HISTORY
Tennis is, indisputably, the sport that has had the most spectacular development.
He arrived in Tarragona via Barcelona in 1908 at the estate of Josep Maria Iglesias near the hill of Oliva. Competitions were played there with a very select audience that could only be accessed by strict invitation. In 1913, the first tennis court already existed and was located on Camí de l'Arrabassada, in front of the Jans cemetery.
The thousand and one attempts carried out for this aristocratic sport to acquire a letter of naturalness in our city, had become a failure until around 1915, when a small group of friends often met to play to tennis
This sport has evolved a lot since it was founded in 1915, by Mr. Lluis Bonet i Amigó from Tarragona, under the name "Law Tennis Club Tarragona", who was the main organizer and soul of the section. He was very fond of sports. He sacrificed himself morally and materially and with his activity and dedication he succeeded in establishing this sport in our city, and on May 2, 1915 he succeeded in inaugurating the 2 courts built in the street Estanislau Figueres of this city.
This "section" was integrated into the Gymnastics Club. It was made up of 40 members, fans. All of them came from wealthy families.
The meeting of this section was held and membership registrations were closed. Those who wanted to become members from now on would have to pay a double entry fee.
In this first stage, the Luís Bonet Trophy (1918-1929) was contested.
Joan Gualberto Nogués i Virgili was one of the first tennis players in Tarragona and presided over the Association in 1923.
Later, the facilities were moved from Carrer Estanislau Figueres to the new grounds of Camí de l´Àngel, (Avinguda de Catalunya). The works to condition the tennis courts in the new grounds were going at a good pace and when they arrived in March 1924 they were already starting to enjoy the general facilities of the Gymnastic Club where they were integrated as the Sports Section of what formed part for more than forty years.
On April 1, 1924, Leandre Campadabal, one of the pioneers of Tarragona tennis and patriarch of a line of good tennis players, became a partner.
In the same month of April 1924, the first social championship was organized in order to establish a "ranking" within the club and thus be able to name the players who would represent the club in official competitions.
On July 12, 1925, the new permanent facilities were inaugurated: 3 courts, social chalet and small garden.
In September 1939 the assembly of members, which had about 50, decided to change its name and call itself Sección de Tenis Club Gimnástico.
From 1947 until 1955 and there was a flourishing stage at the Club. But from this last year, a crisis began in the football section of the Gymnastic Club (the base of the club) and as a result it dragged all the other sections.
For all of the above and in order not to lose the work of so many years, the members of the tennis section of the Gymnastic Club agreed to form an independent society making a great effort. A villa, land, courts and facilities were acquired as property. Then it was called Club de Tennis Tarragona.
Independent and owner of our Tarragona Tennis Club of the property, land and facilities, where their sports activities were carried out. These gradually increased as the number of members gradually increased, which went from a hundred to a total of two hundred at the end of 1955.
In order to regulate the operation of the club as an independent entity, the board submitted to the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation a draft social statute, which was approved on April 30, 1960.
In the statute, the categories of youth and children's members were instituted with reduced monthly fees and the exception of the entrance fee for the latter, with the aim of encouraging and stimulating the practice of the sport of tennis among young people.
These measures gave an excellent result, as many members signed up. This fact led to an increase in sports activities.
Due to the progressive increase in members, the facilities became insufficient to meet the constant needs and given the impossibility of expanding them in the same location, in 1961 they began to talk about the possible transfer of the Club to the Cala Romana urbanization.
On April 26, 1961, the Club's Board of Directors wrote a letter to all members explaining and justifying their position towards the possible transfer of the Club to the Cala Romana housing estate.
On May 20, 1962, an Extraordinary General Meeting took place - a referendum where the social mass mostly opted for the transfer of the Club to Cala Romana.
In the decade of the 1960s, the number of members experienced a sharp rise. Tennis was already a popular sport and Tarragona was growing at an accelerated rate. A majority group that initially played at 7 in the morning, before going to work, created the rock band Seven O'Clock. This organized championships for beginners, in all kinds of categories, both in winter and in summer, and they always ended with a dinner, dance and free prizes. At that time the club organized the official social championships and interclub competitions.
Due to the constant increase in the number of members and sports activities, the facilities became insufficient to meet the constant needs. Faced with the impossibility of extending them to the same location, the Extraordinary General Meeting of the club met to choose the new location.
On May 20, 1962, the land of Cala Romana was acquired, land with a surface area of more than 10,000 m2 where the purpose was to build the various facilities and buildings suitable for the sports activities of a club of tennis The construction of six tennis courts (one of them with bleachers), a 12x25 meter swimming pool, a small pediment and a social room equipped with changing rooms for both men and women was foreseen.
