Admission

Sponsors

Sponsors:  Please be respectful as you consider potential applicants. We ask that sponsors carefully review the Lakewood materials outlining skills for eligibility and seriously deliberate over the level of play of your candidate before committing to sponsoring a candidate.  Candidates who do NOT meet the minimum standard can create uncomfortable predicaments for both members and applicants. 

All Sponsorship forms and new Membership applications (along with payment for half of the initiation fee) is due no Later than April 21, 2024. The deadline will be strictly adhered to. 

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE ONLINE SPONSORSHIP FORM

Once your sponsorship form is completed, please make sure your sponsored new member completes the new membership application. The potential new member can access the application at the button of the admissions packet 2024 or you can forward the below link. 

CLICK HERE FOR NEW MEMBER APPLICATION

Admissions Criteria and Process for 2024

Download:   Admissions Packet 2024   Dance Card 2024

The Lakewood Board of Directors has established the following criteria for applicants wishing to be admitted as new members:

1. Applicants, like all members, must observe court courtesy and sportsmanship, and abide by Lakewood’s rules and regulations at all times.
2. Members, other than junior members (children of members), must be 18 years of age or over by April 1 of the current season.
3. Immediate neighbors of the Lakewood courts, former members, spouses and adult children of members who meet the other criteria have priority. After that, Newton residents have priority over non-residents.
4. Each applicant must show a minimum tennis skill level, as described below.

Rotation play is the unique feature of Lakewood Tennis Club and occupies a substantial amount of the prime playing hours. The communal nature of rotation places special demands on our admission process:

• Each applicant must be able to support his/her end of the game.
• Each applicant must be a person with whom other members will enjoy sharing a court.

The Board seeks to enhance the quality of rotation play for all members.  We encourage recruitment and admission of both Intermediate and Advanced players. For the satisfaction of players with advanced skills, Lakewood schedules several Advanced Rotations every week.

Sponsors are personally vouching for an applicant and his/her level of play. To that end, the sponsor needs to have played tennis with the applicant.  All individuals nominated for membership will attend an orientation/evaluation session with members of the Board and other Club members.  This will include one to two hours of play and evaluation. Applicants will be judged to be either eligible or not eligible for membership.

A suitable candidate for membership in Lakewood is one who would contribute to an enjoyable game of doubles, both by their tennis skills and their pleasant and respectful
demeanor on the court. Each applicant must play at or above the ‘minimum skill’ (defined below) level for regular rotation and/or advanced rotation.

What Minimum Skills Must a Candidate Member Bring to the Court?

• Dependable strokes on both sides under moderate pressure.
• The strength, ability and willingness to move on the court and chase down shots.
• The ability to volley at the service line and at the net.
• The ability to serve with some strength and reliability.

Admission Process

1. All applicants must be sponsored by a member in good standing. Sponsors are responsible for completing and submitting an online sponsorship form for a potential
   new member. Sponsors are personally vouching for an applicant’s character and tennis skills. Each year the Board determines whether and how many new members
   can be admitted. If the Board opts to admit new members, an application package may be obtained on this website for the current year. An announcement will be sent
   to members with the exact date when the application is due each year.
2. The sponsored applicant submits the online Membership Application,as well as a $250 fee ($256 via Venmo) per person applicable to the initiation fee of $500. If the
   application is accepted by the Board, the applicant and sponsor will be invited to an Orientation/Evaluation Session.
3. Prospective members must attend one of the Orientation/Evaluation Sessions scheduled at the beginning of the season, where the rules, especially those governing Rotation, Advanced Rotation, and Arranged Play are explained. Prospective members’ level of play will be judged by Board Members and other Club members at the session. Equally important, the candidate gets to experience our rotation paradigm and can judge whether Lakewood fulfills his/her expectation.  If an applicant cannot attend one of the two Orientation/Evaluation Sessions, they will not be considered for admission.  
4. After the Orientation/Evaluation Session, a Dance Card may be issued to each applicant meeting the minimum skills requirement, depending on how many openings
   are available. The Dance Card is completed by coming to rotation at least three times, including at least once on a weekend (Saturday or Sunday) and once during
   the week (evenings). The Dance Card must be completed and returned by the due date in the Application Package, along with payment of the annual dues (currently
   $325) and the $250 balance of the initiation fee ($575 by check, $586 via Venmo). Dance Cards returned after the due date will not be considered. Up to this
   point, any candidate who is rejected or decides not to join will have their payment(s) returned.
5. Upon the Board’s acceptance of the Dance Card, the applicant becomes a provisional member of Lakewood, with all rights except voting. All provisional memberships are reviewed before the Annual meeting in November. If approved by the Board, each provisional member becomes a full member and may vote at the Annual Meeting. A provisional member not approved by the Board ceases to be a member of Lakewood Tennis Club.
6. It is encouraged that each prospective Member follows the up to date CDC guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccinations.