Unlocking your inner Venus or Serena Williams on the tennis court takes plenty of practice. (Heck, we’d settle for our inner Forrest Gump on a ping-pong table.) Luckily, county residents have a plethora of facilities available to them in Westchester where they can work on their backhands, get private instruction, and even go full John McEnroe on their neighbors in tourney play.
“We have a year-round program that players of all ages and levels can enjoy,” says Rodrigo Schtscherbyna, the tennis director for Club Fit Briarcliff. “We have players as young as three and as old as a hundred. It’s one of the few total sports you can play.”
“And it has a huge social aspect,” he adds, “especially for kids who experienced COVID and our seniors. It really helps them socialize and feel relevant in the community.”
If you’re ready to don your Nike sweatband, here’s where you’ll want to work on your backhand.
Westchester Parks
Before you start looking into private memberships, check out which facilities your local Westchester County Parks make available. Many of your nearby municipalities offer a variety of playing surfaces for singles and doubles, as well as variations like pickleball and even platform tennis.
Public tennis courts serve as an inexpensive way to introduce yourself — and especially kids — to the sport without making a full commitment to a year-long membership. Make sure to confirm any permit or registration requirements on the individual town websites, as well as any availability for adult lessons or kids’ spring/summer tennis camps.
Read more: What Is Platform Tennis?
Westchester’s Private Tennis Clubs
Elegantly drape a knit sweatshirt across your shoulders because we’re diving straight into the exclusive world of private tennis clubs. These clubs boast a bounty of bona fide training methods — everything from one-on-one instruction to group drop-in classes. Many also offer regular reservations, for those committed to acing their serves by the end of the season.
Armonk Tennis Club, Armonk
First in our hearts (and alphabetically), this club provides all-level instructional programs for adults and juniors, as well as kids’ camps, lessons, and interclub play. Courts are available seasonally or by the hour, and even for non-members in the summer.
Birchwood Swim & Tennis, Chappaqua
Seasonal members at this Westchester club can reserve one of eight Har-Tru clay courts or sign up for adult or junior, programs, private lessons and clinics, and even tennis socials to meet other enthusiasts. Platform/paddle tennis courts are also available, along with league and inter-club schedules.
Chappaqua Swim and Tennis Club, Chappaqua
This private summer club provides member access to swimming and diving alongside tennis — four hard courts, four Har-Tru clay courts, and three heated courts for playing platform tennis year-round. The club also offers clinics and lessons for tennis lovers of all ability levels, as well as a Metropolitan inter-club league for neighborly competition.
Club Fit, Briarcliff and Jefferson Valley
With two locations on roughly either side of the county, Club Fit has more than a dozen hard-surface and clay courts to choose from year-round that are available for classes, private and semi-private lessons, and league play for both adults and juniors. Plenty of other fitness and sporting activities are also available, making a family membership an easy choice.
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Fox Meadow Tennis Club, Scarsdale
First established in 1883, Fox Meadow is the literal birthplace of platform tennis. Developed in 1928, the sport’s first club court — anywhere — was built at Fox Meadow just three years later. Today, the Scarsdale club features six Har-Tru tennis courts and nine heated “paddle” courts. But Westchester’s oldest platform and tennis club is also one of its most exclusive: Membership is limited to just 160 families at a time, and prospective members need to be sponsored and seconded by existing members.
Pleasantville Tennis Club, Pleasantville
Established in 1916, this intimate tennis club has a membership waitlist, but still offers day rates to the general public with a seasonal non-member fee. Members can also reserve one of six Har-Tru courts with guests ($10 per guest).
Pound Ridge Tennis Club, Pound Ridge
The member-run PRTC has been home to local tennis lovers of all game levels since the Johnson administration and currently sports seven Har-Tru courts and three lit platform tennis courts. The club offers three membership levels, depending on age and family status, as well as organized clinics and programs including pickleball.
Rye Racquet Club, Harrison
A multigenerational tennis club, Rye Racquet has grown from a three-court club opened in 1961 to an all-year, all-weather tennis center featuring five cushioned indoor courts and four more outdoor Har-Tru courts (which get enclosed in an air dome to facilitate winter play).
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Saw Mill Club, Mount Kisco
With two locations, both in Mount Kisco, the Saw Mill Club hosts dozens of tennis classes every week on over a dozen courts. Members can expect all the usual private instruction and group sessions, camps, and leagues, plus pickleball and even squash.
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Seven Bridges Field Club, Chappaqua
Billing itself as “the best-kept secret in Chappaqua,” this small but exclusive private club proffers swimming pool fun along with five clay tennis courts and two heated platform tennis/pickleball courts open all year.