With the efforts of the club's members and an aid granted by the National Delegation, these installations were able to be carried out. A two-storey building was planned for the social premises, and the construction of an isolated house for the caretaker was wanted.
The main building had a southeast orientation. It was considered the most suitable because at peak time when you play the sun is in your face. The new facilities were inaugurated on May 24, 1964.
The social building consisted of the following dependencies: On the ground floor: porches, a staircase, changing rooms and sanitary facilities for ladies, changing rooms and sanitary facilities for men and sanitary changing rooms for children. On the first floor: lobby, concierge, games room, social lounge, bar, toilets, secretary.
After the various promotion campaigns carried out by the Boards of Directors to encourage the practice of sport among the greatest number of people, from 300 members who were registered when the transfer was made, they became about 2000 associates.
This spectacular increase in the number of members has been caused mainly by the policy followed by the Board of Directors in establishing reduced monthly fees and minimum entrance fees, including granting total exceptions in favor of young people, in order to avoid losing any player or promise due to lack of means in our province.
In 1966, the tennis school was created to encourage and stimulate this sport among the youngest by teaching the basics of technique.
In 1969, this spectacular increase in members and the creation of the tennis school, caused the club's facilities to become spectacularly congested. Therefore, the problem of expanding the facilities was raised. The project consisted of the construction of four clay courts, of which two of them would be focused on the school, which would provide a total of ten courts, a number proportional to that of the club's members.
It was also intended to build a new pediment placed on top of the current one with an increase in its length in order to be used by the school. In this way, maximum use of the tracks would be achieved. Finally, the construction of a pavilion intended for the tennis school, consisting of a changing room and a gymnasium, was planned.
In 1970 and with the help of the National Delegation and the financial effort of the Club, the 4 clay courts were built, a pavilion for the tennis school, a pediment, lighting of a court and closure of the lot. These works were officially inaugurated in July 1970.
Again, the need for another expansion of the facilities arose due to an increase in the number of practitioners. To this end, the General Assembly, and always conditional on possible help from the National Delegation, authorized the Board of Directors to start the construction of a "tennissinco" court in 1972, to expand the pediment and pave it , build bleachers on track 4, light track 3, expand the changing rooms with new showers and improve the water installation to irrigate the tracks, with a sufficient pressure pump.
In 1974 the Board of Directors presented an ambitious project to expand the club's facilities. On the one hand, he wanted to buy the land on a hill next to the tennis court. On the other hand, it was also proposed to build a central track, build a pergola, expand the men's changing rooms, build a cafeteria with a games room. It was also proposed the creation of a children's park, the closure of track 7 in a multi-sports track and finally the closure of the social premises. Of all the above, only the expansion of the men's changing rooms and the construction of a cafeteria were carried out.
During these years, the number of members and practitioners increased at all hours of the day, quite the opposite of the first years when it was only played at peak times. From the 60s and 70s almost all the courts were occupied while the club was open.
On July 13, 1985, the first Club Day was held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the foundation (Lawn Tennis Club 1915). Of the events organized, the inauguration of a commemorative monitor stands out. It should be noted that Mr. Joan Vallvé fought to get a stone from Tarragona, worthy of configuring the monolith. It wasn't easy at all. The stone was found at the bottom of the old quarry, behind the train station on land belonging to the port works board, who agreed to give it mainly thanks to the management of the partner Mr. Ramon Juanola.
In this year 1985 we must also highlight that the partner and former president of the entity for 8 years, Mr. Agustí Pujol i Niubó was elected president of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation at the age of 36 on November 9. He was President during 5 candidacies.
Tennis Tarragona requested the organization of the absolute women's championship of Spain in 1991. The Royal Spanish Tennis Federation granted the organization after drawing up favorable reports of the club's facilities and also went take into account that the club had previously organized championships of such importance.
In 1996, the Davis Cup was held between Spain and Denmark to try to return to the world group. It became the most important international event in the entire history of the Tarragona Tennis Club. It was very important for the club but also for the city as they would become known all over the world.
In February 1999, they wanted to expand and modify the club's facilities in order to modernize it and make it equal to the big clubs in Barcelona. They proposed the construction of new offices, a new reception occupying part of the current porch in addition, the construction of two paddle courts on the tennis court and the fitting out of the fronton with a multi-sports court. In the end, the first two padel courts were built in June 2000 and work began on an ambitious definitive project for the total remodeling of a 21st century club.
