Lots of information here. Hope you enjoy this issue of LOve the Game, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Lisa West
lwest@ci.oswego.or.us
503-697-2832 direct
503-635-5550 front desk
Winter/Spring Registration
Registration for Winter/Spring will open for Lake Oswego Residents on Monday, December 5 at 10am, and it opens for everyone on December 12 at 10am. One of the most common misconceptions about Winter/Spring is that there are two separate registration dates for Winter and Spring. That is not true. On either December 5 or December 12, you'll be able to register for any class in the Winter/Spring catalog.
Many people want to sign up for Winter classes, and then make a decision later about Spring. That's understandable, but be aware that our classes fill up fast and you may not be able to get a spot if you wait. If you sign up for Spring and it turns out that it won't work for you, you can cancel the class at least five business days before it starts and receive a full credit on your account, or a refund minus a $5 fee.
Holiday Hours
The Tennis Center is open every day of the year from 6am-10pm. And because we always get these questions: yes, that includes Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mother's Day, and your birthday. However,
the office isn't staffed on major holidays, including the ones we have coming up like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Because of the way the holidays fall this year, and because we want our staff to have some time with their families, the office will be closed on the following days:
Thursday, November 24 (Thanksgiving)
Friday, November 25 (Day after Thanksgiving, City holiday)
Saturday, December 24 (Christmas Eve)
Sunday, December 25 (Christmas Day)
Monday, December 26 (Christmas Day observed, City holiday)
We'll let you know about January holidays in the next issue. These dates only apply to office staff. If you have a regular lesson with a pro, it's a good idea to check with them regarding their holiday schedule.
If you have a court reserved on any of these days, including a seasonal reservation, City League practice, etc., you will need a card key (see below) to access the building, because the door will be locked.
Card Keys
You can purchase a card key (they technically aren't cards anymore, but the name stuck) at the office (or by phone, and we will mail you the key) for $10 for a year, or $30 for four years. There is still some confusion about how the dates on the keys work: since we have gone to our new system and the smaller key fob, the keys are good for one year from the date of purchase (or four years, if you go with that option). We don't use the old September-May term anymore.
Access to your reserved court is your responsibility. We know how important your court time is to you, so we recommend that at least one person in your group, on your team, etc. have a card key, even if you play during a time when the office is normally open. There might be holiday closures and, although we certainly always expect the door to be unlocked during normal office hours, it's not an absolute guarantee. We have a small staff and some of us go to school and/or have other jobs, so if someone is sick, has an emergency, or can't get here because of weather, we may not always have someone to fill in. We absolutely will do our best to have someone here, but there may be times when that just isn't possible and the door is locked. If you have a card key, this won't disrupt your scheduled play.
Women's City League
Our women's City League teams are looking for a few players from the 2.5-3.5 level. If you're interested, please email president@lotccityleague.org for more information.
Seasonal (Lottery) Courts
If you have a seasonal court, the last day of the first half is Wednesday, January 18, 2017. We will be renewing courts for the second half on December 15. If you want to renew, you don't need to do anything, and we will charge the second half to the same card we used for the first half. If you don't want to renew, please let us know before December 15. We will send a reminder email to seasonal holders. And because this is a very common question: The second half runs from January 19-May 31.
If you don't currently have a seasonal court, and you're interested in buying one for the second half, we will know what's available after December 15. Just give us a call at 503-635-5550 and we'll see if we can find something for you.
USTA League Play
The deadline for teams in the 18+ USTA league (men's or women's, not mixed) is December 7. We still have room for a few more teams, but expect those slots to be filled before the deadline. If you're thinking about captaining a team this year, contact us at 503-635-5550. You don't need any experience to be a captain--just a willingness to take it on, and enough people to make it work.
We get a lot of questions about playing USTA and how it works, so here are some basic answers. Captains organize their own teams, so the best way to get on a team is to ask around (or at the front desk) to find our who's captaining at your level. If you know that person or someone who will put you in touch with them, you can contact them to find out if they have openings on their team. This is probably the most efficient way to go about it. Otherwise, you can call the front desk and let us know you're interested in playing. We will ask you for some information, like your level, your contact info, and your age (don't be offended by this; some leagues are for certain age ranges like 40+ or 65+, and we want to keep you in mind for as many opportunities as you're eligible for). Then, if a captain comes to us looking for a player, and it looks like you're a fit, we'll pass your info along to them.
The cost for USTA play is basically the cost of a USTA membership, if you don't have on, plus the cost of registering for the team, which also goes to the USTA. Your team also pays for the court time for your home matches. Your captain decides how that will be split up, but generally you could expect to pay around $40 for the season.
That's it for this issue. Happy Thanksgiving!
