While you may not find country clubs within the city limits to lure your kids into playing tennis and golf, New York does offer sprawling greens and top tennis facilities that let them tee-off or racquet around. Here’s a slew of courts and courses to inspire and perfect their game.
GOLF
Brooklyn Golf Center
The center’s Brooklyn Junior Golf Skills Academy offers afterschool and weekend programs for young golfers in a small group setting. Each session hones in on a specific aspect of the game and children receive personalized practice programs, which are designed to monitor their skill level. brooklyngolfcenter.com
The Golf Club at Chelsea Piers
Located in a 2,000-square-foot indoor training center, The Golf Academy at Chelsea Piers allows kids to practice their swing with afterschool lessons from the 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 eyeing the JV or varsity high school team. Summer camps and family clinics are also available. chelseapiers.com
CityParks Golf
Aspiring golfers ages 6-17 can take advantage of gratis golf lessons held in public parks and courses throughout the five boroughs from May through September. CityParks Junior Golf Center, which includes a six-hole golf course and a covered driving range, is automatically available to children who enroll in one of their many golf programs. cityparksfoundation.org
The First Tee of Metropolitan New York
Offering golf instruction for kids ages seven and up throughout the five boroughs, athletes at The First Tee progress through a six-level program designed to teach golf essentials and important life skills. Registration for the summer session begins at the end of June. thefirstteemetny.org
Golf Manhattan
This luxurious indoor golf lounge features PGA TOUR Simulators, which allow golfers to play over 50 championship courses. Private lessons by a PGA golf professional are offered by the hour for kids ages seven and up.golfmanhattan.com
Kate Tempesta’s Urban Golf Academy (KTUGA)
Founded by Kate Tempesta—deemed a Top Young Instructor by Golf Digest—KTUGA helps kids ages four and up learn proper technique, etiquette and skill in both indoor and outdoor 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
Randall’s Island Golf Center
Individual and group lessons are offered by PGA golf professionals. The center features over 80 heated and covered tees, a grass tee area, putting green and 36-hole miniature golf course. A Junior Golf Clinic is also offered on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and kids can sign up for The Kelley Brooke Golf Camp to learn basic golf skills via mini golf. randallsislandgolfcenter.com
TENNIS
Advantage Tennis Clubs
Members have access to several tennis clubs including the Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club, the New York Tennis Club and the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. Kids ages 6-17 can enroll in the Advantage All-City Junior Tennis Camp, a 12-week program that combines tennis instruction and other recreational sports play. advantagetennisclubs.com
BumbleBee Tennis
A program for every player! Ages 2-4 should attend Tiny Toddler, a great introduction to footwork and hitting drills. Ages 4-7 can sign up for Tiny Tennis, and ages 7-10 will learn more advanced skills, like core tennis strokes, in Mini Aces. A summer camp is also available. bumblebeetennis.com
Central Park Tennis Center
Private, group lessons and afterschool programs are available for ages 4-7 and 8-15. Kids can also sign up for a Tiny Tots summer camp (ages 4-7) or a Junior Camp (ages 6-16). The facility features 26 newly reconditioned Har-tru courts and four hard courts, generally available for the season, which runs through November. centralparktenniscenter.com
CityParks Tennis
This summer, the City Parks Foundation will offer free tennis lessons to more than 7,000 children (ages 5-16) citywide. Free use of equipment is available at more than 36 parks. A beginner’s tournament concludes the Central Park Tennis Center program, and for intermediates, the Chase Aces Tournament is held at the Flushing Meadows Tennis Center in mid-August. cityparksfoundation.org
Riverside Clay Tennis Association
Ten beginner red-clay tennis court lessons are offered for member children and grandchildren, ages 3-9. Children ages 10-18 who are serious about tennis can try out for the Junior Ace Program, available afterschool in the spring and fall. rcta.info
SPORTIME Randall’s Island
This impressive facility includes 20 indoor/outdoor hard courts, a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse, and a fitness and training center. SPORTIME’s Junior Tennis program and John McEnroe Tennis Academy for Elite Players are designed to excite kids about the world of tennis and nurture young players into world-class athletes. Summer camp sessions are also offered. sportimeny.com
Sutton East Tennis Club
Sutton East’s Pee Wee program introduces the sport to ages 3-6 in a small group setting, while ages 8-18 can sign up for a Pre-Junior Development program, where the size of the net and racquets are modified for young players. A Junior Development Program for ages 8-18 lets kids learn more advanced skills, and those with two years of experience can sign up for Junior Matchplay to compete in practice matches. suttoneasttennis.com
Yorkville Youth Athletic Association
Beginner and advanced group lessons are offered by the Sutton East Tennis Club for a bargain, generally for kids in second to fifth grade. yyaa.org
NOW FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE EXTREME
By Gavriella Mahpour
The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games are edging near, so we’ve found some of the city’s best extreme sports programs to inspire gold medalists of every age.
The Junior Olympic Archery Development Program is perfect for kids ages 18 and under who want to shoot like Robin Hood (or Katniss Everdeen). bigapplearchery.com
CLIMBING | Alley Pond Park Adventure Course
Designed for kids ages eight and up, this free outdoor ropes course features a climbing and bouldering wall, zip-line, nets, a trust fall station and balance platforms. Reservations are recommended. nycgovparks.org
CYCLING | Bike New York
During Bike New York’s Bike Bonanzas, kids can participate in free riding clinics, a bike driver’s ed class, and a bike swap where they can trade in their old ride for a better model. bikenewyork.org
FENCING | Manhattan Fencing Center
This center offers beginner saber and foil camps for kids ages seven and up—en garde! manhattanfencing.com
KAYAKING | The Downtown Boathouse
This non-profit org offers free kayaking (and introductory lessons on Wednesdays) for families during the summer months at various piers around the city. downtownboathouse.org
SAILING | Atlantic Yachting
Ages 9-15 learn nautical basics in a safe atmosphere thanks to their NYC Summer Sailing Camp. atlanticyachting.com
SKATEBOARDING | Skateboarding School
With classes ranging from beginner to advanced, the Skateboarding School provides group and private sessions for kids looking to shred like a pro. skateboardingschool.com
TRAPEZE | STREB
With classes like Baby Action, Kid Action, German Wheel and Kid Fly, “extremists” ages 12 and under can learn daring acrobatics and trapeze skills at this Brooklyn-based center. streb.org
Photo by Scott McDermott
