You don't need to spend more than a few minutes in the modest pro shop or around the courts at Tops'l to begin to sense an almost palpable enthusiasm for the game and its players. Drop in unannounced, and the first question someone is likely to ask is not "Can I help you?" but "Are you looking for a game?" You're made not simply to feel welcome but wanted, even needed. Without actually stepping on the courts you can sense that tennis matters there, and despite competition from an alluring beach, you find yourself nonetheless being drawn back to the racquet club just to be part of the action and camaraderie.

Depending on your perspective, Tops'l is either a tennis resort with a beach or a beach resort with tennis, but either way there is no competition from golf or any other recreational amenity. That alone underscores the high value the resort puts on tennis. But it's one thing to offer tennis as an amenity, quite another to ensure that guests take advantage. And the entire staff, from tennis director joe D'Aleo on down behaves as if the racquet club were not so much a workplace as a second home. Their enthusiasm and personal attention helps make Tops'l a haven for vacationers who themselves want to spend hours on the court.

Overview

Tops'l opened in 1985 on 52 beachfront acres adjacent to the Topsail Hill State Preserve. The architectural motif throughout is toned down Mediterranean, with rough cream-colored stucco and red tile rooms. There are numerous one- and two-story condos to either side of the entrance road and around the tennis courts. Most of the development, however, is concentrated along the beach, where several tall towers rise behind the primary dune line. These overlook another stretch of magnificent Gulf Coast beach, all white and high dunes. The newest of those towers has 164 2- and 3-bedroom units with balconies and oversize windows. Between it and beach is very large pool with an expansive deck, private bathhouses, and cabanas, whirlpools, and a small poolside restaurant called the Pavilion for lunch and snacks. All of this is linked by an on-property shuttle.

Although I'd prefer not to look up from the beach and see that cluster of monoliths, I am otherwise a huge fan of Tops'l. Part of its appeal is directly attributable to the genuine enthusiasm of its tennis staff, and part to the resort's focus on tennis. There is no golf course here to divert attention from what's happening at the 12-court tennis complex. And in fact because that complex also has an exceptionally well equipped and well staffed fitness center—which includes indoor and outdoor swimming pools—the courts are a more than usually appealing place to hang out.

Tennis Features

Pro Shop: 850-267-9292.
Tennis Director Joe D'Aleo: 850-267-9195

The newly renovated tennis complex and clubhouse consists of 12 Rubico courts (a kind of clay), one of them a small stadium, and 10 of them with lights. All have been laid out on a series of terraces each protected from the wind by the surrounding townhouses and pine trees. The recent renovations converted two hard courts to clay and substituted new terra-cotta-colored wooden fence posts and black windscreens. The interior of the clubhouse also received attention in the form of an updated players' lounge, locker rooms and pro shop. Walkways, grass, and shrubs separate one pair of courts from the next. And each pair of courts has a patio covered by a large blue awning for shade and furnished with chairs and tables and water coolers. The club has some 650 members, about 100 of whom live locally.

Tennis Staff. After more than a decade on staff, Joe D'Aleo has now taken over as director, allowing his predecessor Woody Hoblitzell to focus more on marketing. He has Hoblitzell's affable personality and devotion to the game, which ensures a smooth transition and continuing enthusiasm for tennis and tennis players. A USPTA-certified pro who played for Georgia Tech, he brings both teaching and playing skills to the position. "TOPS'L is all about tennis and making sure that all of our tennis guests feel like they are members," he says of his approach. "We always go the extra mile to make sure all of our guests get all the tennis they need during their stay." Sharing his enthusiasm and approach is head pro Sam Vickroy.
Tennis Programs. Tops'l has a tennis desk whose staff devotes much of their time to setting up games. During the busy summer, there is also an active weekly calendar of clinics, drill sessions, and round robins, including a Play with the Pro clinic and a very well attended Saturday morning mixed social round robin. That last event draws as many as 40 players and is successful because D'Aleo does not simply throw players together but instead invests time and effort in trying to match everyone according to their level. In the spring and fall, Tops'l has been very successful in recruiting league teams to come down for long weekends by offering a combination of clinics and tournaments. These have proven to be very popular. All in all, Tops'l offers 13 different tennis packages, variously for individuals and teams.
Courts Fees. None.

Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about TOPS'L Beach & Racquet Resort.

