Your 2015 Guide to Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Top Clubs & Programs

January 16, 2015 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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Long Island tennis players have great choices when it comes to where to play tennis. Below is a list of Long Island Tennis Magazine’s top clubs and programs with descriptions of what each has to offer.

 



 

Bethpage Park Tennis Center
99 Quaker Meeting House Road, Building #4 ♦ Farmingdale, N.Y.

(516) 777-1385
Bethpage Park Tennis Center is located just a few hundred feet from the Black Course at beautiful Bethpage State Park, which has served as home to the U.S. Golf Open. Four indoor hard courts and four indoor red clay courts are air-conditioned for year-round play, along with two outdoor Har-Tru courts.

The Tennis Center offers an array of adult seasonal, leagues, lessons and walk-on court opportunities. It’s free and low-cost program for seniors and special populations is perhaps the largest of its kind in New York State. The Center is best known for its renowned junior development program, led by top coaches Steve Kaplan and Keith Kambourian. Collectively, they have developed more players than anyone else in the east.

Steve is the owner of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, as well as the director of Lacoste Academy for New York City Parks Foundation. Over the last 37 years, Steve has been the long-time coach of more than 800 nationally-ranked junior players, 16 state high school singles champions, two NCAA Division I Singles Champions, and numerous touring professionals and prominent coaches. Steve's students have been awarded in excess of $8 million in college scholarship money.

Keith, co-owner of the club, is a voice of reason in the often-stressful world of junior tournament tennis. His outlook has enabled Keith to excel as both a player and a coach. He was ranked in the top 30 nationally in the Boy’s 18 Division. His playing career flourished at Duke University, where he received a full scholarship and was ranked nationally among the best collegiate players. He directed the Reebok Urban Youth Tennis Academy at Flushing Meadows, N.Y. and has since coached players from beginners to international touring professionals. In 1998, he was awarded the ETA Long Island Region Tennis Professional of the Year Award. Keith has a Master’s Degree is Sports Management. His level-headed approach to junior tennis ensures that students develop and maintain a positive and productive mental outlook.

In the summer, the finest players in the east join us for summer camp on four indoor hard courts and four indoor red clay courts that are air-conditioned, along with two outdoor Har-Tru courts. Lunch is provided and transportation is available. While our standards are high … our prerequisites are not! We charge no membership fee and encourage and value our beginners equally with our nationally-ranked players. All we require at the Bethpage Park Tennis Center is the desire to attend a serious tennis camp and to learn in an intensive, personal and fun environment … and the drive to achieve your personal best!



 

Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy
188 Maple Avenue ♦ Rockville Centre, N.Y.
(516) 763-1299, ext. 10
www.catsny.com ♦​ catsrvc@gmail.com

The Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy is proud to be the first of its kind on Long Island devoted entirely to the USTA’s 10 & Under Tennis Program.

We feature three state-of-the-art QuickStart, U.S. Open blue green courts. We offer professional tennis programs for group, semi private and private lessons, plus birthday parties and special events.

Directed by former U.S. National Amateur Champion and former top 70 player, the Butch Seewagen Tennis Academy will use the USTA and the International Tennis Federation QuickStart tennis guidelines. This progressive curriculum will focus on developing children’s tennis skills on a size-appropriate scale, utilizing smaller courts, low compression balls and smaller rackets. Drills and games will be played with particular emphasis on developing skill sets in a fun environment.



 

Carefree Racquet Club
1414 Jerusalem Avenue, #1 ♦ North Merrick, N.Y.
(516) 489-9005 ♦ http://www.carefreetennis.com

Carefree Racquet Club is Long Island’s premier indoor tennis club. With our beautiful redone lobby along with our constant upgrading, we cannot be matched. Carefree has seven indoor tennis courts, two racquetball courts and a half-court basketball court. League Coordinator Debbie Cichon offers adult singles, doubles and team doubles leagues that are always on level to insure you a good game every time you play. Carefree has many USTA teams in the adult, senior, mixed-doubles and Tri-Level leagues. For those new to the game or just want to improve, we have 14-week learn and play groups. Players get an hour lesson each week, along with an hour-and-a-half of practice time each week. For players looking for a more relaxed social atmosphere, Karen Guigliano has her parties on Friday nights where food is served and Karen arranges all games for the night.

