The season is underway. The courts are playing great.

Sprinkler kinks

We have just started using the new automatic sprinkler system and we are still working out some of the kinks.  We had a leak last night.  Court 1 was flooded this morning and had to be closed for the day.  I apologize for that.  Please be patient as we work things out.  We have 30 heads spread across 15 zones, so there is some trial and error.  It will be worth it.

Daytime Court Watering Warning

On dry days we will be watering the courts from 3PM – 4:30PM.  You don’t want to get soaked, so be aware of the time.  We built the system so that we could water one court at a time.  Court 5 will come on first.  Because it does not need much watering, it will be quick.  Then Courts 1-4 will be watered, in that order.  Each will take approximately 15 minutes.  You may play on a court that has yet to be watered, and you may play on a court that has been watered once the subsequent court has finished watering.  For example, you may resume playing on Court 1 after Court 2 has finished watering, assuming that you are leaving no depressions on Court 1.

Lessons and Clinics

Coach Andy Nnewihe will be conducting private lessons, group lessons, and clinics again this year.  He is currently planning on the following clinic schedule, subject to participant interest and availability:

• Tuesday, 5:30 – 7 pm – Adult Beginner Clinic

• Thursday, 9 – 10:30 am – Cardio Tennis

• Thursday 10:30 – noon – Doubles Clinic

• Friday 5:30 – 7 pm: Intermediate/Advanced Clinic 

There are two ways you can contact Andy: via email (nnewihe@gmail.com) or you can join the Teamreach group “STCPRO2025” and chat with him that way. 

Lessons are $100/hr for members ($55/half hour).  Clinics are $35 per 90-minute clinic.

You can sign up for clinics using Yourcourts.  Sign up for private lessons using this link forCalendy.  Or just contact him directly to let him know of your interest.  If you are interested in attending one of the clinics but the schedule doesn’t work for you, definitely let him know – there may be others in the same situation.

Court Care and Maintenance

Please help us to care for our tennis courts by following this guide:

• The single most important item is that you do not play on a court if it is wet.  If your sneakers are leaving an imprint in the clay or digging up the court as you play, then you must stop.  If the court is closed, do not play on it.

• We have two foam rollers.  One should be hanging near Court 1 and the other by Court 5 (which are our two wettest courts).  If there is a puddle and you want to help accelerate the drying process, you may use the roller to carefully push the water out of the depression. 

  • Only use the roller to get the water out of the puddle. 

  • Do not continue to push the roller across the court.  If you do, the roller will start to pick up red topping, creating large bare spots.  Lift the roller to move it from one spot to another.

  • Do not use a broom to sweep water out of a puddle.  This just makes the depression deeper, compounding the problem the next time.

• Please sweep the court and the lines after you play.  If there is someone waiting for your court, you may ask them if they prefer you to sweep or leave the court as it is. 

• We are purchasing a few more brooms and line sweepers so that we will have a set at each end of each court, so we no longer need to share them between courts.  Hopefully this will keep a broom and sweeper close at hand at all times.  In the meantime, please return the brooms and sweepers to the designated spot, marked by signs, between each court.

AED

We have purchased a new Automated External Defibrillator (AED). It will be stored in the white AED cabinet on the side of the roller shed.  This can be a life-saving device in a cardiac emergency.   This particular AED guides the user with voice prompts and an LED screen, both for defibrillation and conducting CPR.  However, the best thing that you can do is to be mentally prepared ahead of time.  To that end, I strongly recommend that you watch this 6-minute YouTube video which demonstrates the use of this specific AED.  We are also looking into running an information and training session at the Club on a weekend if there is interest.