• "Went with a group of 8 guys and a great time. Great instruction, learned a bunch and also had a ton of fun.
  The staff is exceptional. Both days of lesson were outstanding. They also found a local player to join us when one of our guys went down with an injury. On one of the days, it was really windy so they moved us to lower courts with less wind and also put on extra water on the clay to maintain the courts at a vert high level.
  Highly recommend!"—M.C., Adv. Int., May 2008

• "I would like to complement Joe D'Aleo, Director of Tennis and his tennis staff for a fantastic tennis experience. He is dedicated to making you tennis experience exceptional. I will return again and again."—D.T., Adv. Int., May 2008

• "If you are looking to play tennis at a great location with a natural setting Topsl is the place. Tennis does not take a back seat to the beautiful beach and great Destin attractions. Joe and Staff are knowledgeable and helpful and they can really bring some new shots and fundamentals to your game. If tennis is important then Topsl is a great choice."—M.M., Adv., May 2008

• "Tops'l is the best tennis resorts we have visited in the Florida area. It has the added advantage of being located on a beautiful stretch of beach. Topsl appeals to both the advanced as well as the beginning player. Our family has travelled across the atlantic twice to Tops'l for two years in a row and we will continue to do this.
  It has an excellent coaching staff lead by Joe D'Aleo and you are never short in finding someone to play with. There is a great feeling of being at home with the added benefit of being in a resort with great tennis at your doorstep!"—M.A., Adv. Int., May 2008

• "I would highly recommend TOPS'l to my friends. I have been a repeat guest for over 10 years. Everyone is so welcoming and the tennis is wonderful. The pros were so knowledgeable and helpful. I could not wait to try out the things I learned in a match!! The staff was very accomodating for our group. I would definitely return either with my family or a larger group/tennis team."—H.B., Adv. Int., May 2008

• "For several years, I have been taking a team to Tops'l to compete in the Women's 4.0 Interstate Challengee. We go twice a year because the competition is good, the resort is beautiful, and the condos are courtside. The staff runs a great tournament. Courts are available on time, in good shape and well groomed.
  The staff is courteous and attends to our needs. A package well worth the bucks we spend!! Thank you, Joe and Woody."—R.J., Int., May 2008

• "This was the fourth year we went to TOPS'L for Spring Break and it continues to get better. Joe D'Aleo called us up on our way down to confirm our plans and share his excitement that we were coming down. We had some rain on the way down, but he called us that evening to let us know they had a couple courts playable by 6:00 and hooked our advanced junior Kyle up some good hitting partners that first night. Joe always does an amazing job tweaking our shots and making us feel extremely welcome like a long lost friend. Sam Vickory even made some calls to recruit a strong junior player to come play our son for some good competition. TOPS'L has serious tennis players that just love to play all day with anyone and have fun. The match play coordination is great and you can always find someone to play with if you walk the grounds for about 10 minutes with your raquet. My daughter, Abby Rose had a wonderful time and this was her fourth year having a water fight with Sam as the perfect way to end a private lesson. What makes TOPS'L so great is the good players, excellent court conditions, great pro's, and the feeling like you just belong there even after your first day. Our dream would be to retire there some day."—A.K., Adv. Int., April 2008

• "We just returned from Tops'l and had a wonderful week. All three pros are excellent. They have a great sense of humour and made the week fun. Having free access to the courts is a real bonus and one of the main factors in why we choose to go to Tops'l. We loved the round robins and met lots of great people that way. Many thanks to Byron( what a gentleman), Sam ( so funny ), and Joe ( runs a great program )."—P.M., Int., April 2008

• "This is the second time I vacationed at Tops'l and it will not be the last. I live and play tennis in Arizona and only wish we had the professionals this resort has. Joe and Sam are fabulous. My lessons with Sam were incredible and the change in my forehand has greatly helped my games. Joe runs fabulous events, clinics and tournaments. I cannot wait to go back and play in a tournament. This is by far my favorite tennis location."—E.T., Int., April 2008

• "My family just returned from 5 days at Tops'l. We had a great time. My thirteen year old son loved his lessons and matches. I enjoyed the game matching and lessons. The staff does everything it can to accomodate guests. Joe-director of Tennis-is friendly and is dedicated to making Tops'l one of the country's best tennis resorts. Interestingly, in a few short days, most guests developed a bond.
  During my visit, most tennis players were adults. My son would have enjoyed more juniors. However, he enjoyed the round robin that allowed him to play with adults. The beach is great. The three pros are friendly and very interested in improving each guest's game. My condominum was spacious and reasonably priced. The tennis courts are in great shape, and the lighting is very good."—T.G., Adv. Int., March 2008

