Dear all,
The government announced a National lockdown starting today.
All sports facilities inside and outside closed until further notice.
Keep well everyone – lets hope for a lowering of restrictions in a few weeks.
Courts reopening – 3rd December
Dear club members,
In line with the latest info from the government we are opening the courts again on the morning of the 3rd December.
- As before and as we are in a Tier 2 location the rule of 6 applies so in practical terms it means singles and doubles play with others not in your family bubble is allowed.
- The club house can be entered to use the toilet facility and to turn on the lights but gathering in the clubhouse should be avoided.
- The booking system should be used as normal.
- We will allow guests and visitors in accordance with the club rules.
- Social tennis should be restricted to a maximum of 6 per court and no mixing between courts, we will expect members to follow the guidance and not exceed the number of players.
- Those playing should sign in or register using their smart phones as before.
Courts closed from midnight 4th November 2020
Dear All,
The latest news from the LTA – 2nd November 2020
“The Government have today indicated that they won’t be allowing outdoor tennis courts to open in England during the period of the new national restrictions that come into force from Thursday.”
In order to comply the courts will be closed from midnight Wednesday 4th November until Wednesday the 2nd of December.
Best wishes to all – keep walking and cycling and be ready for when we can play again.
Message from the Chairman
MISTERTON TENNIS CLUB CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2019/20
Well what a year we have experienced in my inaugural year as Chairman.
In November we had a particularly successful Presentation Evening at the Haselbury Mill. We were given a comfortable private room and had a great meal. The staff were particularly kind and considerate. Unfortunately, it is an occasion which cannot be repeated this year. In December we had our major annual fundraiser, the Christmas Bingo night. This was successful, but takings were slightly down from the previous year. Later, in December I am v pleased to say that the Chairman’s bash was the best attended in living memory, thanks to everyone for bringing drinks and nibbles, particularly to Steve Beach for the bottle of vintage whisky!
In February we had a very well attended quiz night at the Globe which raised £275. Also, later in the winter we were just about able to finish the winter Mixed league with the pleasing news that our team managed to stay in Division 2 after their previous year’s promotion.
We now come onto Covid. In March we were forced to close the courts following national advice form the LTA and government. Happily, in May we were able to re-open, initially following strict guidelines about ball use and the need for private bookings. Later in the summer we were able to resume club sessions. I would like to thank members for being so good in following guidelines and showing tolerance during these difficult times. Although summer matches were severely disrupted, the ladies A team has managed to complete a truncated and friendly summer league.
Let us hope that a successful vaccine is available some time in the forthcoming year so that our tennis can get back to normal. In the meantime, I know that the club will be providing hand sanitisers for everyone to use before playing. We also hope to complete the full decoration of the extension and alter sections of the clubhouse during the forthcoming year.
Bob Waterhouse.
2020 AGM – Postponed
Dear Members
The 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Misterton Tennis Club will be postponed until March 2021.
The committee decided to postpone the meeting as there would be no way for the majority of the members to attend with the current restrictions in place.
The current committee members will stay in place until then but we are always looking for new members with fresh ideas.
Please think about standing for committee (Team Captains automatically become committee members)
Wishing everyone in the community well, especially our members.
Changes to Social sessions – Track and Trace
Dear All,
You will find all the social sessions are blocked out on the booking system as usual.
However – there is a need for social sessions to be tracked from now on.
With immediate effect each player who attends a social tennis session must write their name in the book in the clubhouse.
This will be easiest if one player takes responsibility to do this.
This will be essential if we have a need to address a Track and Trace request due to someone falling ill.
Also note that gathering must still be avoided so no one should be standing in the clubhouse for any reason other than to use the toilet facilities – especially important if it starts to rain that members do not all retreat to the club house.
August Members Update
Hope everyone is keeping well – Tennis is gradually getting back to a new normal with social tennis back on the agenda.
We had a question raised about the social session times for Monday and received feedback from members on that proposal.
Last night the committee concluded that nothing will change to the existing social times for Monday without a vote at the AGM.
In relation to that at the next AGM we will be raising amendments to the constitution to update aspects of social play and the booking system – it will be useful if all members attend the AGM to have their say.
However somewhat in conflict with the principle of AGM based decisions for social play sessions two aspects of the current situation needed to be addressed urgently.
