Tennis – Booking courts, playing and rules information
All Clubs must have rules and guidelines for operating its sporting activities to the benefit of ALL members. The following summarises the main ones but full details are always available on the Notice board.
Standards of Dress
Members are requested to wear tennis clothing or other sports clothing suitable for tennis (not football strips), and tennis footwear designated as suitable for both tennis hard and soft courts. Footwear which is likely to mark courts must not be worn.
Shoe Tag - Membership Identification
Members must display a current shoe tag whenever on the tennis courts.
Visitors
Each member is allowed a maximum of 6 guest visitors per year with no more than 3 visits per individual guest. Members must sign in and pay for visitors playing at the Club. Two £1.00 stickers must either be entered onto the VISITORS REGISTER (on Court Booking notice board), or the names signed in the register and two £1.00 stickers placed beside the name as soon as they can be obtained from the Bar.
Court Priority
Junior Courts
Court 1 is allocated for Coaching, or if not required by the Coach, it is the JUNIOR COURT. If court 1 is in use by the Coach, either court 3 or court 6 will be designated by sign as the temporary Junior Court (throughout the day and the evening).
No Seniors may use these courts if they are required by Juniors.
Main Courts
Courts 2 to 9 (see above for 3 and 6) - the following priorities apply in order of impact:
- League Matches (summer and winter) or recognised external Tournaments will be played and have absolute priority on courts 6 to 9, requiring others to give up the court immediately. Veterans and friendly matches which are played on a Saturday afternoon will normally be played on courts 4 & 5.
- Members "club play sessions" have priority on courts 2 to 5 during the week, and at weekends on courts 8 & 9 also.
- Coaching will normally take place on courts 6 to 9, and wherever possible on the hard courts 6 & 7. The Coach has guaranteed access to one tennis court at all times, with the exception of when Club Tournaments are being played.
- Junior Night: Friday evening only with immediate access to all courts from 6-30pm.
- Official Club Tournaments such as American Tournaments have immediate access to all the courts (2 to 9) at the times stated on the Notice Board.
- Club Championship Matches take priority over normal club play. Players who wish to claim priority use of the court must notify the players already on court that they wish to use it. The players on court may finish their short set.
- Fixed Fours on Thursday evening. Timing of access to courts is controlled by the booking system displayed on the Notice Board.
- Official Club Play Sessions. During Official Club Play sessions participating members have priority (after the above) access to the courts (weekdays from 6-30pm; weekends from 2-00pm). Players who wish to claim priority use of a court must notify players already on court that they wish to use it. The players on court may finish their (short) set if it is their first set and must then give up the court. If they have already played at least one set they must complete the current game and immediately vacate the court.
- Other play. Doubles takes precedence on all courts except for Singles play in Official Club Championship matches. Doubles players have the choice of courts, and if all 4 players are ready to play, those already using the courts must complete their (short) set and give up the court. In addition, singles matches which are part of the Club Singles Ladder will have equal priority (not more priority) to club doubles play during the following times:
- after 8.00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays;
- after 2.00pm on Saturdays;
- any time on Sundays.
- "Off-peak (weekday) members". This category of membership permits play only during Monday to Friday and prior to 6-00pm. They must vacate the courts at 6.00pm. Off-peak members may not enter club competitions and tournaments; and cannot play for club teams or in inter-club friendly matches.
Club Play Sessions
Organised playing sessions are available throughout the week as shown:
- Summer Season (approx mid-April to mid October)
Monday : 6-30pm Mens doubles night
Tuesday: 9-30am Mixed doubles morning
Tuesday: 6-30pm Ladies doubles night
Wednesday: 6-30pm Mixed doubles night
Thursday: 9-30am Mixed doubles morning
Thursday : 6-30pm Fixed fours night
Friday : 6-30pm Juniors night
Saturday : 2-00pm Mixed doubles afternoon
Sunday : 2-00pm Mixed doubles afternoon
The Club has a long tradition of mixed doubles "Club Play" and priority is given to this on :
- Wednesday evening from 6.30 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 2.00 pm
The idea is to provide social tennis to all members and is an ideal way for new members to meet existing members and to integrate into the Club. They are friendly occasions - everyone mixes in - you do not need to bring a partner - just bring yourself, your racket and a tube of balls!
Thursday nights are reserved for "Fixed Fours". Courts 4 & 5 are bookable one week in advance using the Booking Sheets on the Notice Board. Courts 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 are only bookable on the night, and only when all four members are actually present.- Winter Season (mid October to approx mid-April)
Tuesday: 9-30am Mixed doubles morning
Wednesday:6-30pm Mixed doubles floodlit night
Thursday: 9-30am Mixed doubles morning
Saturday: 1.30pm Mixed doubles afternoon
Sunday: 1.30pm Mixed doubles afternoon
"Fixed Fours" can be played at all other times. For evening play, booking forms are displayed on the Notice Board. No booking is permitted earlier than one full week prior to the night required. Again, all courts must be booked by a member of the playing group.
Organised Events for Members
American tournaments are fun tournaments organised for the "average" Club member.
American Tournaments are based upon mixed doubles. Lists go up 3 to 4 weeks in advance - you sign up - you turn up - we organise you into pairs - you play social tennis with changing partners and opposition - we provide tea and cakes at the end - AND there are prizes!!
A list of dates for the year is on the notice board.
Floodlights
Tokens for the new floodlights may be obtained from the bar at a cost of 85p per token. Each token will provide just over 11 minutes of floodlighting. Floodlighting for juniors is subsidised. Juniors buy tokens from the Club Coach (James Roe) for use on Court 1 only.
Artificial Turf Court Maintenance
We need to look after our "soft" courts to prolong their playing life. The artificial grass courts 8 & 9 must be clean before use (brushes are provided); leaves and debris must not be trodden into the court surface.
The Tenni-turf courts (2-5) must be brushed after use if no one is waiting to play (except when they are very wet). Regular brushing of these courts is vital to their maintenance. To ensure even distribution of sand, it is important to sweep the courts in different directions.
Click here to download tennis court rules and playing information as a PDF file.
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