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| Port Royal Racquet Club Hilton Head Island, South Carolina |
 
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Holley Morse and Anne Spees have been coming to Port Royal Racquet Club on South Carolina's Hilton Head Island every spring for several years as part of a group organized by their club pro in McLean, Virginia. This year there are about 20 people, divided into groups of four and distributed through two-bedroom condominiums in the Tennis Village adjacent to the club. For four days virtually the only decision they have to make is where to have lunch and dinner. "Everything is arranged," Morse told me enthusiastically. "You don't have to plan anything, you don't have to set up pros or courts or games. All we have to do is show up."
"Some people also spend time at the beach while they're here," Spees added. "But we haven't been there at all. We just don't get enough tennis at home."
Port Royal hosts about 50 such groups each year. They range in size from as few as four to as many as 80. Tanda Bianco, who heads up what Port Royal dubs its "Ambassador Program," tailor makes each outing to suit the individual needs of the group, including the option of staying in a nearby hotel—the 412-room beachfront Westin Resort—rather than in villas. "They call me and I arrange everything," says Bianco. "I take their deposit, arrange parties, lunches, bags of goodies and as many hours of programming and play they want. They can even pick the hours they want clinics—we don't restrict them to mornings or afternoons."
Overview
The Port Royal Racquet Club has 
turned the handling of such groups into a minor specialty but not to the point of ignoring the individual guest. I'd come down alone, though not without some concerns that I'd be lost in the shuffle of this group business. Instead Bianco funneled me into the Port Royal's morning stroke-of-the-day clinic and when I wanted more booked me into an hour-long session of fast drills. I met people in both I might have played with later except that I was drafted into an afternoon men's doubles matches with some of the crowd from Maclean. Playing with them meant I never had to pay the $18/hour court fees (you get one complimentary hour per day with villa rental). And it meant I never wanted for tennis.
Set amid yellow pines, maples, live oaks and the occasional magnolia, the 16-court Port Royal Racquet Club is the more parklike of all the clubs on Hilton Head Island. Confederate jasmine covers the fences, perfuming the morning air and taking the place of windscreens. Terraced seating overlooks a hard court on one side of its spacious skylighted clubhouse, a clay court on the other, while meandering pathways provide access to everything else, including two grass courts.
The villa I stayed in, an oversized one-bedroom with a terrace, was just a few minutes walk from the courts and less than 10 minutes walk from a broad, dune-lined beach. It had everything I needed, including a washer-dryer, and several things I didn't, including access to Port Royal's three golf courses, among them Pete Dye's Robber's Row.
Like Morse and Spees, I ended up spending most of my time at the racquet club. It wasn't just that the staff seemed to understand the needs of tennis players, but they are also exceptionally warm and friendly.
It's that that keeps Spees and Morse coming back again and again. As Spees put it: "The day we get home we start looking at the calendar for next year."
Your Call
Here's what others have had to say about Port Royal Racquet Club.
