Club facilities
Courts
We are unusually fortunate in having two
courts at our club; the Green court and the recently restored
and re-opened Blue court (which for the uninitiated is largely
red).
Club rooms
The Blue Court dedans is downstairs, to the right of the
main entrance. There is a sitting area and this room
offers good viewing of play on the Blue Court. The dedans
is also where the professionals have their office area and
you may book your games on the computer here. Games on the
Blue court can also be watched through the new glass wall
in the first floor club room. This room has kitchen facilities
and is used for club events and meetings .
Notice boards and website
The boards in the hall and this website (www.curtc.net)
are a constant source of information about club events and
tournaments and what's on in the real tennis world. Check
them regularly so you don't miss out.
Telephones
Players and spectators are asked to be considerate to others
and avoid the intrusion of mobile phones, which should be
switched off unless their use is absolutely necessary.
Health and Safety
Because tennis is a fast game played with a heavy ball on
a hard court, a main risk is injury to the eye,
usually from a ricochet. If you wear spectacles with glass
lenses there is a risk of shattering due to impact or a fall.
If you wear glasses, you should ask advice from your optician,
and/or consider using contact lenses. Non-prescription
safety goggles can be obtained,as well as goggles or special
safety sports glasses which incorporate a prescription
lens.
Another generic risk of injury is from slipping. A good grip
is essential for all footwear,which should be clean and dry.
In certain weather conditions, courts are liable to 'sweat' which is when condensation appears on the floor and/or walls.
When a professional is present, play may be suspended for
this reason, but all players need to take responsibility for
their own safety and should stop playing if the court becomes
slippery. Loose balls should always be removed from the court
surface before play, including during a knock-up.
A tennis ball can leave a racquet at speeds of up to 100 mph.
The netting in the dedans and the side galleries protects
spectators. Spectators, players and markers need to keep a
safe distance from the netting, to avoid contact.
There are First Aid boxes on each court, and all the professionals
have First Aid training. There is ice in the fridge at the
back of the Green Court. If there is an accident, please fill
in a report form, and notify one of the professionals. The three
professionals have been trained in the use of the defibrilator
which is positioned by the notice boards
Please familiarise yourselves with the position of the fire
exit doors, which are clearly signed.
No smoking anywhere in the club please
Club Child Protection Policy Statement
The Club aims to create an enjoyable environment for all
juniors who wish to play real tennis.
The club emphasises that young people have the right to
be safe, secure and free from threat, and for their concerns
to be listened to and acted upon.
The club will ensure that the Head Professional and other
coaches have signed the club self-declaration form in relation
to Child Protection. It will also ensure that any club members
or volunteers working with young people are aware of and apply
the relevant T&RA Code of Conduct, and have signed the
same form.
The club has a Child Protection Officer, who should be contacted
in any issue relating to Child Protection. Currently, this
is George Pearson (Tel 07802 535366)
Coming and going
Hours of play
Weekdays 7am to 10pm on the Green Court, 6.30am to
10.30pm on the Blue Court.
Weekends 8am to 10pm on the Green Court, 6.30am to
10.30pm on the Blue Court.
Play outside these hours is not permitted: the noise disturbs
the residents of Tennis Court House.
Car parking
The spaces alongside the court off Grange Road are reserved
for spectators or players who have booked courts and who are
in the building. The Trinity Hall car park (by the main wall
of the Green Court) may only be used during the evening after
6pm and at weekends; please observe this rule strictly.
Entering the club
The main entrance door, located on the left hand side of
the building, has a combination lock. Players may
for details of the combination. The light
switch inside is fairly high up on the wall on your left.
The main lights for the Blue Court Dedans and office area
are fairly high up on the right of the door directly in front
of you as you come in. Please take your bags and coats to
the changing rooms and do not leave them in the clubroom while
you are playing.
Changing facilities
The changing rooms are down beyond the dedans of the Green
Court. If there are players on court, wait for a break in
play – usually when they are changing ends – before
walking through. You may leave clothes, kit and bags in the
changing room while you play, but please take your valuables
on court with you.
Peace and quiet
Please respect the rights of the professionals to privacy
outside their working hours. Please also avoid noise that
can cause disturbance; loud voices in the showers can be heard
clearly in Tennis Court House, and its living room is the
other side of the Green Court main wall, so you are
asked not to practice by hitting balls against this wall.
Lights for the courts
The light switches for the Blue Court are opposite the notice
boards next to the connecting door that leads to the Green
Court. The light switch for the Green Court is located just
to the right after you go through the connecting door, next
to a louvered door. These take the form of a press switch
which starts them; they turn off automatically after ten minutes
with no detected movement on court.
