I just started learning to play tennis but have been tennis curious for over a decade. This is a…read morehidden gem, the most beautiful tennis court in Oakland, tucked in a former quarry among eucalyptus trees that provide shade. For tennis lore, check out the wooden clubhouse built by the WPA in the 1930s. Book a court online for popular times in tie afternoon / evening / weekends, or walk on in the daytime.

This place is beautifully located in a canyon surrounded by eucalyptus trees complete with birds…read moreflying overhead. I came here for the first time on Friday night and boy was I impressed. I felt like I had traveled to some secret tennis haven as my tennis partner and I were the only ones for much of the time we were out there. And, best of all this place was ranked as one of the best tennis facilities by the USTA sometime in the early 80's. I can picture it now...all these 80's kids with their white short shorts and sweaters and wooden rackets...Those were the glory days. I am sure of it.

Give Jack and Richard a raise! This store is a a dream. The selection is unmatched, everything is…read moreso well organized and everyone that works there is genuinely so kind, helpful and knowledgeable. Highly recommend their demo program if you're unsure of what type of raquet you want, they have all the best new ones to try out. Can't give them high enough praise for helping us choose new raquets and doing a great, fast restringing job. Feels like you're friendly neighborhood spot where we always love shooting the breeze with the guys about the love of tennis!

This place is the best! Shout out to all the young guys that are usually working there - they're…read morealways happy to help answer all my tennis racket/string questions! I recently did the racket demo program. It is awesome, you get 30 days to try as many rackets as you'd like, 3 at a time, for $40. The $40 is like a down payment toward the racket you eventually end up choosing! Bryce helped me out the first time I came in - gave me all the basics in a very friendly and approachable way! I swapped rackets many times lol and it was always pretty quick and easy. Anytime I needed a recommendation, I felt like I could trust what they were telling me from their own tennis experience! I ended up getting a Head Gravity racket with pretty blue, Mach 10 strings to match lol - I couldn't be more pleased with my choice! The price match they offer can also be handy - even though they ended up having the cheapest prices in store when I went, it's good to keep in mind if you happen to see a cheaper price online, they'll honor it, according to their policy! Tennis can be expensive haha so just keep this policy in mind! They're a small shop but I feel good supporting local! Sometimes they might not have what you're looking for, but they're happy to get it from their other location/order it for you and they're always really good about calling you when your item or racket is ready! For example, they had to get my racket and some racket head protection tape from their other store, on different occasions. They called me each time when it was ready. For your fellow tennis lovers, keep this place in mind - they have gift cards! I actually got a gift card for my birthday lol that I used towards my new racket. I also bought tennis balls here as part of my tennis friend's birthday gift - recommended by Bryce - and they ended up being great balls! Dunlop Grand Prix! I will always appreciate the help, knowledge/recs, and friendly service from Courtside - come support them if you need anything for tennis!

I had a tennis match recently where I had a minor toe injury that I realized might be due to my…read moretennis shoes. I thought I should go to a local store and get some advice on shoes. Tom was super helpful. He recommended wide shoes and also helped measure my shoe size since it can be different for wide shoes, and it totally was. The shoes were reasonably priced and comparable to anything you can find online. But you can't beat a personalized shopping experience with Tom, who helped explain what different brands offer shoe-wise and also measured my feet to be sure. Tom is a true gem and it's always awesome to support a local business with owners like him who have a true passion for what they do. He used to own a bigger store downstairs but during the pandemic, his business suffered and now he's upstairs but still clearly knows all of his tennis stuff. I would definitely come back to support his business whenever I need tennis gear. The only downside is that parking is street parking and you do have to pay for it.

Great shop! As a pickleball player, I appreciated the expert advice and personal service. Quality…read moregear and honest recommendations.

Chabot just had a facelift over the summer and probably has the best courts in the East Bay. The…read morestaff is caring and the pros are great. The best part of the club is its sense of community and lack of tennis snobbery. I joined because Chabot truly reflects the diversity of the East Bay. It also has the lowest membership cost, which makes it affordable to more people. This is a non-profit, member-owned club, so decisions are made with members as the highest priority. Highly recommend to those who want to meet other tennis enthusiasts and find a community.

The best deal for tennis players in the Bay Area. CRRC members are diverse and very friendly and…read morewelcoming. There are six courts, lighted at night. USTA tennis, at various levels. Two excellent tennis pros. Every weeknight ( except during pandemic) hot court starts from 5 to 7, no reservations needed. Join us and we will help you find friendly members to play with. I've been a member for 30 years. Come play with us and make new friends. Steve D.

