The bright blue courts in between the main road and the harbour means that an actual street number…read moreis unnecessary for Lyne Park Tennis Centre, you can't exactly miss them! Home to 6 all-weather, synthetic grass (aka astro) courts - 5 of which are in blue and one was resurfaced in a "Wimbledon" look, in other words, it's now green - means that you can play tennis in any weather, which is great if it's hammering down and you MUST have a hit! They also have floodlights, so no more blaming the fading light for missing the ball. One weather aspect that can cause a few issues with my otherwise "flawless" game, is the wind that comes off the harbour! It can play havoc with a rally! Although not sure that's any excuse for it hitting the bottom of the net (especially when you're playing with the wind!). The centre runs all the usual kids courses and tuition sessions, so if you're looking for a bit of coaching, then this is another option! And now for the money bit: CASUAL HIRE Mon - Fri 7am to 5pm: $25 per hour Mon - Fri 5pm to 10pm: $30 per hour Sat, Sun, public holiday's all times: $30 per hour You can also permanently hire courts - I imagine that's useful if you've got a regular group of you who get together and play, not just because you have a deep desire to have your own tennis court. Bookings can be made online or over the phone, or you may just be able to turn up if you're playing during a week day, but I wouldn't risk it at the weekend!

Lyne Park Tennis is the place that I first got a summer job, whilst I was in School, one afternoon…read morea week I would come and restock their fridges for $15. It was not as a tennis coach as I wished, but it was close enough to the action, and kept me going back. Now-a-days, it's a great place to go for a quick game, if you remember to book in advance. Either that, or if you're or someone you know is learning, it's a great after-school style tennis training, with very capable coaches. Keep in mind that they have tennis camp style coaching during the school holidays, which is a great place for the kids to mingle with other likeminded tennis enthusiasts. Mums, they also have a great little cafe that sticks out the side of the tennis courts, perfect for a quick coffee or even a family sit down lunch onlooking into the park. They serve great coffee, and a healthy range of vegetarian options for breakfast.

Four courts at the far end of Primrose Park are home to the Primrose Park Tennis Centre. It's a…read moresmall club, but a thriving hub of small children every afternoon when the courts are all busy with group and individual lessons. It's a great place to start learning, but probably not the launching place for the next Andre Agassi - but who knows? Beyond lessons, the club hosts social tennis evenings for the kids on Friday evenings, with Round Robin competitions and pizza.Adults are also accommodated at the club, with ladies clinics on weekday mornings and courts available for hire. The small clubhouse has basic facilities and sells tennis racquets and balls, but possibly the best thing for non-players is access to the rest of the pretty park which leads down to the shores of Middle Harbour and access to harbourside walks. The park is one of the few in Mosman that welcomes off-leash dogs.

Located very close to the shoreline this is a relatively hidden tennis court in the back of…read moreCremorne. The courts are in ok shape and its well sheltered so less impacted by the strong breeze that can sometimes hamper play in the area. They can be difficult to get a hold of at times but booking a court is relatively easy and their prices are in line with many other courts in the area. There are only a small number of courts here so booking ahead is well recommended. It is usually booked out during the weekends and in the evenings as well. I have played here many times and often we ended up booking here as many of the other courts were either too busy or not available at times that suited our schedule. Not a bad place for a game of tennis in the area.

Nestled against Edwards Park in Concord, Greenlees Tennis Centre is a small establishment offering…read morecheap, healthy, outdoor fun. There are four synthetic courts on offer, and generally, at least one, if not all the courts will be available. If you don't want to risk it, you could always call before you arrive to book a court. The owners are very welcoming and friendly. Unlike many tennis courts I've been to, Greenlees will not make you buy new tennis balls if you forget to bring your own. They gladly lend out balls for free, and rackets for a small fee. The courts are located across from Massey Park Golf Course, and within walking distance of public transport and Majors Bay Rd.

