Big News Day - Please Read!!

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January 11, 2021

Make Sure You Read All the Way to the End of This Email for Information on a $100 Dues Discount on Your Membership!

Parking Lot Break-In

Do Not Leave Valuables Within Sight

Sadly, we had a parking lot car break-in two weeks ago. This occurred in broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon. Tennis players were on Court 8 so the parking lot was very visible. This speaks to the brazenness of the crooks. We have dealt with this before - The Felony Lane Gang targets parking lots and tends to repeat their assaults; target facilities are shared amongst the network of crooks. Pools and recreational facilities are prime targets because attendees frequently lock their purses and other valuables in the car, often on a seat or other space that is visible through the window. We contacted the police, of course, but the best way to avoid victimization is to put purses and other valuables out of sight - in the trunk, under seats, etc.

Tennis Rules - An Exciting Read

The Tennis Committee has reviewed and revised our Tennis Rules. They can be read in their entirety here:

Tennis Rules - revised 2020

Enjoy Your Retirement, Tommy!

Welcome to Mike Breitenstein!

We are thrilled AND saddened that Tommy Rayfield has retired as our Court Maintenance Employee. He has worked tirelessly and excellently to ensure that Murraywood has the best clay courts in town. He has always given more and better. We sure hope he gets to enjoy the courts recreationally more now. We love you, Tommy!!

Effective January 1, 2021, Mike Breitenstein has taken over as Court Maintenance Employee after training with Tommy. Mike is a recent transplant from Pennsylvania, who has two daughters enrolled in school here (one at USC, the other at Irmo High School). Mike is an energetic, highly skilled individual who owns and operates a residential landscaping company. Make sure you say hi if you see him!

Best and Recommended Practices for Tennis

Common sense and courtesy should govern our court usage. We do not have (or wish to have) strict enforcement of recommended practices. It is our sincere hope these recommendations will be followed when possible to enhance the use and enjoyment of the courts by all members.

When reserving courts in the mornings, please try to book at either 9:00am or 11:00am so that two bookings per morning can be facilitated on each court. Booking at 10:00am, especially when it is so cold, typically limits logical court use to one per morning (i.e., no one wants to come out at 8:00am). If the day before your booking arrives and no one has taken the 11am spot, then it is logical to change your reservation to 10:00am since interest in additional bookings on that court has not materialized.
Consecutive or back to back advance bookings are frowned upon. This has occurred when a player or players think they will want or need more than the allocated two hours. One member books a slot and ANOTHER member playing on the court additionally books the slot right after, essentially tying up the courts for 3 or more hours. Be mindful that some other facilities in our area only allocate 1-1/2 hours per booking so we really have it pretty good!
Having a standing court date with non-members is not really the spirit or goal or our Club. When possible, members should seek out non-members to complete courts that cannot get enough members, or to extend an occasional courtesy, especially to someone who might join. We have had members resign from the Club stating that "it's cheaper to play as a non-member." When we seek out non-member more than members, we are subsidizing the play of those folks, and if dues must increase to ensure operations, the non-member won't be paying - the member will! The guest policy is geared to maximize play for members when other members are not available. And we do understand that the limited numbers of players at the higher ratings mean that those folks need to import competition more often, or they wouldn't be able to play.
Common sense and courtesy - always the best answer.

Annual General Membership Meeting

Sunday, February 28, 2021

2:00 p.m. in the Murraywood Parking Lot

Attendees Entered into Drawing for $100 Dues Discount!!!

Every year we gather to approve the slate of new officers and the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Compelling as that agenda sounds, we frequently struggle to reach a quorum which is 10% of our membership roster, usually around 35 representatives (only 1 family member per membership counts towards the quorum).

Last year, Social Chair, Doni Jordan, had the brilliant idea to turn the event into a social occasion. And it turns out that you guys like alcohol and parties! First year EVER where we didn't need to call folks to get them to attend.

And then, COVID got involved. So a party is out. But, we speculate, everyone loves a bargain! Something on sale! Deep discounts! So we have decided to entice you to attend by offering $100 off dues renewal to one lucky family via a drawing at the end of the meeting. Mark your calendars!

Masks and social distancing will be enforced! Chairs will spaced 6' apart and you may only break this distance with members of your pod!

THIS IS A RAIN OR SHINE EVENT!!

Murraywood Swim & Racquet Club | [email protected] | www.murraywoodswimandracquet.org

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