Barrhead’s unofficial tennis club is gearing up for another season.
For the last few years, a group of diehard tennis players have been meeting every Tuesday and Thursday evening at the Barrhead Tennis Courts.
Martin Taylor, who people might best know from his job as Town of Barrhead’s chief administrative officer, started the club shortly after Barrhead and Westlock hosted the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games.
“It started out with my wife and I getting together with a few friends to play tennis,” he said, adding the group started to get more and more attention.
Soon people who didn’t play started to drop by the tennis courts and ask if they could take lessons.
It is something the Taylors happily agreed to.
“Tennis is a great sport and the more people we are able to introduce to it the better,” he said.
At its height, close to 20 players would show up for an evening of tennis, depending on the night and weather. In the last two years the number has declined slightly, however, he hopes the trend will reverse itself.
Taylor added that they’re trying to expand by reaching out to a similar group in Westlock, some of which he met while playing winter indoor tennis at the Spirit Centre a few years ago.
“I think it would be fun to have both groups visit each other’s courts and play. It would add a little variety,” he said.
On most Tuesday and Thursday evenings, play starts at 7 p.m. and go until about 10 p.m.
Because it is an informal group, all the players chip in to make sure the courts are in proper condition.
To protect both the special playing surface and the players themselves, the courts must be periodically swept to make sure they are clear of gravel and other debris that may have blown onto the courts.
“The court is actually in pretty good condition. A few of the lines need to be repainted in areas due to cracks in the asphalt, but it’s more than playable,” Taylor said, adding he expects parks and recreation staff will redo the lines by early June.
The tennis courts are next to the sports grounds beside Highway 33. There is no fee to play, but players are asked to bring their own racquets and balls. For more information about the Barrhead Tennis Club, contact Taylor at the town office at 780-674-3301.
