Jana C.
Yelp
I admit it - I'm a tennis nut! It didn't start that way. Like most of us...I played in high school and then pretty much abandoned my racket in my parents garage alongside my dusty old yearbooks when I flew the coop for college. But gyms aren't my bag and I thought I'd try and find a way to have fun while I worked out. Wasn't sure how to get back in. I mean, you can't exactly play alone! So a quick google search and I found the BH Tennis Center website and signed up for my first clinic.
That was 2 years ago and perhaps it would be too romantic of me to just say...They had me at hello...but they kinda did! Several clinics later, I've built up a slew of tennis friends (all at my level, which is key). I've taken privates, played on teams, USTA Leagues, Tourneys (Tournaments, for the newbies), and still occasionally drop into occasional clinics. But best of all, we've put together our own weekly group that gets together for fun play throughout the week and weekends.
Sorry, I'm digressing here. The point of this review was to be about BHTC. Basically, we call it "The Club". Clearly, it 's not. These are public courts, people. Anyone can reserve courts (get yourself a card for ease and if you live in BH, you actually get a few bucks off the court fees and can book courts - just call in - up to 7 days in advance). But the organization, the pros, the pro shop and the feeling up there (it's above a big parking lot - I'm sure you've all driven by it a million times - at the corner of Olympic on La Cig (that's what all the cool cats are calling La Cienega, by the way) is just very "club" like. Not in the sense that it's exclusive - exactly the opposite actually. I've found all the people up there to be really friendly. And the people aren't just Beverly Hills people - they're from all over LA. I know a bunch of people who even drive from the valley?! Don't get me wrong, don't show up and expect to just find someone to hit with (this isn't a golf course!), but you can very easily meet people and those people are pretty much always looking to play...so you can built up a network pretty quickly!
The main one on La Cig (you're learning, right?) is pretty big - 16 courts. Bathrooms are slightly above a public park restroom...but you've come to play tennis, not primp! But there are 4 more courts at the Roxbury Park (further West on Olympic), if that's easier for you. At the La Cig one, don't be confused by the parking (it was a bit intimidating the first time). You enter the parking lot from La Cig (headed South ONLY - there's a median and you can't turn in from the Northbound lanes). Grab your ticket and park (it's like most public BH lots - its free for the first 2 hours...but in 2 years of playing, I've only once been actually charged for going over the 2 hours - so don't worry about that). Walk to the South side of the lot and you'll see to the left a small opening in the gate - make a quick right and around a corner you'll see the stairs that lead you up. At the top of the stairs make a left and there's the court attendant to book/pay/get your courts.
You can also rent ball machines up there too (although I've never done that). The pro shop is small, but has the immediate necessities...cold water, overgrip, powerbars, etc... as well as standard pro-shop fare: clothes, rackets, stringing and snacks for those really crazy days!
The "club" arranges tournaments every few months too (check out the website for details) - so you can seriously work out your competitive needs! I mean let's just be honest, if you're an adult playing tennis, you're competitive, right? Nothin' wrong with that :-)
Beverly Hills Tennis Center: It's all the benefit of a 'club' at public park pricing :-) can't beat it!
http://beverlyhillstennis.com/
***If anyone wants some hints on which clinics or pros to try, I'd be happy to give you my two cents. But I'm not Perez.... no need to publicly diss! Shoot me a message and I'll hit you back!