In 2003, finally, the Board of Directors governed by the President of the Club Mr. Antonio Jordà de Quay would present to the members and it would be approved by the majority of the new remodeling of the facilities and improvements. We would gain 1 more tennis court (total 11), two more padel courts (total 4), a new shallower pool and a small one for children, the total restoration of the social building where changing rooms with saunas and Turkish baths would be expanded, a large gym, cabins for aesthetic treatments, physiotherapy and others, new offices for administration and reception and a new bar, restaurant and kitchen.
Also during this stage at the sporting level there would be a 180º change. The club's first all-male team would rise to the 1st national category for the first time in its history. The tennis school (with an average of three hundred students), in team competitions would be among the best in Catalonia in many categories, a wide range of major competitions would be organized at international and national level such as: a qualifier of the Federation Cup, the Men's European Children's Team Championship "Copa del Sol", the +60 Veterans World Team Championship, the Women's Absolute Spain Championship, the +35 Veterans Spain Championship and +40, among many others.
The Club will also organize several times the Spanish Championship for men's first-category Absolute teams and in 2006 the international Open Challenger ATP "Costa Daurada" will be restored with a prize of 50,000 dollars.
The tournament will be held for five editions and, motivated by the economic crisis that the country is suffering, will stop being organized in 2011.
In the next stage of the Board of Directors governed by the President of the Club Mr. Antonio Sanchez Recasens (2006-2010) mainly carried out the construction of the fifth padel court located in the old pediment of the club and also the remodeling-construction of the square and expansion of the gymnasium on the first floor.
Now a few years ago (2010-2016) the Board of Directors chaired by Mr. Carles Farré Brull carried out the demolition of the building where the old women's changing rooms were located and a multipurpose Multi-Sports Court was built, much needed to practice different sports such as basketball, football, table tennis and where to perform the physical preparation of the school. They also worked to clean up the organization's accounts, while expanding the number of padel courts to 7, carrying out restructuring work on the tennis courts closest to the beach.
After the appointment of Tarragona as the venue of the 2018 Mediterranean Games, our club hosted the sport of tennis during those days.
The Board of Directors chaired by Pere LL. Bergadà, faced an important challenge in the history of the club. In an extraordinary general assembly, the purchase of the Tennis Park sports club was approved. In this way, the Tarragona Tennis Club proceeded to become the only sports club in Cala Romana, with a total of 23,000m2 dedicated to sport and leisure, which grew to 15 tennis courts and 14 padel courts.
He arrived in Tarragona via Barcelona in 1908 at the estate of Josep Maria Iglesias near the hill of Oliva. Competitions were played there with a very select audience that could only be accessed by strict invitation. In 1913, the first tennis court already existed and was located on Camí de l'Arrabassada, in front of the Jans cemetery.
The thousand and one attempts carried out for this aristocratic sport to acquire a letter of naturalness in our city, had become a failure until around 1915, when a small group of friends often met to play to tennis
This sport has evolved a lot since it was founded in 1915, by Mr. Lluis Bonet i Amigó from Tarragona, under the name "Law Tennis Club Tarragona", who was the main organizer and soul of the section. He was very fond of sports. He sacrificed himself morally and materially and with his activity and dedication he succeeded in establishing this sport in our city, and on May 2, 1915 he succeeded in inaugurating the 2 courts built in the street Estanislau Figueres of this city.
This "section" was integrated into the Gymnastics Club. It was made up of 40 members, fans. All of them came from wealthy families.
The meeting of this section was held and membership registrations were closed. Those who wanted to become members from now on would have to pay a double entry fee.
In this first stage, the Luís Bonet Trophy (1918-1929) was contested.
Joan Gualberto Nogués i Virgili was one of the first tennis players in Tarragona and presided over the Association in 1923.
Later, the facilities were moved from Carrer Estanislau Figueres to the new grounds of Camí de l´Àngel, (Avinguda de Catalunya). The works to condition the tennis courts in the new grounds were going at a good pace and when they arrived in March 1924 they were already starting to enjoy the general facilities of the Gymnastic Club where they were integrated as the Sports Section of what formed part for more than forty years.
On April 1, 1924, Leandre Campadabal, one of the pioneers of Tarragona tennis and patriarch of a line of good tennis players, became a partner.
In the same month of April 1924, the first social championship was organized in order to establish a "ranking" within the club and thus be able to name the players who would represent the club in official competitions.
On July 12, 1925, the new permanent facilities were inaugurated: 3 courts, social chalet and small garden.
In September 1939 the assembly of members, which had about 50, decided to change its name and call itself Sección de Tenis Club Gimnástico.
