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Interview With Cliff Drysdale

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 >>>

Four Seasons Costa Rica Adds Grass Court

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 To Close for Renovations

Rancho Valencia, an Auberge Resort, 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.

Would You Believe Blue Clay?

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."

News and Reviews From TRO's Blog

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 and bundles groups clinics with private lessons and sports psychology sessions.
Justine Henin's 6th Sense Tennis Academy at the has gone on hiatus and, according to director of sports Cesar Villaroel, "is in the process of rebuilding." As more details become available, I'll post them here.
The Reed Anderson Tennis School, which now operates out of the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
Work on the interiors of the Carefree Resort & Conference Center in Carefree, Arizona has now been completed and tennis director Glen Gerbino has added monthly 4-day tennis camps to his calendar.
Charly Rasheed, the tennis director at Wild Dunes Resort near Charleston has been named the "Adult Male Player of the Year" by the USTA South Carolina. The award recognizes individuals who have made "who made outstanding contributions to tennis."
The Inn at Harbour Town in Sea Pines Resort ranks among the Top 150 in the world based on Conde Nast's annual "Reader's Choice Survey."
This year's No. 1 tennis resort Kiawah Island Golf Resort near Charleston, South Carolina plans to add two new swimming pools: a children's pool at Night Heron Park and another at the West Beach Tennis Center that will have both an adult section and a large play area with water toys and slides.
The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, just unveiled its new Windsor Club, a collection of 26 newly renovated guestrooms—among them a 7-room Presidential Suite—on two floors with their own concierge service.
George Cobia, who had been director of tennis at the Pensacola Athletic Center, has joined Hidden Dunes Beach & Tennis Resort as head professional.

On the Road

Dispatches from my latest travels

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

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

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

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TOPS'L Beach & Racquet Resort has been ranked a TOP 10 Tennis Resort for 7 years in a row. Located on the beach in beautiful Destin, FL, TOPS'L combines world-class tennis facilities with all the relaxation of a beach vacation. Enjoy 12 Rubico courts, team tournaments, 14 tennis packages and more! Phone 888-874-9836 or visit www.topsl.com

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Exclusive Packages and Specials

Discounts, room upgrades, and special packages only available on Tennis Resorts Online.

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

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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.

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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.

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(More Discounts & Specials)

Win a Tennis Vacation!

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:

• Tennis weekend for 2 (lodging, 5 hours daily clinics, breakfast, more) at the professional training facilities at Saddlebrook Tennis in Wesley Chapel, Florida
• Two nights lodging in a Clay Brook condominium, two days of tennis camp (five hours a day) on Har-Tru courts, lunch both days, and dinner the second night for two people at the highly-ranked New England Tennis Holidays location in Sugarbush, Vermont
• Three nights lodging at TOPS'L Beach & Racquet Resort, in Destin, Florida plus complimentary court time, tennis clinic, round robin, souvenirs, and more for two people

To participate, go to Rate a Resort or Camp or Rate a Junior Tennis Camp and fill out a questionnaire.

Your Recent Reviews

Here's a sample of recent critiques of the top resorts and camps by other vacationers.

• Shadow Mountain Resort & Club, California
  "Great tennis-fabulous location-no need for a rental car. take a taxi from the airport and walk everywhere or use bikes provided at the resort! Make sure you call in advance of your stay and ask them to set up matches for you. Tennis instruction is great. Highly recommend the clinics.
  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

• Longboat Key Club & Resort, Florida
  "We had a great time (January 2012) at Longboat - beautiful facility, fabulous instruction, fun games set up by the staff, friendly (well, there's always one...) folks to play with. We stayed at the resort in a lovely ocean-front studio apartment. Resort staff was extremely helpful and efficient."—M.T., Int., February 2012

• PBI Tennis Camp at Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt, Tirol Austria
  "My wife and I have been regulars at Stanglwirt ever since we discovered it six years ago. We will return this year and spend a week in June 2011 with great pleasure. We both enjoy tennis that it is well organized from the team of PBI. Adri and her team of pros have been exceptional, attentive, patient (with my wife) and offered both group and individualized instruction and feedback. I appreciated that they were well-prepared and extremely knowledgeable. Along with structure to our activities they created a fun and collegial environment."—F.T., Adv., February 2011

• Cliff Drysdale Tennis School at Stratton, Vermont
  "We definitely learned so much and were extremely impressed with the caliber of the instruction from Scott and the Cliff Drysdale Team at Stratton. They really achieved the perfect balance between very high quality constructive feedback that will help take our games to the next level, while encouraging and challenging us all in a very positive and fun atmosphere. Also impressive was the way they all were able to give such tailored and individualized feedback throughout the week we were there. Very pleased with our experience there!"—E.K., Low Int., August 2009

• Boulders, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, Arizona
  "You need to go here. Dale Light has a touch that is unique to tennis instruction. He emphasizes balance and movement more than any instructor I have ever had. Whatever your level, the understanding of how important balance is to your game and learning techniques to concentrate on that aspect is critical to improvement. Dale brought back the idea of the "Inner Game" and has added much more. Go and see for yourself.  "—D.J., Adv. Int., March 2011

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