John Austin resigned his position as Director of Tennis at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, AZ shortly after Thanksgiving. The press release gives no reason for his departure. He's been replaced by Iqbal Dulara, a former Top 10 player in his native India and a member of the Fairmont Princess staff since 1997.Kelly Gunterman has left Omni Amelia Island Plantation in Amelia Island, Florida and is looking for a new location for himself and his tennis school. Whatever that leads to, he has no plans to revive his school at the Summit Lodge in Killington, Vermont this summer saying "it just doesn't make enough money."
And speaking of Omni Hotels, they now have a presence on South Carolina's Hilton Head Island as the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort in Palmetto Dunes. Plans call for investing some $18 million over the next year to enhance the 323-room hotel.
On a recent visit to Hawk's Cay Resort in the Florida Keys, whose eight-ourt facility is now managed by Cliff Drysdale Tennis, I had a chance to interview the popular television commentator, who was making a personal appearance the resort for a special tennis clinic. Our wide-ranging conversation addressed such topics as his tennis predictions for the men's tour in 2012, the dissatisfaction among players on the ATP Tour over scheduling and what it may lead to, the state of the resort-tennis business, the importance of Quickstart, how he started playing tennis in South Africa, and the best tennis advice he ever received. To read all he has to say, visit Interview with Cliff Drysdale >>>
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The Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo opened a grass court on Christmas Day. The new grass court utilises Tifdwarf Bermuda grass and is the first true grass regulation tennis court at any Four Seasons property worldwide. The new court complements the four Har-Tru courts at the tennis complex, a facility run by Peter Burwash International's David Hong.
Rancho Valencia, in Rancho Santa 
Fe, CA will close in January 2012 to undergo a six-month, $20-million renovation. Plans call for remodeling all 49 of the suites, expanding the spa, and enhancing the reception, dining, fitness, and meeting spaces. The tennis complex will remain open throughout the renovation, which will be complete by summer 2012.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are 
both seeing red after Spain's Mutua Madrid Open announced that it would switch from traditional red clay to blue—
that's right, blue clay—for the 2012 tournament. The ATP Tour has given its approval but the two headliners have reservations: Nadal tweeted: "I hope I never have to play a single day on blue clay," while Federer called it "difficult to talk about right now."
As of January 1, the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, Florida has been renamed the Waldorf Astoria Naples. According to the press release, the name change will be accompanied throughout 2012 by "property enhancements reflecting the latest Waldorf Astoria brand standards."
Jonathan Sarosiek has been promoted to Director of Tennis at Wintergreen Resort, a 22-court facility in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville, VA. He also continues to direct the Wintergreen Tennis Academy, a year-round program andwks-cay/">Cliff Drysdale Tennis at Hawk's Cay Resort, Florida
A Northern California Tennis Odyssey
Big Island's Kohala Coast: Where Hawaiian Royalty Vacationed
Soaring Above Phoenix, Arizona
Update on Florida's Alluring Panhandle
Guide to Hilton Head Island Tennis
Newport, Rhode Island, For Tennis Players
Club Med-Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Little Dix Bay, British Virgin Islands
Boulevard Village & Tennis Club, Vero Beach, Florida
The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, South Carolina
Four Seasons Resort and Club at Las Colinas, Texas
Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
indicates a tournament
For the Love of Your Heart Round Robin Fundraiser, Dave Marshall Tennis, Delaware, Phone: 302-526-5111
Scheduled from 3-6 pm, this For the Love of Your Heart social round robin for all levels benefits the American Heart Association
PBI Tennis Show & Carnival, JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, California
This three-hour (12:30-3:30) event begins with the Peter Burwash International Tennis Show, a hilarious mixture of a musical revue, tennis exhibition and tennis clinic staged on the resort's two grass courts. A carnival follows, comprising twenty-five games designed for kids from age 5 to 95. Earn credits to use to bid on great prizes: hotel stays, Wilson tennis racquets and other prizes from Wilson and ellesse, dining, tennis lesson packages, tickets to local attractions, including the BNP Paribas Open, grass court time and much more, including prizes only for kids. All are welcome. Guaranteed fun. Light refreshments served. Call PBI Director of Tennis Jim Leupold at 760 341-1894 or email jim.leupold@pbitennis.com
Boomer Tennis Senior Clinic, Van Der Meer Tennis, Shipyard, South Carolina
This 16-hour midweek program bundles strokes mechanics, drills, supervised match play, and a Boomer fitness component, all designed for players 60 and older with NTRP ratings from 2.0-4.5.
