Conga Sports Drumbeat 38 for 3/3/2025

Good morning. It's Monday, March 3, 2025

Please go here to check our list of tennis, pickleball, and padel providers, programs, and events in Southern California: https://conga-drumbeat.beehiiv.com/
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This week’s PUBLISHER’S VOLLEY BLITZ: How to find a good tennis club to join in Southern California.

This week, we welcome a new provider: Jenniffer and Ron Borje from Long Beach. They are starting a new Impact Team Tennis League in Long Beach. Remember, Impact Team Tennis is the successor of World TeamTennis and just as much fun! Check out their listing under Greater Los Angeles => LA Tennis.

I also want to congratulate Lourdes R. from Sherman Oaks, the February winner of the $100. Nicely done, Lourdes. Congrats!

By the way, if you know a coach, teaching pro, club, program, or event that should be listed here, please connect me with the person who runs it. Appreciate it!

Please email me with updates or let me know if you want your programs and events added. As always, please send us feedback here.

Thank you,

Rich Neher
CEO, Conga Sports Inc.

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How to find a good tennis club to join in Southern California

There are a lot of tennis clubs in Southern California. Small ones that charge a low (or no) initiation fee of $250 and a reasonable monthly rate of $100, to exclusive ones like the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club with $70,000 initiation and $700 a month. (FYI: The LJBTC also has a 10-year waiting list.)

Let’s say it is tennis you are predominantly interested in. From my experience, here is what you need to do starting out in your search for a good tennis club to join in SoCal.

1. Check your budget
   If you don’t have a couple of grand lying around for initiation and if you can’t afford between $120 and $250 a month for membership, you need to look for another option. That may sound brutal to you, but it’s the truth and I hope you appreciate honesty.

2. If you can afford it
   There are several great options for you. Depending on your location, there are usually clubs not too far away that offer a reasonable monthly fee and a low initiation fee. The question is now what’s important to you? Is your emphasis on tennis only, or are you also interested in more activities and benefits like fitness, pickleball, lots of teaching pros to choose from, club parties, and other events?

3. If you can’t afford it
   You are not without options in SoCal. Plenty of public parks have tennis courts with concessionaires that offer programming. We will deal with those public courts in a few weeks.

One thing I want to point out right now. As a total beginner, you have to be aware of the total cliquishness of tennis! Level is important. As a beginner, you are not very popular amongst players. To say it bluntly, no one wants to play with you. However, don’t get discouraged quickly. There are clubs and groups that will help you get friends, partners, matches. More about this in one of the following weeks.

One last piece of advice if you are just starting out: Ask around. Talk to friends, strangers, club members of clubs near you. Most people will offer honest advice and suggestions on your best options in a certain local area.

My Next week’s Volley Blitz:
Do you have the budget? Here are some great high-end Racquet Sports clubs in SoCal.

We are featuring LA TENNIS again this week to remind you of their great work in the Los Angeles public parks area.

The founders of LA TENNIS know that their business relies on delivering quality programs and personalized service. LAT separates itself from other tennis management companies and individuals in the tennis industry through its hiring, training, forward-thinking, and continuing education programs.

The coaches of LA TENNIS are considered some of the best in the industry. To navigate their website, find the location that suits you best and look around to find the professional that you would like to contact.

We are proud of our new Facebook Group
Racket Sports Connect Los Angeles.

Why don’t you become a member?
Just click on the image and sign up.

Should you contemplate traveling to Miami in March…

RacquetX 25 - A world-class festival and celebration of all racquet sports

Get ready for Racquet X at the Miami Beach Convention Center! This premier tennis and pickleball experience brings together enthusiasts, athletes, and industry leaders for an exciting showcase of the latest in sports gear, apparel, and technology. Enjoy live demonstrations, interactive sessions, and meet-and-greets with top professionals.

Read my article here

Each person is individually profiled and automatically added to their offline ‘black book’. Maclynn International extends an invitation to all Conga members and Drumbeat readers to become one of their Open Members. Maclynn's matchmakers commit their time to Private Members, individuals who pay for active service, then tap into their network of Open Members to hand-select the best matches and make one-on-one introductions. Pretty neat system, if you ask me.

If you would like to dip your toes in, follow this link to register and use this code: 

https://maclynninternational.com/open-membership/

Apply under ‘Open Membership’  The invitation code is: “Conga“