Club Life

Club Sessions

• These are on Saturday and Bank Holiday afternoons from 2pm BST (1pm GMT after the autumn time change) till dusk. No prior arrangement between members is necessary.

• They are open to Full and Junior Members, in both cases of adequate standard only.

• Play is general doubles play (men’s, ladies’ and mixed) on all club courts.

• On arrival players put their name up on a board. When a court becomes available the first in the queue picks another three players out of the next seven for a doubles game. The picker ensures that the standard of both players and pairs is well balanced.

• Every match is a single set, with normal scoring but no tie breaks.

• Free new balls are provided at the start of the session.

• The board system ensures that everyone mixes in and gets a variety of partners and opponents. Also it helps new members to meet other players and integrate quickly.

• Mid-afternoon there is a non-compulsory break for tea.

 

Visitors

• Visitors may be introduced to play by adult members only. Juniors are not allowed visitors.

• The visitors themselves could be either adults or juniors.

• Before commencing play, members should enter their own and their visitors’ names in the Visitors Book in the clubhouse and pay the appropriate fee (£3 per visitor per session, £1 concessions) into the box provided.

• No visitor may be introduced more than 3 times in any one year, except at the discretion of the Committee.

• No member may introduce more than 2 visitors at any one time.

• If joining in Saturday Cub Sessions members should ensure that their visitors are of an acceptable standard.

 

Security

• It is the duty of all members to ensure the utmost security of the club premises and grounds.

• There is a keypad lock on the main gate on Southern Road and combination safety locks on the inner passageway gate and the clubhouse door. These are operated with separate codes given to members when joining.

 

Club Rules and Life

The club operates in a largely informal way which allows members to have a relaxed and pleasant time. However, in the interest of an orderly running of the facilities, conflict avoidance and club upkeep, there are some basic Rules that Members are expected to abide by.

 

Non Club Session Play

• This refers to all play outside Club Sessions and members have to make their individual arrangements.

• Play is not allowed before 9am on weekdays and 9:30am on Sundays (neighbour consideration).

• Courts are not available for other play during these times:

 

Saturday afternoon Club Sessions.

On Summer League home match days (all courts, usually May-Jul, from 5:30pm onwards, see the Match Calendar for dates).

 

On Winter League home match Sundays (two bottom courts, usually Sep-Dec, from 30mins before start time and for about 3hrs, see the Match Calendar for dates and times).

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Coaching times (see the Coaching Schedule for courts and times).

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Team training times (usually Wednesdays from 6:30pm, all courts, some flexibility possible).

 

• Play may be singles or doubles.

• Due to good court availability no formal booking scheme is in operation. If people are waiting members are advised to either limit themselves to about 45mins play or just mix in.

• Used balls (max 3 per court) may be taken from the clubhouse and returned after use. Club balls should not be taken away.

 

Info Sheets

Further details on some of the above can be found in these club Information Sheets:

• Membership, Rules and Playing Arrangements

• Junior Members

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 Working Parties

• The shale courts are maintained by a regular groundsman. But the grounds in general and the clubhouse need preparation for the new season after the winter months and the club carries out its own maintenance to some degree (a lot of work is contracted out).

• Members are expected to contribute a 3-hour session on a Saturday, usually in March, for this annual upkeep of the club. It mainly involves gardening and cleaning jobs but some court work may be necessary.

 

Tournaments

• Annual Tournament

· The main competitive club tournament. Men and Ladies Singles and Doubles events.

· Finals usually held on weekends in July (post-Wimbledon) or September.

· Earlier rounds may be played before the tournament weekends.

· There is a small entry fee per event and shield/cup trophies for the winners.

 

• American Tournaments

· These are run a few times a year during a normal club session.

· Open to all Full Members and Juniors of adequate standard.

· Pairs keep changing playing a 20mins session at a time.

· There is a small entry fee and small prizes.

 

• Mixed Doubles Tournament

· A fun event usually held in the autumn.

· Players are paired up by the organisers.

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League matches

• The club enters teams in our local LTA league (Middlesex East) each season, both summer and winter.

• The Committee assigns captains for each team.

• A captain is responsible for:

· Selecting players for each match and making general arrangements.

· Liaising with other captains, both of our club and other clubs.

· Running the financial affairs of the team.

 

• By playing in matches a player accepts:

· To pay the match fees, as determined by the Committee, and share other team costs.

· To take responsibility for the hospitality offered to away teams at home matches, as assigned by the captain on a loose rota basis.

 

Clothing

• Appropriate tennis clothing and shoes.

• Trainers with hard edges, ridged soles or heels are not permitted, as these damage the shale courts.

• No bare chests or cut-off jeans.

 

Junior Members

• Juniors under 11 years of age must be supervised by a responsible adult, whether coach or parent, while playing.

• Older Junior Members are expected to behave in a measured and responsible way – if out of order they may jeopardise their membership of the club.

• Due to the very low fees for juniors, Junior Members are not allowed visitors - friends and play partners should join the club.

• Members, especially Junior Members, should keep the entry codes safe and not disclose them to anyone else (even close friends). Lapses in this respect, allowing entry and use of the facilities by non-members, are viewed very seriously by the club and may result in expulsion.

• Members are advised to challenge people they do not recognise on the grounds.

• When unlocking the passageway gate and clubhouse door re-scramble the combinations.

• Last person(s) to leave on any one day should ensure that the toilet is locked, the clubhouse door and passageway gate are locked and scrambled and the outside gate is set in the ‘lock’ position.

 

General Etiquette

• No excessive noise on court (without suppressing peoples’ personalities).

• Leave quietly, especially late in the evening and after matches, to avoid disturbing the neighbours.

• Maintain the cleanliness and tidiness of the club. Do not leave rubbish around (plastic bottles, tennis ball cans, wrappers, etc) and take as much with you as possible.

• Courts must be dragged between sets and after use to smooth them out for the next players. Especially true for the last players of the day and before matches. Also water frequently on dry days.

• Smoking is not allowed in the clubhouse and not generally encouraged on the grounds (but tolerated). Cigarette stubs should not be thrown around the courts or the lawns.

• Be nice and nicely competitive at all times.

 

Tea Rota

• It is a cherished club tradition to break for tea mid-afternoon during the Saturday Club Sessions.

• Members attending these sessions regularly are encouraged to go on the Tea Rota and be ‘on duty’ once per season. Grouped in pairs, they contribute a few sandwiches and cakes and make the tea. This hardly takes any time out of their playing afternoon.

• Dates are flexible, as people may swap between themselves.