Summer at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels, TX is something special. Each of the facility’s 31 courts stay busy from 8 am until 6 pm with summer campers and summer academy students working on their game. Unbothered by the infamous Texas summer heat, a number of kids opt for early morning hits with friends, private lessons with the world class coaches, and mini tennis games with friends outside of those hours. It’s truly a tennis lover’s paradise and the perfect location for kids to build a lifelong passion for the sport.
Taking place for 12 weeks every summer, Newks has more than 50 years of experience running junior camps, and their staff has worked with players from beginners to national champions. Campers from ages 8 to 18 are put into groups by their level and age, with beginners learning the basics of the game, while more experienced players partake in live-ball drills, point play, doubles play, and some classic games such as king/queen of the court and toboggan. No matter their level, each camper will leave with new friends, aspects of their game to work on, and ideally, a desire to keep improving!
While tennis is the focus of each week, with kids on court for five or more hours per day, Newks aims to give juniors the full “camp” experience. Campers are asked to pledge their allegiance to the Kangaroo or Gorilla team, where their fearless and energetic camp leaders will encourage them to make friends, join in on team games, and even participate in the weekly talent show. After sessions, there are team-handball, soccer, pool parties and one of the week’s highlights, the Get Newked competition. Campers are asked to form teams of 4 who then enjoy an evening of tennis with live ball games, feeding drills, and plenty of targets to hit. It’s a unique night that reminds even the most serious of tennis players how fun tennis can be.
Newks Tennis Director, Phil Hendrie has said, “Our goal is to get those campers that are at the start of their tennis journey, eight and nine year olds, and make them fall in love with the sport. We love getting to see them every summer and move up to higher level groups after improving their game during the year, and some even move into our summer academy, where they spend three, six, sometimes ten weeks with us over the summer. Some even join our year-round academy and go on to play collegiate tennis at the highest level. We have campers that have been coming to see us every summer for 10 years!”
Having been at the Ranch for over 40 years, Phil has even had a number of parents bring their kids and tell him they were in camp for 20 years ago and remember him. “Knowing that the parents had such a good time at camp back in the day and then decide to bring their kids back here is something special. It’s that team-family connection that we want to build through generations of tennis players,” Phil has said. Sometimes those parents will come and join an adult camp while their kids enjoy the junior camp. Newks is able to customize packages so parents can play in the morning and watch their kids in the afternoon.
Newks has been a Texas tennis staple since 1968. With such an array of programs, it’s the perfect place no matter one’s age or skill level. Everyone’s welcome to join the Team-Family so long as they love the game of tennis!
TRO has an exclusive discount code for those wishing to sign their kids up for camp. Use tro15 to receive $50 off one week of junior camp, valid until April 30, 2026.
