Members’ Information Pack

Introduction

Welcome to Wadhurst Tennis Club (WTC). This pack provides information about the club’s organisation and rules. Please talk to any member of the Committee about these and our facilities and make suggestions about changes you would like to see.

Club Facilities

Four artificial grass courts and club room with tennis changing room/shower, WC, kitchenette and TV. Access is provided by a card lock. Swipe card deposit is £10 for adults, £5 for children. The main function room is available to hire for major events.

In general three courts are available for Club use at all times with No.3 available for members to reserve during Open Play times. Booking is self-service (see Open Play Booking System below).

Court no.1 - on the left - is available for pay and play use, and managed by the Parish Council. Hirers are provided with a voucher. This court can be booked by WTC on publicly available terms for use in conjunction with the other for coaching, matches and tournaments. The 4^th court is reserved for club use on Saturday 08:30 – 17:30 and on Sunday morning ·

Club members may use Court 1 if it is free provided they relinquish it immediately to voucher-holding pay and players.

The car parks are available for all to use. Locking and unlocking times are published by the Parish Council.

Tennis Programme (see programme posted in the clubroom)

Club Play Sessions

These regular sessions constitute the heart of WTC and are organised and hosted by interested players. Members can just turn up and get a game. The format of the sessions is determined by demand, but may include an element of grading, mix and match, or tournaments from time to time. Beginners are welcome and encouraged to participate in coaching sessions to get more enjoyment from Club events.

During Club sessions WTC provides tennis balls.

Bank Holidays also provide an opportunity for a Club Session in American tournament format as part of a Club Social. A programme covering all planned events is posted in the clubroom (plus any necessary court reservations), in the Wadhurst column in the Courier and also on the WTC Web site.

Junior Section

A Junior Sub-committee promotes the interests of the junior members. Junior coaching is available on Saturday mornings (contact Jackie Grayson on 07957254049). The Juniors enter teams in the Sussex Junior league. The Juniors have their own competitions including Singles and Doubles Tournaments.

Tournaments:

The Club organises Box Leagues, Men’s and Ladies Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles tournaments starting around at the beginning of May 2007. We run open and handicapped tournaments with the aim of encouraging people of any standard to start playing competitive tennis and have fun. More experience gained playing against different opponents means more opportunities to improve technique and tactics. For further information please contact Ray Kemp (01892 785797).

Matches:

WTC enters teams in 3 adult leagues. If you are interested in playing competitively for the club contact:

Horam League (mixed doubles) Shirley Jeffrey (01892 785 797) or Oli Miller (01892 782 272)

Sussex League (men’s/ladies) Jim Skellern (01892 785 116) or Katrina Turner (01892 782 896)

Wealden League (mixed doubles) Judy/Jim Skellern (01892 785 116) or Stuart Clark (01892 782 067).

Senior Open Play:

Adults or adults playing with Juniors take preference. Juniors can play if there is a vacant court. Use the Open Play Booking system (see below).

Junior Open Play:

Juniors or Juniors playing with adults take preference. Seniors can play if there is a vacant court · Use the Open Play Booking system (see below).

Open Play Booking System:

A self service booking system operates for Court 3. The diary is kept in the Clubroom. Reservations can be made up to one week in advance, giving regular players first chance to renew their reservation for the following week. A maximum of 1½ hours at a time is permitted with no bookings during club play sessions or during events such as tournaments and league matches.

During Open Play courts 2 - 4 are open for any member to play on a first-come, first-served basis, with the exception of reserved court 3 (see above). When courts are full, way should be given to people waiting.

Coaching:

The Club's Head Coach is Jackie Grayson (07957 254 049). She is assisted by Pernilla Rosenberg. No other paid private coaching is permitted without the explicit agreement of the Club Committee.

Junior play is supervised by a coach on Friday evenings. Details of times for different ages and standards are on the Club website and in the Clubroom. Junior group coaching takes place on Saturday. Application form available on the website and in the Clubroom. Club members get a discount on coaching.

Individual or group coaching outside club sessions should be arranged directly with Jackie or Pernilla.

Visitors & Guests:

Members may invite guests to play at Club Play Sessions and events on a one-off basis. No guest visitors may play on more than 3 occasions in a year. Local visitors may also play up to 3 trial sessions with a view to applying for full membership. Visitors and guests are also welcome at Open Play, governed by the same rules. The Club depends on members to honour this system and reserves the right to charge a fee.

The Courts - for the technically-minded:

The artificial grass court surface offered is a premium one. Courts are constructed with 9 mm matting laid on a tarmac base. The matting is filled with filter grade silica sand with 2 mm of tufts. Each court cost £30, 000 in 2000. The Parish Council is responsible for contract maintenance of the courts. In consultation with the Parish Council, WTC has agreed to undertake routine sand brushing and rubbish clearance.

Insurance & Lawn Tennis Association [LTA] affiliation:

As with all clubs, individuals are responsible for insuring their own tennis equipment. Civil liability cover is provided as a benefit of LTA affiliation. This is compulsory for all members and the fee included in the annual subscription. Another benefit is the Club’s allocation of Wimbledon tickets for which there is a draw (see notice board). Affiliation also allows the Club to enter teams in local leagues.

Tennis Playing and Court Rules:

These are deliberately minimal. There is no discrimination against people on grounds of:
· playing ability (there is no playing in test);
· ability to pay (reduced subscriptions are available for people on a low income – contact the Treasurer);
· sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

Please wear sports clothing when playing (there is no ‘all whites’ rule).
Only tennis shoes or trainers are permitted as footwear (to avoid damage to the court surface and reduce the risk of injury.)

To keep the courts and Club Room playable, clean and pleasant put rubbish in a litter bin. No chewing gum or food is permitted on court. No smoking on court or in the Club Room.

Do not take chairs, bikes etc on court.

Keep the gate shut at all times to stop animals and cyclists entering (no dogs are allowed in the Recreation Ground).

Keep the door to the clubroom/changing room locked to avoid vandalism and theft of equipment (the access control system records who has used the facility).

Tennis nets are left up - do not put any extra strain on the nets otherwise the posts will start to lean inwards.

Whilst flooding and heavy rain should not be a problem, frozen or icy courts must not be played upon as there is increased likelihood of damage to plastic fibres at low temperatures, as well as risk of serious personal injury. Members are asked to report any damage to courts, nets or fencing immediately to any committee member.

The Club’s full constitution and rules are available from the Secretary and are displayed on the notice board.

Keep the club functioning:

It’s a members club. We are all unpaid volunteers. We need your help to keep it running for the benefit of all members. If you are prepared to volunteer to help in any way please speak to a Committee member.

Committee responsibilities:

Chair (and coaching liaison)	Bruce Meredeen	783 911
Vice Chair (WPC Liaison & Floodlighting)	Ralph Miller	782 272
Club Captain	Ray Kemp	785 797
Honorary Secretary	Judy Skellern	785 116
Honorary Treasurer	John Adams	782 609
Membership Secretary	Oli Miller	782 272
Social Secretary	Tina Turpin	890 011
Communications	Caroline Radula - Scott	783 412
Juniors Coordinators	Stuart Clark Shirley Jeffery Oli Miller	782 067 785 797 782 272
Committee Member without portfolio	Sally Field	782 942