My First Steps with Key Biscayne Tennis
So, I’d been wanting to get back into tennis for a while. Heard folks talking about the courts out on Key Biscayne, the Tennis Association place. Sounded decent, right by the water, supposed to be nice. Figured I should check it out myself instead of just hearing about it.
Getting information wasn’t super straightforward, gotta be honest. I first just drove out there one afternoon. Found the place, parked, and walked over to where the courts were. Looked busy, which I guess is a good sign. I wandered around a bit, trying to find an office or someone official-looking. Saw a desk inside a building, went in. The person there seemed a bit busy, but I managed to ask about playing there, you know, how it works.
They told me about memberships and court fees for non-members. Seemed like you really needed to be a member to play regularly, especially at popular times. Booking courts looked like it happened online or over the phone, mostly. I grabbed a brochure thing they had lying there.
Trying to Play
Okay, so the next step was actually trying to hit some balls. I wasn’t ready to commit to a full membership right away. Wanted to test the waters. I decided to try booking a court as a non-member first.
- Called them up a few days later to book. Took a couple of tries to get through.
- Asked for a court time later that week. The times I wanted were already taken. Seems like members get priority, which makes sense, but still a bit annoying.
- Finally found an open slot, but it was kinda late in the afternoon. Took it anyway.
Showed up for my time. Had to check in again at that desk, pay the non-member fee. It wasn’t cheap, let me tell you. But okay, I was there to play. Got assigned a court number and headed out.
The Courts and The Vibe
The courts themselves? Pretty good condition. Clay courts mostly, which I like, but gotta be ready for the bounce. They seemed well-maintained, nets were good, lines were clear. That part was definitely a plus.
The atmosphere was… well, it felt a bit exclusive? Lots of people seemed to know each other, regulars maybe. As a newbie just dropping in, I felt a little out of place. Not unfriendly, exactly, just not overly welcoming either. Everyone was kinda focused on their games.
I played for my hour and a half. It was decent tennis, good exercise. Swept the court afterward, like you’re supposed to on clay. Packed up my stuff and left.
Thinking It Over
So, my experience with the Key Biscayne Tennis Association was mixed.
The good stuff:
- Nice courts, well kept.
- Beautiful location, hard to beat that.
- Seems like a solid place if you’re really into tennis and live nearby.
The not-so-good stuff:
- Felt a bit hard to break into the scene as an outsider.
- Booking as a non-member was tricky and kinda pricey.
- Getting info initially wasn’t super smooth.
Ultimately, I decided against getting a membership there at that time. It seemed like a big commitment, and I wasn’t sure the vibe was totally for me. Plus, the hassle of getting courts without being a member wasn’t ideal. Maybe it’s different if you join up properly, get involved in their leagues or whatever. But just trying to casually play? It was okay, but not amazing for someone like me just looking for an easy place to hit.
It’s probably a great spot for serious local players who want that club feel, but my own little test run showed me it wasn’t quite the perfect fit for what I was looking for right then. Just my two cents from trying it out.
