One of the great things about living in the Sarasota area is that there is no shortage of tennis.
But if you’re new to the sport—or you’re simply looking for an affordable place to play—you might look around at the beautiful country clubs along the University Parkway and Lakewood Ranch corridor and wonder:
Do I have to join a country club just to play tennis?
The good news is no!
There are several places in northern Sarasota County and around the University Parkway area where you can get on a court without making a major financial commitment.
Start Simple: Public Hard Courts
If you already have someone to hit with and simply need a court, our local public parks can be a great place to start.
A few convenient options in northern Sarasota include:
Fruitville Park on Richardson Road
This neighborhood park offers public tennis courts and can be a simple, inexpensive option when what you really need is a place to grab your racquet, meet a friend and hit some balls.
Longwood Park
Located off Longwood Run Boulevard, Longwood Park is particularly convenient to the University Parkway area and offers public tennis along with a variety of other recreational facilities.
University Place Community Park at Cooper Creek
Located just north of University Parkway on Cooper Creek Boulevard, this is another convenient public hard-court option, particularly for players coming from the University Parkway and Lakewood Ranch area.
If your main goal is simply “I have someone to play with and we need a court,” public tennis courts may be all you need.
But what if you don’t have a group of tennis friends yet?
Or what if you’d like something a little different from a public hard court?
The Step Between a Public Court and a Country Club
This is where I think The Meadows Tennis fills a particularly interesting niche.
The University Parkway corridor is home to a number of beautiful private country clubs, including Palm Aire Country Club, University Park Country Club and Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club. For someone looking for the complete country-club experience, these may be wonderful options.
But perhaps you’re not ready—or simply don’t want—to make that kind of financial commitment.
Maybe you’d like to play on Har-Tru clay courts, participate in organized tennis activities and enjoy a tree-lined environment with a beautiful deck where players gather before and after matches.
That’s one of the things I love about The Meadows.
The Meadows is located just south of University Parkway in northern Sarasota and is also convenient for players coming from southern Manatee County, including the Lakewood Ranch area.
And here’s the part many people may not realize:
You do not have to live in The Meadows to participate in the tennis program.
How Does Pay for Play Work?
Non-residents can participate in The Meadows tennis program by paying a $75 registration fee and then paying each time they play.
During the current summer season, the pay-for-play rates are:
Before 4 p.m.: $16
After 4 p.m.: $12
Prices are valid through October 31, 2026.
This can be a nice middle ground for someone who wants more than a public court but isn’t looking for a traditional country club membership.
You get the opportunity to play on Har-Tru courts and experience a tennis-centered environment while paying for the amount of tennis you actually play.
And You’re Not Just Getting a Court
I think this is an especially important point for someone who is new to the area—or new to tennis.
Once you register for the pay-per-play program, you’ll also begin receiving program emails letting you know about opportunities to participate in activities and events at The Meadows.
These can include events such as round robins, which are a wonderful way to play with different people and start meeting other players.
That’s important because one of the questions new tennis players often have is:
“But who am I going to play with?”
Finding the court is sometimes the easy part. Finding your tennis community can take a little longer.
Organized activities give you an opportunity to meet players, exchange contact information and gradually begin building your own tennis network. Over time, the person you meet at a round robin may become someone you call when you’re looking for a doubles partner or just want to arrange a casual game.
That community element is one of the things that can make joining a tennis program different from simply reserving a public court.
How Do I Register?
Getting started is fairly simple.
Download the CourtReserve app on your phone and search for:
The Meadows Tennis Sarasota
From there, you can create an account and register for the program.
Once you’re registered, you’ll be able to stay connected with what’s happening and learn about opportunities to get involved.
So Which Option Is Right for You?
It really depends on what you’re looking for.
If you already have someone to hit with and simply want an inexpensive hard court, one of our local public parks might be exactly what you need.
If you’re looking for clay courts, organized programming, opportunities to meet other players and a place where you can begin becoming part of a tennis community, spending a little more for a program like The Meadows may be worthwhile.
And if tennis eventually becomes a major part of your life, perhaps someday you’ll decide that a full country club membership makes sense for you.
But you certainly don’t have to start there.
Getting involved in tennis doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Sometimes you just need a racquet, the right shoes, a little curiosity and somewhere to begin.
And if you’re looking for something between a neighborhood public court and a traditional country club, The Meadows offers an appealing option—especially if you’re hoping not only to find a place to play, but also to find people to play with.