Someone on r/chch asked a while back: "is the Hagley park tennis court free for everyone or does it have entrance free? we are beginners." Part of the confusion is that North Hagley Park has two lots of courts. The council runs one and a club runs the other, and this is what each of them says on its own pages.
The free ones: Hagley Park North
These are Christchurch City Council courts. There are five of them, off the Armagh Street car park, which you get to from Rolleston Avenue.
The council's tennis page lists them with the rest of its public park courts, and it says the courts on that list "are open for public use." Clubs may use some of them at certain times, but outside those times they should be open. Look for a notice at the courts, then play if one is free.
If you find a court locked when it should be open, the council asks you to ring them on 03 941 8999.
The club ones: Te Kura Hagley Park Tennis Club
The club courts are the other set, off the Riccarton Avenue car park. The council's Hagley entry mentions them as a separate set.
Te Kura has a lot of courts. The club lists 6 floodlit plexipave courts, 4 synthetic grass courts (2 of them floodlit), and 18 lawn courts for summer play.
You don't have to be a member to play there. From the club's own page: "Visitors are always welcome and can pay $10 pp casual green fees during daylight hours." You pay by internet banking with the reference "greenfee". The account number is on their ClubSpark page.
Lights are for members. Visitor green fees cover daylight play, and the floodlit courts are kept for members.
Evenings are tighter again. Their booking page says: "Over winter we give priority to our members when booking courts. Only members can book a court between 5-8pm daily." That's their winter booking rule, so check the booking page for the current times before you head over after work.
Parking, and the gates
Both car parks are council pay car parks. It's $2 for the first hour, then $1.30 an hour, up to $4.60 for three hours, and 180 minutes is the limit. There's free parking around the edge of the park too.
If you're playing in the evening, remember that both the Armagh Street and Riccarton Avenue car parks lock at night. The council's hours are:
- 7am to 8.30pm in October
- 7am to 9pm, November to February
- 7am to 8.30pm in March
- 7am to 6.30pm, April to September
If you get locked in, you ring the council (0800 800 169) and pay to get your car out. The park itself is open all hours. Only the car parks shut.
If the Armagh Street courts are all taken, Te Kura's are the other option, at $10 a head in daylight.
Hitter is a Christchurch app for finding someone to hit with. Find it at hitter.nz.
