CARP – The rain held off until early in the afternoon and the courts were full until then at the Carp tennis club’s Open House held Saturday, May 25.

When the rain did show up luckily, so did the pizza.

Carp Tennis (as the club is known) invited the community to try out the courts, learn about the club and have fun playing tennis for the day.

President Ian Ramsay and program director Justin Lahey gave West Carleton Online the club tour just before the skies opened up.

“As soon as the snow goes,” Lahey said about the season start.

The club is located on the Carp Fair grounds at the corner of Langstaff and Juanita roads and boasts two courts and two practice areas. A small shed for equipment and getting out of the rain.

Board members are excited about the coming season thanks to the huge growth in the junior membership.

“We’re really focused on getting the young people,” Lahey said. “A healthy club needs young people. That’s been a big success.”

The club does require membership with a variety of options from family, to adult, to junior.

Carp Tennis will have a teaching pro this year. Aleks Gaiarsa will be providing instruction at no charge to members at the Thursday night Club Night, Tips and Drills events and the new clinic for kids (age eight to 16) on Friday nights at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Ramsay said the club has about 70 to 80 junior members and had about 35 kids out for their last Friday clinic. The courts are in use for organized events four evenings a week.

“Unbelievable,” he said. “This year has been a bumper year.”

The club has also recently added online booking. For more information on Carp Tennis, click here.