I am the new Tennis Director for our Club - Club guidelines

[BigboyDan]

Spent all night writing this, any comments?



Club Usage Guidelines

The following rules and guidelines govern the use of all facilities. Staff are employed to interpret and enforce the guidelines, as well as posted regulations. Each facility user, member or visiter, has the responsibility to understand and abide by these guidelines. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Pro Shop.

Hours of Operation
8:00am until 11:00pm Sunday through Saturday.
- Members may call and reserve courts up to five days in advance.
- Guests may call and reserve courts up to two days in advance.
- Singles may reserve 1.5 hours of court time per court; Doubles up to 2.0 hours per court.
- Court times are awarded on first-come/first-served basis unless reserved.
- Please give at least 4 hours notice for cancellations.
- Court held until 15 minutes after reservation, court is forfeited after, and considered a "no-show".
- Fees are $20 per court hour for non-members; up to four players per court.

Entrance/Exit
Entry and exit of all facilities must be made through the designated main entrance and exit.
Individuals entering or exiting through non-designated doors are subject to disciplinary action.

Posted Rules
Specific policies and room regulations are posted on site and must be observed. Verbal instructions issued by staff should be strictly followed.

ID Cards
Members must possess, and display upon request, appropriate identification. ID cards are nontransferable and for the exclusive use of the person named on the card. Cards will be confiscated if presented by anyone other than the rightful owner. The Club reserves the right to request identification of anyone at any time.

Conduct and Rules of Play
Use of all facilities is a privilege, and participants are expected to respect the rights of others. Individuals who engage in unacceptable or irresponsible behavior may have their access to facilities revoked or modified indefinitely, and/or subject to further action. All play is under USTA Rules of Tennis, including the use of racquets and balls.

Food and Drink
Food and drink are permitted in designated areas only.

Smoking
Smoking and tobacco products are not allowed in the facilities.

Alcohol/Drugs
No alcoholic beverages are to be consumed by anyone under the age of 21; illegal drugs may not be consumed by anyone prior to or while using the facilities.

Bicycles, Etc.
Bicycles, roller skates, rollerblades, and skateboards are prohibited at inside all facilities.

Pets
Pets, other than guide animals, are prohibited at the facility.

Attire
Proper tennis attire must be worn when participating, including non-marking athletic shoes. All members and visiters must wear shirts at all times in the facility.

Stereos
Headphones are required for personal stereos.

Facility Closures
Facilities may be closed and/or reservations canceled when warranted (i.e., special events, maintenance projects, inclement weather).

Personal Belongings
Personal belongings must be secured on person or in lockers. Unsecured belongings will be considered abandoned property and turned in to lost and found.

Children
Children may participate in accordance with current regulations. Children over five may not use the locker room of the opposite sex.

Organized Activities
Use of the facilities is for recreational purposes only, and may not be used for coaching or instructional purposes. Organized activities other than those approved by the Pro Shop are prohibited.

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Tournaments
The Club hosts several tournaments each year including Club Championships, USTA sanctioned Adult and Junior events, USTA and TTA NTRP rated events.

Club Leagues - Singles
Men’s and Women’s Leagues are available to all members and guests. Round Robin draw format is used. Women's or men's singles are matched by ability or NTRP Levels. Leagues will run 4 or 5 weeks. Fees vary, but always include: court fees, balls, trophies and administration fees. Player ability is evaluated before being placed in a League.

Club Leagues - Doubles
Alternate partner format. Women's or men's doubles are matched by ability or NTRP Levels. Leagues will run 4 or 5 weeks - fees vary, but always include: court fees, balls, trophies and administration fee. Player ability is evaluated before being placed in a League.

USTA - USA League Tennis
Adult, Senior, Mixed Doubles, and Juniors (grouped in 10, 12, 14, 16 & 18 levels). Play is with other club teams in city, state and national leagues with each level winner advancing toward State and National Club Championships - fees vary.

Friday Mixer
Organized evening mixer with tennis tips and coaching. Friday evenings, two hours long - times and fees vary, but always include: court fees, balls, trophies, refreshments and administration fee. Player ability is evaluated before being placed in match. Coached by USPTA professional.

Court Rats
Informal play - 4.0 and above; 10:00am until 2:00pm during weekdays.

