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Here's what others have had to say about Palace Hotel Gstaad/Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks.
"This is one of the best weeks of tennis anywhere. It's great tennis, food, and atmosphere. Roy and Joy are fantastic hosts and they assemble pros from around the world. It's an amazing week."—S.S., Adv., April 2009
"If you ever want to experience nirvana The Palace Hotel in Gstaad and Roy Emerson and his son Antony will spoil you in every capacity of tennis , matches play-offs instruction and the most marvelous tennis experience in your lifetime. For 5 years I have attended and also enjoyed the SWISS OPEN @ the Roy Emerson Arena in GStaad. It truly is My Blue HEaven. Most always everyone returns each and every yearand it is like a family that you cannot wait to see again; catch up and play some outstanding tennis w/ the Great EMMO!
The Hotel caters to all the tennis players and spoils us "rotten" with their fine cuisine and stunning wines. The wait staff is 5 to 1 and their new spa is a religious experience. The outdoor jacuzzi is just amazing.
The Sherz Family and their staff really are the ipitome of the consumate caretakers.
I wanted to take the Golden Pass train ( which is amazing) so the conceige arranged for Fed express to pick up my luggage in Lake Forest, Illinois and when I got to my suite it was all unpacked, steamed and ironed,on hangers, tennis clothes separte from formal clothes.One does dress up for aperitifs and dinner each night which is all the more fun! Anna our floor maid knew just what to
do for me since I have been a frequent guest and then packed me up and Fed Expressed my tennisbag and all my clothes, shoes, formal wear purses; you name it I had it with me. Girls just wanna have fun!
Roy and his lovey wife Joy think off everything especially the BBQ up on top of the moutain were the make the cheese the old fashiooned way w/ cheesecloths just for teh hotel. It's an amazing afternoon with quite the view and true Swiss Food.
You will leave w/ fond memories and true new friendships from people from all over the world.
I can't image a summer without playing tennis with Roy Emerson in Gstaad,Switzerland!
Treat yourself and you will know what MY BLUE HEAVEN really is!
Suzanne McCullough
Tennis Corporation of America
Midtown Athletic Club @ Bannockburn, Illinios"—S.M., Adv., March 2009
"My 2008 summer trip to Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks in Gstaad was my second at this fabulous destination... treated like royalty in every respect. The Palace Hotel is premier; the rooms are gorgeous, the views to die for, and the food is unsurpassed. But even more incredible is spending hours on the tennis courts with Roy and his world class pros, receiving personal attention at every turn. Regardless of whether you are fairly new to the game or have been at it for decades, you will learn more in one week with Roy than you would in years at your own club. I hope I can return again and again. Roy and his family are so inclusive and make you feel welcome in the warmest way."—B.M., Low Int., January 2009
"High quality coaching staff and wonderful scenery lead by a tennis legend. What more could a tennis player want. This is an outstanding camp with plenty of coaching each day for all ages and standards. I enjoyed it that much that I was eager to get on court each day despite my aching 61 year old limbs.
The accommodation and staff at the Gstaad Palace hotel show why Switzerland has such a good reputation for luxury hotels. The accommodation and food was sumptuous and the staff helpful and friendly.
For example, although the building is not fully adapted to the needs of my wife's wheel chair the staff were extremely helpful, even removing a door from its hinges to help us get better access.
I wholeheartedly recommend Roy Emmerson tennis weeks."—G.M., Adv. Int., January 2009
"{After some health problems] I persevered by envisaging that I was playing on the courts at Gstaad. The set-up there was a health nest and tonic to my mind. Just thinking about Roy's weeks gave me strength. The dream helped me achieve my ambition. It was a training and playing in my mind in a therapeutic atmosphere.
I contracted lymphoma cancer the year before last, the chemotherapy devastated my limbs. I dragged one foot, could hardly walk and suffered great depression when my oncologist suggested I have a special hand accelerator made for my car “You will not be able to drive “ he said. “No, you will not be able to play tennis. How can you?”
I had played tennis at Roy Emerson’s “camp” in Gstaad in 2006 and after the exhilarating experience there, playing for several hours a day with snow capped peaks in clear view, I Immediately booked for 2007 [only to later have to cancel]. I was determined I would make the 2008 June trip. I envisaged the setting in Gstaad. The camaraderie of Roy and his coaches. The friendly spirit, the out of this world accommodation in the Palace Hotel, so near to heaven, the courtesy and good manners of the hotel staff . Foremost the individual tuition I received made me feel that I WAS a tennis player. I was determined to make the trip to Roy Emerson tennis Weeks.I was always well looked after.
For several months previosly I made my brain play tennis in Gstaad. That is I envisioned my body running to retrieve short shots; I pictured myself amidst the beauty, serenity and tranquility serving up energetic serves. Roy’s “camp” was a magnet to my fatigued body but the magnet was the week I was going to enjoy. I was determined to get back there again.
Now 10 months later in 2008 I am driving. My foot can put pressure on the accelerator. I played tennis in Gstaad, Switzerland at the Tennis Weeks. For my 80th birthday they feted me at dinner that night and I had Jenny Hoad as a partner on the court that day. She had the gift of old world courtesy and of course Roy was in earnest attendance shouting “You can do better than that Blue.” Gee! I felt good. Other days I was elevated by the tuition of Ramesh Krishnan and Antony Emerson. They gave a dedicated personal attention. Boy! I felt good.
