Clinics With Big-Name Pros

At Roy Emerson's summer camp at the Palace Hotel in Gstaad, Switzerland, you can not only get help with your strokes from a tennis legend who won 12 Grand Slam singles championships but also get to listen to his take on Roger Federer's game and Fed's chances of breaking Pete Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam singles titles. At Colorado's Broadmoor in summer—and California's Mission Hills Country Club the rest of the year—International Tennis Hall of Fame member Dennis Ralston roves from court to court passing along the expertise he used to coach Chris Evert, Yannick Noah, and the U.S. Davis Cup team. And at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina, former touring pro Roy Barth teaches the skills that took him to a No. 2 ranking in doubles and a two sets to love lead over Bjorn Borg.

Tennis stars like these instill an exhilarating dimension to the sessions they conduct for club players. Their deep knowledge of the game inspires confidence, while their player's or coach's perspective provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the pro tour. Choosing any of them ensures that you'll get a unique perspective on improving your game and the entertainment of stories about their life on the tour. But just as each of these celebrity pros is different, so too are their programs.

This month's Tennis Resorts Online newsletter focuses on the resort and camp programs run by—or associated with—big-name pros and provides an annotated list of what you can expect from their sessions.

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Camps/Schools

In general, what distinguishes one big-name camp or school from the next is its underlying philosophy. You may or may not get to meet the man whose name it bears, but you will be exposed to his particular approach to teaching and drills. To some extent, the brand-name schools tend to have larger enrollment—though that can vary seasonally—which improves the chances that you'll be on court with others very close to your level.

Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks. No mere figurehead, the legendary Roy Emerson (or "Emmo" as everyone calls him) personally oversees all five hours a day of these six-day tennis weeks held at the posh Palace Hotel in Gstaad, Switzerland. Joined by a cadre of international pros—some of whom themselves played on the circuit—he serves up an appealing mixture of good-humored kidding, astute instruction, and Aussie camaraderie that lures many campers back year after year. He'll ratchet up the demands for those who want intense workouts—he himself trained under the legendary Harry Hopman—and scale back for those who don't. Typically mornings are devoted to drills and technique; afternoons to doubles. The family-owned luxury hotel and its cuisine add to the allure.

Van der Meer Shipyard Tennis Resort. No one has taught more people to play tennis than Dennis Van der Meer. Even he is unwilling to estimate the numbers who have benefited from his expertise during in his 50 years on court. Originally from South Africa, where he played Davis Cup, and later a coach and business partner of Billie Jean King, Van der Meer personally conducts selected 3- and 5-day clinicsat various times throughout the year. Irrepressibly enthusiastic, he teases everyone, makes silly jokes, and takes an actor's pleasure in a captive audience, and at the same time seems to take it as a personal challenge to help everyone who attends to improve. He has, understandably, scaled back the number of sessions he teaches, but his website is explicit about whether it will be he or his experienced staff running any of the programs at Shipyard Plantation on South Carolina's Hilton Head Island or summers at Sweet Brier College in Virginia.

Vic Braden Tennis College, Green Valley Spa. A cherubic man with a "laugh your guts out" approach to tennis, Vic Braden is at once an extraordinarily entertaining instructor but one with a wealth of scientific research to back up his teaching methodology. "People tell me they come to camp 'to develop their natural talent,'" he told as assembled group of campers, "but physical laws dictate what happens to a tennis ball, not natural talent." If you attend his camps at Utah's Green Valley Resort, Braden and his pros break down each stroke with an eye not only to ensuring that you understand the physics behind it but also have check points so when something goes wrong after you leave you'll be able to coach yourself. Braden himself will personally conduct half a dozen camps at Green Valley this year, but any time you go you'll still get a full doze of his scientifically researched teaching methods. In recent years, that has been enhanced by using Dartfish videoanalysis, which lets to see what you're doing side by side with a pro hitting the same shot. There are condos and a very indulgent inn at the resort, and you can also book the tennis college bundled with on-site lodging and optional spa services or á la carte and stay wherever you like in the area.

Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. The man who coached Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Monica Seles, Tommy Haas, Maria Sharapova, and dozens of other world-class players does not personally have a hand in the adult camps that take place at his academy in Bradenton, Florida, though you may bump into him on the campus. What you do get is a very intensive program carpentered together from the same drills and workouts the ex-Marine has long used to hone the skills of the juniors who come to him hoping to be the next star. For an in-depth perspective on your game and physical conditioning, opt for the Pro Max Performance Training, which bundles the same intense on-court workouts with private lessons, a regenerative massages, and additional videoanalysis of your technical, tactical, and mental performance. Whatever you opt for, you may also see some of his latest prodigies—Nicole Vaidisova and Radek Stepanek, for example—going through their own paces. You can stay and dine at the academy or opt for lodging and meals off campus.

Saddlebrook Tennis. Although the legendary Australian Davis Cup coach Harry Hopman died in 1985, his methods inspired the programs at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Florida, where Hopman ran his adult and junior academy. In particular, the daily sessions incorporate his emphasis on conditioning, though they've evolved under director Howard Moore, who came through the Hopman system, to devote more time to the technical aspects of strokes production as well. Still, this remains in my estimation, the most grueling adult camp in the country, a place where you should expect to be pushed to your limits—and then beyond. After 4½ hours a day of running for balls, only the hardcore go on to play matches during the free time or a workout in the world-class fitness center. The rest are far more likely to retire to the spa for massages or any of the many Jacuzzis around a lakesized swimming pool or perhaps wander over to watch players like Justine Henin, James Blake, or the Bryan Brothers practice, all of whom train there.

John Newcombe Tennis Ranch. Though former world No. 1 John Newcombe co-founded the ranch, the legendary Newk himself can only be counted on to oversee the program during special Fantasy weeks in March and October, though he does drop in from time to time. What makes this Texas Hill Country ranch special is Newk's influence on the curriculum and overall atmosphere, both of which exude Aussie camaraderie. Working hard on court is important but so is having fun. This program tends to be a little less physically taxing than either Bollettieri's or Saddlebrook's—though the five-hour-a-day curriculum, mostly on hard courts, still qualifies as demanding. But unlike either of those brand-name programs, camp at Newk's doesn't end just because the day's drills finish. Everybody, campers and pros alike, get back together every evening from drinks at the bar, dinner, and some kind of ad hoc entertainment, typically karaoke. It isn't just about playing better tennis; it's also about spending time with your new-found tennis mates.

Resorts

Although numerous resorts have touring pros or affiliations with former touring pros, few of those big names spends much of the year on court. There are exceptions, of course, like Kathy Rinaldi, who teaches private lessons at the Breakers in Palm Beach during the winter and spring. But here I focus on venues where the celebrity takes an active part in the operation, if not throughout much of the year then at least during predictable periods you can plan on.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort. One of the founding members of the ATP Tour, former U.S. top-tenner Roy Barth has directed tennis operations at South Carolina's Kiawah Island Golf Resort since leaving the tour in 1976. After more than three decades of teaching, Barth is a master at analyzing weaknesses and then explaining the cure in simple terms. He often begins with techniques for focusing on the ball. "Most club players don't watch the ball properly," he notes. "Once they do, they can improve immediately without changing a single stroke." As director, he's available for private lessons, occasionally conducts clinics, and oversees some of the many groups and teams lured to the resort by custom-designed packages. Lodging options range from modest condos near the courts to lavish hotel rooms and posh beachfront condos.

Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. Mike Leach, who ranked as high as 27th in the world, has directed the tennis operations at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in northeast Florida since 1992. Like Barth, he's available for private lessons, runs some of the clinics, and oversees his "Leach at the Beach" summer camps. Although quick to point out that there are many great teaching pros who never played the circuit, he nonetheless sees having tour experience adding another dimension to his teaching. "A name pro probably has most to offer the high-caliber player," he notes, "particularly when it comes to match strategy. I can tell you what it's like to have your heart in your throat on Centre Court at Wimbledon serving match point against Ivan Lendl. That kind of experience is invaluable in helping people prepare for competitive matches." Because he is himself left-handed, lefties come to him for advice about tactics for left-handers; others seek his advice on serve, since he had a big serve despite being only 5'11" tall.