I visited the club in July and the admin upfront was very disorganized. There was no manager…read moreavailable to speak with? I came here to see if could sign up for tennis lessons and also because I heard great things about the swim lessons but it was a total waste of time and no one was able to help me. Left a bad taste so I left and choose to go some where else.

I grew up watching my Dad play tennis here, and now it's finally my turn…read more After flirting unsuccessfully with baseball in high school, tennis is now becoming my go-to "racket/stick" sport. And after taking a few quick lessons to "get my game back" this summer, I can definitely say that I'm enjoying the additional time I'm spending here. And why not? There's lots to like. The club is nicely set at the bottom of the Berkeley Hills, right off Tunnel Road, where the silhouette of the Claremont Hotel towers over the club in the background. It must be made known that the members of the Berkeley Tennis Club (known as the "BTC"), are a very, very tight knit community, to the point where many members take a keen interest in management decisions, almost as if stockholders. As many members come here basically everyday, it makes sense that they would have a vested interest in making the club the best place possible. However this just reflects the caring nature of most members, as people here are extremely friendly, social, and down to earth. Upstairs in the main "clubhouse", there is a newly renovated workout area, with separate rooms for cardio and weight equipment that both contain large flatscreen TVs. As someone who enjoys working out, this is a key feature for me. Other amenities include: 10 tennis courts, a basketball hoop, swimming pool, hot tub, and a fitness center with cardio machines and weights. Not a bad deal. As I look back on my time I spent here over the years, I realize that this is the place where I learned how to swim. This is where I made some of my earliest friends. And now, hopefully, this can be where I finally learn how to play tennis.

Nicole is a brilliant, insightful, and fun tennis teacher. She knows everything about tennis and…read moreespecially how to teach every aspect of tennis.

Still the best Pro Around Knows her stuff- up to you…read morewhether or not you want to go thru the heartache and trauma of improving your game in a REAL way. The more Pissed I get at her the closer I am to a BIG IMPROVEMENT thank god she is Canadian meaning - kind patient and good at ignoring my complaining ... Teaches out of Oakland Hills now- which is a nice facility also and the VIEWS are to die..

Amazing park -- huge and full of charm! There are plenty of picnic tables and spots to sit, and you…read morecan even BBQ here with a beach view. There's a tennis court and a nice fenced dog park, too. Perfect place for a relaxing stroll with your paw buddy. Lots of trees for shade make it super comfortable and plush grass. Washington Park is a hidden gem -- peaceful, relaxing, and one of my favorite spots. Love this place!

Washington Park has been a long time favorite of my family. You have the swings for both bigger…read morekids/adults and then another set for the little ones. You've got a pretty cool baseball field with more field area for some other activities like ultimate frisbee, etc. You've got 2 different play structures and there are bathrooms. There are tables with benches throughout the park and if you'd like to have a party there, you can do so through the parks and rec department. They even have some great basketball courts and I enjoy seeing the pick up games in action! Some sad things are that the bathrooms are never clean. I am not a fan of taking my little ones in there and try to avoid it. I often find drug paraphernalia or needles on the ground and/or tables near the benches, and there's no shade in the park area except for one bench. As much as I love coming here since it is located near businesses like restaurants and we get to run into some friends there, I try to avoid it.

Best coach: helpful, good work out and always plays points at the end to train for match wins!read more

Tony and Whitney's Total Body Tennis class is an absolute blast! If you're looking for a fun way to…read moreimprove your tennis game while getting a full-body workout, this is it. Tony keeps the energy high with engaging and effective tennis drills that keep you moving the entire time. His coaching style makes you feel challenged but never overwhelmed. And the way he designs the drills accommodates a range of skill levels and ensures that everyone gets in plenty of hitting. Whitney does a great job at leading the strength training portion, and I love how it's built into the class in bite-sized pieces between hitting--it makes the strength work feel more manageable and keeps the whole workout flowing smoothly. Plus, she's great at accommodating different abilities, so everyone feels comfortable while still getting a solid workout. Another plus is that everyone who comes is really friendly. Highly recommend!

