Tennis in San Diego

Most of the more than 1,300 courts around the county are in private clubs, but a few are public. The Balboa Tennis Club at Morley Field (2221 Morley Field Dr., Balboa Park, 92104. 619/295-9278. www.balboatennis.com) has 25 courts, 19 of them lighted. The Tennis Cafe serves snacks, soups, and sandwiches. Courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis for a daily $5-per-person fee. Heaviest usage is 9 AM-11 AM and after 5 PM; at other times you can usually arrive and begin playing. Pros offer clinics and classes. The La Jolla Tennis Club (7632 Draper Ave., La Jolla, 92037. 858/454-4434. www.ljtc.org) has nine public courts near downtown La Jolla; five are lighted; the daily fee is $5. The club has a reservations system (call from 12 to 72 hours ahead to reserve a court) for members only. The 12 lighted courts at the privately owned Peninsula Tennis Club (Robb Field, Ocean Beach, 92107. 619/226-3407) are available to the public for $5 per person daily.

Several San Diego resorts have top-notch tennis programs staffed by big-name professional instructors. Rancho Valencia Resort (5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe, 92067. 858/759-6224. www.ranchovalencia.com), which is among the top tennis resorts in the nation, has 18 hard courts and several instruction programs. Tennis shoes and tennis attire (no T-shirts) are required. La Costa Resort and Spa (2100 Costa Del Mar Rd., Carlsbad, 92009. 760/931-7501. www.lacosta.com) has 17 hard and clay courts, seven of them lighted, plus professional instruction, clinics, and workouts.