About Us
The Tennis Club is part of Watlington Memorial Club, a registered charity, which was given to the town as a memorial to the First World War (see www.watlington.org.uk). The club consists of the club house at 20 High Street, two squash courts, 3 tennis courts (2 of which are floodlit) and a bowling green, all with parking access from Shirburn Street. Within the main club house there are toilet facilities, a snooker table, a bar which also serves food, satellite TV, and a function room available for private hire.
In order to join the Tennis Club you do also have to join the Memorial Club, but you are then entitled to use these facilities, and you may of course also join any of the other Sections. Subscriptions are due on 1st May each year.
The Club organises an Open Day in the spring for existing and new members, and their guests. It also organises its own knock-out tournaments through the summer, and various other tournaments and social events during the year.
Playing Times
There is no booking system at the Club, you simply turn up and play! However, if all courts are fully occupied and other members are waiting to play, players should limit themselves to 30 minutes' play or a short set (first to reach 6 games), or finish the set they are playing. This applies to adults, and to juniors playing before 6 p.m.
There is no formal distinction between full paying juniors and adults, although preference on court should be given to adults at the club sessions and to juniors on Friday and Sunday evenings (Juniors have their own playing times which vary depending on the time of year. Please see the notice board for details.)
League & Club tournament matches have priority on court usage and usually take place on Saturday Afternoons (from about 1.00pm). A list of these is displayed on the notice board.
Club Sessions
We encourage members of all standards, and invited juniors, to come along to club sessions when the focus is on social doubles, played on a rotational basis. These take place all year round on Sunday mornings from 10 a.m., and on Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. At these times the courts may not be used for private play.
Floodlights
Floodlights are available on 2 courts, so we can play through the winter months - until 9.30 pm Monday - Friday, and 8pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Instructions for use are inside the club house. There is no fee for using the floodlights.
Team Tennis
The Club runs a number of teams in the Oxfordshire leagues both in Summer and Winter. If you are interested in playing team tennis please don't be shy - it's great fun and a good way to test your skills against different players. We are always keen to welcome new team members so do make your interest known to a committee member.
Coaching
Coaching can be arranged for both Adults & Juniors - see the notice board for details, or ask a committee member.
Mandy Nall currently offers coaching.
Visitors
Visitors are welcome to play on payment to the Treasurer of a fee of £2 per person per session.
Any people from the local area who have played as many as 5 times in the season as Visitors are expected to join the Club as fully paid up members.
Wimbledon Tickets
The Club is usually allocated a number of tickets for the Wimbledon championships by the LTA each year. A draw is held to distribute these, so watch the notice board in March for details of how to put your name down for the draw. Each winner is eligible for two tickets for a given day and court. To be eligible for the draw you need to be a British tennis Member. You can join free of charge at www.lta.org.uk/britishtennismembership