From 1947 until 1955 and there was a flourishing stage at the Club. But from this last year, a crisis began in the football section of the Gymnastic Club (the base of the club) and as a result it dragged all the other sections.
For all of the above and in order not to lose the work of so many years, the members of the tennis section of the Gymnastic Club agreed to form an independent society making a great effort. A villa, land, courts and facilities were acquired as property. Then it was called Club de Tennis Tarragona.
Independent and owner of our Tarragona Tennis Club of the property, land and facilities, where their sports activities were carried out. These gradually increased as the number of members gradually increased, which went from a hundred to a total of two hundred at the end of 1955.
In order to regulate the operation of the club as an independent entity, the board submitted to the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation a draft social statute, which was approved on April 30, 1960.
In the statute, the categories of youth and children's members were instituted with reduced monthly fees and the exception of the entrance fee for the latter, with the aim of encouraging and stimulating the practice of the sport of tennis among young people.
These measures gave an excellent result, as many members signed up. This fact led to an increase in sports activities.
Due to the progressive increase in members, the facilities became insufficient to meet the constant needs and given the impossibility of expanding them in the same location, in 1961 they began to talk about the possible transfer of the Club to the Cala Romana urbanization.
On April 26, 1961, the Club's Board of Directors wrote a letter to all members explaining and justifying their position towards the possible transfer of the Club to the Cala Romana housing estate.
On May 20, 1962, an Extraordinary General Meeting took place - a referendum where the social mass mostly opted for the transfer of the Club to Cala Romana.
In the decade of the 1960s, the number of members experienced a sharp rise. Tennis was already a popular sport and Tarragona was growing at an accelerated rate. A majority group that initially played at 7 in the morning, before going to work, created the rock band Seven O'Clock. This organized championships for beginners, in all kinds of categories, both in winter and in summer, and they always ended with a dinner, dance and free prizes. At that time the club organized the official social championships and interclub competitions.
Due to the constant increase in the number of members and sports activities, the facilities became insufficient to meet the constant needs. Faced with the impossibility of extending them to the same location, the Extraordinary General Meeting of the club met to choose the new location.
On May 20, 1962, the land of Cala Romana was acquired, land with a surface area of more than 10,000 m2 where the purpose was to build the various facilities and buildings suitable for the sports activities of a club of tennis The construction of six tennis courts (one of them with bleachers), a 12x25 meter swimming pool, a small pediment and a social room equipped with changing rooms for both men and women was foreseen.
With the efforts of the club's members and an aid granted by the National Delegation, these installations were able to be carried out. A two-storey building was planned for the social premises, and the construction of an isolated house for the caretaker was wanted.
The main building had a southeast orientation. It was considered the most suitable because at peak time when you play the sun is in your face. The new facilities were inaugurated on May 24, 1964.
The social building consisted of the following dependencies: On the ground floor: porches, a staircase, changing rooms and sanitary facilities for ladies, changing rooms and sanitary facilities for men and sanitary changing rooms for children. On the first floor: lobby, concierge, games room, social lounge, bar, toilets, secretary.
After the various promotion campaigns carried out by the Boards of Directors to encourage the practice of sport among the greatest number of people, from 300 members who were registered when the transfer was made, they became about 2000 associates.
This spectacular increase in the number of members has been caused mainly by the policy followed by the Board of Directors in establishing reduced monthly fees and minimum entrance fees, including granting total exceptions in favor of young people, in order to avoid losing any player or promise due to lack of means in our province.
In 1966, the tennis school was created to encourage and stimulate this sport among the youngest by teaching the basics of technique.
In 1969, this spectacular increase in members and the creation of the tennis school, caused the club's facilities to become spectacularly congested. Therefore, the problem of expanding the facilities was raised. The project consisted of the construction of four clay courts, of which two of them would be focused on the school, which would provide a total of ten courts, a number proportional to that of the club's members.
In 1970 and with the help of the National Delegation and the financial effort of the Club, the 4 clay courts were built, a pavilion for the tennis school, a pediment, lighting of a court and closure of the lot. These works were officially inaugurated in July 1970.
Again, the need for another expansion of the facilities arose due to an increase in the number of practitioners. To this end, the General Assembly, and always conditional on possible help from the National Delegation, authorized the Board of Directors to start the construction of a "tennissinco" court in 1972, to expand the pediment and pave it , build bleachers on track 4, light track 3, expand the changing rooms with new showers and improve the water installation to irrigate the tracks, with a sufficient pressure pump.
