Clay Court Renovation Notes & Issues

In the January 2009 Communiqué to the members, the Board advised of “the urgent necessity to undertake a major renovation of the clay courts including the retaining walls and fencing at an estimated cost of $85,000 at the end of the 2009 season to avoid major problems that have now become apparent”.

As members may recall, at the end of the 2007 season, the Club received a very substantial and considerably elevated water bill from the City – which indicated a substantial water leak within the underground Hydrocourt system which supplies water to the clay courts.

During the 2008 season, the court water consumption was carefully monitored. The readings continued to show that the water consumption was far above historical normal readings – indicating that there was indeed a serious water leak – somewhere – in the system. In early September, the leak was located at the rear of Court 1 and temporarily repaired. Since then, water consumption appears to have returned to its normal historical level.

The problem – which has been well known and documented at RLTC for some time – was due to the movement of the retaining wall surrounding the clay courts. Over time since 1996, the walls have tilted and moved outwards and the underground cell walls – which hold the water – have slipped downwards and the water has spilled over the edge. The fence posts – which support the retaining walls – have also moved and tilted outwards from vertical – particularly at the rear of courts 3 and 4. Although, temporary repairs have been made in past seasons, as we found this season, other retaining wall sections have subsequently given away.

The photo on the left illustrates a temporary repair made to the retaining wall at the rear of Court 3 several years ago. The wall has given away but has been temporarily stabilized with 2 X 12 timbers. Similar temporary repairs have also been made previously to the Clubhouse side of Courts 1 & 2. The photo on the right shows Sean Dennehy and Richard Aubin working on the repairs to the retaining wall on south side of Court 1 in September 2008.

As such, the RLTC Board realized that the Club faces a serious and extensive clay court and retaining wall reconstruction issue. Simply stated, if it is not addressed, the existing retaining walls will continue to give away.

To address it, the Board asked Greg Teskey of Court Contractors of Mississauga to inspect the courts and provide a repair plan and quotation. Court Contractors installed the Hydrocourt system in 1996. The plan recommends a major reconstruction of the clay courts which includes repairing the retaining walls around the courts, straightening the fence, repairing the drains at the back of the courts, scarifing (removing) existing surface clay, laser grading the surface and finally adding 40 tons of new Hydroblend clay to the surface at an estimated cost of approximately $85,000. Court Contractors proposed undertaking the work near the completion of the 2009 season in early October in order to have the renovated courts available for play in May 2010.

			Clay Court Renovation Notes & Issues In the January 2009 Communiqué to the members, the Board advised of “the urgent necessity to undertake a major renovation of the clay courts including the retaining walls and fencing at an estimated cost of $85,000 at the end of the 2009 season to avoid major problems that have now become apparent”. As members may recall, at the end of the 2007 season, the Club received a very substantial and considerably elevated water bill from the City – which indicated a substantial water leak within the underground Hydrocourt system which supplies water to the clay courts. During the 2008 season, the court water consumption was carefully monitored. The readings continued to show that the water consumption was far above historical normal readings – indicating that there was indeed a serious water leak – somewhere – in the system. In early September, the leak was located at the rear of Court 1 and temporarily repaired. Since then, water consumption appears to have returned to its normal historical level. The problem – which has been well known and documented at RLTC for some time – was due to the movement of the retaining wall surrounding the clay courts. Over time since 1996, the walls have tilted and moved outwards and the underground cell walls – which hold the water – have slipped downwards and the water has spilled over the edge. The fence posts – which support the retaining walls – have also moved and tilted outwards from vertical – particularly at the rear of courts 3 and 4. Although, temporary repairs have been made in past seasons, as we found this season, other retaining wall sections have subsequently given away. The photo on the left illustrates a temporary repair made to the retaining wall at the rear of Court 3 several years ago. The wall has given away but has been temporarily stabilized with 2 X 12 timbers. Similar temporary repairs have also been made previously to the Clubhouse side of Courts 1 & 2. The photo on the right shows Sean Dennehy and Richard Aubin working on the repairs to the retaining wall on south side of Court 1 in September 2008. As such, the RLTC Board realized that the Club faces a serious and extensive clay court and retaining wall reconstruction issue. Simply stated, if it is not addressed, the existing retaining walls will continue to give away. To address it, the Board asked Greg Teskey of Court Contractors of Mississauga to inspect the courts and provide a repair plan and quotation. Court Contractors installed the Hydrocourt system in 1996. The plan recommends a major reconstruction of the clay courts which includes repairing the retaining walls around the courts, straightening the fence, repairing the drains at the back of the courts, scarifing (removing) existing surface clay, laser grading the surface and finally adding 40 tons of new Hydroblend clay to the surface at an estimated cost of approximately $85,000. Court Contractors proposed undertaking the work near the completion of the 2009 season in early October in order to have the renovated courts available for play in May 2010.

	February 5, 2012