While attending school, I played tennis and therefore had competitions to attend on Saturday. The…read morecomps were held at the Hornsby District Tennis Association in Asquith only because they had plenty of courts. There is a tennis shop on site available to customers who require a new racquet, tennis ball or even a power drink. There are plenty of coaches who are available to teach upon a lesson being booked. You can talk to management to find out more information or visit their website. The association holds tournaments and competitions. You can join to become a member, which will enable you to claim a discount when booking a court. It is $20 for a non-member to book a court (all day) or $15 for a member. Night rates are an extra $5. With few trees and open courts, it can get very hot playing at the courts. There is no shelter from trees. The only shade are a few kiosk type set-ups around the courts. Otherwise you can wait at the restaurant in between matches. There is ample parking on site.

As a student at one of the nearby schools, I regularly played tennis at the Kim Warwick Tennis…read moreAcademy. The tennis club is located right opposite Hornsby Westfield, with the train station and bus stops nearby. I would train weekly at the academy and compete with other students at the club. There are plenty of tennis courts and snacks and drinks are available. With a small shop, customers can purchase balls, tennis rackets and other items. There is a changing room which is available for use and is convenient if you are going straight to work after your lesson. The owner Kim, is a six time grand slam champion, so you know the trainers are good! All the coaches we had were calm, professional and good players. Private lessons are available, but I cannot comment on pricing due to the fees paid by our school. Summer programs are also available. Their website has a list of pricing, which varies depending on the experience of the coach. For half an hour with Kim, it will cost you $45. Other coaches are $35 an hour. Coach profiles are also listed on their website.

This is a sweet little family-owned operation, where the owners are really keen to get people…read moreenthused about tennis and offer practical options for people to access the courts whatever their schedule. Courts are often available for private rent, even at quite short notice, and are competitively priced. Kids clinics are held throughout term time along with some fun camps at weekends - though the clubhouse facilities are far from salubrious if there's rain and they need to offer an alternative to on-court play. Adult clinics are flexible so you don't have to commit to being at every class every week by paying in advance - have a chat with them and they'll find a way to work around you. It's still not quite what I remember of tennis as a kid, when there was a multitude of options for playing socially and competitively, but I think that's more a reflection of the popularity of the sport at the moment than the quality and commitment of this club. Court surface is that funny grass with sand on top - can't remember what it's called but it's good in wet weather as it drains and dries quickly.

Based at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre, NSBA does the best possible job of running itself as a…read morebig multi-faceted ball sports club when it only has limited resources. Its four indoor courts are sadly over-demanded, making it a challenge to squeeze in all the teams that want to play this popular and growing sport. That said, NSBA runs adult competitions each night Sunday to Thursday, gets as many littlies as possible out on the courts after school on weekdays, has older children pound the hoops on Saturdays, and still manages to run Rep teams in several age groups (quite successful ones!) and championship and league teams. There's even the superbly named Grumpy Old Bears competing at Masters level. Refereeing in competitions can be a bit hit and miss - it's a pretty thankless task - and the junior coaching comes with mixed levels of enthusiasm, but it's good to see the club making use of the skills of the older junior players in developing the younger ones. It's a great sport, under-resourced in the area, and NSBA is worth a shot if you're keen to get started.

The finest club on the North Shore besting Avondale and Pymble with ease. Always in magnificent…read morecondition with an A grade championship layout that will test the better players. Parkland in style the trees and gardens are absolutely spectacular, albeit troublesome for those who spray it a bit. A reminder of the Scot's definition of trees - "bunkers in the sky". Food and service both excellent and the clubhouse is a great spot for a quiet one after a round - watch the poor buggers climb the 18th fairway. The members are relaxed and friendly. Worth noting as you will need to know one to get on - unless you want to pay a million dollars and play on a trade day. BTW- no check ins here, phones are strictly infra dig. alriteifuinsistimamemba.

- well maintained lawn - Golf carts available…read more- Club house with impressive view of the green - Expansive and panoramic views from the club's deck - plenty of events are hosted here. Functions are a possibility - very traditional style club - golf course is challenging with its many hills - the club also offers other sports such as tennis, bowls, billiards and squash - facilities are available to members and guests - everything is kept in very good condition - lots of variety throughout the golf course - definitely a must for avid golfers