Take a gander at the TennisMaps.com view of Austin, and you’ll find no shortage of playing surface. With 350 courts listed, you’d think Andy Roddick is the mayor of Austin — not just the city’s most famous tennis-playing resident.
But not all playing surfaces are equal.
Some prefer the posh amenities of the country club. Others crave high-level competition to push their game to its limits. And most folks just want a carefree environment to knock the tennis ball around.
We touched base with Vicki Wright, executive director of the Capital Area Tennis Association, to help pinpoint a few locations for different types of players.
Here’s a reference to help you find the best court for your game.
Expert Players and Strong Competition
Austin Tennis Academy, Polo Tennis and Fitness, and St. Stephen’s Tennis Academy all have a reputation for high-level junior competition, according to Wright. For adults, Wright said competition levels vary widely based on where people live.
Austin Tennis Academy, located in Spanish Oaks in west Austin near Bee Cave, offers a variety of camps and classes to improve kids’ games.
Polo Tennis and Fitness Club, located east of Dripping Springs on Highway 290, offers members a wide variety of playing options. It has Plexi-cusion Prestige courts designed to reduce stress on joints and fatigue.
And, St. Stephen’s Tennis Academy, also located in Hill Country near Davenport Ranch, has 12 hard courts and two clay courts. Their boarding school program “stresses rigorous college preparatory academics while providing individualized and team-based professional tennis training,” according to their website.
Luxury Tennis Clubs
Austin Country Club and Westwood Country Club are among Austin’s most exclusive, according to Wright. And Lakeway World of Tennis also has a lot of amenities.
Austin Country Club, located next to Green Park, has all the history and luxurious settings of a classic country club. It has 10 courts (8 hard and 2 har-tru) that are lighted. They offer programs for players of all levels, and they have four professional staff working full time and two part-time instructors.
Westwood Country Club, located in Tarrytown, has 13 Plexipave courts and six clay courts. The club offers a wide variety of services, including five pros on staff and several leagues for competition.
Kids and Beginners
While many places offer programs for kids and beginners, Wright recommended Lost Creek Country Club and South Austin Tennis Center for their entry-level programs.
Lost Creek Country Club, located in Lost Creek, has 16 courts and robust list of league options for all levels.
South Austin Tennis Center, located next to the South Lamar neighborhood, is a public facility that offers classes for beginners through advanced-level players. They have ball machine rentals and other services.
Public Courts for Everyone
Austin has dozens of public courts, including many tucked into neighborhood parks. But Wright said that the South Austin Tennis Center, described above, and the Caswell Tennis Center are probably the most active and best places to find fellow players.
Caswell Tennis Center, located in the West Campus neighborhood, was built in 1946. Don’t worry, it’s had some makeovers. It has locker rooms and showers, as well as a pro shop. The center offers private and group lessons for all levels.