Leaving the club
Always leave the outer door securely closed. If you are
the last to leave in the evening, please switch off all lights,
and draw the clubroom curtains. Please check that the fire
exits by the courts have also been closed.
Equipment
Balls
Balls (made by hand by the professionals) are provided for
players’ use. There is a basket for each court. The
hand stitched felt covers are renewed at regular intervals.
At the end of your game, please return all balls to the basket,
including those in the galleries. If you are last on the Green
Court in the evening, please leave the basket on the raised
table, behind the glass in the dedans (the life of the balls
is prolonged if they are kept at room temperature. If the
balls are kept in the inner-dedans, it makes no difference
and they may as well be kept on court).
Racquets
After your first few games, you are expected to buy your
own racquet. Racquets are sold by the professionals, who can
advise you on your requirements. Do not forget to write your
name on the butt!
You can hire a racquet from the pros. Racquet hire is paid
for in advance for 4 games at a time. Prices are at the end
of the pricelist. Some older
racquets, kept in the Blue court dedans, may be used if you
break a string during a game or are
awaiting repairs to your racquet. Any contributions to this
stock are greatly appreciated.
Racquets for repair should be left in the repair rack in
the clubroom, with a note indicating your requirements. Repairs
should normally be carried out within four weekdays. Your
racquet can be collected from the same rack, and the repair
fee paid to Peter Paterson.
It is very important that members only take racquets belonging
to themselves.
Net height
You can check the height of the net using the marked stick
hanging by the entrance to each court. It should be three
foot high in the middle.
Dress and footwear
Sports clothing should be worn at all times when on court.
For representative matches, whites are preferred. Only non-marking
soles may be worn on court.
Arranging games
Bookings
The Booknowplus System
allows players to book the court and view the status of their
bill from a computer that has access to the Web. A computer
is available at the Club for this purpose and the professionals
will be only too happy to help with any queries. Alternatively,
bookings can be made by telephoning the professionals at the
Club (01223 357106). Players must ensure that they
have booked their court time prior to entering the court to
play.
Club Night
A 'social' club night with food and drink as well as tennis
is often organised on a Thursday at the end or the beginning
of the month: which typically involves short doubles games,
although singles matches may also be played if numbers are
appropriate. This is an excellent opportunity to meet other
players. The Blue court is reserved for the whole evening
for this purpose,starting from 17:30 and a small flat fee
made for the whole evening's play. All are welcome. Search
the booking program to
find dates.
Ladies' morning
Every Friday morning, from 10 until 12, the Green Court
is reserved for Ladies’ Morning. This is an informal
fun session, open to all lady players, and is a particularly
good way for newer players to learn more about the game.
Depending on numbers, we usually play doubles, with players
swapping in and out every few games. A small flat fee is made
for the morning's play. Every few weeks we try to arrange
a drill with Scott, for which
there is an extra charge.
If you want to know more about Ladies’ Morning please
contact
for more information, ring the
club or just come along.
Lessons
If you want to book a lesson with one of the professionals
please contact the Club by telephone or
. Lesson sessions last an hour with the first half an hour
being coaching and the second half clear to practice the new
skills you will have learnt. Lessons are charged at the rate
on the Price List page.
Cancellations
If you discover you are unable to use a court you have booked,
please inform the professionals as soon as possible (or leave
a phone message). If you notify us of your cancellation by
10am at least one weekday before the day of your booking (e.g.
by Tuesday 10am for a Wednesday booking, by Friday 10am for
a weekend or Monday booking) you will not be charged for the
court.
Otherwise you will be liable for your court fee and your
opponent’s court fee, charged at your rate (e.g. a senior
member cancelling pays 2x senior court fees, a junior member
cancelling pays 2x student court fees). As summer season ticket
holders have pre-paid their own off-peak court fees, they
will only be liable for their opponent ’s court fee
in the event of a late cancellation during off-peak times.
Playing the game
You can access the rules and an explanation of the scoring
system and how handicaps work on this website (www.curtc.net).
If you do not normally have access to the internet, you may
use the computer in the Blue Court dedans which is provided
for this purpose, or just ask the pros for assistance when
you come to the club.
Revised handicap listings are posted on the notice board
every Tuesday and are available online at www.realtennisonline.com
(registration
is free). Please record all your results on the paper sheet
provided by the entrance to each court.
Finishing on time
It is important for players to finish by their allotted
time. The next players due on court are entitled to their
full hour! Players whose hour is ending should make sure they
finish in time to gather up the balls so that the incoming
players can start promptly. Even if nobody is apparently waiting
to come on court, you should check and enquire before running
over time.
