NHC TENNIS PROTOCOL 2023
Revised June 2023

We hope that this guideline will enable you to better enjoy your time on the courts. In the event that the protocol changes, updates will be communicated.

Regularly scheduled activities are:
Monday: Ladies Round Robin, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Open to all ladies. Upper courts.
See following section (Etiquette) for format of play.
Cardio tennis, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Int/Advanced clinic, 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm Lower courts.
Tuesday: Int/Advanced clinic, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Lower courts.
Wednesday: Cardio tennis, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Thursday: Fundamentals/Novice clinic, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Lower courts.
Friday: 55 and over clinic, 8:00 am to 9:00 am
Drop in mixed doubles, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 pm, Lower courts and stadium court.
Saturday: Doubles strategy 8:30-10:00 am, bi-weekly (July 8th). Lower Courts.
Pickleball Round Robin 3:00-5:00 pm
Sunday: Men’s Round Robin, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Open to all men. Upper courts.
55 and over round robin 4-6 pm, every second Sunday starting July 2nd. Lower courts

Sign-up for programming on Acuity: https://nhctennis.as.me/

2023 scheduled tournaments and interclub matches are:

Ladies Brome Lake Inter-Club (at NHC)): July 12th
55 and over Mixed Tournament: July 19th
(If rain – July 21st.) NHC
Hermitage Inter-Club (at Hermitage): August 12th
Senior Tennis Week: Week of August 13th

COURT BOOKINGS

Members are required to use our on-line booking system through Acuity NHCtennis.as.me and may sign up for 1 hour of play. Courts are available for booking 24-hours in advance. We ask that during peak weeks, members do not play two consecutive hours between 9 am and 12 pm during weekdays, to allow all players access to the courts.

ATTIRE

Players are required to wear proper tennis attire, including tennis shoes with non-marking soles; on the upper courts, only white attire (15% trim) is permitted. White shoes and hat preferred. Men are requested to wear shirts with sleeves. On the lower courts, members, including juniors, must wear proper footwear (i.e. no crocs or sandals).

PLAYING TIME

Courts are available for play (weather permitting) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 pm in June and July and until 7:00 pm in August, excluding one hour closure for daily maintenance at the following times:
• upper courts, #1 and 2: 1:00 pm to 2:00 p.m.
• lower courts, #3,4,5: 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm (weekdays), 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (weekends)

COURT MAINTENANCE

All sweeping will be done by our maintenance staff. Line brushes will be available on the court should members wish to sweep the lines prior to playing.

LESSONS AND ACTIVITIES

Members taking lessons or tennis programming can sign up through Acuity. One lower court must be available for junior free play in the afternoon.

ETIQUETTE

When an errant tennis ball strays to an adjacent court, please wait until the point in progress is completed on that court before asking for its return. When returning a ball to another court, roll it to the back of the court in a manner that will not interfere with play.
A ball that touches any part of the line during the point in play is considered “in”.
When it’s your call and there is doubt, the call should be made in favour of your opponent.

Monday’s Ladies Round Robin: Begun in the late 1970’s by Emily Satterthwaite, the round robin is an opportunity for members of varying experiences and abilities to play together. It’s a social event giving new and old members a chance to get to know one another. Foursomes are not pre-set. As players arrive at the courts, foursomes are formed at random.

UPPER COURTS

The upper courts are designated for use by senior members (16 years and older).

LOWER COURTS/ STADIUM COURT

• Members may wear various coloured tennis apparel and footwear
• Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. junior members have priority use of the courts
• At all other times during the week and weekends, junior and senior members have equal access.
• The club’s tennis professionals may schedule lessons on the lower courts #4 and #5 in the afternoon and evening beginning at 1:30 pm and Saturday morning.

SENIOR TENNIS TOURNAMENT

• In order to participate in the tournament, members must hold an active membership (i.e. not sustaining)
• Guests are eligible to participate in the mixed doubles category only.
• A junior member aged 16 in the calendar year of the tournament may play in the senior tennis tournament. A junior aged 14 in the calendar year of the tournament and ranked in the top 50 of his/her province, state or equivalent jurisdiction is also eligible to play in the senior tournament.
• A junior singles tournament winner may play in the senior tournament (at the discretion of the Tennis Pro), without losing future junior tennis eligibility. If the qualifying junior does not win the junior tournament in subsequent years, the right to play in that season’s senior tournament is forfeited.
• Winners of the junior mixed and doubles events are eligible to enter senior tennis week with their current partner (at the discretion of the Tennis Pro). Failing that, with other players that meet eligibility.

SERVICES – Tennis balls are available from the club office. Cost is $6.00, taxes included.