In 1974 the Board of Directors presented an ambitious project to expand the club's facilities. On the one hand, he wanted to buy the land on a hill next to the tennis court. On the other hand, it was also proposed to build a central track, build a pergola, expand the men's changing rooms, build a cafeteria with a games room. It was also proposed the creation of a children's park, the closure of track 7 in a multi-sports track and finally the closure of the social premises. Of all the above, only the expansion of the men's changing rooms and the construction of a cafeteria were carried out.
During these years, the number of members and practitioners increased at all hours of the day, quite the opposite of the first years when it was only played at peak times. From the 60s and 70s almost all the courts were occupied while the club was open.
On July 13, 1985, the first Club Day was held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the foundation (Lawn Tennis Club 1915). Of the events organized, the inauguration of a commemorative monitor stands out. It should be noted that Mr. Joan Vallvé fought to get a stone from Tarragona, worthy of configuring the monolith. It wasn't easy at all. The stone was found at the bottom of the old quarry, behind the train station on land belonging to the port works board, who agreed to give it mainly thanks to the management of the partner Mr. Ramon Juanola.
In this year 1985 we must also highlight that the partner and former president of the entity for 8 years, Mr. Agustí Pujol i Niubó was elected president of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation at the age of 36 on November 9. He was President during 5 candidacies.
Tennis Tarragona requested the organization of the absolute women's championship of Spain in 1991. The Royal Spanish Tennis Federation granted the organization after drawing up favorable reports of the club's facilities and also went take into account that the club had previously organized championships of such importance.
In 1996, the Davis Cup was held between Spain and Denmark to try to return to the world group. It became the most important international event in the entire history of the Tarragona Tennis Club. It was very important for the club but also for the city as they would become known all over the world.
In February 1999, they wanted to expand and modify the club's facilities in order to modernize it and make it equal to the big clubs in Barcelona. They proposed the construction of new offices, a new reception occupying part of the current porch in addition, the construction of two paddle courts on the tennis court and the fitting out of the fronton with a multi-sports court. In the end, the first two padel courts were built in June 2000 and work began on an ambitious definitive project for the total remodeling of a 21st century club.
In 2003, finally, the Board of Directors governed by the President of the Club Mr. Antonio Jordà de Quay would present to the members and it would be approved by the majority of the new remodeling of the facilities and improvements. We would gain 1 more tennis court (total 11), two more padel courts (total 4), a new shallower pool and a small one for children, the total restoration of the social building where changing rooms with saunas and Turkish baths would be expanded, a large gym, cabins for aesthetic treatments, physiotherapy and others, new offices for administration and reception and a new bar, restaurant and kitchen.
Also during this stage at the sporting level there would be a 180º change. The club's first all-male team would rise to the 1st national category for the first time in its history. The tennis school (with an average of three hundred students), in team competitions would be among the best in Catalonia in many categories, a wide range of major competitions would be organized at international and national level such as: a qualifier of the Federation Cup, the Men's European Children's Team Championship "Copa del Sol", the +60 Veterans World Team Championship, the Women's Absolute Spain Championship, the +35 Veterans Spain Championship and +40, among many others.
The Club will also organize several times the Spanish Championship for men's first-category Absolute teams and in 2006 the international Open Challenger ATP "Costa Daurada" will be restored with a prize of 50,000 dollars.
The tournament will be held for five editions and, motivated by the economic crisis that the country is suffering, will stop being organized in 2011.
In the next stage of the Board of Directors governed by the President of the Club Mr. Antonio Sanchez Recasens (2006-2010) mainly carried out the construction of the fifth padel court located in the old pediment of the club and also the remodeling-construction of the square and expansion of the gymnasium on the first floor.
Now a few years ago (2010-2016) the Board of Directors chaired by Mr. Carles Farré Brull carried out the demolition of the building where the old women's changing rooms were located and a multipurpose Multi-Sports Court was built, much needed to practice different sports such as basketball, football, table tennis and where to perform the physical preparation of the school. They also worked to clean up the organization's accounts, while expanding the number of padel courts to 7, carrying out restructuring work on the tennis courts closest to the beach.
After the appointment of Tarragona as the venue of the 2018 Mediterranean Games, our club hosted the sport of tennis during those days.
The Board of Directors chaired by Pere LL. Bergadà, faced an important challenge in the history of the club. In an extraordinary general assembly, the purchase of the Tennis Park sports club was approved. In this way, the Tarragona Tennis Club proceeded to become the only sports club in Cala Romana, with a total of 23,000m2 dedicated to sport and leisure, which grew to 15 tennis courts and 14 padel courts.