Updated guidance - July 2020
As we ease back slowly into a more relaxed lockdown way of life, the Committee continues to look at measures to get us back onto to the tennis courts in a safe environment. Covid-19 hasn’t gone away so we must ensure we follow the guidelines the Committee have proposed to ensure our safety and social distancing is mandatory. Whilst most members have followed our guidelines some haven’t. Any members found to be flouting the rules will be asked to leave the grounds and then stopped from booking courts for a period. This update focuses on an update to social tennis and the phased re-opening of the bar.
General
If you catch COVID-19 or are asked to self isolate because you’ve been in contact with someone who has, please contact the Wigmore Administrator so that we implement Track and Trace
In line with LTA guidelines, doubles play is now permitted for all members, as long as you remain 2 metres apart where possible.
We have relaxed the rules around social tennis in line with LTA guidance – see Social Tennis section below
We kindly request those members who have received a letter from the government deeming them vulnerable or at high risk to stay away from the club since we do not want to put you at risk
Please only access the clubhouse to use the loo, turn on the floodlights or access the first aid kit in an emergency. We will now permit 4 people to be in the clubhouse at a time.
Please wash your hands thoroughly and use the hand sanitizer before and after using the floodlight coin mechanism. Strictly no admittance to the clubhouse to change, drop stuff in the clubhouse or wait. If it is raining, windy or cold, please either play in those conditions or go home. The clubhouse will be cleaned once at the beginning of every day – please avoid touching any furniture and do not use the kitchen facilities (sink, fridge, crockery, cutlery etc)
Members should bring their own full water bottles but the outside water fountain is now operational
JoeandScott have reintroduced group coaching. Please contact them for further information
All members must book courts before turning up at the club except for social sessions. Members should not just turn up and play without booking – this is to ensure we have an accurate record of members at the club in case we need to implement Track and Trace
We are now welcoming visitors to the club. All visitors must be booked in via the court booking system and guest fees of £2 per half hour paid there (same fee whether adult or junior guest). While the clubhouse remains out of bounds you will not have to sign your guest in, but we kindly ask you to respect the restriction of the maximum of 4 visits per visitor per year. Visitor fees will be refunded if you cancel the court.
We kindly request members to cancel courts if they are no longer required. It has been noted that there have been several “no shows”; this is unfair on members who might be able to use the courts when you no longer want them.
Booking courts
Members will be restricted to only 3 open bookings at a time and each session will be restricted to 90 minutes to ensure that as many members as possible will be able to play
Please DO NOT use the clubhouse console to sign in, however, as above, please cancel courts if you no longer wish to use them so other member can make use of them
Any new members who do not know other players to arrange tennis with are advised to contact the coaches who can provide suggestions
Accessing the club
Our alleyway doesn’t allow for social distancing so members are asked to ONLY walk up the alleyway if there is no one coming down the other way. Members entering the club should have priority over those leaving
We have provided hand sanitizers at certain points; please ensure you use them before and after accessing the courts (and if you have had to enter the clubhouse in an emergency)
Accessing the courts/during play
Members waiting to play should wait outside the court until the court is vacated, keeping 2m from other members. DO NOT wait in the clubhouse or porch area
If you are at the club as an adult supervising junior (under 13) members, please supervise from outside their court and make sure they follow social distancing and use of ball rules. Please avoid bringing additional children to the club – we need to limit the number of people in the grounds and provide a safe environment for all members
Please use the designated door for each court – each court has its own door. This is minimise too many members touching surfaces
Members should use the hand sanitisers before and after accessing the court
Members do not need to use their own clearly marked balls but if you choose to share balls, please ensure you do not touch your face during play and clean your hands before and after play. We suggest that you bring your own hand sanitiser to facilitate this. If a ball strays onto another court, please ask and wait for them to be returned. Please do not go onto other courts to retrieve. Any balls that stray onto your court should be kicked back or returned using your racket, this saves handling.
Please keep 2m distance at all times, no handshakes, high fives etc. The LTA recommends that you do not change ends, but if you must, do so on opposite sides of the court
Clay courts do not need to be swept after play, we have arranged for them to be swept every morning
The nets have been set at the correct height and will be checked weekly. Please do not adjust them yourself
Social Tennis
Social tennis will be restricted to 5 courts – 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Members no longer need to book to play but will need to sign in with the organiser so we have an accurate record of who has been at the club should we need to implement Track and Trace
A coach or designated committee member will be at the club to organise the social tennis sessions
Members should bring their own marked balls so they can be identified and returned to the correct player if they stray onto other courts
Bar
The bar will now be open during social tennis (Sunday and Wednesday), closing approximate 20 minutes after social tennis finishes
We are restricting the number of people in the clubhouse so can only allow 4 people in the clubhouse; one bar staff, one customer at the bar, one waiting customer and another to use the toilet
We will be operating a one-way system to minimise contact in the bar area; this includes standing behind the tape on the floor and waiting in the designated areas.
We are only accepting card payments
Drinks are to be consumed outside only
The tables outside have been placed at a social distance – please do not move them. If too many people are congregating in the outside area, we may ask you to move onto Court 8 to consume your drinks
We are maintaining reduced bar hours and only allowing drinking outside to follow the guidance to maintain social distancing. It remains the case that you should not socialise outdoors in a group of more than six people from different households; gatherings larger than six should only take place if everyone is from exclusively from two households or support bubbles
The latest LTA guidance for tennis players can be found here https://www.lta.org.uk/globalassets/news/2020/lta-guidance-for-tennis-players---covid-19.pdf
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