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So far, I haven't received any written feedback on Windridge Adult Tennis Camp. If you've taken a tennis vacation there, I'd like to hear your reactions.
Rate Windridge Adult Tennis Camp
The Windridge Tennis & Sports Camp at Teela-Wooket in Vermont has a long history as a summer escape for kids, but until
the summer of 2011 it did not have formal tennis programs for adults. That changed with the opening of the Inn at Teela-Wooket, an antique-filled six-bedroom, six-bath inn on the grounds of the camp. Now able to offer grown-up accommodations, founder Ted Hoehn will personally run seven long-weekend adult camps at this Roxbury, Vermont site, bundling five hours a day of group instruction with lodging, meals, and transportation to and from the Burlington International Airport.
Pro Shop: 802-860-2005
Two things distinguish these adult programs: the intimacy—there can never be more than twelve participants—and the credentials of the man behind it. Born in Hanover, NH, Ted Hoehn picked up tennis at an early age—his father coached at Dartmouth College—and he quickly became the No. 1 junior in New England in many of his age groups. By age 18, he had a national ranking of No. 32 in singles and No. 6 in doubles, before taking his skills to the University of North Carolina where he twice captained the tennis team and won two ACC doubles titles.
Following a two-year stint in the U.S. Army, he returned to tennis, playing on the international circuit and reaching the doubles semi-finals at the Monte Carlo Open after teaming with the legendary Gardnar Mulloy. His success notwithstanding, he left the tour in 1968 to launch the Windridge Tennis Camps, originally in Jeffersonville, Vermont, and now at Teela-Wooket in Roxbury (he recently sold another site at Craftsbury Common). Although focused on the kids' programs, he did over the years occasionally succumb to the requests of parents to run small private camps for them. With the formal launch of these adult camps, he making his expertise available to all.
His format is typical of other intensive camps. Sessions will last five hours a day, using four of the 21 red-clay courts at Teela-Wooket. "It will be very strong fundamental coaching," he says of his approach. "I believe that the basics are the groundwork for your game, so I'll
emphasize compact strokes and good court strategy." For 2011, he expects to have help from 60-and-over world singles and doubles champion and former Rice University coach Larry Turville and UC-Berkeley All-American Chris Schoop. Courts will be available for campers who want more once the afternoon sessions finish as will options to play golf (they have a membership at a local course), ride horses, mountain bike, fish, or go antiquing.
Actually, to antique no one will have to go farther than the inn itself. "I happen to love antiques," says Hoehn, and he often brings back truckloads from his winter home in Vero Beach, Florida. "I furnished the Inn with those antiques, and each will have a price on it if they want to take it home." Campers will dine at the inn as well. "I've hired a talented chef for the Windridge camp and he'll prepare the adult meals on their weekends. We'll have wonderful food, and wine and beer are part of the tuition."
Ideally, he'd like to see entire sessions booked by couples that already know each other, but the sessions are open to couples and smaller groups as well.
If you're looking for an all-day tennis camp with lots of social atmosphere, also check out any of the following:
Wednesday-Sunday sessions. Rates include lodging, meals, instruction, and transportation from Burlington International Airport. For information and reservations, contact:
Windridge Adult Tennis Camp
Box 4501
Burlington, VT 05406
Phone: 802-860-2005
Toll-free: 888-386-7859
Fax: 802-860-2004
June 20-24, July 11-15 & July 18-22, 2012
$1,500/person/session.
July 25-29 & Aug. 8-12, 2012
$1,500/person/session.
Sept. 110-14, Sept. 17-21 & Sept. 24-28, 2012
$1,500/person/session.
Seasons.
Selected dates from June through September.
Travel Instructions. The nearest airport is Burlington International, a 45-minute drive to the north.
General Tourist Information. Visit the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing website or contact them at 6 Baldwin Street, Drawer 33, Montpelier, VT 05633-1301; Phone 800-VERMONT (800-837-6668).