Firstly, there is currently is and always has been individual memberships for tennis, platform tennis and pickle. A three sport membership is also available. Players have been requesting a two sport membership. What the GM wants to do is take away the individual membership and only offer a three sport membership such that membership fees would go up dramatically. The rational in part for this is that it is too difficult to keep track of and that there all 6 or more sports. Variations on the various games make no difference. There are only 3 types of courts. The membership cost is for use of the court, not what game is played on it. Pickle and platform are asphalt courts and are the same size. When tennis courts were converted to pickle 4 pickle ball courts went on one tennis court. Understandably, folks don't want to pay for something they don't use. Tennis has higher operating costs as the har tru courts require a lot of maintenance There is very low and declining tennis membership.

Secondly, the argument was that because costs have gone up so much that the individual memberships would have to go way up to cover it. Most of the cost increases have come from adding staff. A full time Manager/tennis pro in particular. Operating costs for a 20x24 piece of asphalt are very low. There are two ways of making budget. Raise prices or lower costs. Going the later route could keep everyone happy.

See letter to the GM below.

Sent: Friday, January 19, 2024 12:14 PM
To: John Viola <jviola@oceanpines.org>
Subject: Racquet Center Building Renovations

Hi John,
Great to see the racquet center building renovations have been approved! Any idea on the timing?
I imagine we will have porta potties and outside sign ins while construction is going on. This got me thinking again about setting up a kiosk for signing in/paying for daily play just off the parking lot in front of the building. Since we have all the technology and just have to migrate it to the kiosk the cost would be minimal and could even be covered within the construction budget. Keep the day attendant for now but this would free up some of his/her time to provide other services to the site. It would also give you an opportunity to evaluate how effective the self swipe/ pay is and may allow for not having to hire staff for the second shift in the summer for a savings of approximately $30,000 per year.
Since the present swipe card system for members is already in place, there is little to do except to set it up in a kiosk outside and extend the split rail fencing to make passing the kiosk the only way to get into the complex. Adding a credit card reader with some plug and play software for the daily players to pick their sport, whether they are OP Association members or not, and the price comes up and they tap their credit card is fairly simple and the cost per transaction is very low. It gives us 24/7 365 coverage and eliminates all the issues of having to deal with cash plus provides OP with much improved data.
Having a camera on the kiosk with a voice connection to the front desk in the community center and/or the racquet center office provides a personal touch should it be needed, as well as enhances security.
Membership aside, in the fiscal year ending 4/23 we had revenue of $22,259 in daily fess. Attendant wages and benefits accounted for approximately $60,000 of the total wages and benefits expense of $73,363.

In other words, in the last fiscal year it cost us about $60,000 to collect $22,000.

The attendant provides little inherent value to the racquet center experience and going into the building only slows the time for players to get on the courts. The savings could go to many items that would enhance the play experience. Even a savings of $30,000 for keeping coverage at 8 hours a day is significant.
Is it possible some people could try to come in without paying? Yes, but so what. There is no direct cost to their playing unlike someone going through self-checkout without paying at Home Depot, Walmart or Food Lion with hundreds of dollars of goods. Afterall, does it cost us anything if players use the OP Swim and Racquet court for free or go across Racetrack and use the county courts in Showell park for free?

Dave Tanner