Susie Trotter and Gary Pearson

Gary Pearson is a guest of Susie Trotter at her club's member-guest tournament.   Things seem to be going well.  When Susie misses an easy put away, Gary turns away, frowning for the spectators' benefit, and shakes his head. No he doesn't.  He turns towards his partner and laughs.  In fact, Susie even gets a high five.

The pair has mastered the art of partnerships and choosing the right person for member-guest events. 

"The very first thing you have to know going in, is what the goal is.  Is it going to be a fun social event, or are you playing to win?" said ACAC member Bill Barnes. "It's all about compatability."

"I like to pick someone I will have fun with and who doesn't have a bad attitude on the court," said Cherie Lane.  "No sore losers!"

Member-Guest tournaments are highlights of the year for members at many local clubs.  There are even member-guest wannabe players who make a point to let area pros know they are willing and able to play if a member needs a guest.  And why not?   It's a good way to spend a week in the wintertime.  Food, drink, conversation, goodie bags.  Competitive match-play.  Usually some drama and a few laughs at someone else's expense.

If you are considering venturing into a Member-Guest tourney, here are a few pointers, courtesy of players who have stumbled across more than a few lines.

1.  Determine where you belong.

Often, clubs will offer more than one division for entries. Open Level divisions are for upper level  players with advanced skills.   The play may be more cut-throat.  Men can be expected to play a little harder against the women in a mixed doubles match.  In lower divisions, men aren't going to rocket a ball at a novice player.

Right?

Not necessarily.  Lower division play can be just as competitive; in fact sometimes even more so.  "I've played mixed doubles tournaments in 7.0 Divisions where the guys have quite obviously had the goal of hitting everything to the woman - hard- to win.  But with the better players, the men can control the ball better and are able to win the point without having to do that," said Lisa*.

"I would rather play up where the guys have played longer and don't have so much to prove."

Advanced players like playing other advanced players.  So if you are thinking about taking your game up a division, consider whether or not you mind it if someone hates you for lobbing every point.  (Because they will despise you.).

Guests can have a hard time straddling the line between being considered a "nice player" and "too rabid".  Nobody wants to be thought of as being a jerk but it's not fun to lose when you feel like your playing style has been hindered.

"The experience that comes to mind was in a women's member-guest when my partner told me to not go right at my opponents (with volleys, overheads, etc.) and to play 'nice tennis' against the 'senior players'.   Well, as everyone knows, the older ladies will kick your tail every time with ball placement if you don't go right at them or move them enough," Cherie pointed out.

So, determine whether you care if you have people to enjoy a beer with after the match.

2.  Find a person who thinks like you.

"Depending on the level of play, the guest should generally be equal in ability to the guest," said Dan Carey.  

Here is where a good soul searching  is important.  Do you really not care if you win or lose or are you just convincing yourself of that?

If you are looking to spend a week drinking and eating, with some fun tennis sprinkled in the gaps, then you probably don't want to bring in the ringer who can't stand to lose.

It works the other way, too.  "One time I brought in someone who was supposed to be really good," said Tricia*.  "My club pro paired us up - we had never met beforehand.  I was looking forward to maybe getting to the final for once.

"All my supposed 'ringer'  wanted to do was party the whole week....it's hard to have much fun when you're partner isn't sober for a match against the one person at your club who you really want to beat."

Once you've determined what the goal is - Fun or First Place - realize that either way, member guest tournaments are social occasions.  Bringing in ringers is tricky business and can make other players mad.

I know this to be true because I tried it (more than once).  I asked a 5.0 to play with me in my club's Women's Member-Guest.  I'm a 3.5, so the pairing was slightly lopsided.  This set off a firestorm previously not comprehended.  Other women at the club, not wanting to be outdone, sought out their own Ringer.  A list of the top players in the county was generated by an overzealous pro, and match-ups were made, resulting in many other funky teams.  

It is very hard to play a 3.0/5.0 pairing and I made several enemies during that tournament. Who wants to ice-skate blindfolded?  You have no idea what's coming next; that's what it was like for my opponents. It wasn't that much fun for me either because I saw quite a bit of balls.  The balls were very fast. And my racquet wasn't fast enough.

What eventually happened in my case was that by the end of the week my Ringer told me to stand in the alley and that she would cover the rest of the court.

Using this strategy, we very nearly won. She was that good.  But I looked rather foolish.  I drank my beer after the match pretty much by myself. 

Others who brought in ringers for that tournament had similar feelings, although one player said the experience was a great learning situation.

"She [her ringer-guest] told me where to stand, gave me pointers on volleys and overheads.  It was like getting a week-long lesson for the price of a tournament entry fee." 

A country club in Pueblo, Colorado makes it easier for people who want to play with their own Andre Agassi.  It has an annual Member/Guest Ringer Tournament, a mixed doubles tournament that is open to all players ages 12 and up.  The whole point of the tournament is for members to seek out the best "Ringer" they can find.  Members are encouraged to "search hard".  College players are considered good targets. 

If any club around here tries that, I'm sure it would be popular.  If so, may your search for the original (or next) Rachel Gale and Sean Steinour prove fruitful.

3.  Member Guests Tournaments are Essentially Social Outings.

Keep in mind that the person you are paired with is someone you will be hanging out with for a good part of a week, and not all of your time will be spent on the court.

"We had absolutely nothing in common, and had nothing to talk about," said Bob*.  "But you are obligated to hang out with your guest so it made for an uncomfortable week.  I wanted to dump him by Wednesday for the friend I should have asked but who wasn't as good."

"Guests should be able to mix well with the other members and guests and not just show up to play," said Dan.  "Clubs should even have name tags (at least on the first night) for all players during tournaments, which will make it easier to socialize."  

Because that is really what it's all about.  One of the reasons clubs hold member guests is to introduce non-members to club facilities so that they may want to join. 

So, do consider whether your guest will really fit in. A few years back a guest wore a sleeveless shirt to my club where sleeves are a definite requirement.  The club pro was called in to rectify the situation; he offered the guest a new shirt to wear.  To the entertainment of spectators in the gallery, the guest changed his shirt quite dramatically on the court.  He had very nice abs.

"Social skills definitely come into play," said Bill Barnes.  "Boy could I tell you some interesting stories."

4.  Get a good start and finish well.

"One funny experience I had when I was asked to play in a member-guest several years go, I was asked to pay for 1/2 of the entry fee," said Anne*.  "I did pay it but that was odd....."

It is probably not a good start to the week to require your guest to help pay entry fees. Especially after they have just handed you a thank you gift.

Giving a host member a "thank you" gift solidifies the experience and can help insure that you will be asked back next year.  Although, "men don't get into the gift thing as much as the women do," said Bill Barnes.

"Gifts shouldn't be expected by the host member, but are a nice touch if done right," said Dan Carey. 

Wine, tennis balls or towels or even articles of clothing are things people give to their host as a thank you for paying for the tournament and the week of match play.  "I always give a thank you gift," said Cherie.  "Normally a gift card to Dick's or a nice restaurant."

(Cherie is going to move to the top of everyone's list.)

"I feel embarrassed when a guest give me a present, because it is a treat for me to play with someone so good," said Sheri Crowell.  "But I got a Jack Russell Terrier ceramic figurine from a male guest one year.  We both have Jack Russells.  That was a very thoughtful gift for a guy to give!

"And I also received an awesome necklace with found polished stones.  It is my favorite piece of jewelry....After the way I played in that tournament, it was really me who needed to give her a gift!"

Good luck and may the net fairies be with you!

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*Asked that their last names be omitted.

by Sara James