Jean Tanklowitz, senior program coordinator, has many retired or people that simply have a flexible schedule, playing Monday through Thursday in the afternoon. All games are arranged by Jean.

For junior players, Ronny D’Alessandro, Carefree’s director of tennis, coordinates the Junior Development Program, a 14-week program starting at age five and running through the age of 18. Children can take group, semi-private or private lessons and get practice time and ladder match play as well. New this year is our high school program that Ronny started for children that play on their school team. Carefree also offers a QuickStart tot program for children ages three to five years old. This adorable program uses all the props to keep the children’s attention and is unmatched by any other club.

Carefree Racquet Club is managed by Kathy Miller, who is also the Long Island USTA Adult, Senior, Super Senior, Mixed and Tri-Level League Coordinator. Kathy, along with her assistant manager, Pat McIlwee, pride themselves on the organization and smooth running of the best indoor club on Long Island that has never and continues to NOT charge membership fees. So if you are looking to join a program or just rent a court now and then, we would love to see you at Carefree!



 

Centercourt Performance Tennis Academy
65 Columbia Road ♦ Morristown, NJ
www.centercourtacademy.com
(973) 539-2054 ♦​ 
clay@centercourtclub.com
The Centercourt Performance Tennis Academy (CPTA) is a one-of-a-kind facility fully dedicated to the development and performance of student athletes. CPTA utilizes 11 hard courts, one red clay court, a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning room, and an academic center.

We know that if you want to improve, you need to train. While you don’t have to be exceptionally talented, you do need to be seriously committed to your training.

Our mission is to help every student-athlete we train realize his or her full potential; athletically, academically and within life itself. We believe that the trials and tribulations that our student-athletes endure in the tennis pathway will develop our young athletes into leaders on and off the court.

CPTA curriculum features on-court and off-court lesson programs, which include comprehensive tennis instruction, complimented with both physical and mental conditioning conducted by our performance specialists. Total athletic training programs are designed to increase player development and facilitate higher overall performance by incorporating mental toughness, nutrition counseling, speed/movement, communication, and vision/reaction skills in all of our players.

Our culture is simple. We live the sport! Continually striving for improvement, we work to get the most out of all our players. If you are serious about your tennis and want to be the best athlete you can possibly be, you owe it to yourself to experience CPTA first hand and discover what makes us the Northeast’s premier sports training destination!



 

Early Hit Training Center
95 Glen Head Road ♦ Glen Head, N.Y.

(516) 455-1225

The Early Hit Training Center is located at 95 Glen Head Road in Glen Head, N.Y.

 

Home of the ALPS Program, they specialize in accelerated learning through a combination of private lessons, group sessions and physical training in tennis-specific exercises. The program was designed by Carl Barnett with the help of Pat Etcheberry.

The program focuses on the players and their need for accessible court time, coupled with a flexible schedule and parent-friendly budget. Early Hit also features a 6:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. adult program that is open Friday thru Monday. Late Hit is on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

During the indoor season, Early Hit is a terrific value. They feature a fabulous summer camp, pro shop, restaurant and private training all year long.

 



 

Evert Tennis Academy
10334 Diego Drive South ♦ Boca Raton, Fla.
www.evertacademy.com

(561) 488-2001 or (800) 41SERVE
As the proud home to more than 15 Grand Slam participants and 100 Division I college athletes, Evert Tennis Academy (ETA) has a proven record of success in developing champions. Chris Evert, tennis legend and winner of 18 Grand Slam titles, and John Evert, world-renowned developmental coach and ETA director, believe in designing personalized programs that consist of a strategic balance between technical, tactical, mental and physical training. Their unmatched expertise and experience with all facets of the junior, college, and professional ranks will provide students with the necessary tools to thrive in their tennis careers.