Tennis Club of Hastings, Hastings-on-Hudson
A premier club on the banks of the Hudson River, TCH possesses a half-dozen Har-Tru courts, plus a pro shop and waterfront lounge for pre- or post-match refreshments. Kids can enjoy both age- and skill level-based junior programs and summer camps, while adults can join a clinic, league, or even drop-in session for those with busy schedules.
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Torview Swim & Tennis Club, Ossining
This members-only club is great for cooling off by the pool, especially after a rousing match. The club has three Har-Tru courts for tennis and one dedicated to pickleball, plus a separate raised court for platform tennis.
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Read more: A Beginner’s Guide to Pickleball in Westchester
Public Facilities
If the thought of membership dues has you spinning, take a changeover. These local facilities are all open to the public and boast many of the same programs and benefits as their private counterparts, although without the allure of exclusivity.
Armonk Indoor Sports Center, Armonk
Locals can opt to reserve a dedicated weekly court and time for the season or take a more relaxed schedule with hourly rates. Adults can enjoy instruction and inter-club play, while juniors can also take part in summer/holiday camps and even lessons at the Armonk International Tennis Academy.
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Chestnut Ridge Racquet Club, Mount Kisco
Chestnut Ridge has been providing locals with a fun and competitive environment for practicing their serves since 1969. The club boasts four Har-Tru outdoor courts and six indoor courts for all-weather play. While the CRRC offers plenty of seasonal membership, class, and lesson options — even kids’ summer camps! — there are also standard day rates for more sporadic players just looking to get in a few sets.
Grand Slam Tennis Club, Bedford
Owned by tennis Hall of Famer Ivan Lendl and touting his proprietary “Hitting Hot” teaching system, this club on the Bedford-Greenwich border has five outdoor courts and eight Har-Tru courts (five outdoor, three indoor). Adults programs and instructions are available for all levels, but the wide assortment of junior programs is where Grand Slam really shines.
Greenburgh Indoor Tennis, White Plains
Nestled in the heart of Westchester, this pint-sized bubble facility has just two cushioned tennis courts but eschews both memberships and guest fees. Players can sign up for adult or junior classes, or book a seasonal time slot.
Maximum Tennis Development Zone, Bronxville
Those looking to up their game may find the help they’re looking for at Maximum TDZ: The team focuses on, well, maximizing your tennis development. There are plenty of adult and kids programs based on age and skill level, plus U.S. Tennis Associate leagues and private lessons. You can also just book a court for an hour if you’re looking to get in a few good serves.
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New Rochelle Tennis Club, New Rochelle
This club offers member discounts but is open to the general public. If you sign up for lessons, a class, a clinic, or league of juniors camp, you’re considered a member for the duration. The club also offers per diem lessons and court reservations, though the latter is based on availability.
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New Rochelle Racquet Club, New Rochelle
This club, which is affiliated with Pine Brook Fitness, offers a number of programs for varying skill levels and goals. Get started with beginner or advanced private clinics, then keep things going with regular practice sessions.
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The Play Place, Elmsford
Looking to get your little ones into the game? This fun facility offers open play, holiday, and after-school programs, which include tennis camp and lessons on its appropriately sized 10-and-under indoor tennis court.
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Premier Athletic Club, Montrose
This north county athletic club offers lessons, programs, and league play for adults and juniors, as well as pickleball and racquetball groups. General fitness classes, personal training, and aquatics are also available, making the club ideal for families with diverse interests.
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Sportime, Eastchester and Mamaroneck
When the Long Island-based company first expanded onto the mainland, its very first new location was at Harbor Island. The Mamaroneck facility claims eight red clay indoor/outdoor courts and all the all-ages tennis programs the John McEnroe Tennis Academy affiliate is known for. The location at Lake Isle Country Club adds another eight Har-Tru courts less than 15 minutes away.
Tennis Innovators Academies, New Rochelle and White Plains
With two locations, Westchesterites have a few different options for how they want to play. The New Rochelle location features eight turf hard courts, while the White Plains academy has as many Har-Tru courts. Both include full fitness centers, free evaluations, a plethora of learning programs for all ages, and the option of either seasonal or day rates.
Westchester Tennis Center, Port Chester
Westchester Tennis Center brings the Sound Shore a dozen well-maintained tennis courts, including eight Har-Tru courts and four hard courts for pickleball. A bevy of programs are on offer for both kids and adults, as are seasonal and one-off court reservations.
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Yonkers Tennis Center, Yonkers
Further south in Westchester, the Yonkers Tennis Center offers very reasonable rates for drop-in reservations and even its own app for booking classes, programs, and reservations. The family-owned center also features league play and special events.
Related: A Boutique Tennis and Pickleball Club to Open in Yonkers
