Q2: Why did you decide to join a tennis club? And why then?

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Think back to the time when you first joined TDLTC. Why did you decide to join a tennis club? And why then? Please tell us anything about your story that you think might help us.

A tennis holiday activated my interest in the game.

I had been on a club la santa holiday and was inspired to play tennis. I joined and had subsequent free lessons and then continued with paid lessons.

I have always been a member since joining as a junior.

Tennis has been good to me and I have always been a club member since 13 years age.

I joined to get fit.

Fitness
It was summer and it seemed like the healthy and social thing to do.

I joined because I was so taken by the location.

Great setting, grass courts surrounded by trees.

I wanted to take up tennis again.

I wanted to play tennis after a break of several years at a time when I found I had a little more time to spare.
I have been a member for 14 years. I decided to start playing tennis after a 10-year gap because my life was more settled i.e. I had a wife and young family. TDLTC appealed to me because of the grass courts and cosy bar.
I had had a long break from tennis to have a family and wanted to go back to playing regularly at a local club.

I wanted to meet local people.

I wanted to take up tennis again. I thought it would be a good way to get to know people locally.
To meet new people and enjoy the grass courts.
Mainly social reasons.
To play locally and meet people.

I was introduced by a friend.

I joined because I loved tennis. I was also encouraged by my boyfriend at the time who was also a member.
My brother was a member years ago and enjoyed his time at the club.
Encouraged to do so by fiends who were also juniors and by the then-coach, Cathy Birt. I like the social events, junior BBQs etc and the fact this it is an easy cycle ride from home.
Was introduced by an existing member. I was looking for a bigger club than the one where I was currently a member. I liked the idea of grass.

I joined with friends.

I joined because two of my friends were planning on joining so it gave me the confidence, knowing that I wasn't a very good player but they were of a similar standard.

The family wanted to take up the game.

The two kids were of an age to enjoy playing. My wife took it up for the first time. A number of other families locally decided to join as well.

I joined because the Club was so convenient for my children.

I joined when I moved to Thames Ditton. I am also a member of a club in Kingston where I still play most of my tennis. However I joined TDLTC so that I could play there with my son as the club is only one minute from our home. In reality I hardly ever use the club and as my son is no longer very interested in the game I may let my membership lapse this year.

I had recently moved into the area.

I had recently moved to Esher and neighbours brought me down to the club. I had played tennis regularly from school days.
I just moved to the area and have played tennis off and on since childhood.
I had moved recently to the area. I had been a member of a tennis club for the previous 25 years in various locations.
I was new to the area. Tennis is one thing myself and my husband have in common as a sport/hobby. We wanted to enjoy ourselves and meet people.
Always played since school. Joined when moved to Surrey.
To find people to play as I had just moved to the area.
My wife and I moved into the area last April. A friend, who is a long-term TDLTC member, recommended it.

My previous tennis club had just closed.

A sport I had been playing at another facility which closed, and had time when my children were a bit older. Wanted to do something the whole family could do as they grew up.

I joined because I was discontented with my previous tennis club.

I had joined another local club, been played in as a full member, then informed, after about a year, that the rules had changed, so I now could only play as a week-day member. I worked full-time and did not appreciate the unfriendly way this was handled. It quite put me off tennis clubs.
I was already a tennis club member and wanted more, and better tennis. I decided to move club.

I wanted something to do with my leisure time.

I knew a member of the club who introduced me. I wanted something to do during the summer.
I had more leisure time when my children started school and I had always enjoyed tennis.
My son was old enough for school and we had friends who were members.

My tutor encouraged me to play.

I joined as a student in 1954 or 1955 encouraged by Mr Kittelsen who was my tutor at the time, and who spent some time coaching me.

The coach attracted me to the Club.

Because my coach was there (Cathy Birt) plus its the closest club to me.
Attracted initially through strong junior programme including excellent coach.

I joined to play tennis more often.

To play tennis more often.

I joined to play Bridge.

I joined in 1989 on retirement as a social member only to play bridge. I had played tennis at The Wilton before 1975.

Other

I played tennis before I joined Thames Ditton, but decided not to join back in the 1980s because of the 'playing-in' system and the apparent pomposity of those who were in power. When the chips were down for the Club over the site, and before its Lottery funding was awarded, the Club was keen to have local support and got it. What better way of repaying that than by making TDLTC a truly open local all-year round facility by reducing the number of grass courts and introducing more all-weather/clay courts? I would join then as a playing member rather than simply as a parent whose offspring plays elsewhere (but in their case during any time but the summer).