When Lawrence and Mae Wu joined The West Side Tennis Club 5 years ago, they lived just a block away but had never stepped inside.
Their daughters loved the summer camp, and Lawrence saw an opportunity: a sport the whole family could play together as they got older. Mae, who had never played sports growing up, agreed to try.
Four years later, Mae captains the B3 women's team. Their daughters compete in tournaments across New York. The family spends nearly every weekend at the club during winter months. Not in spite of the cold, but because of how the club flows with their routine when temperatures drop.
"We sometimes call the club our backyard, an extension of our house," Lawrence says. "Because we have the bubble up during winter, there are so many options to play. Once you get into it, it doesn't take that long to meet people and get up that curve."
Inside the Bubble
The club's two climate-controlled bubble structures cover ten Har-Tru courts from late fall through early spring. For the Wu family, this means their tennis routine never takes a break when temperatures drop. Lawrence actually prefers bubble play to outdoor courts during any season.
"I like playing in the bubble more than outdoors because you don't have to battle the elements," he explains. "It allows me to concentrate more on technique. I have fewer variables to deal with, I don't have to worry about serving into the sun, and the balls are bouncier. Something about the humidity in the bubble gives me more power."
The girls maintain their competitive edge through the club's Tennis Tournament Training (TTT) program, which meets Tuesdays and Thursdays in the bubble. Before weekend tournaments across Long Island, New Jersey, and upstate New York, the family warms up together on the bubble courts.
Mae, who initially worried about not having experience, now hits regularly with the women she met through winter clinics and league play.
"If I can't get bubble time, I play platform tennis outdoors," Mae adds. "Any racket sport keeps me active, and platform players bundle up in winter gear, though that's not really my game."
Building Community When Everyone's Inside
The Wu family recently attended a masquerade-themed murder mystery night. Lawrence plays in a Monday night doubles group that contracts designated bubble time, then orders food delivered to the clubhouse afterward. He joins Guy's Night Out: an hour of tennis followed by a tasting - the most recent being Japanese Whiskey and Poke Bowls.
"Because it's cold, winter is a great way to meet your future tennis partners or clinic players," Mae notes. "Everybody's inside, socializing and it builds a warmer environment."
Their daughters have formed lasting friendships through consistent winter programming. When Lawrence hits with both girls from 11:30 to 1:00 on weekends, they follow up with lunch at the club, where they see familiar faces and catch up with other families doing the same thing.
The social calendar keeps up during colder months. Family nights let parents and kids enjoy separate activities under one roof. The restaurant operates Thursday through Sunday with limited winter hours, but members can order takeout delivered to the clubhouse on other evenings.
For busy families, this flexibility matters.
Where Routine Meets Growth
Lawrence appreciates how tennis teaches responsibility in ways other youth sports can't.
"Whatever issues they have on the court, they must resolve themselves,” Lawrence says. “They deal with pressure, figure out how to win and handle losing, adjust their game strategy. They just have to figure it out."
After her first tournament, Lawrence's younger daughter asked, "Daddy, when's the next one?" She'd won one match and lost two, but the experience hooked her.
For families considering membership during winter months, Mae says, "Just commit to it. You'll meet your future partners and build connections. We're all inside together, and that creates something special."
