The Gardens Lawn Tennis Club, Southfields - Court Refurbishment News

Week 9 & 10

WE HAVE GRASS!

No we are not entering the narcotics trade to subside the refurbishment! All 4 courts are now back up and running. The sand is bedding down nicely with the constant use they got on Bank Holiday Monday. Everyone who has used them have had nothing but praise for the way they play.

During the course of this week the fences will be repaired and re-secured, the gates re-instated, all remaining debris cleared and the windbreaks erected. Also the re-decoration to the exterior of the clubhouse will be completed. Those of you with a horticultural bent may also wish to know that the barbeque area has now been replanted. I'm assured that the manure smell will receed in time!

Don't forget the Open Day on 30th May followed by the first social event of the season, for which there are still some tickets remaining.

All that remains to be said is thank you all of you for your patience over the last 10 weeks and also thanks to all those who have participated in this project, especially Brian.

Come on down and enjoy.

Week 8

Whilst awaiting delivery of the artificial turf work continues to tidy up court surrounds. The decking has been cleaned and the overhanging branches on the drive have been cut back.

The turf arrives this week and will, all being well, be complete by the end of the week. Also during the latter part of this week and early next week the exterior of the club will be cleaned and repainted.

Don't forget the Wimbledon ticket ballot is being held this Friday, 22nd May. This will also be a good chance to view the largest carpet in Southfields.

For those of you not in the know we have our annual open day on May 30th from 13:00 followed in the evening by the first social event of the season details of which can be found under the newsletter section of the website.

Labels: Week 8 - Work Continues

As you can see we have courts! You may also notice they are not green. Unfortunately the artificial turf has been delayed at the manufacturers and will not arrive until 11th May, a week later than planned. As a stop gap measure the contractors have marked out temporary lines on the tarmacadam surface and erected the nets and posts. This at least allows play to continue.

Also this week all the over hanging trees around the courts have been judiciously pruned to minimise leaf fall onto the new surface. The large trees surrounding the balcony area have also been substantially cut back allowing more light onto the balcony. This will also ensure we no longer have to eat guano flavoured sausages!

This weekend courts 5 and 6 are being cleaned as is the decking and facia of the club in readiness for the new courts opening.

Week 6

As you can see we now have the largest car park in Southfields! The first layer of the tarmacadam is now down with the second to follow next week.

It is envisaged that the artificial turf will arrive the week after next, the same week the fences will be fixed and the cosmetic jobs completed.

Work is in hand to organise a local tree surgeon to drastically prune all overhanging branches and generally tidy up all the boundary fences. This will not only make the place substantially tidier but also stop potential damage to the new surface.

GOOD NEWS

Having spoken to the contractors it is envisaged that access to courts 5 and 6 will remain for the duration of the refurbishment work. It must be stressed, however, that during the week access is only available after 4pm due to Health and Safety regulations.

As we enter week 6 of the refurbishment all progresses well. Trenches have been laid all around the perimeter of the courts to catch "stray" balls.

As you read this the tarmacadam is on its way and will start being laid on Wednesday. If all goes according to plan, as everything else has done so far, then this should be complete by the end of next week.

It is expected that when the tarmacadam laying begins there will be no access to courts 5 and 6. A global email and a further update will be posted as soon as this is confirmed. Watch this space.

Week 4 arrives and all continues to go well. All 4 courts have now had the aggregate applied and levelled.

The cabling for the floodlights has now been laid and the trenches are currently being filled. By the end of the week this work should be complete.

The surface has now been ordered along with the court wind breakers.

Courts 5 and 6 should be accessible up until Monday 20th April when the tarmacadam base will be laid at which point access will be denied for at least 2 weeks.

Keep watching this space for further updates.

Labels: Week 4 update

Established in 1903
by local residents

For further information please call 020 8788 3807 (answer phone)
THE GARDENS LAWN TENNIS CLUB
343 Wimbledon Park Road, Southfields SW19 6NS