Sports Guide for Expats
Fitness Clubs
Gold’s Gym has dominated the world and with good reason. This super chain provides multiple locations around Los Angeles and the rest of the world. Services, facilities, and value for money are second to none.
735 S Figueroa Street, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 688-1441
http://www.goldsgym.com/
24 Hour Fitness has clubs all over America and Asia. Membership prices are so cheap that gyms are often overcrowded.
505 S Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 683-1400
http://www.24hourfitness.com
Golf
LA’s beautiful weather and long summer days are attractive to amateur golf players who like nothing more than a relaxing game after work.
Wilshire Country Club
The daddy of all golf clubs in LA is located in one of the city’s most expensive residential areas. The award winning and exclusive Wilshire Country Club first opened in 1919 and is strictly members only. 18 holes over 6,531 yards with a par of 71.
301 N Rossmore Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90004-2499
(323) 934-1121
http://www.wilshirecc.com
Chester Washington Golf Course
The 18-hole course first opened in 1927 and is managed by the American Golf Corporation, which means it’s open to general public. 18 holes over 6,348 yards with a par of 70.
1930 W 120th St
Los Angeles, CA 90047-5168
(323) 756-2516
http://www.americangolf.com
Westchester Golf Course
This 18-hole par 64 course opened in 1969 and is open to the public. It’s rather close to the airport but that doesn’t deter golf lovers.
6900 W Manchester Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90045-3799
(310) 649-9173
http://www.americangolf.com
Hillcrest Country Club
The Hillcrest Country Club and golf course is members only 18-hole which originally opened its doors in 1920. 18 holes over 6,489 yards with a par of 71.
10000 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064-3400
(310) 300-6130
http://www.hcc-la.com
Tennis
Choose between private clubs or public parks. The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (LA Parks) provide tennis courts at different locations for the public. Permits and reservations for all courts are required and cost $15 for residents and $30 for non-residents.
See LA Department of Recreation and Parks website for Free Tennis locations: http://www.laparks.org/dos/sports/tennis/freetennis.htm
Griffith Park
Public tennis courts in Griffith Park are $8 an hour and must be booked in advance. Weekends are first come, first served.
3401 Riverside Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 662-7772
Los Angeles Tennis Club
The Los Angeles Tennis Club is a members only club that dates from 1920. There are seventeen cement courts. Jimmy Connors, Billy Jean King, and Stan Smith have graced these courts at one time or another.
5851 Clinton Street
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 464-3195
http://latennisclub.com
Global Tennis Network
Global Tennis Network website lets you create your profile page, meet fellow tennis fans and find available courts in your area.
http://www.globaltennisnetwork.com/
Swimming Pool
If Los Angeles Pacific Coastline doesn’t wet your appetite for swimming then there are dozens of public swimming pools from which to choose. Many gym clubs also provide indoor pools. LA Parks operates 59 swimming pools, 10 lakes, and a beach – http://www.laparks.org/dos/aquatic/aquatic.htm. Three summer camps provide pools, including the Hollywood Girls Camp, 3200 Canyon Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90028.Swimming Los Angeles
A member of United States Swim School Association. Swimming classes for all ages and all levels are provided at 4 locations.
(310) 994-SWIM
http://swimmingla.com/
Yoga
As well as the scores of professional yoga centers dotted around the city, many gym clubs offer yoga classes as part of gym membership.
Yogaworks
This center is situated on Larchmont Boulevard’s small shopping street and is popular with industry people. Beginners to experienced level Hatha yoga instruction. 23 Branches in LA, Orange County, and NYC.
230 ½ N. Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 464-1276
http://www.yogaworks.com
Liberation Yoga
Hatha yoga and meditation classes from beginners to experienced, as well as massage and astrology readings.
124 South La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 964-5222
http://www.liberationyoga.com
Heartbeat House
A neighborhood favorite and a uniquely Californian take on the art of yoga and dance. The eclectic list of classes includes Community Flow Yoga, Bollywood Aerobics, and Burlesque Ballet.
3141 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 669-2821
http://www.heartbeathouse.com
Soccer
Professional soccer still has a long way to go before it knocks off the national favorites baseball, basketball, and football, but that doesn’t stop if from being the number one recreational sport in the US. Spurred on by David Beckham’s transfer to local team, Los Angeles Galaxy, even more boys and girls are taking up the sport in the hopes of professional league stardom. For a country that is years behind in its devotion to soccer, it is miles ahead in providing facilities for girls’ soccer, as well as boys.
World Soccer Connection get in touch with your local soccer community.
Hollywood Soccer Academy
Team coaching of a competitive soccer program for boys and girls aged 6-14.
Griffith Park Soccer Field: 3401 Riverside Dr
Los Angeles, 90027
310 926 7668
Griffith/Metro/Pacific Municipal Sports Office
For adult dreamers out there, joining a recreational team is as easy as going to the park. LA Parks offers two adult soccer seasons for beginners to semi-pro players.
Municipal Sports Stop # 658 3900 W. Chevy Chase Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90039 (818) 246-5613
soccer.munisports@lacity.org
http://www.laparks.org
Other
To try your hand at the national sport, batting cages are a fun way to spend a couple of hours.
Batcade
Batcade has baseball batting cages with multi-speed automated pitching machines to perfect your swing.
220 N Victory Blvd
Burbank, CA 91502-1838
(818) 842-6455
http://www.batcade.com
Bowling
Bowling has always and still is a popular fun game sport.
Lucky Strike
6801 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
323.467.7776
http://bowlluckystrike.com/
Pinz
12655 Ventura Blvd
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 769-7600
http://pinz.com/
Martial Arts
Being on the west side of the continent, Los Angeles has embraced many forms of Asian Martial Arts styles. Martial arts are sports for one’s body as well as for your mental discipline. Here are some of the many Dojos in the city:
Aiki Kai teaches the Japanese art of Aikido. Aikido is a graceful, defensive martial art that is excellent for everyone but especially effective for women and elder people.
Los Angeles Aiki Kai
8929 Ellis Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 838-7557
http://losangelesaikikai.com/
Marina Tae Kwon Do teaches the Korean art of Tae Kwon Do. Tae Kwon Do is a high energy art with lots of jumps and kicks.
13203 W Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90066
(310) 821-6768
http://marinataekwondo.com
The Double Dragons School of Kung Fu San Soo teaches the Chinese art of Kung Fu. Kung Fu is a Chinese term for individual accomplishment or refined skill.
11732 Washington Place
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 748-4415
http://2dragonskfss.com/
National Karate Institute NKI Dojo teaches the Japanese art of Karate. Established in 1960’s in downtown LA.
12121 W Pico Blvd ste 2c (upstairs)
Los Angeles , ca 90064
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, an art originated in Japan, reborn and renowned by the Gracie family in Brazil. Check the website for locations.
7424 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 272-5425
http://www.gracieacademy.com
AMMS Muay Thai Los Angeles teaches the Thai art of Muay Thai also known as Thai Boxing. It is a national sport of Thailand and also called “The Art of Eight Limbs” from the fact that the hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used extensively in this art.
11671 National Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 902-6318
http://muaythailosangeles.com
