On 12 May 2020, the LTA and BCGBA issued detailed guidance on how to ensure the safe management of the Club’s facilities for tennis and bowls respectively now that COVID-19 restrictions have been eased by the UK Government.

This guidance includes all aspects of the tennis and bowling experience from arrival on Club premises, during participation in the respective game and departure from the Club premises.

The guidance is available for Members to download from lta.org.uk and/or bcgba.org.uk.

ONLY MEMBERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE CLUB FACILITIES. Members during the year ended 31 March 2020 will automatically be deemed Members for this purpose. Member’s membership status (bowler or tennis player or both) will be determined by the category of member as in the year ended 31 March 2020.

Applications for membership for the current year are temporarily suspended.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL NON-MEMBERS BE ALLOWED ACCESS TO THE CLUB’S PREMISES OR FACILITIES.

ALL MEMBERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE UK GOVERNMENT’S RULES ON SOCIAL DISTANCING AT ALL TIMES WHILST ON CLUB PREMISES (i.e. keeping 2 metres apart).  Some temporary provisions in relation to the rules of tennis or bowls will also be necessary to ensure safe play and these are set out below.

Exclusions From Club Premises

Members in one of the following categories MUST NOT enter the premises of the Club :

• Any Member who has been advised to self-isolate, is part way through their self-isolation period or is required to extend it for any reason;
• Any Member exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19;
• Any Member who has a member of their family who exhibits signs of COVID-19.

IF ANY MEMBER STARTS TO EXHIBIT SYMPTONS OF COVID-19 WHILST ON CLUB PREMISES, THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY:

• LEAVE THE PREMISES, AND
• INFORM THE CLUB’S BOOKING SECRETARY THAT THEY HAVE LEFT DUE TO DEVELOPING SYMPTOMS.

This will enable “track and trace” where possible.

The Basic Rules

1. Whilst playing tennis, only Members of the same household may play together, or a single Member and a single Member from another household SO LONG AS SOCIAL DISTANCING IS MAINTAINED.
2. Whilst playing tennis or bowls, only members of the same household may play together, or two Members from the same household together with and a single member from another household SO LONG AS SOCIAL DISTANCING IS MAINTAINED.
3. A maximum of two Members will be allowed on any one court at the same time;
4. A maximum of three Members will be allowed on any green at the same time and then, two of them must be from the same household (see above).
5. All courts and greens must be booked in advance (see below). NON-BOOKED PLAY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.

Booking a court or green

• Courts can be pre-booked by contacting the Court Booking Secretary, Neil McPherson, on the Court Booking Line, 07909 681909.
• The Court Booking Line will only be open weekdays between 9am and 10am in the morning.
• Greens can be pre-booked by contacting the Green Booking Secretary, Alan Challinor, on the Green Booking Line, 07816 345317.
• The Court Booking Line will only be open weekdays between 9am and 10am in the morning.
• MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED TO REFRAIN FROM CALLING EITHER BOOKING LINE OUTSIDE OF THEIR REPSECTIVE OPENING TIMES.
• However, by concession, the booking line will be open between the times stated on the first weekend i.e. Saturday 16 May and Sunday 17 May only.
• Sessions will commence at 8am in the morning and the last booking will be at 8pm in the evening
• In any one call, Members are restricted to booking any court or green for
  • no more than 3 sessions, and
  • no more than twice in a peak session in any 5 day period, and
  • no more than 5 days in advance.

For this purpose, peak sessions are defined as play commencing after on or after 5.30pm on a  weekday and commencing between 8am and 12.30pm on a Saturday or Sunday.

• Each session booked will last for one hour only (court or green).
• The sessions available are as follows:

• Members must vacate the court or green 10 minutes prior to the end of the session booked.
• No over-time play will be allowed.
• Floodlights will not be available in any circumstances.
• Do not approach the courts/greens until it is time for you to play.
• Juniors Members will be allowed to book and play. However, they must be accompanied by a parent/guardian who lives in the same household. The parent/guardian may not be a Member but must follow social distancing rules at all times whilst accompanying the Junior Member on Club premises.

Arrival and Waiting to Play

• All Members are requested to bring with them
  • their own pre-sanitised playing equipment (racquets, balls, bowls, jacks and mats);
  • tennis balls must be marked clearly with your initials;
  • sanitisers and wipes.
• Do not arrive at the Club any earlier than 10 minutes before your session booking time.
• If you arrive early by car, wait in your car until nearer to your session booking time.
• REMEMBER THE SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES WHEN
  • ENTERING THE CLUB’S PREMISES
  • WALKING TO YOUR BOOKED COURT OR GREEN
  • JOINING YOUR PLAYING PARTNER
• The clubhouse, changing rooms and toilet facilities will be closed.
• Do not approach the courts or greens until they are clear.
• To enter for play on No.1 or No.2 courts, Members should use the gate closest to No.1 bowling green.
• To enter for play on No.3 or No.4 courts, Members should use the far gate closest to the Groundsman’s shed.
• Access to courts will be via the card entry system and Members are requested not to touch the gates with their hands if at all possible
• Entry to No.1 green should be via the car park steps by the James Birks Stand
• Entry to No.2 green should be by the grass bank by the kitchen

Whilst Playing

• REMEMBER THE SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES AND STAY 2 METRES APART AT ALL TIMES FROM ALL MEMBERS NOT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD.
• No handshakes.

Tennis

• Do not change ends during your session.
• Do not pick up balls not marked with your initials.
• Avoid contact with the net with your hands.
• Do not try and alter the height of the nets. The net winders will be removed and you should contact the Tennis Secretary to report an incorrect net height for it to be adjusted.

Bowls

• A jack and a mat will be required for each player
• Pick up only your bowls, jack and mat
• If you win the toss or at the start of the end following a winning end, you must only bowl out your own jack. Bowling of the opponents jack will not be permitted. (n.b. this may be confusing as normally only one jack is used in game. However, you must carry your own unused jack to the conclusion of each end)
• At the start of each game, one of the participants must be designated as the official measurer if an end requires a measure and social distancing rules cannot be observed (i.e. participants not in the same household will not be two metres apart) their decision will be final.

After Your Session Has Ended

• Please take all litter with you.

Tennis

• When your session is over, you must leave the court immediately.
• You should leave the court via the gate by which you entered.

Bowls

• When your session is over, you must leave the court immediately.
• You should leave the green via the entry point used to enter the green.

REMEMBER THE SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES WHEN LEAVING THE CLUB’S PREMISES AFETR YOUR SESSION.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CAN THERE BE ANY GATHERINGS ON CLUB PREMISES.

GO HOME, WASH YOUR HANDS AND SANTISE YOUR EQUIPMENT

Non Compliance With These Regulations

All Members should appreciate the importance of adhering to these Regulations to ensure the safety of all.

If Members are reported for breaching these Regulations, a report will be complied by the Officers of the Club and a copy sent to the Member concerned as well as three members of the Management Committee, who will act as Arbiters in the matter.

If, by majority, the Arbiters agree that these Regulations have been breached, the Member will be suspended for 2 weeks and all unfulfilled booking made by that Member cancelled. There will be no process for appeal.

THESE REGULATIONS ARE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 6.5.5 OF THE CLUB.

A copy of the rules of the club can be obtained from the Club Secretary by calling the booking line and requesting a copy.