Horrible smarmy management. We were taking swimming lessons at the hills. Really thought the…read moreinstructors were great, my kids loved the classes. We stayed 10-15 minutes past what their policy stated a couple times (not on purpose) bc it's really hard to corral small kids out of the pool and to get dressed especially when you can't enter the bathrooms with them bc they are the opposite sex. The smarmy manager was constantly watching our movements, i felt hounded by all the monitoring.. It felt was very stressful and unwelcoming. Management was also cowardly and Instead of sending reminders of policies themselves, management has their instructors do their dirty work. Our lessons got cancelled without any warning. I think we didn't fit their aesthetics so they were looking for a reason to remove us. Very inhospitable, snobby, horrible communication, and passive aggressive.

My sister recently became a member at The Hills Swim and Tennis Club, located on the east side of…read moreOakland. She used to play tennis growing up and is picking it back up again, but mainly, she joined this club so she could take her girls (my two nieces) to the pool. On my last visit to Oakland, I went with them and had a lot of fun. This is a great club. This club is aptly named because it's located up in the hills and has tremendous, scenic views of the pristine, undeveloped hills towards the city of Orinda and the town of Moraga. There are great views from the pool area and even better views from the patio. It's beautiful. We visited on a Wednesday afternoon in June. Since school was out, there were a lot of kids at the pool (and a lot of adults too). There were at least two life guards and the majority of the pool was being used by coaches/instructors for laps and swim instruction. One lane was used for recreational swimming (that's where my family mostly swam) and one portion of the pool was used for diving. Kids lined up to dive off the diving board under staff supervision. There was a second, smaller pool, but it was closed. I'm not sure why. It looked perfectly swimmable. There were two hot tubs - one closer to the clubhouse and one on the other side of the pools closer to the patio and the amazing view. The pools and hot tubs were in excellent condition. They looked super clean and immaculate despite so many people using them. The hot tub near the patio was packed, mostly with kids. There was also a splash pad. Around the pool was plenty of seating and a variety of seating options including cabana-style "huts," picnic tables, poolside recliners and loungers, and regular tables and chairs with umbrellas. There was also a flat, open grassy area in between the pools and the patio. The clubhouse has a healthy refreshment bar. Orders are automatically charged to your membership account. The bar offers fresh-made shakes/smoothies, including special versions for kids, with optional add-ins like whey, soy, plant protein, creatine, and chia and flax seeds. 12-oz drinks cost $5.50 and 20-oz drinks cost $6.50. I tried a couple smoothies: * Berry, Berry Good - strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and banana with 20 grams of vanilla whey protein * Mango Crusher - mangoes, strawberries, pineapple, and banana with 20 grams of vanilla whey protein The smoothies were absolutely delicious. They were made-to-order, cold, refreshing, and really hit the spot. My older niece (five years old) is a big fan of the Mango Crusher. I liked it too. I loved both smoothies actually. They were flavorful and addictive. When you place an order, the staff gives you one of those restaurant-style pagers which you can take out to the pool. It lights up and buzzes when your order is ready. The inside of the clubhouse has seating with tables. I saw several folks with their laptops out, presumably working remote since it was a weekday afternoon. Free Wi-Fi is available. The men's locker room was fairly spacious and clean with many lockers and various amenities like a sauna. There's a separate building for the gym and I believe there are only two tennis courts. There's also an outdoor basketball court. Plenty of parking is available in two surface lots adjacent to the clubhouse. In general, the property/facilities were clean and in great shape. The Hills Swim and Tennis Club has been sold out of memberships for quite some time, but it's my understanding that memberships periodically become available from members who leave. That's how my sister got her membership. She bought hers from a departing member. All of the staff I encountered were nice.

I have been looking for a coach to help elevate and improve my tennis. I have tried many coaches…read moreand the sessions are ok. A friend recommended Josh Bernstein Tennis and wow was this a game changer. Within 5 minutes of hitting he saw why was wrong. Unlike other coaches who change you and start from zero. Josh keeps it simple and is very fun to work with. He books up fast so you gotta schedule your appointment ASAP. Thank you Josh B I'll definitely be back for more sessions to improve my game.

Found Josh on yelp and stopped by for a lesson. The hour went by super fast and I had a ton of fun!…read moreJosh is super easy going and didn't make me feel bad that I was terrible. Would definitely suggest for people anywhere from beginner to advanced. He's easy to communicate with for scheduling and was nice when I forgot my racket and had an extra. Also the courts were beautiful and super fun to play on, it oversees the entire Bay Area.