Town Hall Event

The future of racquet sports in Whistler is at a critical crossroads—and many members of the Whistler Tennis Association (WTA) and Whistler Racket Club (WRC) supporters may not realize how we got here. Understanding the history of racquet sports in our community is essential to taking meaningful action. The WTA has put together this information to equip you with the knowledge you need to stand up, speak out, and join the campaign to Save the WRC.

Whistler Racquet Sport: A Background Story

Tennis has a longer legacy in Whistler than skiing. In 1914, Myrtle Phillips built the Rainbow Fishing Lodge on the shores of Nita Lake, complete with a tennis court. By the early 1920s, the lodge had become the most popular summer destination west of the Rocky Mountains.

Organized tennis has played an important role in Whistler's community for the past 46 years. The Whistler Valley Tennis Club was founded in 1979 on privately owned land beside Nita Lake, thanks to a passionate local tennis supporter. The club featured five courts—one of which was enclosed with a bubble in winter—and operated as a non-profit with a volunteer board and a professional coach. By 1990, the club boasted 250 members.

However, in the mid-1990s, the land was sold and rezoned by the municipality to allow for hotel development—today known as the Nita Lake Lodge. Fortunately, for the players there was a new venue, the Whistler Racquet and Golf Club. But the loss of valuable lakeside greenspace that could have served as a scenic municipal park was a missed opportunity.

Back in 1988, Whistler's municipal council, guided by the Official Community Plan, committed to making Whistler into a four-season international resort. To incentivize development of key amenities, the council offered “bed units” (development rights) in exchange for public facilities. Three development groups responded successfully:

• The Fairmont Hotel Group could develop the Chateau Whistler if they built the Robert Trent Jones championship golf course. 
• Kaleb Chan and Golf BC could develop the Nicklaus North neighbourhood if they delivered the championship course designed by Jack Nicklaus.
• Park Georgia was awarded 1,200 bed units at the Northlands site on the condition they build a 350-room five-star hotel, an 18,000-square-foot destination spa, a golf teaching academy, and a world-class indoor/outdoor tennis facility.

Park Georgia's plans were ambitious, featuring the internationally branded Bjorn Borg Tennis Centre with a stadium court, four indoor courts, and twelve outdoor courts designed to host televised professional tournaments. The facility would have significantly enhanced Whistler’s year-round resort appeal.

The current Whistler Racquet Club (WRC) was originally intended as a temporary facility until Park Georgia delivered on its promises. It opened in 1991. Park Georgia went on to build and profitably sell 125 Montebello townhouses before selling off the remaining land and the temporary tennis club, which was poorly maintained.

When Holborn Group acquired the Northlands property, they were aware of the outstanding Community Amenity Contribution (CAC). However, in their rezoning application, they unsuccessfully argued that the existing temporary facility fulfilled that obligation. 

In 2005, Holborn sought to rezone the Northlands site from Phase 2 hotel to Phase 1 unrestricted rental and residential use. Mayor Ken Melamed and the council at the time made two decisions; they required Holborn to fulfill the original CAC agreement and build a new racquet club on the Northlands site and involve the club’s user groups in the negotiation process.

After three years of negotiations, an agreement was reached. Holborn would build a permanent facility featuring five indoor and seven outdoor courts (all to tournament specifications), stadium seating, a large fitness area, viewing lounge, pro shop, restaurant with patio, swimming pool, squash space, locker rooms, and underground parking. The facility was to be transferred to municipal ownership and valued at $18–$20 million. A 23-unit employee/senior housing building was also planned.

But the major concern was timing. The community had already waited 17 years. Tennis advocates insisted on guarantees that the amenity would be delivered promptly, the current facility maintained, and uninterrupted access to at least some courts. A phased plan was approved by council and passed third reading.

Unfortunately, Holborn did not immediately proceed with the project. The delay proved fatal. The 2008 global financial crisis devasted the world’s economy and made financing the project impossible. Holborn retained ownership but neglected maintenance, leading to deteriorating conditions at the WRC and the withdrawal of two management groups.

In 2018, the Holborn Group sold the property to the Beedie Development Group, a Vancouver-based firm that markets itself as a community-minded developer. Beedie held off on rezoning while Whistler updated its Official Community Plan. In the interim, they leased the WRC to a new management team led by Jamie Grant, who revitalized the facility. Pickleball surged in popularity, Combo Camps brought youth programming, and the club became a vital hub for local events and community groups.

Three years ago, following the Holborn’s approach, Beedie applied to rezone the site from Phase 2 hotel to Phase 1 residential and rental. But this time, the municipality abandoned the original 1988 vision for Northlands as a recreational anchor for the village’s north end. Mayor Jack Crompton and council wanted to start the process with a clean slate. Unfortunately, that approach ignored the fact that the Phase 2 development rights were never fully paid for with agreed upon amenities.

The municipality initiated an “Enhanced Community Engagement Process. Unsurprisingly, the top community priorities from the engagement were:

1. Replacing the cherished WRC with new multi-use racquet centre.
2. Building more employee housing.

In May 2025, after two years of closed-door negotiations with municipal staff, Beedie and staff publicly released a proposal that would see the WRC demolished during the first phase of townhouse construction—with no replacement plan. No alternative site was proposed, and no immediate funding allocated. A proposed $10 million contribution to recreation would be disbursed over a decade or more. At present time, the mayor and council will not commit any of those funds to replace the WRC. That position gives absolutely no assurance that the WRC will ever be replaced with a new multi-purpose racquet facility.

The 1988 vision for the north end of the village—a hotel with a racquet center, spa, and golf academy—was bold and forward-thinking. Removing key recreational amenities, particularly indoor ones that provide year-round, weather-independent activity, undermines long-term community resilience. With climate change bringing warmer winters, more rainy ski days, glacial retreat, browning forests, and lakeside park closures, now is not the time to eliminate recreation assets.

Beedie’s current proposal asks Whistler residents to accept the destruction of a cherished indoor/outdoor recreation and social hub—located in a prime village setting—in exchange for second-home townhouses and condos. The community amenities on offer do not justify the loss. At the open house planned for September we must demand that the municipality honors its original vision and secures a permanent indoor/outdoor racquet facility as part of any future development plan. Whistler’s future should include recreation for all—not just more real estate for the few.