The Full-Time Academy: Recognized as the standard in player development and personal character growth, ETA’s full-time training program is geared towards players committed to maximizing their potential both on and off the court. Chrissie and John pride themselves on handpicking some of the finest developmental coaches working in the sport. The training students receive at ETA will not only provide them with all the necessary physical and mental tools they require to succeed in the game of tennis, but also in the game of life. We are renowned for constructing personalized programs to help all our students achieve their playing and career goals. ETA coaches provide on-court training that is focused and intensive, balanced with off-court mental and physical conditioning that is unparalleled in the industry.

Summer Camp and Weekly/Monthly/Holiday/Spring Break Training: ETA’s Summer Camp is a hybrid program that affords the same expert coaching staff and championship philosophy to summer campers that is present throughout the year. Intermediate to advanced tournament players who aspire to capture that last spot on the school team or even earn a college scholarship achieve incredible results through ETA’s Summer Camps.

ETA provides weekly and monthly programs for those players wanting to experience our expert training during the school year or holiday recess. Weekly and monthly sessions provide a melting pot of cultures, as students travel from all over the world to train with the country’s leading coaches.

Facilities: ETA’s location in Boca Raton puts it in the heart of the tennis capital of the United States. There’s not another area of the country than can boast as many tournaments or depth of tennis talent. When players are serious about maximizing their abilities, this is where they come to train and ETA’s facilities have everything to meet their demands, including: On-campus dormitories; academic institutions on campus; 23 on-campus courts, including 14 Har-Tru (clay) and nine hard courts; additional Har-Tru and hard courts off-site; a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning center; and a student lounge and game room.



 

Great Neck Estates Tennis Club
12 Shore Drive ♦​ 
Great Neck, N.Y.
(516) 233-2790

Great Neck Estates Tennis Club is located in the scenic Great Neck Estates Waterfront Park. The lobby and front desk area of the Club provides players with an incredible view of New York City. This new tennis center features a brand-new, fully-insulated air structure and five Har-Tru courts. The air structure, manufactured by the world famous Farley Group of Canada, is the most advanced air structure of its kind and provides a tennis experience second to none. When players walk onto the court, they are instantly amazed by the quality of the lighting system.

What truly makes a facility excellent are the people who create, direct and instruct the programs. Both Howie Arons and Willie Notar have an incredible passion for tennis and for what players expect their tennis experience to be like. For the past 38 years, Arons has been one of the most successful coaches in the Eastern Section. Willie Notar has been a standout in Eastern tennis since 1980. In addition to running adult and junior programs at Great Neck Estates, Willie is also the head pro at Fresh Meadows Country Club where he currently coaches some of the area’s top senior men.

From QuickStart to tournament training, New York tennis at Great Neck Estates is striving to offer junior tennis players the best tennis experience. Arons stated, “Our goal is to motivate our juniors to want to be the best they can be. Whether the player wants to play every day with passion to improve for tournament play, or just once a week to have fun, we get it. Our pro staff is amazing and each day, we strive to bring out the best in all of our players.”

The club’s weekend junior tournament training programs is its trademark. On both Saturdays and Sundays, a three-hour tournament training program is offered, consisting two-hour lesson/drill followed by a full set of tennis. The session includes rigorous competitive drills, point play and fitness, and then each player participates in a ladder match. The results of the ladder match determines the player’s court next week. This type of experience weekly prepares juniors for both high school and tournament tennis.

During the mornings and early afternoons, Willie Notar organizes and directs programs for adult players. To burn calories, there is Boot Camp, a rigorous drill ($25 per session) that will give you that cardio boost. For players in the evenings, there are men’s drill and play leagues, or you can come in with a friend and book a court for an evening on an open or seasonal basis.

Come in and visit the all-new Great Neck Estates Tennis Club and see one of the finest tennis facilities on Long Island. From beginners to experienced tennis enthusiasts, Great Neck Estates would love to serve your tennis needs.



 

John McEnroe Tennis Academy
Long Island, Manhattan and Westchester
(212) 427-6150
www.johnmcenroetennisacademy.com
 info@sportimeny.com
Building hometown champions
In September 2010, tennis legend John McEnroe launched the John McEnroe Tennis Academy in his hometown of New York City at the SPORTIME Randall's Island Tennis Center in Manhattan. SPORTIME Randall's Island is the flagship location for the Academy and for SPORTIME's 13 clubs.  To date, JMTA has developed hundreds of Division I college scholarship recipients, as well as a Wimbledon Junior and U.S. National Champion and an NCAA number one player.