• "Our tennis experience was wonderful. My son, Patrick and I had a great time participating in the tennis program. He took private lessons from Joe D'Aleo and in my opinion it was the best work that any pro has done for his game. Joe is very intelligent, highly knowledgeable, and brought out the best in Patrick. You could tell that Joe really cared about whether Patrick was learning or not. Joe did not make it easy for him but pushed Patrick to be the best that he could be. I enjoyed the morning drill sessions and doubles social/mixer. It gave me a chance to interact with other people and make new friends. In terms of tennis it was the most enjoyable experience that Patrick has ever had. Joe thank you very much and we're looking forward to coming back again and again! Phillip Nevels"—P.N., Adv. Int., March 2008

• "Just returned from the 3.5 ladies tournament, and it was so much fun meeting new people and playing some really fun tennis. Joe and all the staff there do a great job of making sure that everyone gets the most out of their tennis trip. The catered lunch was great and the cocktail party was lots of fun, and I am looking forward to returning in the fall for another great tennis weekend."—M.H., Int., March 2008

Other Recreation

Beach. Those towers notwithstanding, the resort has been sensitive to the natural environment. The tall dunes along the beach remain intact, and so to reach the broad boulevard of white sand you cross over the dunes on a wooden boardwalk. In spring, scrub magnolias bloom right on the dunes as does purple-flowered Florida rosemary.

Golf Courses. There are no golf courses at the resort though arrangements can be made to play locally.

Spa & Fitness Center. The fitness center at the courts has a large, well-equipped, spaciously laid out, and well-staffed workout room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the courts. It has the added advantage of being run by fitness director Lee Nickell, who is also a strong tennis player. Other facilities include a jogging track, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and 2 racquetball courts. Aerobics, yoga, and water aerobics classes are also available. There is a massage therapist on call at the Racquet Club (there are two massage rooms at the tennis center). Just outside the entrance to the resort is the Blue Heron Spa, which offers a more extensive array of services. Although independent of the resort, it does accept the resort card for charges to the room.

And ... A lighted fitness trail (much of it asphalt) with 20 Parcours stations runs from 1¼ miles, from the beach condos around the courts and back.

Children's Programs

From Memorial Day to Labor Day and during spring break, Tops'l operates a camp for children ages 4-12. It consists of a variety of activities, mostly outdoors, and runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday (and includes an afternoon junior tennis clinic). Several times each week there is also a Kid's Night Out from 6-9 p.m. with events like a jungle safari, moonlight turtle hunts, ghost crab excursions, and camp out. Babysitting services can also be arranged.

Lodging

Lodging at Tops'l consists of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom condominiums. All are privately owned and furnished to the tastes of the owners, which means no two are alike. In order to be in the resort's rental pool, however, they must meet minimum standards of upkeep and amenities, including televisions and washer/dryers. The two-story units surrounding the fitness center and tennis courts and the midrise called Beach Manor overlooking the Gulf date to the 1985 when the resort opened. Since then two 15-story towers have been added: The Summit in 1996 and The Tides in 1999.

Restaurants

The Ocean Club Restaurant at the entrance to Tops'l provides a convenient place for high-quality evening dining, complete with a piano player for entertainment. Curiously, however, there is no place on property for breakfast (though the Sandbar Market & Emporium in the Tides highrise does sell some of what you may need to make breakfast), and only one place for lunch, the Pavilion next to the pool on the beach. There is also a small outdoor Tiki Bar poolside.

Calendar

See Also

If you're looking for a resort where tennis is the most important diversion, also check out:

• The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, Florida
• La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, California
• Shadow Mountain Resort & Club, California

For other resorts that specialize in team events, check out:

• Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina
• Port Royal Racquet Club, South Carolina
• Sandestin Beach & Golf Resort, Florida
• Shadow Mountain Resort & Club, California

Travel Essentials

Seasons. High season here is May to Labor Day, when tourists are more prevalent; however tennis teams and groups of players tend to come during spring and fall.

TOPS'L Beach & Racquet Resort
9011 Hwy. 98 East
Destin, FL 32550
850-267-9222
Toll-free: 888-248-4964
Fax: 850-269-9267
Web Link: TOPS'L Beach & Racquet Resort

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Travel Instructions. By Air: The nearest airports are Fort Walton Beach (VPS), 30 minutes west; Panama City Regional (PFN), 50 minutes east; and Pensacola Regional (PNS), 90 minutes west. Rental cars are available at all three.

General Tourist Information. Visit the Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau web site or contact them at 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, P.O. Box 609, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549-0609; phone 850-651-7131, toll-free 800-322-3319, or Fax: 850-651-7149.

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