Your First Visit

1. Before You Arrive

🎾 How do I book a court? Often you can turn up and play, but there are times when courts maybe booked.  To guarantee a booking you can book your slot directly via the Booking tab on this website.

🎾 How do I get into the club? Access to the grounds and clubhouse is via an electronic fob. You can purchase one for £10 via our Membership Packages page (select "Key Fob"). Once purchased, please contact David Gibson to arrange a time to collect your fob.

🎾 What should I wear? Please wear appropriate sports clothing and athletic footwear. 

2. Arriving at the Club

🎾 Where are the courts located? We have 9 courts in total. Our 4 LED Floodlit Tiger Turf courts and 3 Tarmac courts are the most popular. Please note our concrete courts are currently awaiting refurbishment; we kindly ask that you use the Tiger Turf courts in the meantime.

🎾 When can I play? Access depends on your membership category, but Full Members can play at any time. Always check the booking calendar before arriving, as courts may be reserved for league matches or tournaments.

🎾 Where are the facilities? The clubhouse features changing rooms, showers, and toilets. Your electronic fob provides full access to the building.

3. On the Court

🎾 Do I need to bring my own balls? For private bookings, please bring your own tennis balls. For our "mix-in" social sessions, we ask that regular attendees take turns providing balls to share the cost fairly.

🎾 How do the floodlights work? Floodlights are free during designated social nights. At all other times, they are operated by tokens (£1.50 for 30 minutes), which can be purchased from Chris Smith (treasurer 07955 472503). The token controller is located downstairs in the clubhouse; simply select your court number and insert the token. You can insert multiple tokens to extend your playing time.

🎾 Can I bring a guest? Guests are welcome at a fee of £5 per visit. A guest may play a maximum of three times before they are required to join as a full member. We also offer a one-time, one-month trial membership for those looking to test the club.

4. What is the expected court etiquette?

🎾 Warm-ups: Before a match, players should warm up by hitting directly to the player opposite them. Practice your rallies first, then move to the net for volleys, and finish with practice serves.

🎾 Respecting Other Games: Avoid disturbing matches in progress. If your ball rolls onto another court, wait for their point to finish before retrieving it or asking for it back.

5. After Your Match

🎾 What is 'Social Tennis'? If you are looking for partners, join our "mix-in" sessions on Mondays and Thursdays (5:30 PM) or Saturdays (12:30 PM). You will be rotated into doubles matches with other members. Note: If you are a complete beginner, we recommend attending a few sessions from our [Coaching Program] to help you build the confidence to join social play.

6. Leaving the Club

🎾 How do I secure the site? If you are the last person leaving a court, please ensure the gate is firmly closed. If you are the last person in the clubhouse, ensure all lights are switched off and the main entrance door is locked.

🎾 How do I find more people to play with? New members are added to the Bellingham Tennis Community WhatsApp group. This is the best place to find playing partners and join sub-groups that match your skill level and interests.