Photo Courtesy of Ross Lavigne

By Chris Brown

Serving up play

Tennis players hitting aces in return to play

Jun 2, 2020 | 4:48 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Local players are getting into the swing of things at the Medicine Hat Tennis Club, with the sport being one of the relatively few that can be played while respecting public health guidelines.

Manager Ken Clement said that on an average day about 25 to 30 people are playing at the club.

That’s down about 50 per cent from normal and the majority of members are still on the sidelines, but says that’s understandable given the situation.

Still, he and other club members feel fortunate that they can get out for some serve-and-volley time.

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Safety measures the club has instituted include closing off some courts, having people sign in and out, keeping the clubhouse closed and discouraging people from hanging around after they’ve played their match.

“That’s a bit hard on our members because this is a pretty social place and people are used to hanging around and rehashing the points after the match is done,” said Clement.

The club is also limiting play to singles tennis, something Clement sees a silver lining in and says people are making the best of.

“Singles you know minimizes the contact between people can play with different cans of balls if they choose,” said Clement. “I think people are enjoying the restriction in the sense that not everybody plays singles and to have to go out and hit the ball every once in a while as a singles player is good for you.”

Clement says the members who are playing are showing how a gradual reopening supposed to be done properly and that on the whole everybody is acting very responsibly.

Anyone can play on the tennis club courts, but the club asks non-members to contribute a $5 fee.

“We are a public club so anyone can play here but if you’re a keen tennis player I think it’s cheaper in the long run to take out a membership,” Clement said, adding there are public courts at the club as well.

This time of year the club would normally be preparing for its biggest event of the year – the Barrie Shave Tennis Classic – which is a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society and the club itself.

Clement said public health restrictions mean it’s not in the cards this year and but hopes to bring it back in 2021. They’ve sent an email to members suggesting they donate to the Medicine Hat & District Food Bank as a way to support COVID relief efforts.

Other tournaments this summer are likely to be cancelled as well. Clement said the club will be meeting with the city next week and hope to see some restrictions lifted soon to allow some tournaments later in the season to go ahead.