With the competition season under way, a more mundane topic that has been taxing the committee is what to do about our practice court on Upper Green. You may not have even noticed it, tucked at the back of Court 1 behind the pavilion.

Basically a brick wall with a miniature-sized court behind it, you can hit balls to your hearts’ content and they will always come back. There’s white line at tennis net height so you can target your shots and goodness, it’s hard work. At least it is for me, for I rarely have managed to string together more than a handful of shot before it all goes catastrophically wrong and I have to start again.

With the new Tiger Turf on the main courts, the practice court suddenly looks tired underfoot, and elsewhere. The Tarmac hasn’t been replaced for ages and the wall needs some love and affection. Yes, work could have been carried out when we refurbished the main courts, but as ever, it has always been a question on money.

And it is far from clear that it gets very much use. We’d welcome players’ thoughts on this. Who does use the practice wall/court, and would they welcome an upgrade?

Current players have received notification about renewing their membership, and there may be a day or two left to take advantage of the discount before the fees increase on 30 April. Also, village residents who book courts ad hoc might well like to consider full membership of Tewin Tennis Club, which has what we think are the best value rates in the whole of Hertfordshire.

You’ll then get the chance to take part in the popular ABC League on Friday evenings, starting this month. Members – playing that night or not – meet up at the courts for a social evening, usually followed by a drink in the Plume. Please come down and introduce yourself. Tell them Peter sent you.

Peter Burgess