My savior was my dream of being in Gstaad again. Just the vision in my head was a miracle tonic. When ever I walk now in mall or street or foreign cities I’m so thankful that Gstaad was the catalyst for my cure. The main thing for me was not the tennis but just being in this idyllic spot where you can put back the years in your life by surroundings that give you that life-inspiring Alpic air every day.
The above were the good things about Roy’s “camp”. And the bad things? The days in Gstaad were just too short."—M.S., Int., November 2008
"Having completed my eighth straight wonderful year of Roy Emerson's tennis week at the Palace Hotel, I've already signed up for my ninth! I can't imagine the month of June without the experience! Returning friends, excellent tennis on beautiful courts, talented teaching Pros, practically private lessons with Roy, spectacular scenery, fabulous food, incredible staff who remember us from one year to the next, and now the gorgeous new spa and health facilities which should be rated Nbr. 1 in the world (and I have tried many!)....I'm running out of superlatives to describe it all. Try it yourself and see."—B.K., Adv. Int., November 2008
"This tennis camp (if a week in a luxury hotel can be called week at "camp") combines everything one could ask for: friendly instructors who know how to teach and who want to teach you, great comradery, an idyllic setting and an overall atmosphere of getting together to have fun. The glue that holds this all together is Roy Emerson who treats everyone with humor and affection as part of his extended family. Wonderful is not too strong a description."—T.M., Int., November 2008
"If you want to be treated like royalty and you want superb tennis instruction then Roy Emerson tennis weeks are the way to go! The Gstaad Palace lives up to its five star billing in every way from the facilities to the delicious food to the impeccable service. The new spa is heavenly and just what is needed after a hard day on the courts. It was a thrill to be instructed by the great Roy Emerson and his talented coaching staff. They skillfully matched up players of similar levels and built on the existing skills rather than doing a complete overhaul. The combination of instruction and playing time was effective and enjoyable. They also struck a perfect balance between giving us plenty of playing time while preserving our energy so we could complete the program. It was a wonderful experience from beginning to end and I hope to go back in 2009!"—M.T., Adv. Int., October 2008
""—L.S., Adv. Int., October 2008
"The Palace Hotel Gstaad tennis week with Roy Emerson is outstanding, and I can highly recommend it to everybody. It is the vacation of a lifetime."—H.C., Adv. Int., October 2008
"The Gstaad Palace and Roy Emerson Tennis weeks are a must for any tennis player who wants to improve their game with a fabulous group of coaches and of course Roy Emerson who is a fantastic person and coach. The setting is unbeatable and the staff of the hotel are superb. You could not ask for better!"—L.D., Adv. Int., October 2008
"First and foremost, there is Roy Emerson, one of the teenis greats and a truly wonderful man. You will get the best teaching ever from him as well as his pros with a ratio of 4:1 or better!!! You will hear wonderful tales about the tennis tour and comments/analysis of players from the past and present.
The setting in the Swiss Alps is glorious and the food, hotel ambience is the best. The wine list of the hotel is renowned and there is now a first class spa associated with the hotel - orange scented rainshower shower heads, need I say more?"—R.R., Adv. Int., October 2008
Rate Palace Hotel Gstaad/Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks
One of the Leading Hotels of the World, the turreted Palace Hotel is a landmark in Switzerland's Saanen Valley, two hours east of Geneva. Though best-known in the United States for its skiing, this mountain village is if anything even more beautiful in summer and fall. And it's then, in fact, that tennis legend Roy Emerson arrives to conduct six-day tennis camps on the hotel's four red-clay courts.
The hotel itself dates to 1913 and has been managed since 1938 (and owned since 1947) by the Scherz family. At 150 rooms, it is Switzerland's largest pension and yet for all its size retains the feel of an inn. Among its amenities are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa and fitness center, an indoor squash court, and mountain bike rentals. Golf, horseback riding, clay-pigeon shooting, and river rafting are all nearby. For tennis players, the reason to come is Roy Emerson. Personable and outgoing, this winner of 12 Grand Slam singles titles runs 5-hour-a-day clinics. "We go through most aspects of the game," he says of the program. "It's a pretty serious 6 days. We play a lot of doubles."
Roughly midweek the routine is broken as everyone goes off with Emmo on a picnic in the Alps, and at least once during the session he rounds up guests for a night out at a typical Swiss place for dinner. Camps sizes vary from 15 to 40 (he has access to other courts in town if necessary). "We get all standards of play, and gear the instruction accordingly," he says of his approach. Though he trained under the legendary Australian Davis Cup coach Harry Hopman (where Emerson won 36 of his 40 matches), he backs off the rigorous Hopman methods for those who aren't up to it.
The crowd is typically a mixture of Americans, Swiss, Germans and other Europeans.
If looking for other luxury resorts with programs by a former touring pro, check out:
The prices for the Emerson weeks include lodging for six nights, instruction, all meals, one massage, use of the swimming pool and gymnasium, and taxes. Contact Roy Emerson directly if you're interested by email to Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks. For rates at the hotel, visit the Palace Hotel web site.
Emerson Weeks: June 14-20 & June 21-27, 2009
From CHF 3,780; non-participant in same room, CHF 2,980
Emerson Weeks: June 28-July 4 & July 12-18, 2009
From CHF 3,780; non-participant in same room, CHF 2,980
Emerson Weeks: July 18-24, 2009
From CHF 3,780; non-participant in same room, CHF 2,980
Emerson Weeks: Sept. 6-12 & 13-19, 2009
From CHF 3,780; non-participant in same room, CHF 2,980