Caesarean Lawn Tennis Club
For more than a decade, Covair has worked with Caesarean Lawn Tennis Club (LTC) to make all-season play possible in Jersey. What began as a practical answer to winter weather has become something far more valuable; a foundation for growth, coaching excellence, and a thriving sporting community.
The stunning, modern structures have become part of the island’s DNA and make year-round play a genuine joy. They’re a reminder to everyone that tennis in Jersey never stops.
Background
Founded in 1867, Caesarean LTC is Jersey’s oldest and largest tennis club, with around 550 members.
Where once the courts stood empty through dark, windy evenings, the arrival of Covair’s domes brought light, colour and energy back to the winter season. The impressive, contemporary structures, with their bold geometric detailing and modern styling, offer a welcome respite from the cold. It’s a different world inside the domes as the Jersey winter bites outside.
Solution
To support year-round play, Caesarean LTC now operates two Covair domes. A permanent two-court structure that provides year-round cover, and a seasonal four-court dome, which Jonathan affectionately refers to as “the bubble.” Together, they give the club six indoor courts through the winter months and safeguard play when the weather turns.
But the domes aren’t just a practical solution. When the winter sun hits the structures, club members still pause and take a breath, as if seeing them for the first time. The light reflects off the curved surfaces, crisp as the day begins, richer as the evening arrives — and always, the domes catch the light and spark the imagination.
“It’s the same when you step inside,” Jonathan says. “Even after all these years, members stop and look up as they step through the entrance. It’s impressive every time.”
For Scott, the difference has been transformational for his players and his professional life. “It’s one less thing to worry about,” he notes. “Before, I’d wake up wondering if it was going to rain or blow a gale. Now I plan my sessions and get on with it. The kids are playing 30–40 per cent more than they used to, and you can see the difference.”
Parents appreciate the predictability, too. “Once it becomes part of their week, they get into a routine,” Scott adds. “It’s like any habit. Give it a few weeks and it sticks.”
Results
New revenue streams
“The seasonal domes underpin the feasibility of having a club like this in Jersey,” says Jonathan. “Without them, you’d be talking about a completely different organisation.”
Jonathan also notes the financial benefits: “Our domes generate revenue through modest court fees, which help cover lighting and maintenance,” he explains.
Year-round tournaments
Having the domes in place gives the club confidence to host year-round tournaments. Caesarean runs two LTA Grade 3 tournaments a year, plus a biennial inter-island match against Guernsey in November — all staged under Covair’s domes.
We put the seasonal domes up in September, and they stay in place through the Easter period to guarantee play during the spring tournament schedule. “You can never trust the weather at that time of year,” Scott says with a laugh. “We’d rather keep the dome up and know everything will run smoothly than risk a week of cancellations. It means our Easter competitions always go ahead. The atmosphere in there is brilliant, plus guests to the club get to see the impressive domes in their full glory on match days. It’s a chance for us to show off a little, if I’m honest.”
Strong junior membership
The club’s junior development story is equally strong. With sponsors BNP Paribas and Quilter Cheviot, Caesarean coaches reach out to local schools, giving hundreds of children a free introduction to tennis. Many join the club’s expanding junior squads.
The domes make a lasting impression on these young players. “You get that wow from the kids and the parents the first time they step inside,” Scott tells us. “I never get tired of hearing that amazement and seeing the look on their faces.”
“For many,” he continues, “it’s their first time playing indoors. The light, the scale, and the sound of the ball echoing around the space make it feel special. It reminds us why we’re here doing what we do through these cold winter months. It keeps the tennis going, keeps the kids playing, keeps that enthusiasm and energy burning until it’s time for outdoor play once again.”
The road to Wimbledon
During the pandemic, one of Caesarean’s own, Stuart Parker, trained under the Covair dome and later went on to play at Wimbledon. He competed in doubles in the main draw and singles in the qualifying rounds. “It was brilliant to see,” Scott recalls. “Having an indoor facility meant Stuart could keep training during lockdown because he was classed as an elite athlete. That really helped him keep sharp while other players were off court.”
Scott says that consistency made all the difference: “It doesn’t guarantee success, but it gives talented players the chance to keep pushing. That’s what Stuart did. He’s been climbing the rankings ever since.”
