December 2021 Update Dear Members Firstly a very warm welcome to the end of 2021. To be honest at the time of writing we don't seem to be quite heading to the unrestricted Christmas we were looking forward to, but it will be better than last Christmas. So with that, however you spend the holidays we hope you enjoy it and stay safe.
This newsletter has plenty in it and features: Survey response highlights (detailed info to follow) Booking System - revert from Playtomic to Fastcourts Committee Member vacancy - Activities Co-ordinator Announcing Coach Dan joining Stephen's coaching team Christmas and New Year Kids camp Frosty Tournament 2nd Jan 10.30 – 1pm Recap on WhatsApp groups for you to join Junior Coaching schedule 2022 Message on behalf of Bucks Tennis. Finally as noted above, at the time of writing on 17th December we have moved in England to 'Plan B'. The LTA have not updated any guidance yet but we would encourage you all to do all you can to stay safe following all the common sense you have learned in the last 18 months especially whilst in the Pavilion.
Thank you to everyone who completed the membership survey. It's the first time we have done this and we were thrilled by the response rate and the really insightful comments. We are currently tabulating and collating the responses, and looking at the comments in particular so we can share some themes with you. This will follow in a specific further email.
Booking System: Revert from Playtomic to Fastcourts
Those of you who use the Booking System will have seen that we have tried the new court booking system, Playtomic that Fastcourts is joining with. As a committee, we are not convinced that it is a good fit for our club. Thank you for your members' feedback as well.
For that reason, we have negotiated to remain on Fastcourts until April 2022, when our annual payment to them expires. All links with Playtomic will cease.
So please continue to use Fastcourts, which will function as normal, and you will be able to use your usual password and log in.
Apologies if you have tried Playtomic and struggled with it. In addition, if you have made any future court bookings with Playtomic, please rebook them with Fastcourts.
Thank you for your understanding.
Committee Role: Activities Co-ordinator
As mentioned in the survey and previous newsletter we have a vacancy for the role of Activities Co-ordinator. This has come around as Andy Davidson has taken on the role of Mens Captain for 2022. Activities co-ordinator is a really fulfilling role to take on, in the last year alone Andy organised 2 social tournaments in April and September, the Club Championships as well as initiating the Singles ladder.
In the member survey there were 2 members who said they might be interested. BUT as it's an anonymous survey we don't know who you are!!
So please could anyone interested please contact Helen on [email protected] to let us know if you were the person in the survey or indeed anyone else are interested in taking on the role. We would love to have you.
Announcement of new Coach Dan Sullivan
A very warm welcome to Dan who joins Stephen's coaching team. We are thrilled to see such a talented coach join the team, he did a session with some of the committee in November and got great feedback.
Dan is available for individual coaching immediately and group coaching in the new year. For individual sessions please contact him directly (details below), for any group lessons please contact Stephen as usual on [email protected]
Dan in his own words:
I began playing tennis at Ealing Lawn Tennis Club aged 9, at the time I was attending Latymer Upper school in Hammersmith where I became tennis captain. From there I represented Middlesex in both singles and doubles as a junior. I also represented Great Britain in singles as a junior, the highlight being the National Hardcourt Championship in San Diego, California and the Orange Bowl World Junior Championship in Coral Gables, Florida in the 1980’s. I won many tournaments at U12, U14 and U16 levels in Britain and the USA. I attended the world-renowned Harry Hopman’s and Nick Bollitierri tennis schools based in the USA.
I was mainly based in California where I played alongside Michael Chang and Andre Agassi of whom I became great friends with across the pond. My greatest tennis achievement was beating Mr Agassi in an U12 event in San Diego 7-6 6-2. Unfortunately, I lost in the next tournament to Mr Chang 6-0 6-0. He never stopped running!!
I began coaching in 1999 after completing the LTA Tennis assistant’s course. I assisted my brother Paul Sullivan at Paddington Sports Club, London until 2004. Paul has a wealth of tennis experience having been a player on the ATP Tour and has been coaching tennis for the past 20 years. In January 2005 I coached at Regents Park Golf and Tennis until I joined West Middlesex Lawn Tennis Club in 2008 as a senior coach.
In 2009 I became the Head Coach at South Hampstead Tennis Club where my roles were running a successful junior and adult programme which was designed for all ages and abilities and was the Men’s 1 captain for 6 years leading them from Northeast division 4 to division 1 and completing a winter league, Summer league and Middx Cup treble along the way. I currently run the Varsity team for the American School in London where I am responsible for both boys and girl’s teams.
I try to keep fit and love to run when I have time. I also love spending time with my family. If you would like to learn tennis or perhaps take it up again I teach all levels and age groups or if you just want some information about anything tennis related, you or can contact me by phone on: 07986 03 99 88 or by e-mail to [email protected].
