throughout the summer months. Games are made up by drawing names from a hat, you never know who your partner may be. Games last for half and hour after which you are matched up with another partner.  Two hours later you break for sandwiches, sweets and tea. This friendly atmosphere is ideal for new members and regular members to get acquainted.  Many names and phone numbers are known to be exchanged at this time for future games. St. George's is always looking for new members and the club extends it's welcome to everyone to come out and check out the club. The season runs from May to October and the actual start dates will be available on this website just prior to the beginning of the next tennis season. Tennis anyone?