New balls, lines and clay ready for play at Grantown Tennis Club
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Grantown Tennis Club now boasts some wonderfully resurfaced courts with brand new lines but alas no players for now.
The club has just completed an impressive refurbishment of its clay courts but members have not been able to try them out properly yet because of the coronavirus lockdown.
After a close-down over winter to protect the courts from damage, play usually resumes in the Spring at the venue.
But whilst in England tennis players can return to the game, the same is not the case in Scotland just yet.
Lockdown relaxations announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday came into play yesterday in England.
It means that tennis can be enjoyed there by members of the same household for doubles and even singles with one member of a different household whilst observing the social distancing guidelines.
Grantown Tennis Club captain and coach Alistair McLeod hopes that the new look courts can be enjoyed soon when it is deemed safe to do so.
Mr McLeod said: "At the end of last season Grantown Tennis Club supplied and laid new lines to all the club's eight clay courts. New clay was also applied to most of the courts creating a great facility for the start of this season.
"The club is grateful for the generous funding from the Berryburn Community Fund and club members for providing voluntary labour.
"In common with all sports in Scotland, tennis is in abeyance due to the coronavirus.
"The club had entered six senior teams and four junior teams in the Highland Leagues but this has now been abandoned although it is hoped to have some friendly matches later.
"The club's annual open championships which attracts entries from all over the UK during first week of August is also in doubt."
