Tennis Courts around Raleigh, NC
Where to find tennis courts and equipment in Raleigh and Cary, NC
Tennis is growing in the Triangle area of Raleigh, NC and its suburb of Cary. Here's a guide to finding public and private courts, tennis apparel and other gear.
Although North Carolina has long been known for its great golfing, it is also becoming known for another sport: tennis. The capital city of Raleigh and its suburb, Cary, offer recreational tennis players a plethora of opportunities to raise a racquet.
Finding Public Tennis Courts in Raleigh and Cary:
Raleigh offers youth and adult tennis players a variety of public courts. The biggest of these is Millbrook Exchange Tennis Center in north Raleigh. As part of the City of Raleigh’s Park and Recreation department, it has 23 lighted outdoor tennis courts, a backboard, tennis pro shop, restrooms, snack machines and ball machines. Millbrook is also the Park District’s main location for tennis lessons, clinics and tournaments. Leagues, including USTA and World Team Tennis (WTT) use Millbrook as the home court as well.
The City of Raleigh also offers 89 other public courts. Information about locations and hours can be found at raleighnc.gov. Millbrook requires a nominal fee for courts, but other public courts are free.
Cary Tennis Park (CTP) is the hallmark of tennis in this western suburb. Run by the Cary Parks and Recreation Department, CTP features 30 lighted tennis courts including a stadium court, backboard, and a pro shop. It is the main public home court for USTA and WTT leagues, ladders and junior and adult tournaments.
In addition to the Cary Tennis Park, the Town of Cary enjoys four other tennis locations. CTP charges a nominal fee for court usage, but other public courts in Cary are free. Check out the town website at townofcary.org for specific details.
Finding Private Courts in Raleigh and Cary:
Private facilities are also plentiful in both Raleigh and Cary, but most require that you are either a member or a member’s guest. . Many of these facilities offer a variety of memberships including golf, swimming and tennis.
With that said, here are notable facilities to check out:
In Raleigh--North Hills Club, North Ridge Country Club, North Ridge Country Club, Carolina Country Club, Brier Creek Country Club and Seven Oaks Tennis have active tennis programs. Raleigh Racquet Club has the distinction of having the only indoor courts in the area.
Cary’s private facilities include Prestonwood Country Club, MacGregor Downs Country Club, Kildaire Farms Racquet Club and Lochmere Country Club.
Finding Tennis Equipment:
While tennis racquets are easy to find, the supply of tennis apparel has not quite caught up with the demand of the area, and many people still order their apparel from online retailers. Area brick and mortar stores include longtime standards Dick’s Sporting Goods and Omega stores. Golfsmith has recently opened in north Raleigh to offer specialized tennis gear and instruction—including a tennis court in the store. Stringers is a smaller store in north Raleigh specializing, of course, in tennis racquets. The Cary Tennis Park and area private facilities also have pro shops, usually open to the public, which sell equipment, shoes and apparel.
For more information on tennis courts in the Triangle area, check out the Western Wake Tennis Association at westernwaketennis.com.
