Welcome to the 2025 tennis year which begins on 1st April
Hayes Tennis Club
A lot of work has gone into improvements to courts and outside facilities in 2024 including the replacement of floodlights on courts 2 and 3. Similar work is planned on Court 1 once adequate funds can be made available. There has also been regular work to remove the moss on all courts enabling a better playing surface for the enjoyment of all players. In addition the external court surround netting has been improved by the use of restraining wires and on the courts themselves new nets have been installed as required.
Inside the clubhouse in the bar area we can enjoy a post tennis drink and chat, and also watch Sky Sports on two large screens. The interior of the clubhouse will soon be greatly improved by the renovation of the lounge and bar area. Members also benefit from an extended outside patio area, some of which is covered.
Our award winning coach, Dennis Saunders, ably assisted by his son, Luke, continues to increase the range of activities for both junior and senior members, and is instrumental in raising the standard of play throughout the club. Dennis has organised and run many tournaments during the last twelve months, and the response to his efforts has been most welcome as all players (and especially juniors) continue to improve and enjoy their tennis even more. Luke is also a great asset to the club, he received the Kent LTA presidents award for outstanding service to tennis coaching in February 2025. Dennis will continue to offer discounts to current club members, and expand the coaching activities to accommodate any members’ coaching requests e.g. cardio tennis, tennis fitness training sessions, team coaching, tennis shot clinics etc. Please give Dennis feedback, and feel free to ask about anything tennis and he can set it up. Please contact Dennis on his mobile 07951 672442 and/or by email at denandjo@sky.com
Our membership fees for this year have either been increased only slightly, or not at all, as we continue to try and attract new members. Our rate for new adult members is £169 up to the start of the next tennis year in April 2026. We always waive any initial court fees for non members who give us a try and then join.
We offer regular turn up and play sessions for all senior members on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and Sunday mornings throughout the summer. The Tuesday evening session is new for 2025. It is an intermediate social play session , open to all players wishing to improve skills and build towards future club competitive level play. It is a fun session to encourage club integration with a light hearted competitive element open to all. Dennis runs similar sessions for the juniors. There are always opportunities to represent the club in matches, home and away, against other clubs throughout Kent. Men's, Ladies and Mixed matches in the Kent and North Kent leagues take place throughout the summer on weekday mornings, weekday evenings, and weekends.
We had a lot of success in Winter league tennis in 2024/5. The Men's 2 won in NK Division 6 league. Our midweek mixed vets gained promotion to NK Division 1, the ladies NK league team got promoted out of Division 3, and the Men's over 60's, gained promotion to Kent League Division 2. The one disappointment was the relegation of the Men's Vets team to Kent league division 4. A fantastic performance over the Winter for Hayes Tennis Club.
Use of floodlight play has also increased over the last year, partly via coaching sessions run by Dennis, and also via social play in the evenings. We would like to continue to increase floodlight play, especially after the improvements to the floodlights themselves have been made. Playing under lights costs just £6 per hour per court.
We will continue to hold social events in the clubhouse and encourage members and friends to join us. The first of these will be on Friday April 12th, which will be a quiz evening with bring your own nibbles. Members are reminded that the Hall can be hired for private functions at very competitive rates
All members will continue to be contacted via email and WhatsApp to inform of planned social events and tournaments, as well as this information being available on the club website, and on the club’s 'Hayes Tennis Club players’ news page on Facebook etc.
Facilities for members are as follows:
Finally, we always welcome new members, regardless of playing standard. If you are interested, make contact via Dennis Saunders or the membership secretary, Felicity Crowther, at felicitycrowther@yahoo.com
Member Feedback:
John Penruddocke
Ever since becoming a member, everyone has been extremely welcoming and friendly to all my family. There is a great combination of social and competitive tennis on offer. We are also very lucky to have the services of Dennis to offer great coaching on both an individual and group basis.
Helen Rowan
I have become a new member of Hayes Tennis Club this winter. I was looking for a social club which had plenty of opportunities to play tennis during the winter season, and they have not disappointed.
I was able to play three sessions with no obligation to join and then given a new members discount when I signed up for the winter season. I have been made welcome by all of the members, which makes it no surprise that they were awarded “North Kent club of the Year” in 2018. It is always daunting when starting at a new club in getting to know people, but there were numerous sessions I could take part in, morning and evening, midweek and weekend, (flood-lighting available on three of their courts) and of course as you get to know the members, you find yourself included in extra social 4’s.
I enjoy playing competitively, and to date have played in both the North Kent League and the Kent League for the club, but even if I hadn’t, there was ample opportunity to just participate in friendly competitive social play. What I have been most impressed with is the ease with which all different age groups play together, and the respect they hold for each other.
Will I be staying for the summer season?
I actually can’t wait for it to start. From hearing what the other members say, I know it is a busy time of year with many different events, both tennis and social. I wholeheartedly recommend that you get your racket out this summer and come and give Hayes Tennis Club a try. You have absolutely nothing to lose and the friendship of a great crowd to gain.