The association has asked its Waitaki District Council landlords for permission to convert six of its 12 grass courts into hard courts.
Association president Josh Dalziel said the roughly 50 senior players, 30 masters players, and 60 or more junior players would benefit from a longer season than the grass courts provide.
"It is a very different style of tennis (playing on grass), which is why in the past we have attracted a few people to our opens, because we have been sort of quite unique," he said.
"Don’t get me wrong, the grass courts are an amazing facility, and they’re awesome to play on, but they’re not all year round."
John Macdonald (80), of Weston, has played on the courts at Chelmer St since he was 10 years old.
And prior to that he was a ball boy at the courts when his father arranged afternoon games there.
Turning half of the 12 grass courts into hard courts was an "excellent idea", he said.
Mr Macdonald, a life member of the association, said the grass courts were easier on the body, and allowed people to play later in life, they were faster, and at present they were "as good as they have ever been".
Yet, he said, an "all-weather type surface" would be "a great advantage".
"Simply because we don’t get on the grass until Labour Weekend, and we’re off the grass at the end of March; you take the Christmas period out of that and it is a very short season.
"With our young players coming on, I believe they deserve better than what they’ve got.
"The grass is not a great place for young people to start playing tennis."
Mr Dalziel said the association had only looked at approximate costs and sought the council’s approval for the change as a first step.
Converting to hard courts could cost up to $50,000 per court, with lighting, adding an extra $17,000 per court.
If the association got council approval, a fundraising campaign would begin.
The association had also considered recouping costs through user fees.
"If you’re going to do it once, you might as well do it right," he said.
Recreation manager Erik van der Spek said the association’s proposal would mean a minor saving for the council of $4000.
The proposal from the council was to pass the savings it made — only mowing and irrigating half as many courts — on to the association as a contribution to the maintenance of the new hard courts.
