Tennis Regulations - June 2011
NEW TENNIS REGULATIONS for DECATUR
COUNTRY CLUB:
As many are aware, we have recently
completed a major overhaul to our Tennis Program at the Decatur Country Club -
both with our Teaching Professional and the courts as well.
Gordon Siek, our new Tennis
Pro, has now been with us over three months, and we have seen a dramatic
increase in our Tennis programs and Member play!! Gordon has done an
incredible job and we are so fortunate to have his level of experience for all
players here - young and old alike!!
I am fully aware of the lack of
attention paid to our courts and programs over the last few years, and please
know that I have not ignored the issues - I simply have been restricted for
various reasons, however, we are making headway and will continue to make
improvements so that we may be proud of our facilities and programs!!
All of this being said, we do need
to get our program organized - especially due to all of the increased play -
and you will see below the new methods which will be in effect
immediately. Please do not hesitate to contact me should have any
questions or require any additional information...my door is always open!
- Court Reservations are now required - You may contact Dana or Emma in the ProShop
to reserve your courts and times. Reservations are on a
"first-come-first-serve" basis. Weekly time blocks will
not be allowed, and should you not be able to play during your reserved
time, we ask that you kindly call the ProShop to cancel your reserved
court. Should you not show up 20 minutes past your reserved
time - your court will be released for general play. Should anyone
fail to reserve a court, and comes to play prior to a reserved time - you
must vacate the court, move to another un-occupied court, or if the courts
are full - exit the courts completely until reserved play has been
completed. The direct line to the ProShop is 256-353-3039.
The courts are designated as Courts 1-4...Court #1 being the closest to
the Snack Bar and Parking Lot, then moving clockwise - Court #2 by the
ProShop entrance, Court #3 directly behind Court #2, and Court#4 next to
the bleachered wall...we will have the courts numbered shortly, but in the
meantime simply understand the location of your requested court as stated
above.
- Guest Play
- this follows the same guidelines as stated in our by-laws...guest play
is limited to one guest a maximum of twice monthly - unless they are
out-of-town guest (live outside of a 30 mile radius of the Club - then
visits are unlimited). All guests must be registered when courts
have been reserved, and the customary $5 guest fee will apply to each
guest in attendance, and billed directly to the Member Account.
Should anyone not register a guest, or abuse the limits of play, a letter
will be sent requesting that you refrain from such activity, and should
this action continue, your Membership will be reviewed for suspension
and/or possible termination. The maintenance of these courts are a
great expense in both time and money, and the guest fees for the
additional use of our facilities help to offset these costs.
- Watering Times
- the courts must be watered at 12noon each day. The watering
process takes 20 minutes, and the drying process an additional 40 minutes
- so, from 12noon until 1pm, the courts will not be available. The
evening watering schedule will not impede play - it is scheduled for
midnight. During the peak summer temperatures - there will be
times in which additional watering is required in order to keep the courts
from cracking...please be patient should this be required - proper
maintenance of these courts is paramount to the continued viability
of the playing surface.
- Proper Shoes
- herringbone soled tennis shoes are the only acceptable shoes to be worn
while playing on our courts...cross-trainers, or any other high-tread gym
shoe is prohibited. Any shoe, other than a herringbone pattern, rips
through the surface of the clay and causes depressions within high-traffic
player zones - the cost to repair is tremendous...with our new court
surface - this policy will be strictly enforced.
- Non-Member Play
- any person who is not a Member of Decatur Country Club, outside of our
standard guest-play parameters as mentioned above, is prohibited from
utilizing our facilities (for
lessons or casual play alike). We have created a new
"Tennis Only" Membership Classification which allows unlimited
use of the Tennis Courts and Snack Bar only. This is not a seasonal
membership, but an annual membership - although restricted to Tennis and
Snack Bar facilities only - and excellent value for price paid. Contact
me for rates and restrictions should you have any one wishing to
participate.
Please do not hesitate to
contact me with any questions or concerns. I consider this to be a
wonderful problem to have, and I thank you in advance for your cooperation in
these matters.
John V. Dupes
Chief Operating Officer
Decatur Country Club
256-353-5773
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