The primary role of our duty officers in the club is to help with the allocation of courts. During competitions and summer months there can be a high demand for courts. The duty officer is there to try and ensure that everyone gets on court.

They are also able to sell tennis balls and €5, €10 and €20 light cards. They do not have the facility to top up light cards, this can only be done from the machine in the committee room. Competition fees may also be paid to the duty officer - they have a pay list for each scheduled competition. All of this greatly helps the Captains so please don’t be shy next time!

Scheduled competition matches get court preference over social games of tennis. For competitions, eight of the eleven courts are allocated for matches per time slot. Oftentimes unplayed matches are rearranged and this can contribute to a backlog for courts during competitions.

Currently courts 10 and 11 are assigned for junior and junior/ senior usage after 6pm. If there is a queue for courts, they are to be vacated after one hour’s play. The remaining courts, 1-9, can be used to play an hour of singles or an hour and a half of doubles when there is a queue for courts. Competition matches are not subject to these time restrictions. There is a blue folder beside the public phone in the lobby where people can add their name to the list if waiting for a court. This list is used by the duty officer when organising courts.

Our club is run by volunteers and currently the duty officer role requires approximately two hours a night, once a month with present number. Understandably situations arise when people can no longer sustain this commitment and so new volunteers are always a welcome addition.  As the saying goes “the more the merrier”.

A big thank you to all volunteers who have co-operated and given their time and energy in the last twelve months. Your help and support is much appreciated by all and greatly contributes to the smooth running of the club.