One of Scotland’s oldest tennis clubs is enjoying its ace new £150,000 facilities.
Kinnoull Tennis Club in Perth netted funding for four new artificial courts, LED floodlights and improved disabled access to the courts and clubhouse.
The club successfully rallied up financial support from a range of sources – including The Gannochy Trust and Perth and Kinross Council’s Perth Common Good Fund – but primarily it was members who smashed it with their fundraising efforts.
It is hoped the improved facilities at the club – established in 1887 – will attract players for more regional and national competitions as well as local residents and visitors to the Fair City.
Work got under way at the end of September and the new courts were completed in November.
The drainage has been improved with new drainage holes on the existing surface. Grangemouth-based Sportex installed four new Tiger Turf courts. And the lighting has been improved with new £15,000 LED lighting which are more efficient and create better light. A new path to allow wheelchair access to the clubhouse will be created early next year and the changes being made will allow disabled players to play at Kinnoull.
The historic club has produced a number of talented young players and has consistently competed well in both the Tayside Tennis and Perth and District Leagues over the years.
The club’s vice-chairman John Clark has overseen the mammoth project.
He said: “Sportex – who are based in Grangemouth – have done an excellent job on all parts of the project and the new access path will be completed early in 2025 weather permitting to ensure all the work is completed for the new season in April.
“The club is extremely grateful for the support we have received from the following trusts and local groups: The Gannochy Trust, Perth Common Good
Fund, Jimmie Cairncross Charitable Trust, Thomson Charitable Trust, The Lang Foundation, Tabla Indian Restaurant, Kinnoull Bowling Club and Sandy Farmer.
“A special mention must go to the members of Kinnoull Tennis Club who – through their commitment over many years – helped raise 60 per cent of the total project costs. A recent Awards and Quiz Night raised £3,500. Also, special thanks to Andrew Parrott, convener of The Perth Common Good Fund for taking the time to understand our application and the benefits it would provide the Perth public once completed.”
And the club has some exciting new incentives to attract more members to the club including a limited number of free junior winter memberships.
John explained: “Going forward the club has a winter offer and a 17-month deal for new members and they are currently offering a number of free memberships for junior members from within Perth.”