Club Spotlight: Kilmarnock Tennis Club’s big expansion serves up an exciting future
Since opening its doors in 1936, Kilmarnock Tennis Club has been a vibrant hub for tennis in East Ayrshire. With more than 200 members, the club provides a welcoming community that fosters inclusivity and participation in a range of racket sports, which now includes padel tennis and pickleball following the club’s exciting new expansion.
Expanding into Howard Park
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the club saw a surge in membership and coaching participation, prompting the need for expanded facilities. This led to a collaboration with Tennis Scotland, the LTA, East Ayrshire Council, sportscotland and others, resulting in the successful transformation of a disused bowling club at Howard Park into a new multi-racket sport venue.
Opened in August 2024, the new facility features two floodlit tennis courts, a padel court, and a pickleball court, making it accessible to both club members and the wider community. A "smart gate" system allows non-members to book courts on a pay-and-play basis, providing tennis for everyone in the area.
This expansion is in addition to the original London Road venue, which boasts four artificial grass courts accompanied by floodlighting and a clubhouse featuring a kitchen, changing rooms and viewing areas.
Vice-President Gavin Thomson said: “The new facilities have caused a great deal of excitement around Kilmarnock. The number of people who have come along and picked up a racket for the first time has been great to see, and it’s made all the hard work worthwhile. We believe sport has an important role in improving our community’s mental and physical wellbeing.”
In just seven weeks after the launch, the new courts attracted more than 500 bookings, with 70% of those coming from non-members. The repurposed bowling green has also provided a boost in morale in the local area, as Kilmarnock residents are pleased to see a derelict site become a lively recreation area.
Howard Park before and after the refurbishment.
A club for everyone
Kilmarnock offers tennis for players of all ages and skill levels. Memberships cater to everyone, from Bambinos (ages 3-6) to Veterans (65+), and there are group memberships designed for families. Additionally, the club is offering half-price winter memberships from October 1, ensuring affordable access year-round.
The London Road site is home to coaching sessions, team practices and club tournaments, while Howard Park serves as a community-oriented venue that welcomes members and non-members through its pay-and-play system.
Wanting to make the most of the new opportunity for more tennis, Kilmarnock has been reaching out to local schools and community groups encouraging them to take to the court, offering guidance and coaching from club volunteers.
John Howie, who heads the coaching programme, has four decades of experience in Scottish tennis, helping to shape numerous performance players. His coaching team, including Callum and Grant Semple, as well as Lynsey O’Connor, have been described as the “heartbeat of the club”, working to provide coaching sessions, organising junior teams and running junior tournaments and social events.
Competition
The club has hosted ten Scotland Tour junior events over the past year for all age groups as well as featuring as one of the sites for the Play Your Way to Wimbledon qualifying stages each year.
A week-long club championships event is held every September with more than half of the club’s members taking part in one or more events.
Nine teams represent Kilmarnock TC in the Tennis Ayrshire Summer Doubles leagues which provides members with ample opportunity to get involved in competitive tennis. In 2023, the men’s team reached the semi-final of the Scottish Inter-Club Challenge Cup, which saw Kilmarnock become the first Ayrshire-based team to reach the final four of the event in more than 30 years.
The club is also represented at county level with 20 Kilmarnock members playing for South of Scotland on the British county circuit. Additionally, six of the eight South of Scotland men’s Summer County team were members of the club.
Looking Ahead
As Kilmarnock Tennis Club continues to grow, the club is looking to foster the participation of tennis, padel, and pickleball as it continues to encourage members and the wider community to get on court.
For more information about Kilmarnock Tennis Club and memberships click here
