The season runs from April to March and the club's weekly tennis timetable is shown below. When floodlights are used at club evenings (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday) or Match Practice (Thursday) there will be a charge of £1 per person. At other times the lights may be switched on using tokens which cost £2 for 35 minutes.

Outside the times shown below, any member can play, except that, if all courts are occupied, juniors have priority on weekdays from 4:00 - 6:00.

This year we've introduced an online court booking system, mainly to make it easier for members to fit in their club tournament matches by booking a court from the comfort of their own home! However, the rest of the year, it will be useful when trying to fit in other matches outside the organised sessions, such as singles ladder matches.

Click here for a Club Calendar.

Where matches are indicated, refer to the Club Calendar (see above to download) or the Match Play and Juniors Zone menus, to see if there is a home match scheduled for a particular day and, if so, when it starts and how many courts are taken up. The club tries to ensure that courts are available for those not playing in a match but sometimes it's not possible.

Adult AEGON matches require all 4 courts for the first 1½ - 2 hours, thereafter 2 courts. Junior matches require 2 courts for the first hour, thereafter 1 court. Other matches require 2 courts for the duration of the match (2½ - 3 hours).

Club Sessions - when can I play?
Club Sessions are those times when there will normally be a committee member or senior club member present to organise the players into sets. Members can just turn up during these times and can mix in and get a game without having to make prior arrangements. It is at these regular, organised sessions that the majority of members play their tennis.

Since the club started accepting beginners and less competent adult players as full members in 2001, membership has risen annually and the range of abilities, as a consequence, has widened considerably. In order to cater for the increase in members wishing to play in Club Sessions, there are now seven adult club sessions each week plus the match practice session (see below). It is important, for the club to run smoothly, that members understand the need to try to attend the right sessions, both to spread out the attendance across the sessions and to ensure that all of those attending have a rewarding experience.

As with most sports, there is little to be gained from competing at a level that is either much too high or much too low. It is unrewarding for both the higher level players and those at the lower level, unless the better player is prepared to "feed" balls to the weaker player and to "tone down" their normal game, and it is unfair for a beginner to expect that except on the odd occasion. At some clubs, all players are rated and there are strict rules about who is allowed to play when. At Crowthorne we don't do this but we do ask those who are beginners or unable to compete confidently at club sessions to take advantage of the 3-stage program that has been organised for them.

1. Coaching
Those who we classify as beginners (click here for an explanation) are entitled to a number of free group coaching sessions in their first year of membership. Ask a committee member about this to see if you qualify. These coaching sessions take place on a Monday evening at 6:30. If you don't qualify for free coaching, or if you have already had your free lessons, you should still try to attend the Monday night coaching when you can; it's very reasonably priced. Look in the Coaching menu for costs.

2.Beginners & Improvers Club Night
The Beginners & Improvers club night follows the coaching on Monday nights and runs from 7:30 - 9:00. Our coach runs the session and helps you put into practice what you have learnt in the coaching. This is free! (except for £1 when floodlights are used).

3. Improvers Club Night
The Improvers club night on Wednesday from 6:30 was originally introduced to provide a stepping stone from the Monday club session. However, it has also developed into a club session for those who are less competitive than those who attend some of the other sessions as well as for those who have played before but are a bit rusty.

4. Other Club Sessions
The average standard at other club sessions evolves depending on who attends regularly. Tuesday evening is probably the strongest of the Club Sessions, although Thursday night, match practice, obviously attracts the club's best players.

So, all members, please try to attend the session which are best for you and consider whether you should get some coaching. Most players improve if they work at it, some don't, but at Crowthorne Tennis Club there are opportunities for everyone to play at least twice a week at a suitable level. Everyone has good days and bad days, but if you regularly find it difficult to compete at one of the standard club nights, try going to the Improvers night on Wednesdays or the Beginners & Improvers night on Mondays. And also consider getting some coaching to give your game a boost. Conversely, if you find it's all a bit too easy on a Wednesday, try Fridays.

Match Practice Night
Match Practice Night provides an opportunity for the selected pairs for the next weekend's matches to practice together against stiff opposition under match type conditions, plus a chance for other members to show what they can do and give them a opportunity to get into the teams. Anyone is welcome to come on Match Practice Night, however the organiser will be aiming to arrange competitive sets and those playing in the next league matches will get top priority, followed by those able to provide stiff opposition. For instance, if there's a Mixed match the following weekend, the emphasis will be on Mixed Doubles and providing the team with a good workout so all selected players should try to attend. For the first hour, it is like a normal club session with players mixing in as they arrive. However, at 7:30 a whistle is blown and the Captains organise the players into fours giving those playing in matches at the weekend precedence. Normally there will be enough courts for everyone but on the odd occasion, if there are a lot of match players and other stronger players present, it is possible that weaker players may not get a game. NOTE THAT players are charged £1 on Thursdays for the privilege of playing with new balls which are then recycled through subsequent club sessions.