PLAY has resumed at Wellington Tennis Club, which has re-opened its courts to members in line with Government and Lawn Tennis Association advice.

The courts were busy on Sunday but members could only play singles matches or in family groups because of the coronavirus situation. New rules have been brought in to meet health, social distancing and hygiene requirements.

Clubhouse access is not possible so members need to take their own drinks and hand gel, and cannot use the toilets in the pavilion. The nets have been fixed at the correct height, with handles removed, so no one has to touch them, and each household has to provide their own balls and label them.

The club has started to use an online booking system via its website to avoid members arriving at the same time and to trace who has been on the courts. Members must have paid their subscriptions to receive the codes to access the gates.

Each playing session is for one hour and members waiting to go onto court must stay outside until the other players have left. Players are advised to avoid changing ends or change at opposite ends of the net.

Chairman Sue Rackley said: “It was a huge rush to read all the guidelines and get the website booking system in place. As I’m still working full-time, I couldn’t have co-ordinated this without the help of Elizabeth Deem, who has set up and will co-ordinate the online booking system.

“I am also grateful to her brother James Deem, who is an LTA employee and assisted her to iron out any glitches. Fortunately, members have managed to use it quite easily.”

Head coach Dan Sizer has been delivering one-to-one lessons and been busy with parents keen to get their children back practising and keeping fit, which is fantastic, especially as when there’s no tennis, there’s no income for a tennis coach.”

To attract new members the club wants to highlight the parent and child membership, which is only £50. This allows a parent to play with their child during the day, which may be useful while parents are home schooling.

Once members of the public are allowed to book courts, they will be encouraged to use the online booking and payment system. The rates are reasonable to join, working out at only £10 a month over a year, as courts costs £6.25 an hour.

Visit the club’s website at https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/WellingtonTennisClub or email [email protected] for information about joining.