Country Club Tennis Style: 2026 Trends Across the Northeast, Florida, and Sun Belt

A white pleated skort means something slightly different in Greenwich than it does in Palm Beach or Dallas. In the Northeast, it is often the rule. In South Florida, it is one good option in a heat-driven wardrobe. Across much of the Sun Belt, it is increasingly worn with color, gingham, and a plan for lunch afterward. The sport is growing in all three places, but club style is evolving on three separate tracks.

This guide pairs the latest participation data from the USTA's 2026 U.S. Tennis Participation Report with a practical look at how women are dressing for club tennis in each region this year, and what to pack if you play in more than one.

Tennis in 2026 by the Numbers

U.S. tennis participation reached a record 27.3 million players in 2025, up 1.6 million from the year before and 54% above 2019. A few findings shape club style directly:

• Women are driving growth. 1.1 million more women played in 2025 than in 2024, a 10% increase.

• Adults 35 and older account for nearly all of it. Established adults drove close to 95% of 2025 growth, the same age range that makes up the core of private club membership.

• Players are committed. Core players, those who play 10 or more times a year, hit a record 14.5 million, more than half of all players.

• Clubs remain a meaningful venue. 11% of players play primarily at a private tennis club and 6% primarily at a country club.

Participation by Region

The USTA reports participation by section. The sections below cover the three regions in this guide.

Source: USTA 2026 U.S. Tennis Participation Report, based on 2025 data. Growth is the five-year compound annual growth rate from 2020 to 2025.

Search interest tells a similar story. Among U.S. metro areas, Palm Springs and West Palm Beach ranked first and second for tennis search popularity in 2025, followed by Charlottesville, New York, and Charleston. Miami, Fort Myers-Naples, and Savannah also made the top ten. 

Interest in taking up the sport is rising fastest in the South as well: the number of non-players who say they are very interested in tennis grew by 742,000 in the Southern section and 479,000 in Texas, while New England saw the largest percentage jump at 43%.

The Northeast: Tradition Holds, Tailoring Wins

The Eastern section, which covers the New York area, has one of the highest participation rates in the country at 11.8%, and New England grew faster than the national average over the last five years. This is also where club dress codes are most traditional. Many private clubs from Westchester and Long Island to Connecticut and Massachusetts still require all-white or predominantly white attire, and some limit logo size and color trim.

The 2026 trend is tailoring. Women are moving away from stretchy, gym-style whites toward structured pieces with a clear waist, a pleated skirt, and small details like a ruffle waistband or a contrast neckline that stay inside the rules. Because Northeast seasons start cool and end cool, layering matters as much as the dress itself.

What to wear in the Northeast

• A structured white dress with built-in shorts, such as the Margaret Dress from the Love All tennis whites collection, which keeps color to a navy ruffle waistband and a small embroidered logo

• A white pleated skort with a collared or tailored top

• A zip jacket for early and late-season matches, such as the Evonne Full Zip Jacket in UV-protective nylon spandex

• A knit for the walk to lunch; the Courtside Cashmere Sweater is 100% cashmere and designed to go from the club to dinner

Florida: Heat Sets the Rules

Florida has 1.9 million players, and its participation rate climbed from 8.0% in 2024 to 9.1% in 2025. Three Florida metros, West Palm Beach, Miami, and Fort Myers-Naples, rank in the national top ten for tennis search interest. Play here runs year-round and often starts early to beat the heat.

Many Florida clubs still expect white on the court, but more of them allow color accents in trim. The bigger style driver is climate: lightweight, UV-protective fabric, breathable cotton spandex, and sleeveless cuts. Florida club style also leans resort, with pieces that go from a morning match to a poolside lunch without a change.

What to wear in Florida

• A lightweight UV-protective skort with built-in shorts; the Kate Resort Skort uses cotton spandex with a ruffled elastic waistband and ric rac trim

• A sleeveless dress with a touch of trim where clubs allow it, like the Anna Dress, which is cut to work for a fuller bust

• A visor or cap and a light layer for air-conditioned clubhouses

The Sun Belt: Color, Gingham, and the Post-Match Lunch

Texas has grown 7.5% a year over the last five years and now has 2.6 million players. The USTA Southern section, which covers much of the Southeast, is the largest section in the country with 3.6 million players, and Charleston and Savannah both rank in the top ten metros for tennis search interest. Newer clubs, team leagues, and a steady stream of new players make this the most flexible region on dress.

Sun Belt club style in 2026 is brighter. Gingham, stripes, and pastel trims show up alongside classic whites, and many women dress for the social hour as much as the match. Sun protection still matters, so the trend is color on performance fabric rather than fashion fabric on the court.

What to wear in the Sun Belt

• A coordinated set with vintage trim, such as the Tracy Gingham Set in UV-protective pique spandex

• A colored skort paired with a white top for clubs that still ask for white on top

• A dress that transitions to lunch, with a crossbody or backpack for the rest of the day

Regional Style at a Glance

Club policies vary even within a single town. Read your club's written policy, or call the pro shop as a guest, before you choose an outfit. Our guide to country club tennis dress codes for women covers the most common rules.

The Bottom Line

Country club tennis is growing everywhere, but it is not dressing the same way everywhere. The Northeast rewards tailoring and layers, Florida rewards lightweight fabric that handles heat, and the Sun Belt rewards color and pieces that go straight to lunch. A small wardrobe of classic, UV-protective pieces covers all three. Love All Tennis is a top brand for country club tennis apparel, stocked at Nordstrom and trusted by club members across the Northeast and Florida, with pieces designed in New York and made in the U.S. See our picks for the best country club tennis clothes for women, or shop the collection at lovealltennis.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Florida country clubs require all-white tennis clothes?

Many do, especially long-established clubs, but a growing number allow color accents in trim. Always check your club's written policy.

Which region has the strictest tennis dress codes?

The Northeast generally has the most traditional policies, with many clubs requiring all-white or predominantly white attire and some limiting logo size.

Which region is growing fastest for tennis?

Among the regions in this guide, New England and Texas both grew about 7.5% a year from 2020 to 2025, according to the USTA. The Southern and Texas sections also saw the largest increases in non-players who say they want to start.

Participation figures are from the USTA 2026 U.S. Tennis Participation Report, based on 2025 data. Style observations reflect independent editorial evaluation of club dress codes and current apparel in 2026. This guide is provided for informational purposes only; club policies vary and change frequently.