Firstly we still have a drop in adult membership and secondly a rise in demand for coaching for possible new members on Wednesday evenings.
Secondly we need to better support the working population who can’t make the daytime sessions.
To address this we have relaxed the hold on Wednesday social time to give John some flexibility for extending coaching for these new prospective members and have set up a new Social session for Friday evening from 18:30 to 21:00 hrs to attract those who would like to play in the evenings.
These changes were made based on the historic usage of the courts over the last 6 months.
Some other news which you might have been aware of relates to our club finances.
We were approached by South Somerset District Council during June to bid for a grant offered by government to protect clubs and associations during these difficult times – we were successful and took receipt of £10,000.
Your club committee will be deliberating on the current programme of works and how best to utilise this windfall.
As usual members input on how we use our funds to develop the club are warmly invited.
Finally to just update everyone on the aspect of visitor play – we now have a key safe by the gate to the courts so we can support visitor play, visitors can book court time (up to 1 hour) and members can bring guests, however payment is now via the booking system and Paypal.
A visitor is deemed to be a local resident from Misterton or the surrounding villages.
Visitors and members are reminded to follow the well established guidelines for correct attire and especially correct non marking footwear.
Best wishes to all and enjoy your tennis!
Update to the LTA guideline – Social tennis returns!
Dear Members,
Following the opening of the courts on the 15th of May there has been a change to the restricted arrangements that will apply from the 13th of July
Remember social distancing rules still apply.
To summarise:
- Booking court time on line only – No “turn up and play.”
- Singles play with another member
- Doubles play with members outside of the family unit now allowed.
- Social play sessions now reinstated.
- Practice play on your own.
- Wednesday coaching resumes without limitations.
Also the other special conditions remain in place:
- The Clubhouse is still restricted and should only be entered for water or to use the toilet. Please do not gather in the clubhouse
- Please refrain from gathering in close groups – adhere to social distancing etiquette .
- Please respect the guidelines as the opening of the courts is conditional on the rules being followed – any infringements could cause the courts to be closed.
Visitor and Guest play – update
Access
Entry to the courts is protected by a padlock.
Members may purchase their own key by contacting the Secretary.
The cost is £10 which covers the deposit and key cutting.
Visitors
Occasional visitors or local residents can book a court session on line as a GUEST.
Use the GUEST BOOKING feature on the booking system to book a court time, the guest on line booking request is managed and authorised by the club administrator.
This involves paying a session fee of £5 by PayPal for adults and £2 for juniors (one hour maximum) for the time booked.
There is a key in the key safe near the gate. The code to open it will be provided by the Secretary, the key can then be used to open the gate.
After use the key must be returned to the key safe and the safe relocked.
Prospective Members
If you are considering joining the club you are warmly invited to contact the secretary and attend one of the social tennis sessions to see if you would like to join.
The club will allow prospective members to come along free of charge for up to three sessions.
Guests of Members
Guests of members are welcome to play. Each member can bring along one guest to a booked session. There is a charge of £3 to be paid by the member to cover the guest.
Covid – 19
Visitors or guests must comply with the club safety guidelines for Covid – 19.
Any member bringing a guest is responsible for the guest adhering to the guidelines.
Update – Changes to the LTA and UK GOV guidelines
Dear Members,
Following the opening of the courts on the 15th of May there has been a change to the restricted arrangements that will apply from today – 1st June.
Remember social distancing rules still apply.
New guidelines here
To summarise:
- Booking court time on line only – No “turn up and play.”
- Singles play with another member
- Doubles play with members outside of the family unit now allowed.
- Practice play on your own.
- Wednesday coaching to resume from the 10th of June limited to 5 players.
Also the other special conditions remain in place:
- The Clubhouse is restricted and should only be entered to use the toilet.
- When arriving at the courts wait outside the gate until the previous players exit
- Spectators and visitors not playing must stay outside the courts in the playing field.
- The floodlights are not to be used.
- Due to these restrictions only members will be able to play – paying visitors are not able to use the courts at this time.
- Please respect the guidelines as the opening of the courts is conditional on the rules being followed – any infringements could cause the courts to be closed.
- It is suggested that the gate lock is used when playing to help manage the restricted access to the courts