Facilities
We have three all-weather artificial grass courts that were re-laid in 2011. All courts have floodlights available until 21:00 which are free of charge. Our newly refurbished clubhouse has heating, a modern kitchen, communal area and gents' and ladies' changing rooms with deluxe electric showers.
History
Braid Tennis Club was founded in 1890 on ground owned by the Gordons of Cluny Trustees when the architect Robert Rowand Anderson, who later designed the McEwan Hall and Scottish National Portrait Gallery, was instructed to provide a recreation ground.
Originally only fuears of the Braid estate could join so there were relatively few members, the majority of which were ladies. Membership fluctuated throughout the next century with 50 members in 1900, rising to 96 in 1919, then 143 in 1927, before falling to 58 in 1950. Juniors were admitted in 1954, and by 1989 membership numbers were similar to current levels and have remained so since.
The current pavilion is probably the original to which an extension and electric lighting were added in 1924, followed by a slate roof in 1984. The courts were originally blaes and were turned into curling rinks for the winter months.
In its earlier days, the club was a very different place to play compared to the modern day. Rules from 1938 state that no play was permitted on Sundays, and a member was even suspended for playing on the day of Edward VII’s funeral. Anyone hitting a ball out of the court was fined 1/- if they did not retrieve it, and in 1943 there were no new balls available for play due to war shortages the increased cost of balls.
Since the 1950s Braid LTC has grown from strength to strength. All-weather courts were installed in 1980, and were recently refurbished. The club now has a vibrant and active membership of all ages, playing both socially and competitively.