John McEnroe and SPORTIME have assembled a talented staff of world-class teaching, coaching and fitness professionals, who have joined together to make John's vision of a New York based, non-residential tennis academy a reality. The John McEnroe Tennis Academy’s mission is to develop world-class players, to excite New Yorkers, especially kids, about the game of tennis and to provide opportunities to motivated and deserving NYC area kids—young players who would not otherwise have the resources to reach their full potential as players and scholar-athletes.

JMTA professionals work as a team to deliver a training program that assures the best possible outcome for serious junior players; a program enables JMTA players to make the most of their abilities, while supporting them in their academic pursuits and in living balanced, healthy lives.

In September 2012, JMTA expanded its geographic reach to SPORTIME locations in Westchester and on Long Island: SPORTIME Lake Isle, a brand-new eight-court, state-of-the art year-round facility in Eastchester, N.Y. in lower Westchester; and SPORTIME Syosset in central Long Island, an eleven-court indoor facility that has long been SPORTIME's Long Island tennis Mecca. Find out more at www.johnmcenroetennisacademy.com.



 

Point Set Indoor Racquet Club
3065 New Street ♦ Oceanside, N.Y.
(516) 536-2323 ♦ 
www.pointsetracquetclub.com
Extreme makeover … tennis club edition! Upgrade yourself by enjoying the all new U.S. Open blue tennis courts, gleaming locker rooms, renovated lobby/office and redesigned social space of post-storm Point Set Indoor Racquet Club! A state-of-the-art, spare no expense renovation out of respect to our customers!

With 350-plus juniors in developmental programs, 60-plus QuickStart Pee-Wees, 500-plus adult players in leagues/contracts/drills, Point Set Racquet Club is working towards fulfilling its mission statement:

Point Set aspires to be the most vibrant tennis club on the South Shore by integrating heart with sport in the community.

The dedicated Dream Team staff of tennis professionals administers a top tier Tournament Training Program (TTP) for three levels of junior competitors. It addresses all aspects of competition: drills, match play, fitness and mental toughness.

See what a difference the Point Set staff delivers as the facility has added air-conditioning for a controlled climate for play year-round!

Point Set Indoor Racquet Club recognizes that customers are our most important asset. The collegial relationship of the staff, on and off the court, translates into a friendly environment for our customers. We are a full-service club and your gateway to challenging yourself to explore, enjoy and improve yourself through the great sport of tennis. Experience the difference a supportive environment makes! Come play at Point Set where fun meets fitness.



 

Port Washington Tennis Academy
100 Harbor Road  ♦ Port Washington, N.Y.
(516) 883-6425 ♦ 
www.pwta.com
The Port Washington Tennis Academy (PWTA) is dedicated to young people, primarily from the ages of four through 18. PWTA was created in 1966 as a non-profit facility to use tennis as a means of fostering educational success for children, by developing a stimulating lifelong activity that is fun, healthy, and scholastically and socially beneficial. This is accomplished by utilizing specialized techniques with a wide range of instructional programs, special in-house competitions and several USTA-sanctioned tournaments. Additionally, graduating high school seniors get the benefit of PWTA’s many years of experiences and up-to-date knowledge of schools, teams and coaches when it comes to identifying, selecting and the eventual placement at a university meeting their individual capabilities and goals. While PWTA is well-known for many world-class professional players graduating from its programs, encouraging educational excellence will always be the club’s main focus.

PWTA also offers an extensive variety of adult programs at all levels. Men's and women's daytime and evening leagues, private lessons, group clinics (three players plus a professional), seasonal courts, including instructional and season-ending doubles play sessions, are just part of the club’s broad spectrum of activities.

