Though back-to-school ads may be popping up all over the place, the start of August doesn’t mean that summer is over just yet. In fact, the dog days of summer’s third month are perfect for enjoying the time-tested tradition of lawn games. From bocce to badminton, there are plenty of ways to enjoy these beloved summer sports and games!
Brooklyn Badminton: If you’re looking to swing a racket, Brooklyn Badminton’s eight courts are ready for you. An established club, Brooklyn Badminton is packed with badminton experts who can help train and give essential tips to the newbies. When you stop by, you can buy some equipment (they create bulk orders to get you better prices), get your racket restrung on-site, or just play the day away. If you get a little obsessed with the sport, you can even get a membership and save a some money on your court time. brooklynbadminton.com
New York City Badminton: New York City Badminton has four locations (two in Manhattan and two in Queens) to choose from. The club’s coach, Chibing Wu, is no stranger to instruction: He coached the Spain National Olympic team and has won and placed in several tournaments. The club (as a unit) hosts three major tournaments throughout the year, and also provides classes for all different skill levels, as well as a summer camp. The club welcomes all levels of player–from beginner to international champion. newyorkcitybadminton.com
The Brooklyn Croquet and Hunt Club: Their “hunt” may be postponed until further notice, but they’re still meeting to play croquet nearly every Sunday in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. This club gives beginners an opportunity to learn the 150-year-old sport and practice at it for free. If you want, dress up in your croquet whites (throwback fashion is encouraged), especially in its effort to bring back some of Brooklyn’s oldest traditions. You can also order a custom-made mallet through their site (and through their supplier, Madera Trade) so you can use your own equipment as you enjoy one of the world’s first mixed-gender sporting events. brooklyncroquet.org
Bocce in the Parks: Nothing like a public bocce court to get you pumped to play the sport. This fun Italian sport can be played in several parks across all five boroughs. On the public courts, be on the lookout for tournaments if you want to boast your skill. If that’s not really your kind of thing, as long as there’s no tournament, all park bocce courts operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with no permits necessary. Check the NYC parks website for a list of all the facilities where you can get your bocce on. nycgovparks.org/facilities/bocce
Volleyball Courts in the Parks: Another win for public parks! At any of the parks listed here, you can find a volleyball court ready for use in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx. Check out the sand courts in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the sand or two asphalt courts in Central Park, or any other number of courts across the park system. And don’t forget open grass fields in certain parks—bring your own net and ball and you’re good to go. nycgovparks.org/facilities/volleyball
Fat Cat: This hip club in the West Village opens its doors as a bar at night, but often it’s open for gaming in the earlier hours. Before 10pm on Friday and Saturday (after which point the club becomes 21 and up), anyone of any age can participate in a variety of table games, including shuffleboard, foosball, checkers, scrabble, pool, and more. You pay by the hour for table games, a little more on Friday and Saturday (though not much more). There are definitely enough games to keep your whole family occupied for hours. fatcatmusic.org/gaming
Set it up Yourself: A lot of fun lawn games may not have leagues or official meeting places in the city, but are easy to set up, learn, and play all on your own (whether your at your beach or country house, or just chilling in your park of choice). Stick with a classic game like cornhole, or switch it up with KanJam, Ladder Golf, or anything else that catches your fancy. First, purchase (or build!) the desired game. After that, all you need is a sizable (but not huge) patch of grass in whatever park is closest to home. Just make sure you don’t use a soccer field (you need permits for those)!
