Goldman Tennis Center (Lisa + Douglas Goldman Tennis & Pickleball Center) — San Francisco, CA

Mercury Schroeppel

★★★★★ a month ago

Five stars, but with a big asterisk. Playing pickleball at Goldman on a sunny afternoon is one of my favorite things about living in SF. Beautiful facilities. Staff is always friendly and helpful. I only play pickleball here so can't speak to the tennis side of things, but the pickleball experience is top notch. Shout-out to Joel if you're taking lessons. Patient, clear, actually makes you better. Try to get him if you can. If you are a complete newbie, a clinic or group class is helpful. Beyond that, I think they are a bit overpriced for what you get. Instructors are good but with that many people on a court, you don't get individual attention. They recently started offering smaller-group lessons which seems like a better format. Now the asterisk. Reservations are basically impossible. Booking opens at 12:30pm and courts are gone in, not an exaggeration, one second. Again, I'm not exaggerating. And even if you click at exactly 12:30:00, you still might not get one. I've also heard the owners aren't fans of pickleball and aren't planning to add more courts, which if true is a bummer because the demand is obviously there. Honestly the reservation thing is so bad I went back and forth on whether this should be four stars. But the place itself is so great, maybe it's just a victim of its own success. If you CAN get a reservation, it's unbeatable.

Cam Brand

★☆☆☆☆ 4 months ago

This facility is beyond frustrating. My last hope is that the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department looks into replacing Lifetime Activities and General Manager Betsy Kemp as the operators of this facility. The reservation system is consistently unreliable. Over the past two years, I have dealt with at least six separate incidents where I arrived for a confirmed reservation only to find the courts unavailable due to school team competition or damp conditions that were not communicated in time. This is a chronic issue known throughout the local tennis community. While I understand weather affects playability, cancelling a reservation 15-20 minutes beforehand—when most players are already commuting—is unacceptable business practice. The front desk's standard response is to apologize and offer a rebooking, but they refuse to address the root cause. I have lived in the neighborhood for over a decade and played here long before the renovation. I miss the days when this facility was operated reliably. The current management clearly does not care enough to implement meaningful changes, and I am tired of having my time wasted.

Ethan Chiang

★★★★★ 8 months ago

The Lisa and Douglas Goldman Tennis Center in Golden Gate Park is a great experience for anyone who loves the sport. The recent renovations are truly outstanding, featuring beautifully maintained courts that play really well every time. This facility offers a welcoming atmosphere for players of all skill levels from beginners taking their first lesson to higher level club players. The staff is exceptionally friendly and the pro shop is fully stocked with quality gear. Furthermore, the location within the park makes it a very beautiful area to play, making it more than just a place to play, but a wonderful experience. Great spot for tennis.

Tata I

★☆☆☆☆ 9 months ago

What a joke. They cancel classes claiming “weather reasons” when the sun is shining just fine — it’s nothing more than a scam to keep your money and trap you with useless credits. Instead of issuing a refund like any decent business, they hide behind their shady little policy. The so-called lessons? Weak and watered down. The teachers are mediocre at best, clearly set up so you never actually improve and keep paying for more. It’s not a program to teach you, it’s a hamster wheel designed to milk your wallet. And don’t get me started on the staff. Jerry at the front desk is as rude and dismissive as every other review says — it’s almost like being condescending is part of his job description. Bottom line: fake “weather” excuses, scammy credit policy, mediocre instruction, and rude staff. Save yourself the frustration and take your money literally anywhere else

Tony Baca

★★★★★ a year ago

My favorite place to play in San Francisco. I have taken 8-9 classes there over 2 years. Great instructors. Beautiful setting. Perfect courts. My only gripe would be that I would they would invest in dryers for the courts. Some might have dew from the night before and sit in shade so it takes hours for the dew to dry and they cancel reservations instead of getting a dryer and putting it out there.