Hello friends of Don Mills:
Excellent news to share with you! NYTA brought the bubble down much earlier than anticipated and last week, volunteers under the leadership of Grounds Director Scott Harrald, made great headway setting up the courts, wind screens and nets so we can have earlier access to play. You’ll get two extra weeks to your season. Thank you to all our volunteers! We are working on the final touches with the online booking system, Court Reserve that must be used, so we will be open to take bookings as of this Saturday April 17, 2021.
Please be aware and correct anyone who is misinformed that Don Mills Tennis Club is a “public” club. Don Mills Tennis Club is a City-Permit-operated club, supported by paying members. This means guidelines set by the City need to be followed, but the Permit also offers members a certain type of protection and added services that public courts do not. First and foremost, you get privileges for your membership as well as the volunteered time and services of a very dedicated and hardworking Executive Board who take the time and care to organize the club for all our members to enjoy. If you want the freedoms of a “public” court, please, feel free to use the many public courts available around the City of Toronto and enjoy its frustrations. If you are not yet a paid up and approved member of Don Mills, you are invited to register immediately at www.donmillstennisclub.com. Otherwise I’m sorry, you may not use the courts. It might seem that this doesn’t need to be said, but this Covid year, it does need to be said.
Answering some of your questions:
Despite the City’s stay-at-home order, outdoor tennis like golf, is exempt. We are allowed to open under certain conditions, even play Doubles tennis this year as compared to initially not being able to last year. We need to respect all the safety protocols of not loitering, keeping a safe distance, masking onto and off the premises and courts, no walk ons, sanitizing, and of course, staying away if you suspect you are contagious or have tested positive. At this time, we are not allowed social programming like our popular Kaffeeklatsch or BBQ Socials, and quite upsettingly, not even instructional coaching is allowed. When we are allowed to, we will definitely offer programming, in a safe manner. You may safely assume there will be no Kaffeeklatsch as long as there are lockdown rules, so at least not until mid May. Please be patient as we need to be, to keep abreast of the constantly changing rules, and adapt. Your Executive’s objective is, at the very minimum, to offer you safe, enjoyable, recreational tennis.
Because of Covid, our past programs might never look the same again. The easy club atmosphere of past years is not possible right now, but certainly, at least good exercise and basic tennis can be enjoyed, and a chance to see our friends in an outdoor setting. And many more of you have been vaccinated, so that is added protection on top of good hygiene habits.
We will operate the washrooms, entry is one at a time. You must don a facial mask before entering the washrooms. This is a mandatory bylaw. The clubhouse though, will be closed to members, as it is an indoor space which limits social distancing.
Your Court Reserve ID will be sent to you shortly if your registration has been approved as of this past Sunday. Please keep your ID handy and it is very easy to book your court times. If you are late registering or are doing so after this email, please give it two or three days to process through. We have day jobs which come first.
We are very excited about the coming season and look forward to seeing you on the courts!!
Angela Kooij and the Don Mills Tennis Club Executive