Many tennis enthusiasts will at some point decide that the time is right to join a tennis club, so why not join a great tennis club!

I thought I’d take a look at some of the things to consider when making this decision.

What are you looking for in a tennis club?

Everyone wants something different from their tennis club membership, so to avoid disappointment it’s very important to be clear about what you want from a club. Here is your checklist:

1. Do you want indoor courts, outdoor courts or both?

2. Does the club have the court surfaces that you like?

3. Is the club maintained well and are the courts, lines, nets, fences, clubhouse, changing rooms etc in a good state of repair?

4. Do you want a club with an active social calendar? If you do, obtain a list of the up-and-coming social events and see if it floats your boat!

5. Will you want tennis coaching and does the club have a pro-active coach? Again make enquiries.

6. Does it matter to you whether the club is run by the members or privately owned?

7. Does it bother you if the club holds tournaments which may mean that the courts are out of bounds for a week or two?

8. Does the club have a friendly atmosphere?

9. Will you be mostly playing with a particular person or do you require the club to create playing partners for you?

10. Does the club have social mix-in tennis such as club nights, ladies mornings or Sunday morning mix-in?

11. Are you a budding team player who would like to be considered for the teams? If this is the case, are the teams ‘closed shops’ or are places open?

12. How many teams are there and are there any team training sessions?

13. Do you require a creche for your toddler for when you’re on the court?

14. Would you like a clubhouse that offers food during the day?

15. Is the bar area inviting?

16. Is it important that the club has floodlights on some courts?

Tennis Coaching - Is there a slot for you?

For many, the tennis coaching can be a huge area of disappointment as becoming a member doesn’t always mean that the coach has space in his diary for you. If the coaching is an important reason for joining a club, you should check with the pro first to see if he/she could find a suitable slot for you. If the head pro is fully booked maybe there is an assistant coach who could fit you in. As long as the assistant is licensed/qualified this should be fine.

Tennis Coaching - Are there any adult groups?

If you prefer group coaching to private lessons, first check that there are coaching groups and then check that there is the right standard group for you.

Tennis Coaching - What about the kids?

Maybe you are joining the club with your kids and so need a good choice of either weekend or holiday group coaching sessions? Check the junior group coaching programme with the pro.

Running through the checklist above should help you choose the right tennis club for you.

Good luck!

John Key

p.s. If you’re happy with your tennis club and feel it deserves a mention, let us know about it.

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