The Broadmoor. Dennis Ralston ranked No. 1 in the U.S. from 1964 to 1966; nevertheless, he points to his broad coaching experience as the chief asset he brings to tennis-playing guests of the Broadmoor from May to September and to Mission Hills Country Club the rest of the year. During the course of his clinics and camps, he sizes up each player as an individual and tailors his approach accordingly. "I try to go with what they have," he says. "I look at their physiques, their quickness, the weapons they have or need, and then try to help them build their game accordingly." Since he coached two such radically different players as Chris Evert and Yannick Noah, Ralston can obviously handle everyone from the rock-solid baseliner to the emotional serve-and-volleyer. His camps run on selected weekends at one or the other of the two venues.

The Diplomat Country Club & Spa. A top 100 singles and top 50 doubles player, Craig Wittus went on to coach Robert Seguso and Ken Flach to a Gold Medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea. He subsequently took Wintergreen Resort to national prominence as a tennis destination before coming to Hallandale, Florida, near Ft. Lauderdale in 2000 when the handsome 10-court tennis complex and adjacent 60-room luxury hotel and spa opened. On site year round, he is readily accessible for private lessons and tailor-made packages for doubles teams, and he spices up the weekly calendar in late winter and spring with a Friday evening pro exhibition featuring such former touring pros as featuring such former touring pros as Karel Novacek, Robert Seguso, Guillaume Raoux, Pablo Arraya, Nicolas Pereira, Victor Pecci, or anyone else who lives in the area or happens to be passing through. Ask him about playing on a rock video with John McEnroe, Peter Rennert, and Mel Purcell.

Whistler Racquet Club. Former top 50 WTA pro Marjorie Blackwood and her husband, former Canadian National Masters Doubles Champion Peter Schelling, team up to offer a series of Friday-Sunday camps with different themes on selected dates from June into November. Blackwood has wins over Virginia Wade, Pam Shriver, and Helena Sukova during her career, and she brings that knowledge of international competition to this 10-court club in Whistler. Extremely popular, their camps often sell out in advance, so book now if you're interested. But Blackwood and Schelling are also available for private lessons as well as for custom-designed camps if you put together your own group. They also offer midweek junior camps and discounts on lodging at selected hotels in Whistler.

Special Occasions

Many fantasy camps with celebrity pros take place only once or twice a year. As TRO hears about them, we post that information on our Great Resort Tennis Calendar. Check there for the latest listing.

Tennis Resorts Online has again secured three exciting vacation packages to be given away in our annual drawing among those who submit reviews, favorable or otherwise, for the resorts and camps they've visited on vacation. To participate, go to Rate a Resort/Camp (or to review a Junior Camp, go to Rate a Junior Camp).

• Saddlebrook Tennis, Wesley Chapel, Florida: Tennis Weekend for 2, including two nights luxurious accommodations, five hours of intensive tennis (for both people), video analysis, breakfast daily, and admittance to the spa and fitness center.
• TOPS'L Beach & Racquet Resort, Destin, Florida: Three nights lodging in a two-bedroom courtside Tennis Villa or deluxe two-bedroom condominium plus complimentary court time, tennis clinic, round robin, and souvenir for two players.
• New England Tennis Holidays at the Inn at Essex, Essex, VT: Two nights lodging, two days of tennis camp, and all meals for two people at this 120-room inn, which is also home to the New England Culinary Institute.

TRO Packages and Specials

The following special packages and discounts are available only to Tennis Resorts Online readers.

Adult Camps

• Free Upgrade to 1-bedroom suite + Amenity Basket at Saddlebrook (Hopman) Tennis School, Florida
• Save $100 on midweek adult packages at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas

• 10% Off all adult tennis packages at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida
• $50 Off five-day Sunday-Thursday tennis packages at New England Tennis Holidays in North Conway, New Hampshire
• $50 Off five-day Sunday-Thursday tennis packages at New England Tennis Holidays at the Inn at Essex in Essex, Vermont
• $50 Off weekend adult camps at Ramey Tennis Schools in Kentucky

Junior Camps

• 10% Off all short-time junior camps at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida

Resorts

• Exclusive weekend camp specials at Sea Colony Resort, Delaware

Teams and Groups

• Special Tailor-made group packages at Port Royal Racquet Club, South Carolina

Many of your hotel and resort, air, and car-rental reservations can now be booked directly from Tennis Resorts Online. Just look for the "Reserve" button at the top of the review for a direct link to the booking engine or use the link to TravelNow.