Falkland Palace Royal Tennis Club
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Server's view of the court |
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Receiver's view of the court |
The
Falkland Palace Royal Tennis Club (also previously called the
Falkland Palace Real Tennis Club) organizes play at the
real tennis court in the gardens of
Falkland Palace,
Fife,
Scotland.
Built for
James V of Scotland, court construction began in April
1539 and ended in late
1541. It is the oldest tennis court in use today, though not continuously used since 1541. The court differs from other real tennis courts in two respects. It is the only active real tennis court without a roof (one on
Lambay Island requires restoration). Secondly, it is the only surviving example of
jeu quarré design, other courts being the
jeu à dedans type. The Falkland Palace court is larger than a
lawn tennis court, and has four walls. Two of those walls feature penthouses, and unlike
jeu à dedans courts lacks a
tambour and
dedans. It has five additional point-scoring features: four openings (
lunes) in one wall and a vertical board (
ais). The playing floor is 97 feet 4 inches (29.67 m) by 33 feet 5 inches (10.19 m).
Today's club was formed in
1975. In
1989 the club celebrated the court's 450th anniversary with a tournament, for which a temporary roof was constructed. It did not rain that week. The club also published a book,
The Royal Game. Currently, it is Scotland's only real tennis club, although a court in
Troon may reopen.
* Butler, L. St J. & Wordie, P. J. (1989).
The Royal Game. Stirling: Falkland Palace Real Tennis Club. ISBN 0-9514622-0-2 or ISBN 0-9514622-1-0.
*
Falkland Palace Royal Tennis Club
