Centenary Tennis Clubs: East Glos welcomes Argentine visitors
By David Barham, East Glos member and CTC coordinator
East Glos has been a member of the Association of Centenary Tennis Clubs (CTC) since 2023. It is an umbrella group of 96 clubs in 29 countries on five continents, each having a history dating back at least one hundred years.
The CTC has provided a platform for several East Glos members to visit and enjoy the hospitality of CTC member clubs globally. On Sunday, as part of that program, we were delighted to welcome Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club members Federico and Laura Garcia Tiberti, with their sons Lucas and Joaquin, to East Glos.
Founded in 1892, the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club can trace its origins back to a British expatriate community. The name of the club’s first president, Arthur Herbert, hints at a common thread which links several CTC member clubs.
By 1920, the club had moved to a new location, now known as Lisandro de la Torre. Expanding rapidly from this point, the club would play a significant role in the important passages of Argentine tennis history.
The main court stadium with a capacity for 5,500 spectators bears the name of Guillermo Vilas in recognition of both his achievements for Argentinian tennis and his connection to the club. Today, the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club is the venue for major tournaments as well as Davis Cup and Fed Cup matches.
Laura and Federico with Joaquin and Lucas
Federico and his family enjoyed a tour of the club and facilities, including a brief history. Coming from a country where clay courts are predominant, the opportunity to play on the grass courts was perhaps the highlight moment.
Julian Wellings, author of the club history, presented Federico with a signed copy of his book as a souvenir of their visit. The occasion concluded with a light meal, which included a traditional tennis favourite, strawberries and cream.
Federico said, “The whole staff was amazing, but Dave [Barham] went out of his way to make us feel comfortable. It was a huge pleasure for us to know the club’s facilities, interact with members, and play for a while on the grass surface.
“We look forward to receiving any East Glos member in Buenos Aires, and hopefully this shall not be our last visit to your beautiful club.”
It was an honour for the club to host Federico and his family. Hopefully, the visit provided them an opportunity to savour the flavours, atmosphere and traditions of a quintessential British tennis club.
East Glos members: If you’d like to play at one of the 96 CTC clubs globally, find out more below.