Since Andy Murray lifted the Wimbledon crown on a glorious sunny day in July, tennis has become one of the boom sports in the country.

Whether it is to play for leisure or fitness, tennis is one of the greatest sports for fun and friendship, from the competition of singles, to the art, fun and teamwork of doubles.

For many years, Largs Tennis Club has been at the forefront of coaching opportunities in the local area, with generations of schoolchildren getting the opportunity to pick up a racquet.

Club nights are on Mondays from 6.30pm at Douglas Park - open to adult members and visitors.

Largs Tennis Club provide coaching for schoolchildren, and they also have adult participation club evenings throughout the summer months on Monday evenings.

Getting out in the fresh air, it is the ideal way for youngsters to escape the computer and play-station, and enjoy a hobby which is relatively inexpensive.

Douglas Park in Cathcart Road boasts four public courts, and if you become a member of Largs Tennis Club, you can also have access throughout the whole summer to the three additional club courts for only £60 for adults, families £125, juniors £15, students/unemployed £30.

In terms of adult tennis, Largs Tennis Club is the only club in North Ayrshire which is affiliated to Tennis Ayrshire, and competes in the Ayrshire tennis leagues. They have two gents and two ladies tennis teams which enter the leagues, Scottish Cup, Masters, and Mixed Doubles competitions. It is a friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the club.

One of the other great opportunities at Largs Tennis Club is the chance of securing tickets for the Wimbledon Championships. This year, the club is able to offer three pairs of prestigious Wimbledon tickets for the Championships, including Gents semi-finals day, in a Wimbledon ballot which is open to all members. You must be affiliated to the British Tennis, which is free to club members, in order to take part in the ballot. To join British Tennis, go to https://www.lta.org.uk/Members/Join/ The club has offered a Junior coaching programme for many years and has links with local Primary schools and Largs Academy.

There are courts at Skelmorlie and Fairlie, where there are clubs offering coaching, All weather tennis courts are also available at Inverclyde Sports Centre in Largs, so there really is no excuse to go out and have a hit!

Tennis Ayrshire (formerly ‘Ayrshire Lawn Tennis Association’) was set up around 1923 to serve the needs of tennis amatuers and professionals in the District of Ayrshire.

They are directly funded by the Tennis Clubs of Ayrshire and Tennis Scotland, the Scottish Governing Body for Tennis.

Affiliated Clubs participate in the Scottish Cup, the first stage of which runs alongside the District Inter-Club leagues, of which there are three divisions and a newly formed ‘Development’ division for men and ladies.

In August a mixed doubles knock-out competition is open to all affiliated clubs. The Ayrshire Masters is open to ‘veterans’ - ladies over 40 and men over 45, with two leagues played on Sundays throughout August and September. Largs are the proud holders of the Ayrshire Masters title.

Full details of Tennis Ayrshire, go to http://www.tennisayrshire.org.uk For more details about joining Largs Tennis Club or coaching opportunities, contact chairman Fiona Page on 687196 (ifionapage@btinternet.com) or secretary Alan McEwing on 675909 (alan@renniemcinnes.co.uk)