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"We had a fabulous time. Port Royal Racquet Club is a Tennis Haven! Beautiful layout... fantastic courts... great teaching pros and staff! Tanda and Denny (the couple that run PRRC) go out of their way to make sure every guest has a world class experience! We HIGHLY recommend!"—S.B., Adv., May 2008
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"Remains one of the best and friendliest clubs in my books. The staff are helpful and polite, and the teaching pros are exceptional. Great value for the money, for gorups, couples, and singles alike! Tanda and Dennis still have it all!"—S.B., Pro, May 2008
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"The tennis program and overall ambience of the The Port Royal Racquet Club is led by the Director of Tennis, Denny Bianco and his high quality staff. Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced player your can find your own level of tennis at the Port Royal Club. Its warm and friendly atmosphere makes your visit fun, memorable and one that makes you want to return year after year."—J.P., Adv. Int., April 2008
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"Best place to play on Hilton Head Island. We've been going to the Island for over 25 years and played at all of the clubs on the Island. By far the best is Port Royal Racquet Club. The staff is always friendly and makes sure your stay is everything you expected. The courts are well maintained and you can always get a match."—B.S., Adv., April 2008
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"My wife and I have spent a great deal of time in Hilton Head and have found our experience at Port Royal to be the best. The Director of Tennis, Denny B., and his staff have made and succeeded in their efforts to make us feel at home and to arrange all types of tennis outings for our enjoyment. They made available individual play of all levels in singles,doubles and mixed doubles. USTA league play of all types is available and great fun made possible by good players and nice people. Their best asset is the Director, his staff and the group of players they have amassed at the facility. I have found no weaknesses at this facility."—K.J., Adv. Int., April 2008
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"Fantastic facility with great pros and fantastic tenis director. Pro shop is well stocked and the staff is great. Both Har tru and hard courts."—D.W., Adv., April 2008
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""—M.F., Adv., March 2008
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"The Directors of Port Royal Racquet Club, Dennis and Tanda Bianco, their staff, and tennis professional Clint van Arsden(sp?), treated myself and the high school tennis team that I coach, Cathedral Preparatory School, Erie, Pa., in the best possible manner. They are polite, gracious, and accomodating. The courts are always in excellent shape. We have visited Port Royal many times and have nothing but good things to say about the entire operation."—K.P., Pro, March 2008
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""—J.T., Beg., March 2008
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"great courts, well maintained
friendly staff
very good instructor"—L.G., Adv. Int., March 2008
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"Tennis was fabulous. Our group from Altoona, PA comes to Port Royal every year in February. We have matches set up with the club and the competition is high calibur. The courts are always groomed very well, and the staff caters to our every need. I go to other "tennis" resorts and have found that none compare to the facilities, the players available to play and the way you are treated. The pro and his staff make us feel as though we are members!"—P.D., Adv. Int., February 2008
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"The service of Denny and his group at Port Royal are the best I have seen. I have bee to the Colony, Broadmoor, and other highly ranked resorts, but I have never been treated better than at Port Royal. For example, shortly after starting to hit, I was visited at the court to make sure the Har-Tru was satisfactory. I felt like I was at a fine restaurant. although there are several tennis resorts at Hilton Head, I will make a point to book my future tennis vacations there near the Port Royal Recquet Club in order to play there."—D.A., Adv., February 2008
See Also
If you like Port Royal's emphasis on individually tailored programs, also check out:
- Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina
- Litchfield Golf & Beach Resort, South Carolina
- Sandestin Beach & Golf Resort, Florida
- Sea Colony Resort, Delaware
- TOPS'L Beach & Racquet Resort, Florida
Travel Essentials
Rates.
The Westin rents both rooms in the beachfront hotel and 2- and 3-bedroom villas adjacent to the courts.| Thru Feb 28, 2006 | 1-bdrm, $150; 2-bdrm, $175 |
| Mar. 1-Aug. 19, 2006 | 1-bdrm, $175; 2-bdrm, $220 |
| Aug. 20, 2006-Feb. 28, 2007 | 1-bdrm, $150; 2-bdrm, $175 |
Reservations:
- Port Royal Racquet Club
15 Wimbeldon Court
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843-686-8803
Fax: 843-686-3344
Web Link: Port Royal Racquet Club
- Westin Resort, Hilton Head Island
2 Grasslawn Ave.
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843-681-4000
Toll-free: 866-716-8108
Fax: 843-681-1087
Web Link: Westin Resort, Hilton Head Island
NEW!
Book Online: Westin Resort, Hilton Head Island
Internet Rates! Other Hilton Head Island Lodging. Check For Internet Specials at Hotels, Condos and Villas
- Port Royal Village
P.O. Box 22596
Hilton Head Island, SC 29925-2596
843-681-9325
Toll-free: 800-673-9385
Fax: 843-681-9331
Web Link: Port Royal Village
Travel Instructions. By Air: Port Royal is 45 miles from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) in Georgia and 95 miles from Charleston International Airport (CHS). Major airlines serve both of those gateways. It is also possible to fly directly to Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH), on commuter service from US Airways Express, via Charlotte, NC. Rental cars and shuttles are available at all three airports.
General Tourist Information. Visit the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau web site or contact them at 1 Chamber Dr., P.O. Box 5647, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938; 843-785-3673 or toll-free 800-523-3373.
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