Long Island Tennis Magazine Releases 2026 Guide to Top Summer Camps

Every spring, Hamptons families face the same pleasant puzzle: with summer approaching fast and junior players eager to keep improving, which programs are actually worth the commitment? Long Island Tennis Magazine just made that decision a little easier. Its 2026 Guide to The Top Tennis Camps, published today, works as an aggregator-style resource covering summer camp programs across Long Island and the broader metro region, with particular relevance for families and seasonal residents on the East End. Two local programs stand out in this year's listings, each offering a genuinely distinct experience: Peter Kaplan Tennis Academy in Westhampton Beach and Future Stars Southampton in North Sea Park.

Peter Kaplan Tennis Academy and Eastside Tennis Academy

The name Peter Kaplan carries real weight in the Westhampton Beach tennis community, and the credentials behind his academy back that up. Peter Kaplan's Eastside Tennis Academy holds a distinction that, according to the listing, no other facility in the world can claim: it is the only tennis academy the USTA selected to be a part of the USTA members benefits program for both juniors and adults. That designation alone sets it apart from the crowded field of summer programs across the metro region.

The physical facility matches the ambition. Located at 7 Beach Lane in Westhampton Beach, the academy features 12 fast Dri Courts alongside a basketball court, giving players variety and room to train at volume. For summer 2026, the academy is offering discounted memberships that include stringing services and private instruction, which represents real added value for families looking to get the most out of a summer commitment. Reach the academy directly at (631) 288-4021 or visit WestHamptonBeachTennis.com for details.

The programming philosophy centers on individualization. As the listing notes, the experienced staff has taught players of all levels and ages, and programs are tailored to fit the individual's needs. That approach matters for families with players at different stages, from beginners finding their footing on a Dri Court for the first time to competitive juniors working on specific technical gaps before the fall tournament season.

The Grassmere Inn: Where Camp Meets the Hamptons

One of the more distinctive features of the Eastside Tennis Academy offering is its direct tie to an on-site accommodation option. Day camps and overnight camps, as well as nightly and weekend stays at the Grassmere Inn, are available to get what the listing calls "the full Hamptons treatment." That phrase captures something real: this is not just a tennis camp, it is a complete summer experience rooted in one of the most iconic stretches of the South Fork.

The Grassmere Inn, also at 7 Beach Lane in Westhampton, is open year-round and prides itself on having the neatest, cleanest, safest and most service-oriented accommodations possible. Its location is genuinely convenient for visiting families: less than one mile from the beach and a short walk from the center of the Village of Westhampton Beach, which includes numerous shops, restaurants, a movie theater, the Performing Arts Center and much more. For out-of-town families or seasonal residents who want to turn a week of tennis camp into a proper Hamptons stay, the Grassmere Inn package at the academy is the kind of combination that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. Accommodation details are available at WesthamptonBeachTennis.com/accommodations.html.

Future Stars Southampton

A few miles to the east, Future Stars Southampton takes a different but equally serious approach to summer development. The facility sits at 1370A Majors Path in North Sea Park, just a couple of miles north of the Village of Southampton, and operates as a year-round training facility with eight state-of-the-art outdoor tennis courts: four Har-Tru and four Deco Turf. That surface variety is worth noting. Har-Tru slows the ball down and rewards spin and movement; Deco Turf plays faster and more consistently, closer to a hard court. Training across both surfaces gives players a more complete physical and tactical vocabulary.

Summer camps at Future Stars Southampton are built around what the listing describes as the perfect mix of match play, drill work, strategy sessions and off-court activities to challenge players of all levels. That balance between structured drilling and live competitive play is exactly what coaches and parents should look for in a serious summer program. Drilling without match play produces technically correct players who struggle under pressure; match play without drilling reinforces bad habits. The Future Stars model, as described, addresses both sides of that equation.

The developmental framework goes deeper than just on-court work. The program is designed to improve every facet of the game, including technical, tactical, physical and mental components, all under the guidance of experienced and enthusiastic tennis professionals. The explicit attention to the mental component is notable. Point construction, pressure management, and competitive temperament are areas where juniors often plateau, and programs that acknowledge those elements alongside the technical ones tend to produce more well-rounded competitors.

Contact Future Stars Southampton at (631) 287-6707 or visit FutureStarsSouthampton.com to inquire about summer 2026 session availability.

Planning Ahead

The 2026 guide arrives at exactly the right moment. Summer fills fast in the Hamptons, and tennis programs at well-regarded facilities tend to reach capacity before families realize the window has closed. Specific session dates, pricing, registration deadlines, and camper details are best confirmed directly with each program, as the guide itself serves as a directory rather than a booking platform.

What the guide does provide is a clear starting point for families who want their junior players spending the summer actually improving, not just hitting balls in the sun. Between the USTA-affiliated infrastructure at Eastside Tennis Academy, the overnight camp experience anchored by the Grassmere Inn, and the dual-surface development model at Future Stars Southampton, the East End has genuine options for players at every level. The only move left is picking up the phone.