Much like the seaside settlement that it serves, Omokoroa Community Tennis Club is booming.

After just six years, the club boasts a membership in excess of 110, and next week the club will double its capacity for tennis when Western Bay District Council mayor and Omokoroa local, Garry Webber, officially opens another two courts.

'It means tennis is on the up in Omokoroa,” says club treasurer Steve Wall. 'There's more members, the club is more active, and you will see a lot more people on and around the courts.”

The council provided two basic courts when the club started, and three years ago officials started pressing for two more. The club raised $65,000 for the playing surface, artificial grass and lights.

'We got funding from TECT, New Zealand Community Trust and the New Zealand Racing Board chipped in,” says Steve.

Two new astro turf courts – and four in all – means a lot more tennis. The club already has a men's team playing in the Friday inter-club, and a mixed team will be playing inter-club after Christmas. 'Hopefully we will also have a junior team playing inter-club after Christmas,” says Steve.

There's also a junior tennis programme now sponsored by Fresh Choice in Omokoroa. 'That means more than 40 school children are playing tennis on Saturday morning at minimal expense to parents, because they get membership to the club and one year of tennis coaching for just $50.”

Club sessions on Saturday afternoons and Tuesday evenings mean the four courts are operating at around full potential.

Once the new courts open next weekend, there will no doubt be some at the club who will ponder the addition of courts five and six in the not too distant future.

Down the road at Western Avenue, the local Sports and Recreation Society has been raising $1.6 million for new clubrooms and sports facilities.

'That will impact on the Omokoroa Community Tennis Club because we will be one of the users of that new facility,” says Steve.

The official opening of OCTC's new courts takes place at 1pm on Saturday, December 15.