Tennis
Tennis on green Har-Tru clay.
Clay courts in West Pensacola, plus lessons, clinics, leagues and junior tennis in the plan.
About the courts
Gulf Beach Racquet Club's courts will be green Har-Tru clay. Har-Tru is a crushed-stone surface, and it plays differently from the hard courts most of us grew up on.
The ball slows down and sits up a little longer. Your feet can slide into shots instead of stopping hard. Rallies run longer, and the game becomes more about construction than raw power. Patience gets rewarded. We've had some practice with that.
- Softer underfoot than hard courts, so joints tend to complain less
- Slower, higher-bouncing ball and longer points
- Generally plays cooler than a hard court in the summer sun
- Great for learning: more time to set up, more balls back in play
Planned programming
Here's what we're planning. Schedules, pricing and instructors haven't been announced yet.
Adult clinics
Group instruction for building skills, from the fundamentals to match strategy.
Private lessons
One-on-one instruction focused on your game.
Ladies drills
Drills and match play with a regular crew.
League play
Team tennis and competitive play for players who like a scoreboard.
Cardio Tennis
High-energy drills set to music. Great workout, no experience required to have fun.
Junior tennis
Programs to introduce kids to the game and help young players grow.
Mixers and social tennis
Rotating partners and friendly play. A good way to meet your next doubles partner.
Club and special events
Socials, tournaments and the occasional excuse to celebrate.
Junior tennis
Clay is a wonderful surface for kids to learn on. The slower ball gives them time to set up, and longer rallies build patience and footwork.
Junior programs are part of the plan. Ages, levels and schedules will be announced closer to opening.
Member Child Watch
We're planning a Member Child Watch Program during select tennis programs and events, so parents can play while their kids enjoy supervised activities like games, crafts and movies.
This is not full-time daycare. Ages, hours and policies will be shared before opening.
Pro shop and stringing
Everything your game needs, without a detour to the mall.
The pro shop is planned to carry club merch, balls, grips and the essentials. A demo racquet program will let you try different frames before you commit, and full-service stringing means your racquet can get restrung right at the club.
Planned amenities. Brands, services and pricing will be announced closer to opening.
- Club merch
- Balls, grips and court essentials
- Demo racquet program: try before you buy
- Full-service racquet stringing
- Concessions: cold drinks and snacks
Book from your phone.
We plan to run the club on dedicated club management software with a mobile app, so court booking, payments and event registration are right at your fingertips.
Reserve a court from the parking lot. Sign up for a clinic from the carpool line. Pay without hunting for your checkbook. (Do people still have checkbooks?)
The app and booking system will launch closer to opening. Nothing is live yet.
Clay court questions
What shoes should I wear on clay?
Clay-court or herringbone-tread tennis shoes. Running shoes and flat-soled sneakers won't grip properly. We'll share full court guidelines before opening.
Do I need to have played on clay before?
Not at all. Most players in our area learned on hard courts. Clay takes a few sessions to get used to, and then people tend not to want to go back.
How will I book courts?
Through the club's booking software and mobile app, which will launch closer to opening. Court booking, payments and event registration will all live there.
When can I start playing?
We haven't announced an opening date. Join the list and you'll be among the first to know.
Is this a pickleball club?
Nope. The name says racquet club, but it's tennis. On green Har-Tru clay. That's the whole point.