As the weather warms up, it’s time for sporty city kids to pull the old golf clubs and tennis racquets out from their winter hibernation spots and swing right into spring. Our selective guide to the best golf and tennis programs in and around the city is sure to make for a fantastic sporting season.
TENNIS
Through Advantage Tennis Clubs (which includes several NYC locations), kids 8-18 can participate in recreational and tournament junior tennis, tailored to their age and skill level. A Performance Tennis Program is also offered for more advanced students. advantagetennisclubs.com
Bumblebee Tennis offers a range of programs for toddlers up to tweens at locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Catering to all ages and levels, Bumblebee’s indoor and outdoor tennis programs are offered year-round and include a variety of leagues by age group, as well as instructional offerings. bumblebeetennis.com
The Central Park Tennis Center features 26 clay courts and a host of lesson options and programs for children and adults. Programs began in early April and run through November and feature private and group lessons, afterschool programs for ages 4-7 and 8-15, and a series of summer camps. centralparktenniscenter.com
Chelsea Piers’ Little Aces tennis program, for kids ages 5-6, is a fun class that teaches children basic tennis skills, including movement, balance, and hand-eye coordination, while developing proper technique. Players are introduced to the scoring system and, in some cases, can begin to play tournament tennis. chelseapiers.com
Easthampton Indoor Tennis offers a variety of junior tennis programs, including the Davis Cup summer program for ages 7 and up (which includes introductions to activities that complement tennis, like yoga and surfing), High Performance Tennis for high school- and college-level players, Teen Tennis for ages 13-18, Quickstart for ages 4-8, and weekend Junior Programs for ages 8-12. ehit.ws
Future Stars’ tennis programs (which include beginner and advanced-beginner, intermediate and advanced, and high school and tournament levels) for ages 6-16 are helmed by a team of professionals who are carefully chosen to ensure each camper’s safety, skill development, and enjoyment. fscamps.com
The Jeff Nerenberg Tennis Academy features year-round indoor and outdoor instruction for kids ages 5-18, and offers full family clinics, as well as a travel team and summer clinics grouped by age. jeffnerenbergtennisacademy.com
The Manhattan Tennis Academy at the Midtown Tennis Club is the only year-round, multi-court provider of tennis instruction in New York City. From the QuickStart Tennis Program for beginners to the Competitive Training Program for advanced players preparing for high-end match play, the Manhattan Tennis Academy offers participants top-notch instruction at a premier midtown location. manhattantennisacademy.com
NFCH Sports-Tennis for Kids features small, individually-focused indoor tennis classes for kids ages 3-9 at four convenient locations in Manhattan on both the Upper East and West Sides. Classes are grouped by age and skill level. kidstennisatnfchsports.com
The Riverside Clay Tennis Association (RCTA) features a number of joint-friendly clay courts in Riverside Park. In addition to offering RCTA’s Junior “First Serve” program for ages 3-14, throughout the summer the RCTA partners with the Riverside Park Conservancy to provide children ages 4-8 with a tennis camp experience at the 102nd Street Playground on newly installed mini-courts, and children 8-16 take advantage of the RCTA red clay courts. rcta.info
SPORTIME Randall’s Island features a number of programs for youth and adults—including their trademarked JUNIOR TENNIS KINETICS programs—and is home to the esteemed John McEnroe Tennis Academy. With 160,000 square feet of court space and facilities, SPORTIME is the NYC area’s largest tennis facility. sportimeny.com
Tennis Innovators offers indoor programs covering all aspects of tennis with an innovative and fun approach. Players will develop hand-eye coordination and technique during interactive classes. The 10 & Under Tennis Academies are designed to encourage play and a love for the sport in players of any level and age. Plus, a new location at John Jay College (at 59th Street and 10th Avenue) has been added for Summer 2015, in addition to the 28th Street and 2nd Avenue camp location. tennisinnovators.com
The Yorkville Youth Athletic Association (partnered with The Sutton East Tennis Club) offers affordable programs for kids in grades 1-8. The spring tennis season lasts through June, and promises instruction from some of the best tennis pros in town. yyaa.org & suttoneasttennis.com
GOLF
At Brooklyn Junior Golf you can choose from a variety of programs to learn the game: The First Tee, which spans five teaching levels; The Brooklyn Junior Golf Academy, which offers small classes in a golf course environment plus driving range practice; and a Brooklyn Junior Golf Tournament for those looking to compete. brooklyngolfcenter.com
Available at a number of NYC locations (including Chelsea Piers) in addition to locations and chapters nationwide, the First Tee introduces the game of golf and its inherent values to young golfers. The program teaches kids integrity, respect, and perseverance through the sport. In addition to learning fundamentals of the golf swing and the game, the First Tee’s character education and life skills programs help young people prepare for academic and life success as well. thefirstteemetny.org
Future Stars’ summer golf program caters to the abilities and needs of each child, and is available for kids entering grades 3-10. Young golfers are taught the fundamentals of a solid golf swing, including proper grip, body alignment, and posture. Advanced players can work with instructors to develop a consistent repeating motion and to learn mental strategies to apply to the game of golf. Safety, rules of the game, etiquette, and mental strategy are also incorporated into the program. fscamps.com
Located in a 2,000-square-ft indoor training center, the Golf Academy at Chelsea Piers allows kids to perfect their game with afterschool lessons from golf pros. The facility also offers the only multi-tiered, year-round outdoor driving range in Manhattan. A year-round curriculum for elite junior players is offered for those hoping to make the JV or varsity high school golf team.
chelseapiers.com
Private lessons from a PGA Golf Professional are offered by the hour for kids ages 7 and up at Golf Manhattan. Plus, their luxurious golf lounge also features PGA TOUR Simulators. golfmanhattan.com
Kate Tempesta’s Urban Golf Academy (KTUGA) helps kids ages 4 and up learn proper technique, etiquette, and skill in both indoor and outdoor golf settings. The curriculum combines a mixture of putting, driving, pitching, and chipping to help children learn four basic shots using age-appropriate methods. ktuga.com
Registration is currently open for the 2015 Mitchell Spearman Junior Golf Academy’s summer programs, and will run through August. These junior golf summer camps are an opportunity for golfers from the ages of 6-16 to improve their game and reach a more elite level of golfing. Camps divide young golfers into skill level- and age-based groups and focus on everything from the fundamentals of the game to analysis of statistics. spearmanjuniorgolf.com
Randall’s Island Golf Center offers individual and group lessons taught by PGA golf professionals and features more than 80 heated and covered tees, a grass tee area, putting green, and 36-hole miniature golf course. randallsislandgolfcenter.com
FREE PROGRAMS
NYC offers some great options for free golf and tennis for kids. Check ‘em out for budget friendly summer fun!
The New York Junior Tennis League (NYJTL) offers the free Community Tennis Program to all city youths ages 5-18. Featuring seven independent facilities around New York and a cadre of seasoned instructors, the Community Tennis Program is a terrific opportunity for kids seeking additional instruction on their game. Any interested participants should visit their nearest location with a parent or guardian to register. nyjtl.org
The CityParks Foundation offers tennis programs for kids ages 6-16 across 36 city parks in all five boroughs. From beginner lessons to tournament options and advanced leagues, CityParks Tennis has an outlet for anyone, from the everyday neophyte to the seasoned pro. cityparksfoundation.org/sports/tennis
Aspiring golfers ages 6-17 can take advantage of free golf lessons from CityParks Golf, presented by the Rene Lacoste Foundation, held in public parks and courses throughout the five boroughs. Visit the website for the complete schedule. cityparksfoundation.org/sports/golf
