Tennis Club Kordin

Tennis Club Kordin, known as TCK, is a friendly, non-profit tennis club in Paola, close to the Grand Harbour. It welcomes players of all abilities and is run entirely by volunteers, including its committee, on the principle of tennis for the people, by the people.

For UK visitors and new residents who play, it is a convenient base: the courts are well kept, coaching is on site, and there is a social clubhouse. Because court booking is a members' system, it helps to plan ahead, and it is worth emailing the committee in advance if you only want to play once or twice during a holiday.

A club with a history

The club traces its roots to 1979, when the yard of the old Kordin naval prison and two adjoining halls were handed to the newly formed Paola Tennis Club. The yard was asphalted and four courts were built. After a new committee took over in 1989, the courts were resurfaced, floodlights and nets were replaced, and the hall and restaurant were fully refurbished with a bar, recreation area and changing rooms. The refurbished premises opened officially in 2000.

Today the club is one of the leading tennis clubs on the island, hosting international, national and club-level tournaments, and it is sanctioned by Sport Malta and the Malta Tennis Federation, following International Tennis Federation and Tennis Europe rules. The late Benedict Vidal, a tournament organiser, helped it become a pillar of local tennis and introduced the online booking and energy-efficient systems.

Courts, facilities and the green project

Members can use blue-green courts, modern changing rooms with showers, a free car park and a clubhouse serving snacks, meals and drinks. Fingerprint gate access lets members book courts outside normal hours, handy for an early hit before work. An automated defibrillator is installed for safety, and an on-site weather station reports temperature, humidity, wind and recent rain. Rain or extreme weather can close the outdoor courts, so see our Malta weather guide.

The club's green project includes 96 solar panels, fully LED-lit courts with automated lighting and 17 planted trees, which helps keep membership fees low. Rackets and balls are not available to rent, so bring your own, wear non-marking tennis shoes and suitable tennis clothing, and you can buy balls and overgrips at the office.

Tournaments and coaching

TCK hosts club tournaments, open tournaments for seniors and juniors, and ITF and Tennis Europe international junior events, all sanctioned by the Malta Tennis Federation. Singles, doubles, junior, mixed and team formats are all played. Non-members may enter by paying an extra fee. Jannik Sinner played in the club's ITF tournament in 2017 and reached the semifinals.

Coaching for juniors and adults of all levels is run by a partner tennis school, which sets up individual lessons, group sessions and specialised training on the club's courts. Contact the school directly to book, since coaching sessions are organised by the school rather than by the club office, and they take place on the club's courts. Browse other options in our directory of tennis in Malta.

Membership, guests and visiting

Membership costs €50 from January to December and gives priority online court booking, discounted tournament fees and social events. Members may bring guests up to three guest visits a year in total. Guests who are not members cannot reserve courts online and must ask the committee, subject to availability.

Paola is a short drive from Valletta, so pair a session with our Valletta guide or the Three Cities guide. If you are planning a longer stay, see the Malta relocation guide. To ask about guest play or joining, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the business.