Azalea Junior Tennis Championships, Callaway Gardens, Georgia
A USTA-sanctioned event: Boys and girls singles for ages 12 to 16.
PTR International Symposium and Championships, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Florida
The Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), one of the two principal organizations to certify tennis instructors, holds its annual symposium, which draws pros from all over the world, and a closed tournament from PTR members who attend.
Abierto Mexicano Telcel, Fairmont Acapulco Princess, Gro. Mexico
One of the ATP World Tour 500 events, this contest on red-clay concludes what's know as the four-tournament "Golden Swing" through Latin America. David Ferrer won in 2011.The WTA plays the same week, with Gisela Dulko as 2011 champion.
Delray Beach International Tennis Championships. Phone: 561-330-6000. www.YellowTennisBall.com
A combined ATP World Tour and ATP Champions Tour event. The Champions Tour, held Feb. 24-28, headlines Ivan Lendl, Mats Wilander, Michael Chang, Pat Cash, and others. The ATP event itself begins Feb. 27. Juan Martin del Potro is defending champion.
Coed Fantasy Weekend, John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas, Phone: 800-874-7788
John Newcombe, Roy Emerson, Owen Davidson, and Ross Case conduct clinics, coach team matches, play against the amateurs, dine with campers, and then hang out for entertainment at evening cocktail parties and into the evening.
29th Annual "Luck of the Irish" Doubles Tournament, Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center, South Carolina, Phone: 843-785-1152
A men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles tournament. The divisions: 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 and Open.
Ladies 3.5 Interstate Team Challenge, TOPS'L Beach & Racquet Resort, Florida
For teams of women with an average NTRP rating of no more than 3.5.
Everett Potter's Travel
Value-focused Travel Advice Interviews, Reviews, Articles
www.everettpotter.com
Family Travel Forum
Family Travel Information Advice, Custom Planning
www.familytravelforum.com
Sports Psychologist
Mental Coaching by Phone or in Palm Beach, Florida Office
www.JohnFMurray.com
Mariani's Virtual Gourmet
Weekly food, wine and travel reports from around the world
www.johnmariani.com
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See Also: Map of Europe and North Africa
Discounts, room upgrades, and special packages only available on Tennis Resorts Online.
IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, Florida
TRO Special: $100 Off Full-week Adult Camps
Tennis Resorts Online has secured a $100/week discount on any Adult tennis camp you book at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy. Book two weeks, get $200 off. Discount applies to full weeks only. To get it, phone toll-free 800-872-6425 and mention this discount code: U_NY4252.
Not sure what you want? Send an online brochure request.
*Note: May not be combined with other discounts.
John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas
TRO Exclusive: Save $100!
Tennis Resorts Online users can claim a special $100/person discount on any Sunday-Friday adult package Newk's offers between now and the end of May 2012. To get it, telephone reservations toll-free at 800-444-6204 or email the Ranch. You must mention Tennis Resorts Online to get the discount. Request a brochure.
Saddlebrook Tennis (Hopman), Florida
Free Upgrade to One-bedroom Suite + Amenity Basket
Book the Saddlebrook Tennis School (which offers five hours a day of instruction) and a regular deluxe guest room at Saddlebrook Resort and they'll upgrade you to a one-bedroom suite* at no extra cost (two-night minimum) and include a complimentary Saddlebrook Amenity basket.
To get it, phone toll-free 800-729-8383 and ask for the Tennis Resorts Online Upgrade.
*Subject to availability at the time of booking
Rate any resort or camp you know first hand, and you'll automatically be entered in a drawing, to be held May 1, 2012, for one of these great vacation prizes:
To participate, go to Rate a Resort or Camp or Rate a Junior Tennis Camp and fill out a questionnaire.
Here's a sample of recent critiques of the top resorts and camps by other vacationers.
PBI Tennis Camp at Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt, Tirol Austria
Shadow Mountain Resort & Club, California
Studios are great! I like the Creekside set of studios because the units are bigger and they are quieter because they are a bit away from the big pool. Be sure to ask for a newly remodeled unit because there can be major differences in the units even though the price is the same on all of them."—K.T., Adv., January 2012
Court Think Tennis Camps, Utah
Peter Kaplan's Westhampton Beach Tennis Academy, New York
Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt, Tirol Austria