Question for tennis enthusiasts (Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley: HOA, schools, colleges)

[poopycat]

I am researching relocation options and am intrigued by Ventura County. I love the location and I miss the CA lifestyle. The one thing that concerns me is the tennis scene in the area. It doesn’t look like there are many tennis clubs. Tennis is my favorite pastime and finding some players who share that interest and play at a comparable level is important to me.

For those of you who are tennis enthusiasts, do you have sufficient playing opportunities? Are there a few good tennis clubs in the area that offer a good variety of clinics and league opportunities? I play or practice 4-5 days/week right now and would like to maintain that level of activity.

I’d prefer not to join a country club due to the expense but would consider it if that were the only option for finding good tennis. I wouldn’t know anyone in the area so if the club required references from members, I’d be out of luck.

Thanks!

[volosong]

It has been awhile, so things have probably changed. When I lived in VC, Simi Valley and Moorpark had a decent Parks and Rec tennis program. USTA leagues are over the hill in San Fernando Valley, (don't know if there are any USTA leagues in Ventura County). Ojai has some pretty awesome courts downtown and they host a major college tennis tournament every year. And you have Camarillo, where the Bryan twins grew up and where their parents still live, (they are/were coaches). There is a club in Westlake where they have, in addition to hard courts, clay and grass courts. First, and only, time I played on red clay was there. Gave me a whole new appreciation for clay court tennis. It is so different than hard court tennis.

[DKM]

Tennis is all over around me. Public parks, the HOA and a local private club.

https://wac.caclubs.com/tennis

https://www.sunsethillsclub.com/tennis

Sunset Hills doesn't require a reference. I've heard lots of good things about that club (and they have a year round heated outdoor pool).

[chopps]

Here's a breakdown of the clubs in Ventura County.

• Ojai Valley Racquet Club - Ojai
• Pierpont - Ventura
• Sunset Hills - Thousand Oaks
• WAC - Westlake Athletic Club - Westlake

Sunset and Westlake are about 15 mins apart, while Pierpont and Ojai could be a drive depending on where you live. All of those clubs will have leagues and clinics and it's a great way to meet people. I'm no longer a member at one of the clubs and now just play at local parks/schools/colleges.

If you are a player in the USTA 3-4.5 range you will have the most class/leagues available. Anything at the 5.0+ level thins out in terms of access to players.

I would highly recommend picking up a ball machine to work out with while you build up your player contact list as it will take about a year to get a reliable group of people to play with. Check out the app TennisPal

btw: since the pandemic, tennis popularity has increased about 22% from what I read(ball sales) so that is a good thing, except when trying to find a court during prime times (730-10am)

Originally Posted by poopycat

I am researching relocation options and am intrigued by Ventura County. I love the location and I miss the CA lifestyle. The one thing that concerns me is the tennis scene in the area. It doesn’t look like there are many tennis clubs. Tennis is my favorite pastime and finding some players who share that interest and play at a comparable level is important to me.

For those of you who are tennis enthusiasts, do you have sufficient playing opportunities? Are there a few good tennis clubs in the area that offer a good variety of clinics and league opportunities? I play or practice 4-5 days/week right now and would like to maintain that level of activity.

I’d prefer not to join a country club due to the expense but would consider it if that were the only option for finding good tennis. I wouldn’t know anyone in the area so if the club required references from members, I’d be out of luck.

Thanks!

[poopycat]

Originally Posted by DKM

Tennis is all over around me. Public parks, the HOA and a local private club.

https://wac.caclubs.com/tennis

https://www.sunsethillsclub.com/tennis

Sunset Hills doesn't require a reference. I've heard lots of good things about that club (and they have a year round heated outdoor pool).

Thanks so much. Sunset Hills sounds interesting, especially since references aren’t required. I’ve never been a country club member but I love tennis so much that I’d join one for the variety of events that are typically offered at a country club tennis facility.

[poopycat]

Originally Posted by chopps

Here's a breakdown of the clubs in Ventura County.

• Ojai Valley Racquet Club - Ojai
• Pierpont - Ventura
• Sunset Hills - Thousand Oaks
• WAC - Westlake Athletic Club - Westlake

Sunset and Westlake are about 15 mins apart, while Pierpont and Ojai could be a drive depending on where you live. All of those clubs will have leagues and clinics and it's a great way to meet people. I'm no longer a member at one of the clubs and now just play at local parks/schools/colleges.

If you are a player in the USTA 3-4.5 range you will have the most class/leagues available. Anything at the 5.0+ level thins out in terms of access to players.

I would highly recommend picking up a ball machine to work out with while you build up your player contact list as it will take about a year to get a reliable group of people to play with. Check out the app TennisPal

btw: since the pandemic, tennis popularity has increased about 22% from what I read(ball sales) so that is a good thing, except when trying to find a court during prime times (730-10am)

Thank you - I will look up all of these places. I’m a 4.0 so I’m guessing I wouldn’t have trouble finding clinics in the area. Hopefully I could find a league and a team that might need players.

You’re right, it can take a while to get a nice inner circle of tennis friends. I’m stuck in a Midwestern town where people tend to live here all their lives. As a newcomer, it has been tough to break in since league players have been together for years, if not decades. I attend a ton of clinics because I’ve had a hard time breaking into a tennis circle and finding a regular group to play with. I hope it won’t be quite as hard in CA.

[NORTY FLATZ]

Ever play on clay?

[poopycat]

Originally Posted by NORTY FLATZ

Ever play on clay?

Yes, I’ve played on clay quite a few times.

[NORTY FLATZ]

Originally Posted by poopycat

Yes, I’ve played on clay quite a few times.

Is playing on clay, a priority for you?