If a tournament game is over running, permission must be
obtained from the players who are waiting, to continue. Players
are expected to respect the feelings and wishes of other players.
Court etiquette
Real tennis has its courtesies and accepted practices. New
players should take note of the following points:
If you arrive while a game is in progress on the Green court,
you should wait for a gap in play before walking through the
gallery passage. Usually this means waiting for the players
to change ends.
You should agree before starting your match what handicap
difference (if any) you are applying. Players of unequal handicaps
may nevertheless choose to play level, i.e. start each game
at love-all (if you do this, the computer will make an allowance
for the ‘correct ’ handicap difference in determining
the effect of the result on your subsequent handicap, but
it will record a null result if the difference was more than
six).
It is usual to spin a racquet to determine who will start
out as the server. Before the game commences, it is common
practice for the receiver to take the basket of balls from
underneath the net, put the balls in the dedans for their
opponent and replace the basket, before taking their position
at the hazard end. This is not something that you should assume
your opponent will do, but it is a courtesy to be encouraged.
When changing ends, if you are about to leave the service
end, you should wait for the other player(s) to cross the
net first. It is also usual to place a couple of balls on
your opponent’s racquet, before moving to the hazard
end.
When you finish your match, please gather any loose balls
(including those in the galleries) into the basket.
In the heat of competition, please remember that junior members
and other children may be within hearing range of your language.
Administration
Current Price List
Price List
The price list page on this
site details charges for membership, annual subscriptions,
court fees, racquets and grips, racquet hire, repairs, lessons,
clothing and books on the game. Prices may be revised without
notice.
Accounts
Please assist the Club by ensuring that your account is
clear (or more preferably in credit) and by paying your Annual
Subscription as soon after the 1st October as possible. It
would also be very helpful if you would set up an annual standing
order for your subscription payment - most easily achieved
if you use online banking. Please see below for the Club's
account details. If this is not possibly then completing a
standing order form would be fine (blank forms available from
the pros). Subscription rates are to be found on the price
list.
It would also be helpful if you would set up regular payments
to cover court fees. Any resulting credits will be repaid
on request or carried forward by agreement. Again this is
most easily achieved online. Alternatively, a monthly standing
order would again assist. The Club's bank details are as follows:
Barclays Bank
Sort code 20-17-19
Account number 90032190
Account name “Cambridge University Real Tennis Club”
To those of you already making payments online, many thanks,
it helps us a great deal. All payments will normally appear
on your BookNowPlus account within two weeks after the end
of the calendar month in which the payment is made. If you
have any questions, please do not hesitate to ring or email
Kees
, Simon Stokes
, or
Julian Stafford
Change of address
Please inform the Administrator of any changes to your address,
email or telephone numbers.
Club tournaments
Cambridge University students compete for the Bostock Cup
(men) and the Lawrence Cup (ladies), and a Freshers'
tournament is also held each year.
The Graduate Cup is the premier annual club handicap tournament,
open to all Senior members (it is not restricted to members
of the University).
The Club Championship, Ladies Club Championship, Category
tournaments, junior tournaments and the
Cambridge League are other notable features of the club
calendar.
Real Tennis beyond Cambridge
Matches and tournaments
The club has a programme of friendly matches with other
clubs (see fixture list
and the noticeboard), and enters teams in a number of competitions
and tournaments, including:
The Varsity Match, and Belles and University 2nds Varsity
Matches.
The Field Trophy and Brodie Cup – national inter-club
tournaments
Tennis & Rackets Association (T&RA)
Many of the national tournaments (and also the Field Trophy
/ Brodie Cup team tournament) are organised by the T&RA,
the game's governing body, which you may wish to consider
joining. A membership form and details can be found in the
Blue court dedans. The Association also trains professionals
in conjunction with the International
Real Tennis Professionals’ Association, and assists
with the funding, planning and maintenance of courts, safeguards
the supply of rackets and oversees the quality of the balls.
T&RA Members receive a full rule-book for both games,
regular newsletters,and have the right to play in T&RA
tournaments and at other Clubs and receive other benefits
such as attending the annual dinner.
Ladies’ Real Tennis Association (LRTA)
The LRTA exists to
promote the game of Real Tennis and to organise and manage
ladies’ tournaments and to assist in those events that
lady members participate.
is the LRTA contact at CURTC.
Clubs elsewhere
There are 26 real tennis courts in use in the UK, including
our two. A full list can be found at the International
Real Tennis Professionals Association website - www.irtpa.com
There are also
• three clubs in France (where the game is le
jeu de paume);
• nine clubs in the USA (where they call it Court
Tennis);
• five clubs in Australia (where they call it Real
or Royal Tennis).
Check out our interactive world
court directory map.
