Since the fiscal year at LOW runs from May 1 to April 30 and the committee annual reports are due each year on August 1, this report will span activity in both fiscal years 2007 and 2008. Thus activity from August 1, 2007 to July 31, 2008 will be presented.

The Tennis Committee continued to focus its energy on three (3) major objectives this year:

Exercising for health & fun – healthy exercise, having fun, making friends (previous and new), and playing competitive and/or recreational tennis Promoting tennis per our charter – expanding participation, sponsoring round robins and socials, and encouraging the availability of lessons from our local PTR/USTA Professional Assisting the LOWA GM office and Maintenance in upgrading our facility.

Facility Upgrade:

Last fall, a contract was signed with Tennis Courts, Inc. to resurface Courts 5 & 6 using the funding provided in FY 2007 ($60K to resurface Cts 1, 2, 5 & 6 and replace the fence around 5 & 6). Courts 1 & 2 had been completed by Finley Asphalt & Sealing (for $32,810) in July 2007. Due to scheduling problems with TCI, the resurfacing of 5 & 6 was delayed until May 2008 (for $11,520). The fence around courts 5 & 6 still needs to be replaced since it is badly rusted and the net posts should be replaced (also rusted). [$60,000 – 32,810 – 11,520 = $ 15,670 available]

As of this report date, all 6 courts have now been resurfaced or reconstructed, thus upgrading our facility playing surfaces. We now have 6 blue playing surfaces with gray borders; 4 lighted hard surfaces for daytime and nighttime play and 2 unlighted cushioned courts for daylight hours. The FY 2008 operating budget included money to purchase another bench to complete the set of two per court (12 total) and also to purchase three color-coordinated awnings as a trial sample to spruce up facility appearance and provide shade. (An additional three awnings will be included in the FY 2009 operating budget to complete the facility.)

LOW once again has a very aesthetic tennis facility of which it can be proud (see the article and pictures in the July 18, 2008 Lake Currents.

The Tennis Committee and the LOW Maintenance Department continued to assist the spruce-up effort in a cooperative spirit. Flowers were added around the gazebo and pruning of and mulching around the flowers and shrubs was continued.

Tennis Income:

In FY 2007, the budget projected 120 member families at $50 for $6000. Actual member families were 103 for $5150 income. On April 30, however, $3165 was credited as income from the residual key refunds. (This was a result of the transition from a zero-cost amenity to a member family fee amenity in 2006.)

In FY 2008, the budget projected 100 member families at $60 for $6000. As of 7/21 actual member families were 87 for $5220 income.

Tennis Court Usage:

The regular playing groups mentioned in past annual reports continued this year with most groups expanding to larger numbers of players, probably due to increased publicity and newer, upgraded facilities. An increase was particularly noted in younger players - high school, teens and sub-teens. In addition, the USTA teams in the Fredericksburg league played their home matches and practiced here at LOW. The Teams were: Men’s 4.0, Men’s 3.5, Ladies 3.0, and Senior Men’s 4.0. LOW members of these teams included Dave & Pam Ryder, Jim Divelbiss, Mike & Alice Mote, Wilbert & Gloria Brown, Randy & Carolyn Beckham, Dave & Mary Amato, T.C. Moore, Joe Tucciarone and Ken Kaltenmark. The teams had various successes and a great time in the new outstanding facilities. (Refer to the Tennis Committee Annual Reports of August 20, 2005, July 28, 2006, and August 1, 2007)

Lessons provided by Ms. Billie O’Neil, our local USTA/PTR Professional, included: Free Children’s Clinic – 10 attendees Children’s lessons ( 5 sessions) – June/July – 13 Attendees Adult classes (5 sessions) – 5 Attendees Private lessons for several adult players in process.

LOW Church sponsored a children’s clinic as part of an athletic awareness program - 8 attendees – conducted by Ray Godfrey and Jim Divelbiss, volunteers from the Tennis Committee.

A high-school young lady (Orange HS) conducted clinics for children, ages 7 – 13 for three weeks as part of a Girl Scout Gold Award project with Tennis Committee encouragement.

The Usage/Sign-up campaign started in 2005 appears to have run out of gas. Both the Tennis Committee and the Maintenance personnel taking care of our courts noted that there seemed to be many more players this year and courts more often used, however, the usage signup sheets did not reflect this increase. There are often people waiting to get on the courts. Apparently some players sense the crisis is over and signup, annoying at best, is not necessary. This however is not true – usage signup remains a vital statistical need. The transition to magnetic swipe cards next year might alleviate this situation.

The usage sign-up sheets posted at the courts yielded the following data for the past several years: [Number of Players/Hours Played]

Month	2005	2006	2007	2008
May	361 / 242	340 / 174 *	267 / 130	273 / 135 *
June	592 / 346	433 / 251 *	506 / 238 *	737 / 259
July	487 / 275	475 / 236 *	454 / 200 *
August	456 / 282	542 / 262 *	357 / 179
Sept	489 / 286	340 / 184 *	305 / 166
Oct	246 / 171	232 / 127	229 / 116

* Two courts closed during these months for resurfacing/reconstruction

The remaining Tennis Socials for the season are:

August 9 September 13 October 18

The annual picnic will be held at the courts at Hollyfield Park on October 18 (Sweetbriar Pavilion in case of inclement weather).

The annual GM/BOD social is yet to be scheduled.

Other Tennis Activities :

The Tennis Committee elected to make only minor adjustment to the FY2009 operating budget from last year’s projection. The benches purchased in 2006, 2007 and 2008 seem to be holding up well and are sturdy enough that replacement should not be required for maybe 4 - 5 years. The awnings purchased in 2008 seem to function well and add an aesthetic touch to the facility so the cost for the other three to complete the courts was included in 2009 budget. In the future, court divider screens would add a nice feature and improve play. The plan is to keep the budget at a low level and add a few items each year to keep the facility at a First Class level.

The Tennis Committee provided cost estimates (ROM) for the resurfacing in 2011, 2012 and beyond for incorporation into the 5-year plan.