I’m Ready to Play, But Where are the Tennis Courts?
What happens when you want to play tennis, TODAY, you have your partner ready, but don’t know where to go play? Well, we need that piece of the pie, don’t we! Fortunately, there are options all around you that’ll give you that chance to get on that tennis court! From a local club to a local park, schools, rec centers and more, we can take advantage of these options and still get our match in today.
First, Park it Here
A local park can often be the first, and last, place you need to look to find your destination court. It may be as simple as that, but there are things to consider when choosing any of these options, even this one. First, make sure the courts aren’t in use. Second, make sure no one is going to be using them in the middle of your match.
Tournaments, for youth and adults alike, may have a group of courts reserved for a block of time that might interfere with your schedule. Check for a community post in the park for upcoming reservations already on the books. Also, you might be competing for court time with other residents. If that is the case, the general rule of thumb is an hour for use of the court when someone else is waiting.
Some parks restrict their access, either to city residents or sometimes community residents, depending on the park. Check local websites or community boards for more information if you are looking at courts outside your locale.
A park generally will have hours that they are open for. If there are none posted, consider dawn to dusk (no vampires during that time, after all!) a safe guideline. The presence of lights for the court usually indicates a later closing time, sometimes 9 or even as late as 10. If you are using courts this late, being considerate of the neighbors should definitely be a heightened priority.
W(Rec)k the Center
An often overlooked option is a nearby rec center. A pool and a workout room are a staple at the rec center, but what about tennis courts? Well, of course they are! The rec center is a great option to find a tennis court and connect with other local residents who like tennis. The costs are cheaper if you are a member, but sometimes they are restricted to residents only, so be sure to check on that before you get to far.
Let’s get Country
A country club is the first thought for someone who may already belong to one, but isn’t usually much of a thought for someone who doesn’t. There are, however, tennis clubs that are open to the public.
Many will belong to the same parks and recreation district as a rec center, but their specialty focuses more on tennis and usually golf as well. The costs are generally more expensive than a rec center, but the network of tennis players are generally stronger, more consistent, and can be easier to find a player who is at the same level you are.
A huge plus is the availability of a tennis focused staff. They are usually consisting of multiple tennis pros who give lessons, single or group, and organize meetups, mixers, and events sponsored by the club or even a merchandiser.
Private Club?
The private country club offers the top of the line, high class, comfortable experience of a staff whose sole job is to keep the member happy. The dues that come with a membership has a huge range from the low 4 figures to the 6 figures annually.
If you intend to join a private club, make sure to spend some time at their facility and visit the places in the club you intend to spend most of your time in. Open up conversations with the staff, and ask some questions of some guests if you get the opportunity. Consider that some higher cost clubs will have waiting lists, and you will probably have to be sponsored by a current member just to get on that list.
The tennis acumen of a private country club my seem higher than the other options, but be warned that may be very untrue. Where there is a good pro who enjoys teaching, be it at a rec center, public club, or country club, that is where you should be. A teacher who cares about teaching is the best teacher of all.
Go Back to School
Did you know most public schools with tennis courts are open to the citizens of the school district? The middle school with a tennis team might not be using their courts this Saturday, so why not play a match over there?
Now, different school districts have different rules regarding this, but the general rule is that any school related function takes precedence over the general population’s use of the courts. It is best and easiest to contact the local school and ask their policy on this matter, but this is a golden nugget of a spot to play tennis at, since most people don’t realize they can use their outdoor athletic facilities. Note that private schools generally will not leave their athletic facilities open to the public.
Generally, you should attempt to leave the courts in as good or better shape than you found them, and always defer to a student who wants to practice on his game. Even though it is the public tax dollars that build it, it is the children that use it and we should treat their school as if they own it, since it is indeed their domain that they feel they own when they are away from home.
Okay, Lets go Play!
Now that we know where to play, we just have to make sure we have the racket, the balls, and the opponent! Any venue we choose just needs to have a court. While you will probably be playing on a hard court, there are clay and grass courts out there, all of which I wrote about in the post 3 Tennis Court Surfaces to Suit Your Game, which can add to the fun. Even the cold weather shouldn’t stop us from playing. Whether you are near a park, rec center, country club, or even a school, you can find the right place for you to go enjoy an incredible day on the tennis courts!