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Lessons
USTA 1-2-3 Adult Program
Group lessons by level. Courses start the begining of each month, one lesson each week for 4 weeks. Learn topspin drives, slice volleys, chips, spin-serve and basic tactics. Each class size is limited to 4 adults. Graduated students are then channeled intoLleagues and other programs. Classes are 1 hour/night - fees vary. Taught by USPTA professional.

USTA 1-2-3 Junior Program
Graduated instructional program. Group lessons by level, ages 4 through 17 year-old players - fees vary. Taught by USPTA professional. Junior rackets (lengths and weights) available for use or purchase.

Noon Workout
Daily instructional program designed for lunch time players. 3.0 level players and above are welcome. Every weekday at noon until 2:00pm - fees vary. Taught by USPTA professional.

UTSA Learnin' Play
Wednesday evenings. For skill level 2.5 - 3.0. Instruction as you are playing, singles or doubles - times and fees vary. Taught by USPTA professional.

Individual and group tennis lessons are available from USPTA professionals - fees vary. See Pro Shop for information.

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Pro Shop Sevices
Ball machines available $10 per hour. Top of the line rackets are available for rent or demo. Fee is $5 per racquet which will be deducted off the purchase price of any new racket.

Equipment sales and service
Professional tennis shop that offers racquets, balls, apparel, and accessories. Custom racket service is available: stringing, restringing, grip and grommet replacement and other racquet modifications; 24 hour service available. USPTA professionals and USRSA stringers are available.

 

[tennis-n-sc]

Well, to me it sounds on the surface a little too much like a **** forced labor camp. I'd soften the wording just a bit. And I might add that the first duty of any staff employee is to understand that they are employed to ensure that the needs of the dues paying members are met. All to often, in some private and semi-private club, the staff has an attitude that the members are lucky that they are allowed to pay dues and play for such an esteemed facility. Without satisified members, you won't be director of tennis very long. Another word of advice, since you're asking. Never put something in wirting that you cannot committ to 100% of the time. Just my two cents. Good luck!

 

[Camilio Pascual]

Re: I am the new Tennis Director for our Club - Club guideli

Spent all night writing this, any comments?
Hours of Operation
8:00am until 11:00pm Sunday through Saturday.

Conduct and Rules of Play
Use of all facilities is a privilege, and participants are expected to respect the rights of others.

Organized Activities
Use of the facilities is for recreational purposes only, and may not be used for coaching or instructional purposes. Organized activities other than those approved by the Pro Shop are prohibited.

You might try early bird specials @ 7:00AM.

How is the use of the facilities a privilege when it is bought and paid for? You come off a little too, well...

So, people can't show their friends, kids, etc. how to play? As long as the court is paid for, what is your interest? Do you mean to say that non-club affiliated professional coaches can't coach?

 

[BigboyDan]

The courts are daily fee and open to all players.

The club is not owned by the members. Memberships are basicly lump payments per month for unlimited play and are offered discounts in the pro shop and grill.

We don't want outside professional instructors using our courts for their business, that's all.

Privilege: no one has the right to use our facility. One purchases court time AND the responsibility to behave civily.

You can't believe, unless you spell it out, how many people try to sneak their way around in life.

We spend an enormous amount of time and effort on employee/guest relations.

 

[perfmode]

Did you take over Longwood or the All England club?

 

[BigboyDan]

Neither, but someplace very similar; but at least we don't make everyone wear white. We average no more than one major patron problem a month.

Hey, I grew-up on public courts. It ain't funny watching teenagers try and get away with throwing a football back and forth on a tennis court; watching adults jumping over the back fence to play free on the back courts; blaring-loud music; drunks screaming at those on another court. I just want to play tennis - that's why I joined at an upscale place, now I'm running it.

 

[perfmode]

Neither, but someplace very similar; but at least we don't make everyone wear white. We average no more than one major patron problem a month.

Hey, I grew-up on public courts. It ain't funny watching teenagers try and get away with throwing a football back and forth on a tennis court; watching adults jumping over the back fence to play free on the back courts; blaring-loud music; drunks screaming at those on another court. I just want to play tennis - that's why I joined at an upscale place, now I'm running it.

