Cold Ash Tennis Club

Cold Ash do not operate a booking system for general play which has always operated very effectively on a first come basis, with the help of the few simple Rules of Play which we ask members to adhere to if others are waiting to play.  The court timetable (an alternative version of which you will find at the bottom of this page) sets out regular times each week when priority is given to various activities such as mix-ins and coaching. Priority is also given to Club participation in district League Tennis competition and this generally involves a total of about a dozen home fixtures each year (mostly scheduled on weekdays starting at 6pm). Unfortunately these fixtures often have to be organised at relatively short notice but dates and times when the courts will closed for general play will be posted on the court side notice board by club captains giving as much notice as possible.

Added together, all of these prioritised activities take up less than half of all available playing time. All remaining time (where no marked sessions are shown on the timetable) is available for paid up club members to use the courts as they please.  For most of the year, if you choose your time carefully, you should never have a problem getting a game although at peak season around Wimbledon time, morning are much better than late afternoons and early evenings which are often very busy.

Members are welcome to bring occasional guests at a charge of £2 per occasion but only at a ratio of 1:1, i.e. 1 member for singles play with 1 non-member, and 2 members for doubles play with 2 non-members.  Members should keep a rough note of these occasions and make a corresponding transfer of money to a committee member or by BACS transfer to the Club Bank Account (ref Bradfield Winter Tennis page) as soon as it is practical.  We do not police this, but if you are regularly asking non-members to play and this is keeping paying members off court during busy periods, paying members should be given priority access to the courts.

In agreement with the Parish Council provision has also been made to allow a limited level of access at specific times to members of the public who are neither Club Members nor guests.  Shown in the timetable as "General Access", these times are in the middle part of the day on weekdays and late evenings at the weekend.  As the courts are locked, non-members wishing to use the courts will need to contact the Parish Office adjacent to the courts to book, pay, and arrange access (01635 860004).  The charge payable is £10 per person per hour. (Whilst not wishing to discourage the one-off user it should be noted that even the most expensive category of full membership works out at less than a £1 a week and gives unrestricted access and court via the combination lock code).

If a member of the public uses the courts we are then obliged to reset the court combination code to protect the interests of our members who may otherwise find nonmembers playing on the courts all of the time.  We similarly request that whilst playing the courts remain locked so that only members access the courts.

Court Timetable ( as above but in words rather than as a picture)

• Monday - General Access 11am to 2pm,   Ladies mix-in 2pm to 3pm,  Mixed Team matches from 6.30pm if scheduled (check 'League Tennis' or notice board outside courts)
• Tuesday - Adult mix-in 9am to 10am,  General Access 11am to 2pm,  Junior and family priority time 3pm to 5pm, Junior coaching 5pm to 6pm (when scheduled), Ladies Team matches from 6.30pm if scheduled (check 'League Tennis' or notice board outside courts)
• Wednesday - General Access 11am to 2pm, Adult mix-in 6pm to 8pm
• Thursday - General Access 11am to 2pm, Junior and family priority time 3pm to 5pm, Mens Team matches from 6.30pm if scheduled (check 'League Tennis' or notice board outside courts)
• Friday - Adult mix in 9am to 10am (when scheduled), General Access 11am to 2pm, St Marks Primary School 1.15pm to 3pm (summer term time only),  Junior and family priority time 3pm to 5pm
• Saturday - Adult coaching 9am to 12pm (when scheduled), General access 7pm to 9pm (Some team matches may be rescheduled to these days if rained off - check website and notice board)
• Sunday - Adult mix in 10am to 12pm, General access 7pm to 9pm (Some team matches may be rescheduled to these days if rained off - check website and notice board)