Summer Courting

Unless you are fortunate enough to own a membership to a country club, finding a decent available tennis court in the summer can be as aggravating as blowing triple-match point.

Thankfully, there are alternatives.

There’s always the local high school during non-school hours. Additionally, several tennis and racquet clubs--like the Racquet Centre in Studio City--offer pay-per-use courts to the public.

But if you don’t mind parting with a few bucks, the Balboa Sports Center in Encino is the best available option in the Valley.

Balboa has one of the region’s largest and most well-maintained public tennis facilities. Courts are in a park setting surrounded by palm trees, with ample free parking, vending machines, restrooms and drinking fountains.

Unlike the restrictions at stuffy tennis clubs, Balboa caters to the average Joe who likes, for example, to get a little sun on his upper torso during his match.

“As long as they have tennis shoes and shorts on, we don’t mind,” said Lucy Hutchinson, supervisor of pay tennis for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

Sixteen well-maintained, well-lighted courts are available daily, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Hourly fees are $3 Monday through Friday until 4 p.m., and $6 after 4 and all day weekends and holidays.

Walk-ups are always welcome, but reservations can be made with a reservation card. Three-year reservation cards are available for $14.

Card holders must claim their court no later than five minutes before the reservation time or the court will be given to a walk-up on the waiting list.

“People will call from their car phone and say, ‘I’m just around the corner, I’ll be there in five minutes, hold the court.’ But we don’t hold courts for anyone,” Hutchinson said.

The busiest hours at Balboa are on midweek evenings after 6 p.m. and from 8-11 a.m. on weekends.

Those seeking instruction can take a lesson from Erik Glasser, the resident pro. Hourly private lessons are $42, or $21 for a half hour. Group lessons are also available.

Following is a list of free public tennis facilities in the region. Most are parks owned, leased or managed by cities and counties. Some facilities charge a nominal hourly fee, as indicated.

AGOURA HILLS

* Agoura High School, 28545 W. Driver Ave. Except during school hours.

BURBANK

* Brace Canyon Park, 2901 Haven Way.

* McCambridge Park, 1515 N. Glenoaks Blvd., (818) 843-4105.

* Mountain View Park, 751 S. Griffith Park Dr.

* Olive/George Izay Park, 1111 W. Olive Ave.

* Pacific Park, 3715 Pacific Ave.

* Valley Park, 1625 N. Valley St.

* Verdugo Park, 3201 W. Verdugo Ave.

CALABASAS

* Gates Canyon Park, 25801 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

CAMARILLO

* Mission Oaks Park, 5501 Mission Oaks Blvd., (805) 482-1996.

* Pleasant Valley Park, 1030 Temple Ave., (805) 482-1996.

* Valle Lindo Park, 889 Aileen St., (805) 482-1996.

CANOGA PARK

* John Quimby Park, 7008 De Soto Ave.

* Lanark Park, 21816 Lanark St., (818) 883-1503.

CHATSWORTH

* Chatsworth Park South, 22360 Devonshire St., (818) 341-6595.

CRESCENTA VALLEY

* Crescenta Valley High School, 4400 Ramsdell Ave. Except during school hours.

ENCINO

* Balboa Sports Center, 5651 Balboa Blvd., (818) 783-2211. Hourly fees: $3 weekdays, $6 nights and weekends.

* Encino Park, 16953 Ventura Blvd.

GLENDALE

* Central Park Tennis Courts, 201 E. Colorado St. Hourly fee: $4.50 after 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. (818) 246-4550.

* Emerald Isle Park, 2130 Lenore Dr.

* Fremont Park, 600 W. Hahn Ave. Hourly fee: $4.50 after 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. (818) 241-6022.

* Glenoaks Park, 2531 E. Glenoaks Blvd.

* Glorietta Park, 2801 N. Verdugo Rd.

* Maple Park, 820 E. Maple St., (818) 548-3783.

* Montrose Park, 3529 Clifton Pl.

* Nibley Park, 1103 E. Mountain St.

* Oakmont View Park, 2940 Oakmont View Dr.

* Pacific Park, 501 S. Pacific Ave.

* Scholl Canyon Golf & Tennis, 3800 East Glenoaks Blvd., (818) 243-4100.

* Glendale College, 1500 N. Verdugo Rd. Except during school hours.

* Glendale High School, 1440 E. Broadway. Except during school hours.

* Hoover High School, 651 Glenwood Rd. Except during school hours.

GRANADA HILLS

* Granada Hills Recreation Center, 16730 Chatsworth St., (818) 363-3556.

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE

* Cornishon Tennis Courts, 4490 Cornishon Ave.

* Glenhaven Park, 1918 Parkdale Pl.

LANCASTER

* Lancaster City Park, 43011 N. 10th St. West, (805) 945-1769. Hourly fees: $3-4.

* El Dorado Park, 44501 N. 5th St. East.

* Jane Reynolds Park, 716 Oldfield.

MOORPARK

* Tierra Rejada Park, 365 Tierra Rejada Rd.

* Moorpark High School, 4500 Tierra Rejada Rd. Except during school hours.

* Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Rd. Except during school hours.

NEWBURY PARK

* Borchard Park, 190 Reino Rd.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD

* North Hollywood Recreation Center, 5301 Tujunga Ave., (818) 763-7651.

* Valley Plaza Recreation Center, 12240 Archwood St., (818) 765-5885.

* Victory-Vineland Recreation Center, 11112 Victory Blvd., (818) 985-9516.

NORTHRIDGE

* Dearborn Park, 17141 Nordhoff St.

* Northridge Park/Devonshire House, 10058 Reseda Blvd., (818) 349-7341.

OAK PARK

* Oak Park High School, 899 Kanan Rd.

* Mae Boyar Park, 130 N. Kanan Rd.

* Indian Springs Park, 4800 Rockfield St.

OXNARD

* Beck Park, 600 W. Kamala St.

* College Estates Park, 1400 Gary Dr.

* Carty Park, 3900 S. ‘F’ St.

* Community Center Park West, 801 Hobson Way. Daily fee: $5.

* Durley Park, 800 W. Hill St.

* Fremont Park, 1130 N. ‘M’ St.

* Lemonwood Park, 2055 E. San Mateo Pl.

* Marina West Park, 1300 S. Novato Dr.

* Orchard Park, 2103 Edelweiss St.

* Peninsula Park, 3333 S. Peninsula Rd.

* Pleasant Valley Park, 4501 Justin Way

* Seaview Park, 1001 S. Offshore St.

* South Winds Park, 455 W. Clara St.

* Via Marina Park, 3301 Keel Way

* Wilson Park, 255 W. Palm Dr.

* Sierra Linda Park, 1040 Indigo Pl.

PALMDALE

* Desert Sands Park, 39117 3rd St. East, (805) 267-5611.

* Marie Kerr Park, 39700 39th St. West, (805) 267-5611.

* Domenic Massari Park, 37716 55th St. East, (805) 267-5611.

* McAdam Park, 38115 30th St. East, (805) 267-5611.

PACOIMA

* Ritchie Valens Park, 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd., (818) 834-5172.

PANORAMA CITY

* Panorama Recreation Center, 8600 Hazeltine Ave., (818) 893-3401.

* Sepulveda Recreation Center, 8801 Kester Ave., (818) 893-3700.

PORT HUENEME

* Moranda Park, 200 Moranda Parkway, (805) 986-6584.

RESEDA

* Reseda Recreation Center, 18411 Victory Blvd., (818) 881-3882.

SAN FERNANDO

* Las Palmas Park, 505 S. Huntington St., (818) 888-7340.

* Pioneer Park, 828 N. Harding St.

SAUGUS

* Bouquet Glen Park, 28127 Wellston Dr.

SIMI VALLEY

* Rancho Simi Community Park, 1765 Royal Ave., (805) 584-4456.

STUDIO CITY

* Racquet Centre, 10933 Ventura Blvd., (818) 760-2303. Hourly fee $5 weekdays; $10 weeknights.

* Studio City Recreation Center, 12621 Rye St., (818) 769-4415.

SUN VALLEY

* Sun Valley Recreation Center, 8133 Vineland Ave., (818) 767-6151.

* Sunland Park and Recreation Center, 8651 Foothill Blvd., (818) 352-5282.

THOUSAND OAKS

* Estella Park, 300 Erbes Rd.

* Thousand Oaks Community Park, 2525 N. Moorpark Rd.

* Triunfo Neighborhood Park, 980 Aranmoor Ave.

* Wildflower Park, 635 Avenida De Los Arboles.

SYLMAR

* El Cariso Park, 13100 Hubbard St., (818) 367-7050. Hourly fee: $5.50.

* Sylmar Park, 13109 Borden Ave., (818) 367-5656.

VALENCIA

* Valencia Glen Park, 23750 Via Gavola.

VAL VERDE

* Val Verde Park, 30300 W. Arlington Rd., (805) 257-4014. Hourly fee: $5.50.

VAN NUYS

* Van Nuys Recreation Center, 14301 Vanowen St., (818) 756-8131.

* Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Park, 14201 Huston St., (818) 783-5121. Hourly fees: $4 weekdays, $6 nights and weekends.

VENTURA

* Camino Real Park, corner of Varsity Street and Dean Drive.

* Juanamaria Park, corner of Kimball Road and Loma Vista Road.

* Buena High School, 5670 Telegraph Rd. Except during school hours.

* Ventura High School, 2155 E. Main St. Except during school hours.

* Anacapa Middle School, 100 Mills Rd. Except during school hours.

* Balboa Middle School, 247 S. Hill Rd. Except during school hours.

* Cabrillo Middle School, 1426 E. Santa Clara St. Except during school hours.

* Harry A. Lyons Park, 2060 Cameron Ave.

WEST HILLS

* Knapp Ranch, 25000 Kittridge St., (818) 887-9800.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE

* North Ranch Community Park, 1400 N. Westlake Blvd.

WINNETKA

* Runnymede Park, 20200 Runnymede St.

WOODLAND HILLS

* Woodland Hills Park, 5858 Shoup Ave., (818) 883-9370.