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Bragg Creek tennis courts locked and gated to prevent damage

With the summer tennis season well underway, the Bragg Creek Tennis Club has made the decision to lock the hamlet’s tennis courts, which will be made available to club members only.
BraggCreekTennisCourts
The Bragg Creek Tennis Club has implemented a lock system to keep non-tennis activity off the newly-resurfaced courts.

With the summer tennis season well underway, the Bragg Creek Tennis Club has made the decision to lock the hamlet’s tennis courts, which will be made available to club members only. 

In the fall of 2021, the tennis club resurfaced the courts, which was an undertaking that cost the club $31,675 and 265 volunteer hours. Tennis club members personally supplied $15,837, with the Rocky View County (RVC) Recreation Board approving a matching grant for the project. 

According to Bragg Creek and District Tennis Club president Candance Perko, the courts were in terrible condition before being resurfaced, due in part to misuse of the amenity. 

“Our tennis facility is a constant target for vandalism and non-tennis activity,” Perko said. “We spend a great deal of time and money year after year scrubbing graffiti, repairing our clubhouse roof and tennis fence, [and] filing cracks and chips in the court surface.” 

Non-tennis activities, such as biking, skateboarding, and scootering, rapidly deteriorate the court surface, which Perko added is often tarnished with litter, household garbage, and broken glass bottles. She said the net on the courts is often mistreated and cut or ripped up, as well. 

“Even while we were in the middle of the resurfacing project last fall, our clubhouse was broken into,” Perko said. 

To prevent future misuse of the courts, the tennis club made the recent decision to permit access to the amenity strictly to members, providing local players with a code to the lock of the gated tennis courts. 

The membership annual fee is $25 for adults and $40 for a family. Members are welcome to invite guests to join them for a day of tennis, and they also have access to equipment such as tennis balls and racquets, a ball machine, and a ball picker. 

The membership fees help the tennis club upkeep, maintain, and improve the two outdoor tennis courts, the small children’s court, and the barbecue that guests can use to cook up lunch after a day of tennis. 

The tennis courts also have painted lines and a portable net for interested pickleball players. 

“Keeping these courts in tip-top shape for our community is our number one priority,” Perko said. 

She added club members and guests are also invited to join the Bragg Creek Tennis Club’s league, which plays twice a week, as well as any tournaments hosted on the courts. 

“We have a great group of players that are welcoming to all new players,” Perko added. 

The Bragg Creek Tennis Club has maintained the hamlet’s courts since 1992, providing an opportunity for everyone in the community to learn and play tennis, according to Perko. 

This year, the volunteer-led club is celebrating its 30 anniversary. 

“I am very proud of our club – we have a fun group of loyal players that double as dedicated volunteers when needed,” Perko said. 

“The Bragg Creek Tennis Club is passionate about keeping the sport alive and well in the community.”

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