I just missed the Tuesday afternoon mixed doubles social at then new Boulevard Village & Tennis Club in Florida's Vero Beach. A couple of dozen people were still milling about in the high-ceilinged Sports Bar that looks out on courts in two directions or on the broad decks that border it. Kurt Grabher, founder of New England Tennis Holidays and the force behind this new tennis complex, was behind the bar, happy to see this long-planned project open and lively. "My dream has been to be the club where people come to eat, drink and play tennis," he told me.

Tennis Features

Pro Shop: 772-234-6867

This $4 million club, with its 13 Har-Tru courts, pro shop, adjacent fitness center (its suite of equipment chosen specifically to meet the needs of tennis players), and a free-form swimming pool, is the focal point of 32 courtside villas and what will eventually be another 66 townhomes, whose appearance was inspired by the architecture in Key West. As a guest, you effectively become a member, eligible for any of the programs on the weekly calendar, like the two-hour Rock 'n' Roll drill sessions, where I occasionally ended up being paired with Sally Fish (mother of current touring pro Mardy Fish, who lives in Vero Beach) in some of the competitive games. Former touring pro Mikael Pernfors wandered by one afternoon, having himself purchased a three-bedroom townhome here.
Unlike Grabher's New England Tennis Holiday operations in New Hampshire and Vermont, however, the Boulevard is not offering week-in and week-out camp programs. Instead he's elected to focus on custom-tailored programs designed around the needs of individuals, groups or teams. You can bed down next to the courts in a one-to-three-bedroom villa or a little farther away in a two-to-three-bedroom townhome, both having fully equipped kitchens and washer dryers. Dining is limited to sandwiches and salads at lunch in the clubhouse, supplemented a few nights a week by similarly light dinners. But there are numerous restaurants and a beach a mere five-minute drive away.
What you feel here, though, is a deep passion for tennis and tennis players. Even if you're not on court, there's often tennis to watch: High-school kids show up play matches here one afternoon a week, juniors have their own programs during the afternoon, and there are league matches and pickup games to delight anyone who loves being around the sport.

Tennis Staff. As one of the founding co-owners of the club, Kurt Grabher is omnipresent from October into May, taking the same hands-on, what-can-we-do-better approach that has made his New England Tennis Holidays operations so popular. His head pro is Joe Biedenharn, a native Floridian who played tennis for Flagler College in St. Augustine. He comes from a tennis family and has been a finalist in five national father-son championships.
Tennis Programs. These fall into two categories: the calendar of weekly activities available to members and guests and custom-designed packages. During the October-May season, the weekly calendar includes social tennis on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, a couple of sessions of cardio tennis, a two-hour Wednesday Rock N Roll drill clinic, and several afternoon junior tennis clinics for various ages. In season, there is also typically a tournament or mixer on Saturdays, and, often, a special event or exhibition on Friday evenings.
Courts & Fees. There are 13 Har-Tru clay courts outdoors 7 with high-quality lighting for night play. Court fees: None.

Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about Boulevard Village & Tennis Club.

• ""—J.V., Int., February 2008

• "Just spent a fabulous weekend at The Boulevard checking out the tennis and accommodations. Some great bargains if you are looking for a second home and the tennis is superb. Not at all like "tennis camp", there are great clinics and first class teaching. The "rock & roll" clinic is a great way to start the day."—T.G., Adv. Int., February 2008

Fitness Center. The well-equipped fitness center with windows on the outdoor swimming pool has a stretch rack, Cybex machines, dumbbells, and freeweights all chosen with the needs of tennis players in mind.

And ... There is a free-form swimming pool adjacent to the tennis courts.

Lodging

This 22-acre triangular-shaped property has courts at one end bordered by 32 one-to-three-bedroom villas and 66 town homes, also one-to-three bedroom but with attached two-car garages, at the other. The villa I stayed in had a fully equipped kitchen, washer-dryer, and patio facing the courts.

Restaurants

The Sports Bar in the tennis clubhouse serves lunch daily and light dinners (sandwiches, salads) a couple of nights a week. The villa had coffee and a coffeemaker but you'll otherwise need to lay in your own supplies for breakfast. Kurt Grabher and the other staff can provide recommendations for dinner, often at restaurants near the beach a 10-minute drive away.

See Also

If you're looking for resorts similar to this one, also check out:

• TOPS'L Beach & Tennis Resort, Florida
• Shadow Mountain Resort & Club, California
• Port Royal Racquet Club, South Carolina

Travel Essentials

Seasons. Year-round.

Boulevard Village & Tennis Club
1620 Boulevard Village Lane
Vero Beach, FL 32967
772-234-6867
Fax: 772-234-0380
Web Link: The Boulevard Village & Tennis Club

 

Travel Instructions. From I-95 take the Vero Beach exit 147. Head east on Rt. 60/Osceola Parkway for 8.4 miles. Turn left (north) on Indian River Blvd. and continue for 2.7 miles. The club is on the left.

General Tourist Information. Visit the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce web site or contact them at 772-567-3491 or the Vero Beach section of the Visit Florida web site.

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