Tennis Rules

MGC Tennis Director

Kelly Karlson - 2024/25

The Meadowgrove Swim & Racquet Club (MDC) tennis courts are for the exclusive use of all active (and in good standing) Club Members and their guests.

To provide a pleasant tennis experience for all Club Members, the following guidelines have been adopted:

OPENING & CLOSING DATES:

The tennis courts are open year-round; however, Atlanta Lawn Tennis Associations (ALTA) women's and men's tennis teams have priority over using Courts 3 & 4 (1) during ALTA and USTA seasons.

SAFETY:

Glass is not allowed within the fenced area, and no wheeled vehicles of any kind are permitted inside the fenced area. This includes, but is not limited to, roller blades, skates, bicycles, motorcycles, skateboards, scooters, children’s rides on toys, wagons, and strollers. Club Members are responsible for ensuring the security of tennis court gates and the tennis hut door.

HEALTH: Please assist in keeping the area clean and free of debris such as cigarette butts, cans and paper products.

ATTIRE: White soled tennis shoes are required on the tennis courts. Black soles mark and damage the playing surface.

TENNIS ETIQUETTE: Players must observe proper tennis etiquette. Abusing language, physical threats, and physical force will not be tolerated.

PARKING: Parking is prohibited by the club house.

ACCIDENTS: Tennis court related injuries will be immediately reported to the MG Tennis Court Director. (Of course, if someone is seriously injured call 911, but please also have an email sent to the tennis director and MG board at – Please include “Accident-Tennis” in the subject line)

GUEST USE: Club Members' guests are welcome. At least one Member must be present on the tennis courts when a guest is playing. Meadowgrove/Stratford/Hyde Park residents who are not active MGC Members are  NOT ALLOWED using MGC tennis courts. HOA membership does not apply to club membership; these two are separate entities.

All guests must play on the same court as their host members. The only exception to this is usage by approved Non-Member “Practice Teams and/or League Teams,” which should be set up by a Tennis court Administrator.

The same person can come as a guest with a Club member to use MG Club for fun, and no paid guests 10x a year. (does not apply to teams and groups)

LIGHTS: The overhead lights can be utilized at the discretion of any player. The last player remaining on the courts is responsible for turning off the lights before exiting the tennis gate. The lights are on 2 hour timers.

PERSONAL PROPERTY: MGC will not be responsible for the loss or damage of personal property. Items left in the tennis area will be stored in the tennis hut. Items left over thirty (30) days will be discarded.

COURT DAMAGE: Damage to the tennis courts, facilities, or property will be charged to the responsible Club Member. Video recording is active on all four courts.

PETS: Pets are not allowed within the fenced tennis courts.

MEMBER PLAY: Tennis courts may be reserved for a maximum of two (2) hours. Only one court may be reserved at a time per member (exception: paid team practice), no back-to-back reservations by the same member.

RESERVATIONS: Reservations must be made via reservemycourt.com (RMC). A printed confirmation or a smartphone with RMC access will assure you of a court. This is the sole source for resolving conflicts. Please be on time for your reservation. There will be a 15-minute grace period after the start of the reservation. Another player can then reserve the court.

Sign-up duration is 2 hours or less, except for scheduled league matches. League matches may retain the signed-up court until the league match is completed.
Family counts as one member. (Family membership, even if you have two different names on the file, cannot book two courts at the same time)

Members who are found to reserve courts or practice “blocking” courts with numerous reservations and not use or cancel them will be warned when first observed. Then reservation privileges will be removed for a month if this continues.

LEAGUE/SEASON/TEAM/GROUP PLAY:

• All organized teams must have at least one current MGC member in good standing. The MGC member of that team/Group is responsible for reserving court time or contacting the tennis director for all practices and matches and paying the team's non-member fees.

• Teams playing and/or practicing at MGC must have a current “Team Registration/Contract” on file with the club.

• Before the start of any league play, lessons, and practices, the team/group coordinator must submit the team roster and all non-member player fees to

the MGC Board of Directors/Tennis Director. Make checks payable to

“Meadowgrove Club”. Or use zelle.
■ Each non-member player listed on a MGC-based team roster/Group is

required to pay $35 fee for duration of season (about 10 weeks)
Terms of a “season” are defined as follows: league, per season, per team.

●  Spring Alta Sunday

●  Spring Alta Thursday

●  Fall Alta Thursday

●  Fall Alta Sunday

●  Mix Summer

●  Mix Winter

●  Summer USTA - W or M

●  Winter USTA - W or M

The 10-week Season can start up to one week before the season starts.

• Failure to pay all of the non-member fees for the team will result in suspension of the team from further play until paid in full. An exception to this rule will be granted for the inclusion of a “ghost player” placed on a team roster for the exclusive purpose of bringing the team to full strength. In this case, no fee will be due for the “ghost player” unless and until that player participates on the ALTA/USTA team (whether in practice and/or games). The MGC team captain/coordinator/Coach cannot be a “ghost” player.

• Teams may reserve up to 3 courts for match play with the 4th court remaining available for walk-up member play. League matches may retain the signed-up court until the league match is completed.

• After any team/Group activity, the courts, and facilities must be returned to their original condition, including disposal of trash, and transporting all trash from the court receptacles and placing all waste in the appropriate trash containers near the white fence.Trash liner bags are located in the storage bin by the light switches. (code 76003), turning off lights, and securing all gates/doors. Failure to do so could result in nominal fines or if excessive, suspension of play. (Please help keep our facilities clean and secure)

• Non-members who participate on a Meadowgrove League Team or Practice Group are entitled to participate in one scheduled practice per week (two courts) and home matches. If your group has no matches in a season, you can have a block for one round robin event.

  You are welcome to forfeit the second court if you wish, but many times, that court is unplayable since lessons are going on, which is why there is a block of two courts next to each other. No blocking of courts for more than 2 hours is allowed. If you need to change anything, please talk to the admin or tennis coordinator..

• Non-members are NOT permitted to use the courts at other times outside of scheduled team practices, matches, or rainout match times.

• Non-member team players may use the MGC courts only for organized team lessons, practices, and matches.

• A MGC member is not allowed to bring teammates to play tennis on a regular basis. Guest policy applies to all non-members.

• No team practice is allowed year round. You can switch to a Group for another 10 week court time.

• In the event that a member fails to comply with MGC League/Season/Team Play rules, the MGC board will address the issue with action deemed necessary, which may include imposing fines, limiting ability to reserve courts, or prohibiting the member from playing on MGC courts.

PICKLEBALL:

Pickleball can be played on Court #2, where the lines are painted. DO NOT lower the net strap, though, as they are hard to adjust back and forth. Also, please do not leave tape/temp nets on the courts, or they will be removed.

SOCIAL FUNCTION PLAY:

Club Members wishing to utilize more than one (1) court for social functions may do so by (first) obtaining approval of the MGC Tennis Court Director and paying $25 per court for a maximum of three (3) hours usage. MGC reserves the right to discontinue this practice at any time. The Club Member is responsible for returning the area to a clean, debris-free condition, and transporting all trash from the court receptacles and placing all waste in the appropriate trash containers near a white fence.

SUGGESTIONS/COMPLAINTS:

Please direct all comments to the MGC Tennis Court Director who will confer with the Board of Directors for resolution.

TENNIS COURT MANAGEMENT:

Rules and guidelines are provided by the MGC Tennis Court Director on behalf of the MGC Board of Directors and are subject to change.

Thank you on behalf of all our Club Members for your efforts in making the use of our