TOPS'L Resort
Top 10 U.S. Tennis Resort Tennis pkgs: 888-248-4964
www.topsl.com
Longboat Key Club/Resort
On Florida's SW coast;home of New 20-court Tennis Gardens
www.longboatkeyclub.com
Here's what others have had to say about Shipyard Plantation and Van der Meer Tennis, Shipyard.
"I attended one of the weekend clinics. The strengths were the video analysis. This was done for the serve, forehand, and backhand with a little feedback on what I should do to improve technique. Another strength was the location (Hilton Head) so there were things to do off court and the staff was friendly and professional.
The major weakness was that during this 10-hr clinic, I felt we spent too much time "just playing points" without instruction from the pros. On the first day, we basically played tennis for the first 2 1/2 hours. I felt like I paid for 5 hours of instruction and 5 hours to play tennis with people that I did not know (this was great but I could have done it for free at home).
There also needs to be some one-on-one time with the pro for all the students. For example, on 2 occasions during the weekend, the pro took one student who was having difficulty with a stroke and basically did a private 30 minute lesson (so an hour total) while the rest of us "played points" with the other pro (no instruction). I think it was good to give this student instruction but at the same time, I was paying to "play points" and watch someone else get a private lesson. In all fairness, I'm not sure what I should have expected from a 10-hr weekend clinic, but I do not feel that I got what I paid for."—D.B., Adv. Int., October 2009
"I just attended the weekend clinic at Van der Meer tennis on Hilton Head Island. The clinic is 10 hours long with Louie Cap as head teaching pro. On each of the 3 days the focus was on serve, forehand, and backhand respectively. Video of the strokes was taken and Louie would critique our form. He has a very good idea for picking up flaws, plus gives you only 2-3 things to improve rather than trying to change things completely.
On each day there is stretching, warm-up, drills, and competition, a nice balance. The major weakness to me as a 4.5 player is being placed against players who are challenged to get the ball back or have decreased mobility. Fortunately, a group of 4.0-4.5 players attended the clinic as a team providing me plenty of hitting partners. Overall, a very enjoyable and affordable way to spend a tennis weekend & get some tips to improve your game at home."—C.G., Adv., March 2009
"I participated in daily clinics here for 6 days last Nov. Always a Pro per 4 player/ratio, always had terrific coaches, some teaching styles differed, was always met w/ warm welcome, felt safe as a single in the area,rode my bike to & from condo, & round robins well attended by locals as well as guests. I will return!"—S.M., Int., March 2009
Of all the resorts on Hilton Head Island, Shipyard Plantation has always impressed me for its serenity. Drive through either entrance gate and you find yourself on a winding two-lane road bordered by woods or golf fairways and unobtrusive complexes of low-rise condos. The road eventually ends at the 23-court Van der Meer Shipyard Tennis Resort and a beachfront hotel called the Crowne Plaza Resort. Its location puts most of Hilton Head Island's shops, restaurants, and attractions within easy reach while ensuring a measure of tranquility once you return to the plantation.
The plantation itself covers a 800 acres. Unlike Sea Pines and Palmetto Dunes, which border long stretches of beach, most of Shipyard lies inland. At its northeastern corner, however, a rectangular parcel of land connects the rest of the plantation to the beach. It's there, just behind the dunes, that you'll find both the Crowne Plaza hotel and the resort's beach club.
The ownership of Shipyard's recreational amenities and its lodging is fragmented, which makes it modestly more complicated to sort through the options if you're planning to stay there. The condos are handled by many different island real estate agencies, each of which may have struck a different deal with the golf club and tennis club to ensure their guests special privileges.
Tennis players have it somewhat easier since they can call the Van der Meer organization and take advantage of special package prices the racquet club has cut with island hotels and villas, inside and outside the plantation.
Pro Shop: 843-686-8804
Billie Jean King was the touring pro for Shipyard Plantation in 1974 when the racquet club 
was built. Almost two decades later her onetime coach and former business partner Dennis Van der Meer bought the racquet club and made major enhancements, including the addition of three indoor courts, the general upgrading of the others, and enhancement of the stadium.
