FAQ

The content for this page is always in progress. We hope you find this information useful. If you have questions or would like to suggest a new topic, send an email to support@craighenrytennis.com.

 

Q: I purchased my membership online. What's next?

A: Go to the club while attendants are on site and pick up your shoe tag/s and key. We're a community club run by volunteers, and it may take us 2 to 3 business days to prepare your shoe tags after you registered. See the CONTACT page for the attendants' schedule. If it rains, no staff is on site.

 

Q: How to access the courts?

A: Enter the current code on the keypad installed on the gate to the courts. The keypad is new this year, and you'll get the code when you pick up your shoe tag(s). Please make sure you lock the gate behind you when entering and exiting.

 

Q: I'm a returning member. Do I get a refund for my 2023 key?

A: No key buyback plan is in place. The club paid a sizeable amount for the keypad. Your old key will give you access to the practice court. We're still discussing how to give new members access to the practice court. Come back for an update.

 

Q: Can I pay pay for my club membership at the club?

A: No. We can accept only online payments made through credit cards. The online membership forms include a waiver that you must acknowledge to be able to get a membership and play at the club.

 

Q: How is my online payment processed?

A: Your payment will be processed securely through the Canadian company Bambora/Wordline and might not appear on your credit card statement explicitly as paid to the Craig Henry Tennis Club, depending on your credit card provider. On some statements, it appears as BAM*CRAIG HENRY TENNIS. However, if in doubt, contact your credit card company. However, Bambora/Wordline has a great track record and we haven't had problems in the past.

 

Q: Why do I need to book a court to play?

A: Court booking is mandatory. You can log in to your account and book a court 24 hours before your planned playing time. No drop-ins are allowed. By booking a court, you make sure that there is a court available for you at the time you plan to play. Court booking helps the club track contact in the event a person who played at the club test positive for COVID. Also, court booking statistics come in handy to evaluate court occupancy. Court booking allows the club to identify players in case of complaints of unruly behaviour or breach of club etiquette.

 

Q: How much court time I can book?

A: You can book court time in chunks of 30, 60 or 90 minutes. If you want to play multiple times a day, please note that there is a 3-hour cooling-off period between bookings by the same club member. Also, there is a court booking restriction during what we call Prime Time: from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. you can book only 60 minutes. However, you can book 90 minutes as long as only 60 minutes are inside Prime Time. For example, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. or 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., or 8 to 9:30 p.m. or 8:30 to 10 p.m. Please be mindful of your court booking, and don't book more than you can play. If something happens, you can cancel the court booking online.

 

Q: How do I book a court?

1. On the club website click the LOGIN menu.

2. Enter your email and password.

3. On your account page, you will see the Tennis Court Booking panel.

4. Click Book a Court, and this will take you to an hourly grid. The already booked courts are highlighted. The available courts are not.

5. Click your preferred start time, and this will take you to the Court Booking form.

6. You are already selected as Player 1, and need to select Player 2: start typing the first name of your partner to make the options display, and then select the player name.

7. Select the Booking Duration - click in the box to view the options: 30, 60 or 90 minutes, as required, and choose one.

8. Click the big red button BOOK THE COURT.

Q: Can I invite a friend to play as a guest at the club?

A: Yes. The club has a guest policy in place. During the season, each member can invite 3 friends to play: each friend 3 times, for a total of 9 guest appearances, and one guest per day. Each guest pass costs $10. To play with a guest, start booking a court through the club online platform, and then select Guest Player from one of the Player N drop-down boxes, as you might invite your guest for doubles. Enter the guest name in the Player N Guest Name box, and click the BOOK THE COURT button. Then you will be taken to the secure payment page. It is assumed that your guest will reimburse you. If the guest fee is not paid within 15 minutes, the court booking is cancelled. And a note that the court is be blocked for 15 minutes, and you would not be able to book another court until the 15-minute period elapses.

Q: I have a ball machine. Can I use it at the club?

A: Yes, you can use your ball machine at the club. A couple of restrictions apply: you can use your ball machine only until 5 p.m., and always only on a side court: 1, 4, 5 or 8. When using a ball machine, make sure you manage your balls properly and be respectful of the members who play next to your court. It's good practice to cause as little interference as possible so that the other members can enjoy playing as much as you enjoy hitting with your ball machine. One more thing: when booking a court for a ball machine session, select Ball Machine as Player 2.

 

Q: I prefer to play late in the evening or at night. Does the club have lights?

A: Yes, the club has lights. We turn the lights on at dusk, and then the lights switch off automatically around 10 p.m. But this might change, as we progress into the season. Please note that the club pays for the power bill, and we would like to have the lights on only for as long as necessary. This is also an environmentally-friendly practice that we apply to avoid lighting empty courts when nobody's playing. Also, the City of Ottawa has a say in the lighting schedule, as we don't have access to the power panel that controls the lights. Make sure you book a court when playing late. If no courts are booked, the lights are not turned on or they are switched off early.

 

Q: I'm new to the club. How do I meet people to play with?

A: You have multiple options. (1) Post a message to Player Connect. Log in to your club account (where you book your court space), and click Player Connect. Make sure you specify your playing level and availability. (2) Come to the Monday round-robin social. You'll get the chance to meet other club members, exchange contact info and plan a game. (3) Participate in club tournaments. They're also good opportunities to meet fellow members.

 

Q: Can I take tennis lessons at the Craig Henry Tennis Club?

A: Yes, our club has a team of great tennis pros: Sean Fowler and Horatio Loor. Check out their profiles on the LESSONS page, and contact them directly to arrange for tennis lessons.

 

Q: Are you offering any summer camps at the club?

A: Our coaches are working on the summer camp programming for this season. Please refer to the LESSONS page for current information. You might also consider enrolling your kids in group lessons with our tennis pros. For information about summer camps and lessons, contact our coaching team directly.

 

Q: Are racquet stringing services available at the club?

A: For details, see the Racquet stringing services page. However, this information may not be valid for the 2023 season. But we're working on it. So check back later.

 

Q: Can I bring a guest to the club?

A: We suspended our guest policy during the COVID time. We'll update this answer as soon as the board makes a decision for this season.