Court now in session, but some stay away
Quaker Park Tennis Club sees membership fall amid fears over virus
Quaker Park Tennis Club hopes to reverse an early season decline in membership.
The club opened June 1, a month later than normal because of the COVID-19 pandemic and many of its older members — 70 per cent are aged 60 and up — haven’t returned.
Club president Forge Hamu said membership is 138 down from 220 in 2019. As one of the few recreational activities allowed in phase one of Ontario’s reopening plan, he hopes people looking to stay active will consider tennis.
“I know the Bonnerworth courts are packed. People are hard-pressed to get a court,” Hamu said.
“You drive there and you take a chance that a court is available. What we have had is, from what I can see, is we’ve had a lot of new members. It’s a lot of the older folks who would have joined who haven’t joined that we’ve dropped.
“The delayed start discouraged some members.”
The cost of an annual membership is $425 but there are several cost-saving incentives aimed at new members. Under the family plan if an adult registers their children can play for free.
The sponsorship program allows new members to sign up for half-price if sponsored by an existing member. The new member will get 25 per cent off in year two before paying full fees in year three.
“We are trying to attract new people in various ways,” Hamu said.
There are restrictions in place because of COVID-19.
“We can’t have people standing at the clubhouse and milling around waiting for their court to open up,” Hamu said.
“There is a 15-minute gap between courts so there is enough time for the people on the courts to clear the area for new people coming on.”
The clubhouse is closed except for use of the washroom facilities. The club has also cancelled all its tournaments, social events and children’s summer camps for 2020.
“Our lessons are being reconfigured,” he said.
“Instead of having eight to 10 people we’re cutting the time down and instead of having two hours, we now have a one hour lesson with four people on the court and a coach, which is the maximum we can have.”
Normally they would put 150 children through camps from June through August. Instead, Hamu said, the board is going to discuss the possibility of running children’s programs in smaller groups. They have to determine if there will be enough court availability to accommodate it.
“We derive a chunk of income from our summer camps,” Hamu
said.
“We anticipated that would go but we are probably going to start looking at how we could provide the same kind of approach we had to the kids lessons that we are currently doing for the adults. Four kids on a court with a coach is the same as four adults and a coach.
“If we can do something I’m sure parents are going nuts right now trying to figure out what to do with their kids throughout the summer especially those who have attended the camps.”
The club has one full-time employee and five part-time. Wages are the club’s biggest expense and with the club closed in May it has saved on some of those expenses.
That is going to help the club pull through the financial challenges along with a $40,000 loan as part of the federal government’s stimulus package.
“We are going to feel it but it’s not a non-recoverable situation,” Hamu said.
“Even without a higher membership this year and even with a deficit over the next year or two we will be fine. We will be able to pay off the debt or whatever impact we have this year.”
Membership information can be found at quakerparktennis.ca or call 705-743-7099.