Hoping not to become the sport without a court, West Seattle Racquetball Club looking for place to play

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

The West Seattle Racquetball Association is looking for a place to play. Commissioner Ben Weagraff explains, “We are a group that started with a handful of racquetball players and now have nearly 60 members. We play two tournaments a year at the YMCA (one for singles and one for doubles) plus many times a week and every weekend. We represent all levels of play and a cross-section of the diverse community that is West Seattle.” They’ve known for a while that the Y (WSB sponsor) is dropping racquetball (as mentioned here) as part of its renovation. Weagraff says they had planned to move to the under-construction LA Fitness but have been told it won’t have racquetball courts after all. So, he says, “While this is not a crisis of epic proportions, our group is wondering if there are other options on the Peninsula for us to play racquetball — it truly is a great and empowering, albeit under-appreciated, sport.” Suggestions, anyone?

Wsrez February 3, 2015 (2:49 pm)

Downtown Y- off the peninsula but could work for time being. They actually offer cheaper memberships there as well. Has the Y said when the courts will be closed down?

lynn February 3, 2015 (3:18 pm)

Burien LA Fitness that just opened has courts. What a bummer that the new one here wont have them. I was really hoping the would

john maynard February 3, 2015 (4:09 pm)

The downtown Y does not work. Traffic is a bitch, and no parking. There is an LA Fitness with 4 courts in Ballard next to the bridge. 15 minutes from W. Seattle. Mucho free parking and next door to Trader Joe’s. And….the bonus….when you are through playing, you’re in Ballard, not Burien.
Thanks for listening,
Maynard

CM February 3, 2015 (4:16 pm)

There used to be one court at Steve Cox Park in White Center. Otherwise, although not in West Seattle, there are 2 courts at the Tukwila community center, not too far away.

Eric February 3, 2015 (4:43 pm)

Maynard, Ballard is a long, long way.

Elliot February 3, 2015 (5:27 pm)

I think all of us who are part of the ‘association’ know that there are no other racquetball courts on the peninsula, and that trying to work through the currently horrific traffic and parking issues downtown or in Ballard just doesn’t make sense for West Seattle players. The only place available is the new L.A. Fitness in Burien, which is a little galling as they sure messed with us for a long time in terms of saying the new one here would have courts, but we just need to man up about it and keep playing.

CM February 3, 2015 (6:19 pm)

The Tukwila center is really down in Allentown, so it’s not that hard to get to, and plenty of free parking. It’s north of BECU Headquarters, right on the river. Good luck, I wish I could still play.

JulNJer February 3, 2015 (7:42 pm)

Magnuson Park is leading buildings through Seattle Parks Dept. That’s still a hike, but much closer than the peninsula.

Gary N. February 3, 2015 (9:41 pm)

Since when is there a “West Seattle Racquetball Association” ?I’ve been playing at the WS YMCA since 1986 and have never heard of it.
I’m also with Elliot when he says “man up about it and keep playing”, which I have done for 42 yrs. We’ll find a place even if it’s in Burien. Just Do It.

Long Timer February 3, 2015 (9:42 pm)

Not to date myself but I have wondered if the Park Lake development on Roxbury kept their courts when it was upgraded?

Racquet February 4, 2015 (1:31 pm)

I believe the court at Steve Cox is still available for rent, although I think a local boxing association is storing some of their gear in the space.

Jeff February 4, 2015 (3:45 pm)

Terminal 5 beckons….

PearlPosse February 4, 2015 (4:46 pm)

Needed: Pickleball court in West Seattle – outdoors over racquetball please!!!

Bill (Go Pats!) Albert February 5, 2015 (12:11 pm)

Having made the schlep from Queen Anne to West Seattle for 18+ years (essentially the same route as from Ballard) I can say, while it takes an extra 10 minutes or so nowadays, it’s not nearly as bad as it would appear due to traffic. The courts at LA Fitness there are great and, as previously mentioned, you’re in Ballard where there’s great beer :)

Ryan H February 5, 2015 (12:33 pm)

Oh well, racquetball has been good (been playing at the Y since high school 30 years ago,) but time for other things. I’ll be glad to stop paying for my Y membership and let go of that for those who think cooking classes and other silliness at a YMCA is the way to go forward. If a new racquetball opportunity presents itself in WS, great…if not, so be it. I’m not gonna lose any sleep (and won’t have to think about a new racquet any time soon either.)

Brent February 6, 2015 (9:50 am)

A little off topic here, but I heard multiple rumors that the new W.S. LA Fitness was going to be a “Signature Club” with the $44.95/month price tag; however, to my understanding, in order to be considered a LA Fitness Signature Club, the facility would need to have all 10 Club amenities/features that LA Fitness offers, the racquetball court included. If the club as 9 out of those 10 amenities/features or less, than it’s not a Signature Club and the monthly membership price is $29.95/month instead. I personally never planned on playing racquetball, so this sounds like good news to me with the now possible $29.95/month price tag for the new W.S. LA Fitness Center over the rumored $44.95/month price tag.

I’ve been periodically calling their membership line that they have posted on the outside of the new facility (206.582.0888), but it’s the same two month old outdated recording talking about their preview center opening on 12/16/2014.

If anyone has any more information on the new W.S. LA Fitness Club, when it’s going to open, etc., I’m all ears! :-)

Thanks!

brian February 6, 2015 (10:53 am)

It’s a bummer that the new generation of club goers are more into treadmills, ellipticals and other non-social non-competitive activities. Don’t they know that working out alone is free? For me the whole point of belonging to a club would be to partake in friendly competitive sports, like squash, racquetball and tennis.

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