We've always prided ourselves on being a small friendly club with the minimum of formality. However, there are some conditions imposed on us by our landlord which members need to know about, and there are standards that we want to uphold to preserve the character and nature of the club. The committee has wrestled to produce a summary of the rules that will fit easily on a single sheet of paper.
Court bookings
Bookings can be made:
starting from 8:30am and ending by 9:30pm, using the booking form on the noticeboard, which goes up on Wednesday and shows fixed bookings for team practice etc
for a block of up to 1 hour 30 minutes maximum per day per member (or group of members). If the court is not claimed within the first ten minutes of the booking time, the court becomes available for others to use
junior members and adult members have equal priority from 8:30am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday, and from 6:00pm onwards on Saturday and Sunday. Adult members have priority from 6:00pm on weekdays
junior members and families only (on two courts) may also book courts from 9:00am to noon on Sunday. Church rules mean that adult matches are not allowed on Sunday mornings: adult members may play before noon on Sunday only when accompanied on court by one or more children. There will, however, be the occasional adult match on a Sunday morning when it is the only available time
by junior members before 6:00pm on weekdays and after 6:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Adult members have priority on weekday evenings.
Our lease from the Methodist estate dictates that play is NOT allowed on Christmas Day and Good Friday.
If anyone has a problem finding court space, see our Coach - Joe Anan
Club sessions
Club Sessions are for adult members and take place from 2:30pm to 6:00pm (2:00pm to 5:30pm in winter time) on Saturdays and Sundays, 7:00pm to 9:30pm on Wednesdays and 10:30am to 12:30pm on Thursday mornings. The order of play is:
first arrivals, first on the court
‘warming up time’ of no more than 5 minutes
new arrivals behind club members who are already waiting
all club members who come to Club Session are required to mix-in
members cannot play singles if other members are waiting
fixed or prearranged games are not allowed during Club Session
members should ensure fairness in arranging fours and in particular check in the Clubhouse that all members who want to be are included in the selection.
We try to choose as balanced pairs as possible with a mixture of men’s, ladies and mixed fours as appropriate. Please note we are currently using a one point deuce rule at Club Sessions. Members attending Club Session have to be of 'club standard'; the Coach is the final arbiter of a player’s standard.
A number of American Tournaments are held during the year, usually on Sunday afternoons, to which all members are welcome. In Club Tournament season, some disruption may occur to Club Session.
Members’ contribution
Club members must contribute to the security and smooth running of the Club:
the last person to leave the courts is responsible for ensuring balls are not left on the courts, for closing the court gates, turning the court flood lights off as well as Clubhouse lights, and for locking the Clubhouse. Members must also ensure that the security gate is locked. Keys to the Clubhouse can be cut at the Member's expense
the iron security gate beside the Clubhouse needs to be unlocked by the first member to arrive each day, and it may be retained open for the day. However, once it is closed and locked by the estate staff in the evening, it must not be left unlocked
all members are requested to clear up any rubbish and wash up their mugs, glasses etc rather than leave them for someone else to clear up
overflowing bins need to be tied up and taken away from the Clubhouse by as many willing hands as possible
telephone calls on the club phone must be paid for - 20p per minute
the court floodlights cost £1.00 for 10 minutes - £1 coins only.
Guests
Adult and junior members may bring the same guest to the Club a maximum of five times in a membership year, and only one guest at a time. The member bringing the guest is responsible for signing their guest into the guest book before play and for ensuring the guest fee is paid to the Coach, Treasurer (Mike Lee) or Secretary (Lorraine Fox). The fee is £5 for adults and £3 for a junior member bringing a guest. Please avoid bringing guests at peak times (i.e. weekend Club sessions).
Teams
We have 4 men’s teams and 3 ladies teams in the Middlesex Summer League. We also have men’s teams in the Middlesex Cup (played on Saturdays) and both men’s and women’s teams in the Aegon Team Tennis leagues which are played on Sundays. In addition, there are two Veteran’s teams (aged 45 and over for men, 40 and over for women). Please speak to our Coach if you are interested in being considered for one of the teams.
Dress code and membership tags
We do not set any specific dress code, other than requiring that suitable sports clothes are worn. Tennis shoes must be worn. Membership tags must be worn by all junior members: managers of the Methodist Estate may ask juniors to prove that they have a right to be on the courts or the surrounding areas.
Tennis balls
Tennis balls are supplied by the Club for Club Session on Saturday, reused on Sunday and then left in the Clubhouse for use during the week. Please do not leave balls on the courts or the estate grounds.
Parking
Please park at the club only if your car has a parking permit valid for the current membership year on display in the windscreen. Please park thoughtfully to maximise the use of our car park, and please avoid parking in the parking spaces of the Methodist Home if by doing so there would be three or fewer spaces remaining.
Noise
We are required to leave the grounds without undue noise.
Wimbledon ticket draw
The Club receives an allocation of pairs of tickets for the championships, usually for Centre, No 1, No 2 & No 3 Courts, based on the numbers of Club members who are also members of British Tennis. All adult members and junior members aged 9 or over who are also members of British Tennis are eligible to enter the Draw for a pair of Wimbledon tickets, provided that they have also paid their membership subscription by the time of the Draw. The dates and details of the tickets we have been allocated will be circulated as soon as they are available, usually in mid April. Junior members must gain the permission of their parent/guardian to enter (who must also attend the Draw below).
To enter, you must attend the draw in person (or send a proxy who cannot be the Treasurer or Secretary) at 1:00pm on Sunday 9 May 2010 in the Clubhouse, bringing proof of British Tennis Membership and means of payment. Attendees will be issued numbered raffle tickets: if a member’s raffle number is drawn, the member or proxy must select a pair of Wimbledon tickets from those remaining and immediately pay for them by cash or cheque. The member must provide the names of both users of the tickets, and sign a disclaimer, both of which have to be submitted by the Club back to the LTA to meet LTA security requirements. Whilst the first ticket must be used by the Club member, they may take a guest who is not a member.
Only one pair of Wimbledon tickets may be allocated per household. At the time of visiting the championships, junior members under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Conduct & disputes
The Management Committee comprising President, Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Membership Secretary, Fixtures Secretary, Coach, Club Captain and Team Captains, is responsible for setting all policies and rules concerning the operation of the Club including without limitation regulations concerning disciplinary procedures that may be taken against the Members. The Management Committee has the power to investigate disputes and ultimately to expel a Member if in its opinion it would not be in the interests of the Club for the person to remain a Member. Details of the disputes procedures are available on request.
MHMLTC Committee - March 2010