"Dramatic" Membership Surge At Forest Hills' Tennis Club: Report

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — Forest Hills’ West Side Tennis Club has seen a “dramatic” membership surge during the past year, as a certain group of affluent, athletic people took to the courts amid the pandemic, according to a new report.

Jason Weir-Smith, director of racquet sports at West Side, told Penta, the Barron’s Group publication focused on wealth, that the private facility has seen a 20 percent increase in membership during the past year.

“Without a doubt, we’ve seen a dramatic rise in memberships. I would say it’s the case for the majority of tennis clubs,” Weir-Smith said, alluding to a reportedly nationwide trend among private tennis facilities, which saw a boost in membership during the pandemic.

As gyms shuttered during the first few months of 2020, and gym-goers swiftly all but destroyed the workout equipment supply chain, some people looked for less risky ways to exercise outdoors — including tennis, Penta reported.

Since the sport can be played outdoors, and indoor courts usually have lots of space between players on the courts, tennis clubs across the country told Penta that they saw membership increases.

They also offer social environments, which Jeff Zeller, who joined West Side in May, told Penta he has been “craving.”

If anecdote isn’t enough, racquet sales rose between 2019 and 2020, and the Physical Activity Council’s Participation report shows a surge in people playing tennis, the site reported.

Not everyone, however, is able to join tennis clubs, which — as Penta pointed out — come with a major price tag.

Most clubs require an initiation fee, plus yearly dues. Also, in order to join some — West Side included — members must be recommended by current ones.

An individual playing membership at West Side costs around $6,000, Patch found when we called and asked. Family and pool memberships are priced differently.

Annual dues are on top of the club’s initiation fee, which ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 depending on “various factors,” Penta reported.

News of increased interest in tennis comes as the US Open kicks off in Queens. The event was hosted at West Side’s club from 1923 to 1977.

Read the full Penta article here.