Tennis Rules

All private, semi-private, and group lessons are taught exclusively by the pro staff of the Racquet Club of Ann Arbor. Non members may participate in lessons and classes only if they are a guest of a member. Tennis instructors who are not part of the Racquet Club pro staff may not teach lessons at The Racquet Club.

Reservations may be made no sooner than 6 days in advance for weekday reservations, and no sooner than 3 days in advance for weekend and holiday reservations. Reservations can be made here. Please register all members who will use the court. Member Services staff can also take in-person reservations. Members and guests must check in at Member Services prior to using the courts.  Members must sign up for a court once the clay courts open through Labor Day.

Courts can be reserved for up to 1.5 hours of singles play or 2 hours of doubles play daily.

Tennis Pros have the right to reserve courts in advance for clinics and lessons.

Court 8 is Dean’s court, and may not be reserved at any time.

Clay courts are open from 8:00am to dusk.  Do not hop fence if the gates are locked.  The clay courts are closed for maintenance daily from 7:00 am to 8:00am and from 1:30pm to 3:00pm.  Maintenance reserves the right to close the courts for repairs or additional maintenance on any court that does not have a reservation.

A 24-hour notice must be given at the Member Services for a court cancellation.  A fine will be charged to any member who fails to cancel a court reservation.  The fine is $3.00 for the first occurrence and $6.00 for each subsequent occurrence.  When a membership accumulates a total of three (3) “no-shows”, they forfeit the privilege of making court reservations for two (2) weeks.

If a reserved court is not occupied fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled starting time, the court will be assigned for the remainder of that time period to waiting players on a first-come, first-serve basis.

To keep proper pro to player rations, members should register for Spring and Summer clinics at least one week in advance. You can register by contacting Member Services via email, phone, or in person.

Cancellations must be made by 9:00am the morning of the class to avoid paying for the clinic.  Notice must be given to Member Services to cancel a lesson, or that member will be charged for the lesson and Pro’s time.

If a clinic is entirely cancelled due to rain, members will not be charged.  If a clinic is underway and it rains enough to stop play, members will be charged proportionately or clinic will be rescheduled.

If an illness prevents a member from attending a clinic or a lesson, it must be reported to Member Services prior to start time.

Members may reserve the ball machine to be used on Court 2. The fee for the use of the ball machine $15 per hour. Members will receive the remote, key for the shed, and instructions for use upon checking in with Member Services staff. The member must pick up all tennis balls and return the balls, tennis ball machine and wrapped cord to the tennis building and return the remote control to the Member Services staff.

Young children may not be courtside while parents play tennis.

The back board can be used by no more than three (3) players at one time.  If others are waiting, practice must be limited to fifteen (15) minutes.

Adult tournaments are reserved for those 19 and above.

Non-member groups and school teams may not use the club courts at any time, including before May 15th and after Labor Day.  All outside requests for court use from groups must be petitioned to the Board of Directors 30 days prior to the event.

You must be fifteen (15) years or older to play on the Clay courts.  The Tennis Pros or the Club Manager can grant special permission.

Racquet Club staff and Tennis Pros will enforce all Tennis Rules.

Tennis pro’s may remove youth from clinics if behavior is disruptive.

Players must wear appropriate tennis attire including proper tennis shoes (no sandals) with non-marking soles.  Shirts must be worn at all times. Playing in swimwear is not permitted.

Please do not walk across another court that is occupied.  If it is necessary to cross an occupied court, do so only when play is stopped.

Please return stray balls to neighboring courts as soon as points on both courts are completed.

Please leave your court promptly when reserved time has expired and others are waiting to play.

Please refrain from disruptive behavior, such as racquet throwing, yelling, cursing, and ball smashing.

All Demo Racquets must be signed out and returned to Member Services.  Racquets may not be signed out one hour before the club closes.  Any damaged or non-returned demo racquet will be charged to the member at full replacement value.