ABOUT COURTSIDE TENNIS CLUB
The Place for Tennis in Venice
Matt Liverman, our full-time Tennis Director and USPTA certified Head Pro, provides lessons, clinics, and coaching for adults and juniors.
Matt also directs and teaches in our Junior Tennis Program.
The Club sponsors 11 leagues for men and women. Pick your level – fun, inter-club, regional league or USTA competition. Courtside also hosts friendly club Round Robins and competition for singles, doubles and mixed doubles teams.
Courtside features:
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11 courts - 9 HarTru, 2 hard courts
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Private and semi-private lessons
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Weekly clinics
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Pro Shop
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3,000 sq. ft. clubhouse with a kitchen, bathrooms with showers and a patio for entertaining
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Free use of a ball machine
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Backboard
While our members enjoy their tennis, they also like to stay for a cup of coffee and conversation after their match. Members also play in the Club’s Monday Mah Jongg afternoon, or take off on a kayak adventure.
Today, the club is thriving with approximately 162 full and seasonal members who volunteer their own time and expertise to keep it going strong.
Courtside offers different levels of membership - full time, seasonal, summer or evenings and weekends. If you’re in Venice for a month – or even a week - we can accommodate you.
There’s always something going on at Courtside! Please take a look at our monthly Newsletter and Calendar of Events to see how much we have to offer. We are looking forward to meeting you! For additional information, call the Courtside office at 941-485-2000.
Getting to Courtside Tennis Club
Courtside Tennis Club is easily accessible from Highway 41 Bypass or from I 75.
512 North Auburn Rd.
Venice Florida 34292
From Venice 41 Bypass:
Go East on Venice Avenue approximately 2 ½ miles to Auburn Road. Turn left (north) on Auburn for approximately one mile to Courtside. Entrance is on the right.
From I 75:
Take exit 193 South (Jacaranda Blvd.) to the roundabout. Take first right on roundabout onto East Venice Ave. Go approximately 1 mile to Auburn Rd. Turn right (north) on Auburn Rd. Drive about one mile to Courtside entrance on right.
COURTSIDE TENNIS CLUB HISTORY
In the spring of 1977, a tennis pro and expert wood craftsman from New Hampshire, Phil Baker, had a vision of building a tennis facility for the many retirees in Venice. After enlisting the support of 50 or more avid tennis players, Phil and Harriot Baker purchased the property at 512 N. Auburn Road in the name of Courtside Tennis Club. Their plan was to create a
not-for-profit, member owned tennis club, completely financed and managed by its members.
Phil was builder, manager, tennis pro, and maintenance man, Harriot was the office staff and their son, Peter, acted as assistant maintenance man. Although Courtside had a Board of Directors, Phil remained as pro and manager until August, 1983, when he resigned and returned to his wood crafting business.
When Phil built the club in 1977, it consisted of six har-tru courts, two hard surfaced courts, an A-frame clubhouse building and a detached tool/ maintenance house. Shortly thereafter, three additional har-tru courts were added and later a swimming pool.
Since the beginning of the club’s operation and at the present time, many of our members have given unstintingly of their talents and time voluntarily for the betterment of the club. We owe them much appreciation for their contributions. Our members have developed a love for the game and the club.
We owe much appreciation and thanks to the Baker family and to our generous members who have, over the years, helped Courtside survive and thrive. We work hard every day to help make Courtside Tennis Club- The Place for Tennis in Venice!