Exciting news that we will hold an OPEN DAY FOR THE CLUB (the first since Court 5 was built!) on SATURDAY 20 APRIL. We're looking forward to giving existing members a chance to mingle and try out new tennis moves, while also welcoming the broader community into our Club. Please save the date and watch out for further communications regarding the event - it would be great to see lots of you there.
Emma Pattison
Club Chair
new men's captain!
I'm delighted to tell you that Paul Flintoff has taken the role of Men's Captain, and will start bossing the men's league teams for the summer season! Paul will join the Committee immediately and we're looking forward to experiencing his new ideas and fresh thinking...in addition to his wicked top spin!!
new lta level 2 accredited coach
Fantastic news that Katie Barry has just received her LTA Level 2 coaching accreditation - no mean feat given the LTA has recently changed the way this accrediation is assessed. I know Katie worked incredibly hard to gain the badge - it will be fabulous to see her taking a bigger role in the coaching team...once her exams are over!
Recognition also to Ben Tilling for the coaching mentoring scheme - Katie is the latest in a long list of coaches who have benefited from Ben's programme. Long may it continue!
promoting our club
It's amazing all the different tennis that goes on at Backwell Tennis Club...from coaching, to junior league, to social tennis mornings, family hits, winter rotas, Sunday fours, singles with friends, club play...the list goes on and on. So to celebrate all our tennis and to help promote the club, we want to collect photos of all of you enjoying the tennis you choose to play.
Throughout March, and under the banner 'We Are Our Club', we're asking you to take a photo whenever you play, and send it to
Photos will be shared internally and externally - via our website and social media platforms for the purpose of marketing the club. Anyone not wishing to appear in photos may of course opt out. All photos must meet the standards set out in our Photography Policy (available on our website).
Via the 'Have Your Say' survey last November, you told us that there are many things in the club you feel really positive about but also helped by giving us feedback on things you think could improve the club further. Key things on your mind were:
- To update the playing surface of Courts 1 & 2 to Astro-Turf - as previously communicated the courts will be relaid in August 2024
- To refresh the Clubhouse and make if a more comfortable space
- To continue strengthening our links with the community around us, and to build a strong community within the Club by enjoying the social benefits of tennis
- To keep encouraging our juniors to love their tennis by finding even more opportunities for them to play and develop
- To retain what's great about our current Club Play but also find ways to encourage more members into those sessions
A refurbishment of the Clubhouse has been added to our list of development projects and will be scheduled according to available club funds and volunteer time. If anyone has a passion to be involved in this project then please contact me on
Our Open Day on 20 April will be a great opportunity to enjoy some social time as well as tennis time, and to engage with the local community. We will share more details soon, as well as indicating where we will need volunteers to help out. Please support the event if you can.
We're reflecting on everything else raised in the survey - to be built into a three year development plan for the club which will be shared with you in due course. We're open to all new ideas and largely limited only by our volunteer time so if there are changes you have energy for take the lead to make them happen!
Drop Shots...
Road to Wimbledon returns to Backwell on 2 April 12-5pm!! It's a fabulous events for our juniors - watch out for further comms...
We're still looking for volunteers to organise a Club Tournament for 2024. We're open to changes if you'd like a different format of event - get involved to put your spin on it! Volunteers can contact us on
A reminder that winter rotas end in March and evening Club Play will recommence from 1 April - details of all club play sessions are on our website
Easter Tennis Camps will run on 2-5 April (Mini Tennis - ages 4-9 - 9am to 10.30am)(All Abilities - ages 9-15 - 10.30am to 12pm)
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