GRASS COURT REOPENING - SATURDAY 4TH OCTOBER

It’s almost here and it’s going to be great! Last weekend’s beautiful weather was perfect for tennis and has paved the way for what’s shaping up to be a fantastic summer season.

Just like the grass ending its hibernation I’m looking forward to seeing all the non-hard-court players emerge from their cocoon and join us as we try to match (or beat!) last year’s roaring Opening Day success.

Social tennis will begin at 1pm and run until 4pm, with a short pause for a few formalities to mark the occasion. After that, you’re welcome to jump back on court or simply relax and enjoy some refreshments with your fellow members.

When you arrive, please see me or another committee member to collect your 2025/26 season membership card. If you’re a new member, you’ll also receive your Sportsman Club card don’t forget to pick them up!

Pennant captains, you can also collect your pennant balls from the Captain’s Office on the day.

After the formalities, we’ll be having a “bring a plate” to share so please bring along something delicious to contribute as we enjoy each other’s company and kick off the Scarborough season in style.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

Thank you to all the legends who have already renewed. We still have a few members yet to reach legendary status. If you are having trouble paying online, please speak to me for assistance. I can also help process your payment during the reopening, just give me a heads up beforehand.

During Opening Day and at future socials, any unpaid members who turn up will not have their name tag on the board and will be treated as a visitor until their membership is renewed.

If you have elected to play pennants, please remember that your fees must be paid before you can play any matches.

INTERNATIONAL RULES 2025 – SATURDAY 11th OCTOBER

With the grass court reopening just around the corner, it is time for one of our favourite events, International Rules 2025. And this year, we have a special twist.

We will be joined by guests from the Royal Bangkok Sports Club (RBSC), with players ranging in age from 23 to 82. I know Scarborough will give them the warmest welcome and show them how we do things down under.

We will still be running the classic Internationals vs Australians format.

However, there is a change from what was mentioned last month. Time to use plan B (and plan C, for Colourful Captain Conor, is in the back pocket just in case).

Our guests will be having lunch before the tournament and will arrive while we are already playing. This means Scarborough players will be split into Internationals and Australians based on where you and your parents were born. The RBSC players will also be split into Internationals and Australians and will slot into the draw when they arrive.

The tournament will be doubles format, with divisions assigned by the Captains Team. Each match earns points for your team:

• Win = 3 points

• Draw = 1 point

• Loss = 0 points

If it is a tie at the end, we will do a countback on total games won.

Schedule for the day:

• Arrive by 12:00 pm for check-in

• Info session at 12:15 pm

• Play starts at 12:30 pm and finishes around 4:30 pm

• Presentation and sausage sizzle at 5:00 pm

Our Bangkok visitors will be staying for the presentation and sausage sizzle, so even if you are not playing in the tournament, come down and say hi.

And let’s be honest, what is a Conor tournament without a bit of sparkle? I challenge you to step out of my shadow and bring your best outfit game. You have time to plan your look, so go bold, go bright, and maybe even steal the spotlight for Best Dressed.

SUMMER PENNANTS

Our Summer teams are locked in and ready to go. A big thank you in advance to all the team captains for their work this season (yes, I will be thanking myself twice). The divisions are out and it is looking like an exciting season ahead, full of great matchups and plenty of opportunities to shine on court.

Whether you are playing or cheering from the sidelines, there will be some awesome tennis to enjoy. Let’s bring the Scarborough spirit and make this a season to remember.

Here is the lineup:

• 1 Tuesday Twilight Ladies Division 2

• 2 Wednesday Ladies Divisions 3 and 4

• 3 Saturday Men Divisions 3, 6 and 11

• 1 Saturday Ladies Division 4

• 3 Sunday Men Divisions 2, 3 and 4

• 1 Sunday Ladies Division 1

• 1 Sunday Mixed Division 1

Important note for Sunday teams: This season, when your team is playing at home, you will be self-rostered for bar duty as a team. That means we will need multiple players with their RSA, so if you have not got yours yet, now is a great time to look into it. Let’s get ready for a summer of great tennis, good vibes and plenty of Scarborough pride.

INCLUSIVE SOCIAL  

As we return to the grass courts and welcome more visitors, including those attending coaching clinics, I want to remind everyone that social tennis is open to all.

It takes courage for new players to step onto the court, especially if they’re still building confidence. We all know that practice helps us improve, so I ask for your patience and encouragement when you see someone new joining in.

Let’s keep Scarborough welcoming and supportive. A friendly chat or a bit of understanding can make a big difference. Thanks legends. You’re what makes this club great.

SOCIAL RANKING

I’ve reviewed the social rankings and made a few changes. We’ve removed the half-points and moved to whole numbers, with rankings now ranging from 1 to 12. This gives us more flexibility and allows for better grouping across different skill levels.

There are a few reasons why this new structure is a great move:

• It creates more balanced matchups during social play, helping everyone enjoy their time on court.

• It gives newer players a clearer pathway to progress through the ranks.

• It helps us recognise improvement more consistently, especially for those who’ve been putting in the work.

• It makes it easier to organise tournaments, with clearer guidance on which graded event suits each player.

This updated system will come into effect with the grass court reopening, so you’ll see it in action from Opening Day onwards.

PLAY ON SOCIAL DAYS

With the grass courts back in action, I’m making a small rule change around court use during social hours.

Members are welcome to train during social times, even if you’re not joining the sets, as long as the courts you’re using aren’t needed for social or pennants. If they are, you’ll need to vacate the court no sneaky rallies while someone’s trying to serve for the set.

If the courts are free, go for it. Hit some balls, work on your backhand, or just pretend you’re warming up for Wimbledon. Alternatively, jump into social — you might meet someone new, have a laugh, and realise it’s actually pretty fun.

And don’t forget, the best part of social tennis often happens after the last point. Stick around for a drink, a snack, and a chat. You never know what stories you’ll hear or what snacks you’ll score.

SETS DUTY MANAGER

We are offering an exciting opportunity for the upcoming season a full complimentary membership to any member willing to take on the role of Sets Duty Manager.

This role involves you personally taking responsibility for organising all the sets on either Saturday or Sunday social tennis, for the calendared season (excluding tournaments and special events). The idea is to have the sets duty manager reliable and confident in opening up, which will help bring consistency to how sets are run.

The Sets Duty Manager will be trained if needed and will also be a friendly face to welcome visitors to the club.

If you're interested or have any questions, please contact me directly. I’d love to implement this ASAP

VAS BOOKING SYSTEM (FORMERLY "BOOK A COURT")

The new booking system is now live and has been running relatively smoothly over the last two weeks. A big thank you to everyone for your patience during installation and any teething issues (especially our coaching team!)

To book a court, simply:

1. Click the link on our website to access the booking page.

2. Log into your ClubSpark account (as a member, you already have one).

3. Select your day, time, and court.

4. Choose the length of time using the dropdown.

5. Hit continue and follow through to confirm your booking.

If your booking is after 6pm and requires floodlights, there’s a $10/hour charge for members. Once booked, you’ll receive a 4-digit access code. For example, if your code is 1234, enter 1234# on the keypad. You can access the court 15 minutes before your booking time.

Floodlights will automatically switch on when you enter your code and turn off 15 minutes after your session, giving you time to pack up.

Please, please, PLEASE close the gates when you leave the courts!

A quick reminder: yes, you do need to book a court. The system is open to the public, so if someone books a court and shows up while you're playing, they have priority. Booking is free for members during the day, so just jump online and lock in your spot.

If you want a court, Please book the court.

CONOR O’HARA
CLUB CAPTAIN

October Duty Roster