Children’s Christmas and New Year camps
Don't forget Stephen's team are running a Childrens Christmas Tennis camp: - Tuesday 21st - Thursday 23rd December Also a New Years camp which was new last year and very popular: - Wednesday 29th - Friday 31st December
Please contact [email protected] directly if you'd like to book onto any days of this camp.
Rookie Racquets and Whatsapp group reminders
We know that some of you who joined recently would prefer to get more practice as you build up your confidence to play at club sessions. We are thrilled that some of the members have set up a new whatsapp group to facilitate play.
In the meantime for all of you new members, don't forget that there are a set of other WhatsApp groups used to co-ordinate all the club related sessions that you can ask to be added to. Please contact the members below and ask to be added into the appropriate group. There is also some great tennis related chat on the groups too!
Ladies Club Night is Monday from 6pm - contact Maggie Southerden 07719 677985 Mixed Club Night is Wednesday from 6pm - contact Paul McPhilips 07967 184870 Men's Club Night is Thursday from 6pm - contact Paul McPhilips 07967 184870 Wednesday afternoon social tennis is at 2pm - contact Gill Prout [email protected] Sunday morning social tennis is at 10.30am - contact Gill Prout [email protected] Weekday lunchtime group for arranging informal play - contact Andy Davidson 07809 641880
Frosty Tournament Sunday 2nd January 2022
Check out the email sent specifically about Frosty. 2nd Jan 10.30 - 1pm, handicap system so no need to bring a partner just turn up whatever your level and the handicap system will sort itself out!
We are of course monitoring the LTA advice on Covid so should that change we will let you know.
Junior Coaching Schedule Spring Term 2022
Stephen has shared details already with parents, here is a summary of the sessions available for the Spring Term, please contact him directly to book your child onto next terms coaching.
Tuesday @ Farnham Common Tennis Club: 11th January – 5th April (12 weeks) 4:45-5:35pm Mini Tennis Green/Yellow Ball (9-13yrs) Cost: £120 members, £150 non-members
Wednesday at Farnham Common Tennis Club: 12th Jan – 6th April (12 weeks) 10-10:50am Cardio Tennis (a great workout fitness class with music!!) Cost: £120 members, £150 non-members
Saturday at Farnham Common Tennis Club 8th Jan – 9th April (13 weeks) 9-9:50am Mini Tennis Blue (3-5yrs) 9-9:50am Mini Tennis Red (5-8yrs) 9-9:50am Mini Tennis Red (6-9yrs) 10-10:50am Mini Tennis Red (6-9yrs) 10-10:50am Mini Tennis Orange (7-9yrs) 10-10:50am Mini Tennis Green (8-11yrs) 11-11:50am Bronze Squad (12-16yrs) 11-11:50am Adult Intermediate Class Cost: £130 members, £162.50 non-members
Message on behalf of Bucks Tennis
All of us at Bucks Tennis would like to thank you for the time that you have committed to your club over the last year. We hope you all enjoy a Merry Christmas and a successful 2022!
Bucks Tennis encourages new volunteers The Management Committee supports many activities to promote participation, competition, improved standards of playing and coaching, and facility improvement for the benefit of all tennis venues in Buckinghamshire. The members have much commitment and experience, but we are under strength and new members are vital for continuity. Any offers to join us to manage the overall business of tennis in Bucks will be most welcome, but as mentioned at the recent AGM, we also have vacancies for several specific roles:
Bucks Ladies Shield Secretary County Safeguarding Officer Disability Tennis Co-ordinator Please contact Rosemary Badman, [email protected] or Anthony Heald [email protected] for more details about joining us.
Website We have had to temporarily move our website to www.buckstennis.net, although we hope to have www.buckstennis.com back running soon. Hopefully the issue will be resolved soon, but if you can’t find anything you’re looking for, please contact Anthony Heald at [email protected].
Bucks Tennis Venue Forum We will be running a venue forum at Aylesbury Rugby Club on Tuesday 22nd February from 7-9pm. The forum is free to attend and will include various presentations and roundtable discussions. We will be looking at the following topics and if there is anything you would like discussed, please let us know: Improving communication between the LTA, Bucks Tennis and clubs. Our strategic plan. We hope to have a speaker from the Tennis Volunteer Community Facebook group. If you are not aware of the group, it is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/517145319449375.
Bucks Tennis AGM We would like to thank everyone who attended our AGM on the 22nd November and would welcome any feedback about the content of the presentation or the venue. And finally! As always, do look on the facebook group for the latest news and why not share some pictures yourselves https://www.facebook.com/groups/2363389568 Stay safe and see you on the courts.