The Old Scotch Tennis Club, formerly known as the Old Scotch Collegians’ Tennis Club, was formed in 1959 when a master, Frank Stuckey, entered two teams in the Winter competition of The Grammarians and Public Schools’ Association. These original teams comprised Old Boys, students, and members of staff. The Club was formally inaugurated in 1960 and held its first Annual General Meeting in March 1961. The Club became an affiliated society of the Old Scotch Collegians’ Association in 1962, and in 1988 the Club became an Incorporated Association.
For almost 50 years the Club was a very active member of the Past Students’ Tennis Association until the competition it organized was discontinued in 2006 due to a lack of schools wishing to participate. The Club won 82 premierships during that time, significantly more than any other school. After the demise of the Past Students’ Tennis Association, the Club continued to play competition tennis by entering one or two teams each year in the Tennis Victoria Pennant and/or Bayside Regional Tennis Association competitions.
The Club maintains strong relationships with the College, which generously makes its courts available to the Club. The Club donates trophies to the College each year for presentation to an award winner from each school team, as selected by the team coach, as well as to the Captain and Vice-Captain of Tennis.
The Club plays social doubles on the Junior School synthetic grass courts every Saturday afternoon (with a few exceptions) from approximately 1pm to 5 pm. New balls and afternoon tea are provided.
Covid caused the disbanding of the Club’s competition team, which had played on the Harvey Nicholson Plexicushion courts. New (or former) members interested in playing competition tennis are required if the Club is to resume this activity.
Initially formed to to encourage Old Boys to continue to play tennis after leaving the College, membership is now extended to all members of the Scotch Family, as well as a limited number of players who have had no previous association with the College.
Membership currently is 34. There are three categories of Financial Membership:
Full members – annual subscription $120
Social members – annual subscription $50
Student members – annual subscription $50
Social members are restricted to playing on no more than 4 afternoons per year.
New members of the Club must be proposed and seconded by current members. Before being proposed, a potential new member is required to play as a guest on three separate occasions. This allows potential members to assess the suitability of the Club for them, as well as allowing the Club to assess that their standard of play is appropriate, before any application for membership is considered by the Committee.
A Membership Application form can be downloaded here:
Old Scotch Tennis Club – Membership Application form – 2023
Enquiries would be most welcome and may be directed to the Secretary:
Robert Abrahams: Email: robert@abrahams.legal
