Tennis Resorts Online: Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch

Join Our Mailing List

Tell Friends About This Site

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch
Scottsdale, Arizona

WTA touring pro Meghann Shaughnessy was off playing tournaments when I last visited the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch, but International Tennis USA's Alain de Vos assured me that when she is in town she does much of her training on the eight hard courts at the resort. ITUSA, a diversified tennis management company, took over operation of the tennis complex in September 2003, and since Shaughnessy is both a Scottsdale resident and one of the pros ITUSA handles, the resort's courts provide a convenient place for her to workout whenever she's home.

Until ITUSA and Shaughnessy, who is the resort's touring pro, arrived, this Hyatt has kept a very low tennis profile. Whereas most of the recreational amenities—including a 2½-acre water park and 27 holes of golf—lie behind the hotel, the courts huddle among a stand of evergreens and shrubbery in front, adjacent to the site of a new spa, currently under construction.

Overview

In a very real sense, the resort pulls you in the opposite direction. In good weather, the movable glass walls at the front and back of the three-story atrium lobby open completely letting in the soft desert air. As you enter, the lobby falls away in a set of terraces and out into a courtyard behind and views of a the pool, lagoon, the golf course, and the McDowell Mountains. Artwork, both ancient and modern, from all over the world decorates the public spaces, and a Native American and Environmental Learning Center provides insights into Native American life, philosophy, and stewardship of the land. Outside that pool is in reality a vast water playground with 10 pools—one with a sand beach—stitched together by such architectural features as stone aqueducts and temples. Lush landscaping belies the desert setting, as do Venetian sandoli—low, flatter versions of a gondola—that ply the waters of the lagoon, pushed along by their singing boatmen. You keep having to glance at the mountains to remember this is Arizona.

Tennis Features

Pro Shop: 480-991-3388

When I visited a few months after ITUSA's arrival at the Hyatt, their programs were still very much in the nascent stage. Director Alain de Vos told me that they intended to offer doubles clinics (which they call four-on-ones), Hyatt Regency Scottsdale touring pro Meghann Shaughnessy tennis aerobics, some game matching with locals, opportunities to hit with the pros they represent, including Shaughnessy when she's on site (at $195/hour if you're saving up), and some round robins, like "Beers, Burgers and Backhands" for men and "Margarita Mamas" for women. They also want to offer a weekend instructional clinic as often as twice a month and would begin by videotaping and analyzing everyone's strokes and conclude with a CD to take home showing the analysis and providing steps for improvement. Their junior program, meanwhile, was already active, with more than a dozen, mostly local students. And I just received an email that they are looking to start a a junior academy. De Vos says of their approach, "It's very specific. It's very individualistic." If you go, please let us know about your experiences.

Tennis Staff. Director Alain de Vos was born in Belgium but grew up in Spain. He went on to a national ranking in his home country, played the satellite tour, and assisted Justine Henin-Hardenne's coach before moving on to South Africa, where he was in charge of players and coaches and ITF tournaments, and then to a club in Connecticut before joining ITUSA in 2002. He has three other pros helping him.
Courts & Fees. A winding path through some pines and shrubs leads to a patio furnished with umbrella tables and an open-air counter that is the staging area for the tennis operation. Construction of a new spa has eliminated half of the eight courts, leaving a very small complex for a resort of this size. There's no pro shop as such, though essentials like balls, grips, rental racquets, and restringing are available at the courts, as are restrooms. Court Fees: $25/hour.

Your Call

This is your opportunity to rate and review the resorts and camps you've visited. As material comes in I'll post it here, so you can read what others think.
So far, I haven't received any written feedback on Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch. If you've taken a tennis vacation there, I'd like to hear your reactions.

Rate Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch

Other Recreation

Golf Courses. The Hyatt has three nine-hole golf courses—Dunes, Arroyo, and Lakes—a full service practice facility, and a clubhouse with a boutique and indoor/outdoor restaurant.

Dunes: The most reminiscent of Scottish terrain. Par: 36. Length: 2,416-3,238 yards.
Arroyo: The longest and most open of the courses, with a meandering desert wash as a natural hazard throughout. Par: 36. Length: 2,753-3,424 yards.
Lakes: Varied terrain in a gardenlike setting that wraps around a variety of water hazards. Par 36. Length: 2,577-3,376 yards.

Spa & Fitness Center. The Hyatt's Sonwai Spa offers a variety of massages, facials, and wraps and encompasses two workout rooms, one with a set of 10 Cybex Galileo stations plus free weights and dumbbells, another with a baker's dozen treadmills, Stairmasters, and other cardiovascular equipment. Both have mirrored walls and windows on the foliage outside.

And ... The water park covers some 2½ acres and encompasses 10 pools altogether, including the large main pool with a sand beach and a three-story waterslide in a clock tower. Elsewhere there is a 16-foot-wide Jacuzzi and four plunge pools beneath a stone temple, a water volleyball pool, a lap pool for swimmers, pools for two people, an adults-only pool, and much more. There are also jogging and cycling trails in and around the resort.

Children's Programs

Camp Hyatt Kachina operates daily year-round for kids ages 3 to 5 and 6 to 12. Its program has an Arizona theme, from exploring the states flora, fauna and geography to its peoples and history with such activities as Navajo beadworking, reptiles of the desert, cowboy storytellers, and cactus scapes.

Lodging

The resort has 493 guest rooms and suites on its four floors. Their decor reflects the surroundings in a palette of copper, eggplant, and sand tones. All have private balconies. There are also a dozen one- or two-story casitas with two or four bedrooms, wet bars, and refrigerator/freezers.

Restaurants

The signature restaurant, the Golden Swan, features what they call "World Market Cuisine," a combination of seafood, meats, and fowl. There is also the Southwestern-influenced Squash Blossom, Ristorante Sandolo for Italian, and a grill, wine bar, coffee bar, and waterfall juice bar.

Travel Essentials

Rates. There are rooms and suites in the main hotel and 2-or-4-bedroom casitas alongside the lagoon.


	Jan. 1-late May, 2004	Rooms: $280-$490. Suites/Casitas, from $390
	Late May-early Sept., 2004	Rooms: $170-$275. Suites/Casitas, from $250
	Early Sept.-Dec. 31, 2004	Rooms: $280-$550. Suites/Casitas, from $315

Reservations:

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch
7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
480-991-3388
Toll-free: 800-55-HYATT
Fax: 480-483-5550
Web Link: Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch

NEW!
Book Online: Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch

Rawhide Travel Instructions. The Hyatt is roughly 15 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

General Tourist Information. Visit the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau web site or contact them at 7343 Scottsdale Mall, Scottsdale, AZ 85251; phone (480) 945-8481 or (800) 877-1117.

Sponsor

LIVE AMONG THE LEGENDS:
A new Bayfront community called "Legends Bay at IMG Academies" is rising in Bradenton, Florida. If you're interested in owning property adjacent to the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy and the world's best training facility, please fill out an information request form.