Buckingham Racquet Club Practices

1.      Please read the Rules and Regulations found in the Membership Book

2.      The Club is run by the members.  There is no paid staff.  Outside contractors are used to mow the grass, haul the garbage, and clean the clubhouse once a week.  Court maintenance is contracted by the Board as it is needed. The remainder of the work is done by the members.  This includes Spring Cleanup (the first Saturday in April) when large numbers of members turn out to remove winter debris, rake leaves, clean the courts, get the clubhouse in shape, and hang the wind screens.  Though much is to be accomplished many hands usually have the work completed by noon with members then playing tennis on their courts.  Fall Cleanup (the first Saturday in November) follows a reverse procedure.  All tournaments and other activities are chaired and run by members.

3.      Club House Security¾It is the obligation of every member to participate in the overall security of the club.  Court gates should be closed when leaving the courts.  The main door of the clubhouse is locked with an electronic keypad lock.  The locking combination 1234* is marked on a plaque directly above the keypad (the asterisk, or star, is part of the combination).  If the door has not been firmly closed it may still open after entering the locking combination. Check the door to see if it is locked; if it opens, close it firmly and try to open it again before you re-enter the combination.  If you are the last to leave the premises, it is your obligation to be sure all doors to the clubhouse are locked, not just the main door.  Interior lights should be turned off as well.  New members will be given the keypad combination to open the main door upon acceptance as members in the club.  But all members should be aware that this keypad combination may well be changed at the beginning of each season.  You will be notified if there is a change.

4.      Court Lighting¾The courts can be lighted until 11:00 pm.  At that hour a time clock will automatically extinguish the lights.  Prior to that hour court lights can be turned on with the breaker switches located in the sliding door closet directly opposite the main entrance.  A plan on the breaker panel shows the location of the courts and which switch controls which lights.  Be sure you use the correct switch, especially if turning the lights off.  It takes 10 minutes or so to reset if you inadvertently turn off the wrong lights.  If you are the last to vacate a set of courts, or the entire club, it is your responsibility to extinguish the appropriate court lighting. 

5.      Tournament Behavior¾ Tournament participants bring a new can of balls to each match with the winners keeping the unopened can.  The men's, women's and Labor Day Mixed Doubles tournaments are highly competitive events and the participants treat them that way.  However, several of our activities should be seen as more social in nature.  These events include the Memorial Day Mixed Doubles Tournament, The Century Tournament, and the Friday Night Round Robins.  With this social orientation, stronger players should be cautious regarding overpowering play¾Let's not drive the less competitive players away.  

6.      Tournament Food¾New members are often surprised at the hospitality provided by the Club.  All major tournament finals, as well as every day during the 3-day weekend events, the Club provides out of member's dues, hamburgers, hotdogs, beer, bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages.  But many members, new as well as old are not aware of the long established practice of members supplying other forms of food at these events.  Items such as salads, deserts, cheeses, etc. are brought to these events by those in attendance.  Chairpersons will be calling you to remind you of this opportunity for you to contribute to the overall success of the event.

7.      The End of Year Social¾Held after Labor Day, but by mid September, this is the only event in which a fee is charged.  It is a catered evening affair with a choice of entrée, a broader selection of beverages, music, dancing and tennis under the lights.  Despite the relative opulence of the affair, members still bring side dishes and deserts to share with other members.  It is a popular and enjoyable evening.  Invitations to all members are mailed in August.

8.      Clubhouse Telephone¾Outgoing calls are restricted to local calls allowed in the 794 calling zone. 

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