PWTA is the largest indoor tennis facility on the East Coast, with 17 indoor courts (four hard and 13 Har-Tru) and a unique elevated quarter mile-long indoor running track. PWTA also provides many extras not found as part of a teaching program, such as an international teaching staff, closed-circuit TV for each court, upper TV lounge for relaxed viewing, spectator viewing galleries to ensure full visibility of every court, comfortable lounge areas, extensive men's and women's locker rooms, meeting rooms, etc. Complimentary coffee, tea, milk, cookies, juice and potassium rich bananas are always available to PWTA members. In addition, the Academy has a fully-stocked pro shop to meet the needs of members. For more information, call (516) 883-6425 or visit www.pwta.com.



 

Ross School Tennis Center
18 Goodfriend Drive  ♦ East Hampton, N.Y.
(631) 907-5162 ♦​
 www.ross.org/tennis
The Ross School Tennis Center, located on the Upper School campus in East Hampton, NY, is a wonderful resource in the Hamptons open to seasonal and year-round residents. The Center features six Har-Tru tennis courts that are enclosed by a bubble from mid-fall through mid-spring, allowing for year-round play. The courts are directly adjacent to the beautiful, state-of-the-art Fieldhouse where players can take advantage of its many amenities, including locker rooms, lounge, snack bar, and ping pong tables. The Fieldhouse is also used for a variety of special events and is available for private parties.

Jump Start Program is a junior program allows children to develop spatial awareness, movement, and locomotor skills using appropriately sized rackets. They learn how to volley, throw, catch and rally, building a foundation not only for tennis, but for any future athletic activities.

Junior Development Program offers games and level-specific drills and training for building a strong foundation. Designed with having fun in mind, the program improves skills and motivates young players into continuing the sport.

Accelerated Tournament Preparation features drills, tennis-specific conditioning and game strategy designed specifically to prepare advanced players for junior tournaments and match play.

High Performance (summer only) for ages 10–17, is offered to players who are current USTA members and have some tournament experience. Try-outs required.

Ross School Tennis Academy (RSTA) offers an unusual and dynamic program for national and international junior players that combines an engaging, global curriculum with the highest level of competitive tennis training available. Designed for USTA/ITF players in grades 7-12 and post-graduates, the RSTA is the first in the New York City area to have a full academic program with a complete physical and mental conditioning program. Students who attend the Academy experience high-performance tennis training while studying alongside their peers in a stimulating, college preparatory, learning community following a regular academic year. RSTA Summer is an invitation only program for USTA/ITF and professional players. Boarding options are available.

Adults have many programs to choose from at the Ross School Tennis Center, including Adult Clinics for all levels in the mornings and evenings, as well as the Pro-Am Doubles League on Tuesday nights, which allows advanced players to compete with and against the pros in a competitive, high-level game.

Private instruction is available for all levels of play. The Tennis Center staff provides a fun and supportive atmosphere that allows for the greatest amount of success. Guests can also rent courts during the weekday, weekend, or seasonally. Call (631) 907-5162 for more information or to make reservations.



 

Saddlebrook Resort
5700 Saddlebrook Way ♦ Wesley Chapel, Fla.

(813) 973-1111
Saddlebrook Resort is a mecca of tennis, located 25 miles north of Tampa International Airport. The resort has three restaurants, more than 600 well-appointed rooms, shops, a half-million gallon super pool with inviting hot tubs, 45 tennis courts, a European spa & two 18-hole Arnold Palmer signature golf courses, Centralizing all of the major amenities creates what the resort names as the "Walking Village."

The tennis program is considered to be the mother of all hardcore tennis camps, however the resort amenities certainly provide for welcome relief after hours from the intense rigors of the daily on-court intensive instruction. Adult and junior athletes work on technique, shot section, singles and doubles strategy, and utilizing the geometry of the court.

Court ratios never exceed a 4:1 ratio, and the professional staff are very cognizant of placing athletes in their correct ability levels by court. It is not unusual to see members of the United States Davis Cup team on the courts, including John Isner, Mike & Bob Bryan, Tim Smyczek, and up and coming stars such as Alex Zverev. Performance specialist Kyle Morgan heads up an elite off-court training program for those wishing to improve their overall conditioning, strength and movement skills. The program operates 365 days a year and has a sports specialty reservations office to take care of your needs and requirements.