Tennis Staff. Although Dennis Van der Meer himself very occasionally runs a clinic here, the day-to-day operation of the racquet club falls to Rick Meek. He played on the ATP tour in the early 1980s and has been teaching for Van Der Meer since not long after leaving the tour.
Tennis Programs. The Van der Meer organization has moved all of its multi-day adult programming to this Shipyard venue. Throughout virtually the entire year now, there are midweek and weekend clinics ranging from 10 to 20 hours in length. A few are run by Dennis Van der Meer himself, and it's always worth the slight premium to experience Van der Meer's astute ability to analyze and correct flaws and his ebullient personality and sometimes silly jokes and relentless kidding. However, different sessions are designed to appeal to different players, from basic clinics for a wide range to abilities to drill-and-play, advanced, or world-class drill sessions for NTRP 3.5 and above. Certain other periods are devoted to doubles or senior play. Adults who want daily (as opposed to multi-day) programs can still get those at the Van der Meer Tennis Center, which is also where the junior programs take place.
Courts & Fees. A handsome weathered wood-and-stucco pro shop beneath a towering live oak tree anchors this 20-court complex. Walkways impregnated with shells provide access to the courts, most of which have been laid out in pairs with refrigerated water fountains and shaded pavilions in between. One of these courts is a bleachered stadium. Altogether there are 14 clay courts and 6 hard, three of the latter in an indoor building whose blue roof and facade of stucco and columns hints at the other architecture within Shipyard. Court fees: $15-$18/hour except for those on Van der Meer clinic packages.
Beach. Only one tiny strip of the Shipyard property borders the beach, and that occurs in the extreme northeast corner just behind the Crowne Plaza Resort. Low dunes tufted with grass separate the beach proper from a line of palm trees and the hotel and beach club. Blue umbrellas stud the sand, which is otherwise cluttered with beach tricycles and chairs.
Golf Courses. Shipyard has 27 holes of golf.
Fitness Center. The only fitness center is a small one at the Crowne Plaza Resort. It has an indoor swimming pool (too short for laps), perhaps a dozen total cardiovascular and weight-training machines, plus a few freeweights and a postage-stamp-sized aerobics room.
And ... There are bike trails through the property but not much else in the way of other recreation.
The Crowne Plaza has a children's playground, and it also runs something called Camp Castaway, an adventure camp for children ages 3-12.
The Crowne Plaza Resort is a rather utilitarian-looking concrete block structure separated from the beach by some dunes and a pavilion and from the tennis center by a parking lot. The lobby and public areas have a nautical theme, and its amenities include a swimming pool, two restaurants, a small fitness center and a children's play area. As for the rooms themselves, if mine was typical these are decent-sized digs with enough square footage for a kingsize bed and a sofa. Mine had a balcony overlooking the courtyard (others have beach views) and such extra amenities as a coffeemaker, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, makeup mirror, and robes. Make a reservation.
The Van der Meer organization has teamed with The Vacation Company to offer villas and luxury homes, some on the beach and within walking distance of the tennis complex. Ask about special rates when you book you clinics.
I did not eat in either of the hotel restaurants, which consist of Portz, a restaurant that specializes in a seafood buffet, and a second that was essentially a coffee shop. There is a third dining option within the Plantation and that is Reflections in the golf clubhouse. If you have first-hand information about the food in any of these, I'd like to hear about it.
If you like the sound of Shipyard, compare it to:
For something in the mountains, look at:
The Van der Meer organnization has arrangements with a variety of Hilton Head lodging properties, in and out of Shipyard, at generally attractive discount prices. Check with them for current prices. Prices of clinics appear below.
Jan 8-Aug. 29, 2010
Clinics (instruction only): 10 hours, $300; 15 hrs, $370; 18 hrs, $410
Seasons. Tennis can be played year-round at Shipyard; however the beach loses its appeal from late November into early March, since the weather during that period can be chilly. On the other hand, some of the best bargains in lodging rates (and discounted clinics) also occur in winter.
Travel Instructions. By Air: Shipyard 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.