By Roger Cox, Editor
With 26 hard and clay courts, 12 of them
indoors, and a six-court stadium for the UVA tennis teams, Boar's Head appears as a very bright blip
on any tennis vacationer's radar. That's a huge complex
for a resort with only 170 rooms, and the fact that it
sits in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains
near such historic sites as Thomas
Jefferson's mountaintop home Monticello and the handsome
University of Virginia campus that he founded only adds to the
allure.
The entire resort, including its expansive Sports Club, is owned by the University of
Virginia Foundation. As a result, the club also serves
as the home site for the University of Virginia's tennis
teams. They can play, train, and host tournaments outdoors on their dedicated complex of six hard courts or indoors at the Boar's Head Sports Club. What's
more, there are ATP and WTA Pro Challenger events that take place during the spring and fall which provide opportunities to see great tennis up close at no cost (Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek are past participants).
![]() Join Bob and Mike Bryan for a Fantasy Getaway in Florida as they share the strategy and tactics that earned them 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles, an Olympic Gold Medal, and the winningest doubles record of all time. Spend mornings on court, up close and personal, with the Bryans and their coaches Dave Macpherson and Dr. Dave Marshall as they lead clinics, drill sessions, games, and coached match play all focused on passing along their expertise and making you a better doubles player. Bundled into the Wednesday-Sunday package are tickets to the ATP Delray Beach Open, a welcome reception, meals, lodging, and more. Cost: $10,000. Space is limited. For bookings and information, contact Dave Marshall at 302-462-0042 or dave@davemarshalltennis.com or visit Bryans Fantasy Camp |
Pro Shop: 434-972-2237
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Boar's Head Sports Club, which has long served local members and the University of Virginia teams magnificently, also has an interest in the needs of hotel guests. With a deep roster of tennis professionals under head pro Troy Porco, it has the staff to mount a broad program of weekly events, including several drop-in clinics of various sorts—Beginner/Intermediate, Advanced, Cardio, and "Drills For Thrills"—every day of the week. There are also year-round junior camps/clinics (available on a drop-in basis to the children of hotel guests), run by Ohio State University standout and ATP touring pro Ralf Steinbach, and an adult tennis academy—with customized programs offered most weekends—headed by seasoned ALTA coach Brian Glass.
Tennis Staff. Troy Porco oversees the entire Boar's Head Tennis Club program. He played collegiate tennis at Florida International University and then went on to coach the Auburn University women's team and helped to coach the UVA women's team before joining the Boar's Head staff.
Courts & Fees. There are 14 outdoor (10 hard, 4 clay) and 12 indoor hard courts as well as 4 pickleball courts (2 indoor, 2 outdoor). That does not count the new stadium with 6 hard courts reserved for UVA tennis teams and competition. Court fees: $20/hour outdoors, $15-$35 indoors.
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Boar's Head Tennis Academy Ratings ( 68 Reviewers) |
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![]() Join Bob and Mike Bryan for a Fantasy Getaway in Florida as they share the strategy and tactics that earned them 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles, an Olympic Gold Medal, and the winningest doubles record of all time. Spend mornings on court, up close and personal, with the Bryans and their coaches Dave Macpherson and Dr. Dave Marshall as they lead clinics, drill sessions, games, and coached match play all focused on passing along their expertise and making you a better doubles player. Bundled into the Wednesday-Sunday package are tickets to the ATP Delray Beach Open, a welcome reception, meals, lodging, and more. Cost: $10,000. Space is limited. For bookings and information, contact Dave Marshall at 302-462-0042 or dave@davemarshalltennis.com or visit Bryans Fantasy Camp |
Ratings(138 Reviewers) |
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Boar's Head Tennis Academy Ratings ( 68 Reviewers) |
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Golf Courses. Davis Love II recently redesigned the resort's championship Birdwood Golf Course creating what is, in fact, a brand-new golf course, to the degree that some of its holes are on new land and others are now played in the opposite direction. Six sets of tees mean the par-71 course plays from 4,000 to 7,200 yards. Its signature 16th, 17th, and 18th fairways wrap around the historic Birdwood Mansion. In addition, there is a 6-hole, pad-3 course.
Spa & Fitness Center. The Boar's Head Spa is currently being rebuilt following a fire. The tennis courts are part of the Sports Club, a sprawling complex comprising a Junior Olympic swimming pool and two other pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center with a Cardio theater and Cybex weight-training, a climbing wall, squash and racquetball courts, some 55 weekly classes (among them Pilates and water aerobics), kids' programs, and child care.
The 170 rooms occupy four four-story buildings in stone and cafe-au-lait-colored clapboard with gables on their shingle or metal roofs. The decor runs to four-poster beds and brass lamps, typical of a country estate, but with modern amenities like high-speed Internet access. Some have fireplaces and balconies. Views tend to be of the lake or verdant countryside.
There are four food outlets at the Boar's Head, chief among them the recently renovated Mill Room in the restored 1834 grist mill. It focuses on fresh, local ingredients and has a lounge and outdoor seating. In addition, you have the choice Racquets Restaurant and the outdoor Firefly Cabana and Grill, both located at the Sports Club, as well as Birdwood Grill in the golf clubhouse.
For comparison's sake, also check out:
Boar's Head Resort
Rooms range from standard in the inn to those with lake views or fireplaces and finally to full suites. See their web site for current rates.
Visit the website for current rates
Boar's Head Tennis Academy
Visit the website for current rates
Season. Year-round.
Travel Instructions. The nearest airport is Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Airport (CHO), which is 10 miles from the resort.
General Tourist Information. Among the local attractions are Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, James Monroe's Ash Lawn-Highland, and the Historic Michie Tavern, where you can have lunch. For more information about these and other local sites, visit the Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau website or contact them at P.O. Box 178, Charlottesville, VA 22902. Phone: 804-977-1783.