 

SPORTIME Tennis Clubs
12 locations across Long Island, Manhattan, Westchester and the Capital Region
(888) NY-TENNIS
www.SportimeNY.com/tennis ♦ 
info@sportimeny.com
SPORTIME’s courts, programs, coaches, facilities and club environments have set the standard of excellence since 1989, and we are getting better every year. With over 162 hard and soft surface courts, indoors and outdoors, we offer great tennis programs and facilities for players of all ages and abilities. When you are at a SPORTIME club you won’t want to leave! To find out more, go to www.sportimeny.com.

Programs for everyone
Juniors: From our new Tennis Whizz program for preschoolers, to our SPORTIME U10 tennis pathways for our red and orange level players, to our Junior Tennis Kinetics and EXCEL Tennis—programs for our green and yellow level juniors, to SPORTIME’s ultimate opportunity to train with New York tennis icon Johnny Mac and the John McEnroe Tennis Academy team at Randall’s Island and at our JMTA Annex locations in Syosset on Long Island and at Lake Isle, Eastchester in Lower Westchester, SPORTIME offers a complete menu of tennis programming for every level of play. Our games approach gets kids playing fast and blends technical and tactical learning and coaching from the very first lesson.  SPORTIME  students turn their weaknesses into strengths and their strengths into winning games!

Adults: SPORTIME‘s Adult Tennis Kinetics program is the largest adult group lesson program in the country. For those looking for the ultimate challenge, we offer Adult EXCEL, modeled after our highly successful Junior EXCEL and JMTA programs. Major League Tennis, Cardio Tennis, and our signature “Zone” high-intensity competitive games program all provide great workouts and skills development and are a lot of fun! Mixed doubles parties, round robin mixers, club tournaments and other special events round out our adult schedule throughout the year.

We offer SPORTIME Camps
SPORTIME offers the best tennis camps anywhere and we have a camp location near you! SPORTIME summer camps and Excel player development camps utilize our fun and fast-paced training methods, competitive games, technical instruction and tactical training for match play, along with tennis-specific conditioning tailored to all camper levels. SPORTIME campers develop positive self-esteem and a laser-like focus, while having FUN! We also offer Multi-Sport camps and school break camps.

 



 

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Flushing Meadows Corona Park ♦ Flushing, N.Y.
(718) 760-6200 ♦ 
www.ntc.usta.com
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, home of the U.S. Open, is one of the world’s largest public tennis facilities, offering year-round programs for all ages and skill levels. We have 18 outdoor courts, 12 indoor courts, four bubbled clay courts, four stadium courts and five outdoor 10 & Under courts on our new DeckZone, all of which are available for public, year-round rental.

The National Tennis Center’s year-round programs encompass 10 & Under Tennis, for players as young as four-years-old, Junior Development, Tennis Academy, Summer Camps, Cardio Tennis, Drill & Play, private lessons and seasonal court time. Programs teach the necessary skills, techniques, tactics, and sports conditioning geared to maximizing the learning experience in a fun presentation. As players develop, they are advanced to more challenging groups. The NTC also offers a variety of adult and senior programs, as well as a weekly wheelchair tennis program.

The National Tennis Center is also the home of USTA Training Center–East, one of USTA Player Development’s three national training centers, and additional Player Development programs for top-ranking juniors residing in the Northeast. Last year, the Training Center–East recently began its open “Feeder Program” for players ages nine through 13, which holds open tryouts twice per year for players to eventually enter into the USTA Player Development training program.

Further, the National Tennis Center partners with local National Junior Tennis & Learning chapters and the CityParks Foundation to host a diverse collection of youth programs, such as alternative classroom learning opportunities for local students, life skills curriculum, SAT preparation and a speaker series that has featured such guests as former Grand Slam champion Virginia Wade. The NTC also offers year-round daytime school programs and hosts many corporate and special events.

Detailed information regarding our programs, availability and special events can be found at www.NTC.USTA.com.


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
USTA NTC
Century

March/April 2024 Digital Edition