(SPOT.ph) Instead of hiding from the summer heat, it’s about time we embrace it. Stretch those stiff limbs and get active, especially after being cooped up indoors for so long. It’s been two years, but, really, who’s counting? A jog around the block is great, but it’s a fun, social yet physical activity with friends is the dopamine hit we’ve been craving. Tennis and badminton are open-air activities, so they’re relatively safe even in this weird time. If you’ve been looking for just the right spot, we round up a couple of badminton and tennis courts in Cebu for you to book with your squad.
Also read: 10 Tennis Courts You Can Rent in Metro Manila
Get the gang together and sweat it out at these tennis and badminton courts in Cebu:
Metro Sports Center
Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City
Court rates start at P450/hour
Open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends, reservation is through 0917-641-3665 or (032)233-5712
If you play badminton in Cebu, you have most likely dropped by Metro Sports at least once thanks to its convenient location right outside the booming business district of IT Park. Metro Sports has 14 badminton courts, two of which are on the second floor and 12 on the ground floor. Before you can use their court, you’ll need to pay an entrance fee of P50. As of writing, they have an ongoing promo wherein you can use their court for two hours for P600 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. Make sure to call ahead of time because the badminton courts are usually booked and busy on weekends! Aside from badminton, Metro Sports also has other facilities for rock climbing, table tennis, and even a gym.
G2G Sports Centre by Filipino Homes
General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City
Court rates start P150/hour
Open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., reservation is through Ate Lyla at 0961-773-2563 (50% downpayment is required)
G2G Sports Center is pretty hidden from the main road so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for its closest landmark, Cherry Court across USC Boys’ High on General Maxilom Avenue. G2G has one rubberized court and three cement courts, all of which are covered.
You can book the rubberized court for P200/hour with an entrance fee of P50, while the cement courts cost P150/hour with an entrance fee of P30. Yes, that means you’ll need to pay an entrance fee per person on top of the court rental. A little birdie tells us that it’s usually available in the morning, so you better clear your sched to get your game on.
Sacred Heart Center
Dionisio Jakosalem Street, Cebu City
Court rates start at P700/hour
Open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m, reservation is through (032)253-9531
Sacred Heart Center only has one badminton court but it also doubles as their basketball court, so you can just imagine how big and spacious it is. Their badminton court can be rented for P700/hour during the day; if you want to use it at night, it costs P800/hour. Other than the badminton court, Sacred Heart Center also has a swimming pool, gym, and social halls for workshops and events.
YMCA Cebu
51 Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City
Court rates start at P225/hour
Open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., reservation is through (032)253-4057
YMCA Cebu isn’t just an apartment and hostel. It also has a swimming pool, table tennis, basketball court, and a badminton court exclusively for members’ use. Fret not as becoming a member is relatively easy: All you have to do is pay P100 and your membership will be active for a year.
YMCA Cebu been around since the ‘90s, which explains the dated exterior (or shall we say: that old-school character. Still, their amenities, most especially the basketball court and the badminton court, are functional and sought after by Cebuanos who just want to get a good sweat in.
Cebu City Sports Center
R.R Landon Street, Osmeña Blvd, Cebu City,
Court rates start at P150/hour
Open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., no advanced reservations can be made
More commonly known as “Abellana,” the Cebu City Sports Center is a public recreation center with a track oval, swimming pools, gym, and badminton courts. To enter, you’ll have to pay an entrance fee of P20. It has seven badminton courts; just note that most of the city’s sports events are held there so the chances of them being full are pretty high. But they’re all usually fully booked because most of the city’s sports clinics are held there.
Abellana does not accept advance bookings, and only honors bookings that have been paid for. That means you’ll have to head there first thing in the morning and pay for your slot, even if you intend on playing after your workday.
Cebu Country Club, Inc.
Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City
Court rates start at P100/hour
Open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., reservation is through 0915-543-6726
Cebu Country Club, Inc. is one of the pioneering recreational centers in Cebu. Though they’re mostly known for their golf courses, the use of their tennis courts is one of the many perks you can enjoy as a Cebu Country Club member. Membership rates start at P230,400, not accounting for the compliance of their full requirements.
If you know a member, you can also use the courts as a guest; only three guests are allowed per member. Members can use the court for P150/hour with lights and the guest rate is P100/hour. You can also hire both a ballboy and a referee for only P100/hour. Other possible add-ons include an instructor for P400/hour and a trainer for P300/hour.
Asmara Urban Resort
Paseo Saturnino, Banilad, Cebu City
Court rates start at P400/hour
Open daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., reservation is through 0917-708-1079 or 0917-637-7345
Asmara Urban Resort has three tennis courts available for booking. Their court rates vary depending on the time you want to use it. Early birds can book a tennis court for P500 from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., but if you want to insert a tennis sesh during your lunch break, it’s only for P400 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you prefer to play tennis as the sun is setting, the tennis court costs P500 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and P600 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., respectively.
If you’re up for a tennis lesson, Asmara has an in-house coach you can hire for P400/hour, and a ballboy for P100/hour. Asmara also has a swimming pool you can cool down in after playing tennis for P450 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Citigreen Tennis Resort Cebu
Bayabas Extension, Punta Princesa, Cebu City
Court rates start at P300/hour
Open daily from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m., reservation is from 0968-881-5158
Although it’s not as near to the city center, Citigreen is worth the drive because it has not just one but two red clay courts. Plus, they’re both covered so you can play tennis come rain or shine and can also be a deciding factor if you take into account your skin. Never skip the sunscreen!
Day use of Citigreen’s tennis court is P300, but the rate changes to P400/hour from 5 p.m. onwards. If you and your friends want to learn how to play tennis, there is an in-house instructor you can hire for P600; the class can only serve a maximum of three students.
Centcom Tennis Court
Camp Lapu-Lapu, Apas, Cebu City
Court rates start at P120
Open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., no court reservation is required
Tennis may be one of those social sports where actually learning the actual sport comes second. First, you need to find a community of players to get into the zone which is why it’s a good thing Cebu City has tennis clubs—one of which is the Camp Lapu-Lapu Tennis Club, headquartered in Camp Lapu-Lapu a.k.a. Campo in Barangay Apas. The best part? No membership requirements or fees are needed to be part of this tennis club! If you are not yet a member though, you’ll need to pay P50 to play on this court. At P120, you can already have a match with a ballboy and referee. However, there are no court reservations. Whoever arrives first gets to play first.
Villa Aurora Tennis Court
28 Pres. Magsaysay Street, Mabolo, Cebu City
Court rates start at P140/hour
Open from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m
Only walk-in reservations are allowed but members of the Villa Aurora Racket Club are given priority.
Villa Aurora Tennis Court is hidden inside a residential area of Mabolo. The caretaker described it as one of the best because it’s one of the few in the Metro owned by a private entity. To be a member, you’ll have to shell out P4,000 plus the monthly dues of P300 for the maintenance of the court. Don’t forget to bring an endorsement letter from the board though.
The amount per hour per tennis court can be divided up by up to four players. The use of the tennis court costs P140/court without lights and P240/court with lights. Villa Aurora Tennis Court prioritizes its members, but members can bring guests for a fee of P50/head, however, players aged 18 and below are free of charge. There are also trainers you can hire on the court, and the rate can be discussed between the trainer and the student.