Jesus, did you grow up playing with Venus in Compton? My club is laxed but it isn't like that. Congrats on getting to run the place. I would love to have a career that has anything to do with tennis.

 

[Brian Purdie]

The rules sound like basic civility to me. They are really unwritten at most facilities until a true oddball comes around and makes a mockery of the place and a fool of themselves. In that case, you simply ask them to leave. Having the rules written and posted in one out of the way corner shouldn't be a problem.

However, one problem. It may be a scheduling difficulty given the number of courts available for a number of people, but 1.5 hours for singles, maximum, sounds like a boring match. Two hours is the appropriate time for a good three set match to go on, if not longer. Limiting to 2 hours, instead of 90 minutes would make a big difference to me.

 

[silent bob]

1) I would allow booking 7 days in advance as many people want regular weekly sessions and this allows for booking next week when you turn up for this week.

2) 4 hour cancellation is too lenient. 4 hours in advance is unlikely to give others the benefit of the court as most people need to plan ahead more than that. I would make it at least 24 hours.

3) I would institute a penalty for no-shows - especially as it seems that members are not being charged.

4) mobile phone policy?

5) "proper tennis attire" seems very vague. Beyond non-marking shoes and shirts, anything could be considered proper these days.

6) Pros giving lessons should not be able to block the court under their own name. In other words, the student's name goes in the ledger and fees apply should there be a cancellation. Otherwise you will have pros blocking many time slots that do not actually get used.

 

[aahala]

I was wondering how you were going to enforce the rule that illegal drugs were not to be used prior to entering the facility? Urine tests at the door I suppose.

Has this really been a big problem, members doping up in anticipation of their scheduled court time?

 

[tennis-n-sc]

The members may not own the club, but without them your stay as Director ofTennis will be very shortlived. I would treat them very kindly and respect their input into your business. I have friends that play in Austin and I know how big tennis is in Texas. No matter what business you are in, if you don't take care of your customers, someone else will. My former club just went through the same thing and saw membership go from 300 to 90 in less than 12 months. They will soon be out of business. I think any basic business plan would be to determine what your customers (members) want in a club and try mighty hard to provide it. Once again, good luck. I have spent time in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and visited Austin. What a great city and state.

 

[Camilio Pascual]

Memberships are basicly lump payments per month for unlimited play and are offered discounts in the pro shop and grill.
Privilege: no one has the right to use our facility. One purchases court time AND the responsibility to behave civily.

The above 2 statements appear to be somewhat contradictory. If you are selling a membership for unlimited play, then you are selling certain rights and incurring certain obligations on your part. I believe you may have put the cart before the horse here. What does the contract with the paying member say?

 

[BigboyDan]

"proper tennis attire"

Shirt, shorts, socks, shoes, warmups. People try football and basketball jerseys, etc.

"7 days in advance"

A lot can happen in seven days. Our cancellations dropped considerably after instituting the 3 day in advance policy.

"institute a penalty for no-shows"

We warn them at the desk that their reservation privliges my be curtailed. We want them to call and cancel...

"but 1.5 hours for singles, maximum"

Other way around, 1.5 hours minimum for singles, 2 hours for doubles, players can use as much court time as they wish - I'll work on the wording...

"What does the contract with the paying member say?'

He is to abide by the guidelines - that's it, same as a guest. Example: there is no initiation fee; a guest becomes a member simply by paying a set fee per month in advance for unlimited play and he receives price reductions in the pro shop and grill.

 

[Gaines Hillix]

Many good comments. I think it depends on what your objectives are. If you are trying to grow your membership, I'd suggest putting the good stuff(services, programs, discounts, etc.) up front and the "punitive" stuff in the back. Make it as positive and up-beat as possible.

 

[BigboyDan]

I was wondering how you were going to enforce the rule that illegal drugs were not to be used prior to entering the facility? Urine tests at the door I suppose.

Has this really been a big problem, members doping up in anticipation of their scheduled court time?

We just don't want someone who is already drunk or high arriving to play. And no, it's not a problem.


These guidelines are separated into three separate pages. "Punitive" stuff is on one sheet posted just inside the front gate, and another in the locker rooms. The second two pages are given on paper to new members.

We are not a publicly owned facility, the lawyers demand a public rules board, liability and insurance issues...