By Roger Cox, Editor
Chateau Élan started out as a winery, its vineyards arrayed around a chateau modeled on those in 16th-century France in a setting of rolling hills, 40 minutes north of Atlanta. It has since evolved into a 3,500-acre resort/residential estate with a 320-room inn, 45 holes of golf, eight restaurants, a 35,000-square-foot European-style spa, and a tennis center designed by former touring pro Stan Smith consisting of five hard and clay tennis courts and another four courts devoted to pickleball.
![]() Personalized Training at the Resort Ranked Number 1 in the World by TennisResortsOnline.com. Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina is proud to offer the Barth-Hawtin Tennis Academy. This world-class program delivers comprehensive development for highly competitive junior players, along with training opportunities for professional players and their teams. Each player gains an immeasurable advantage through personal coaching and an individualized training plan. Learn more about the Barth-Hawtin Tennis Academy on the Resort Website |
Pro Shop: 404-432-0525
Notably, Cliff Drysdale Tennis has signed on to manage the tennis club, installing Matt Kirkham as director. Kirkham, originally from Nottingham, United Kingdom, has over a decade of coaching experience, including his most recent position as Junior Program Director at Bluewater Bay Tennis Center, managed by Cliff Drysdale Tennis. The programming has already begun; however, the hotel is undergoing major renovations, which should be completed this Fall. Once they are, Drysdale Tennis expects to offer tennis packages, which will include Wine and Tennis weekends as well as custom CDT camps.
Courts & Fees. 3 hard courts, 2 Har-Tru courts, and 4 pickleball courts. Court fees: 1 complimentary hour/day included in guest resort fee.
Ratings(6 Reviewers) |
||||
Tennis Overall![]() ![]() ![]() |
Game Matching![]() |
Cuisine![]() ![]() |
Dollar Value![]() ![]() ![]() |
Romance![]() |
Golf. There are 45 holes of golf in total sit in the woodland-covered rolling hills.
Spa & Fitness Center. Housed in its own mansion, the 35,000-square-foot spa and fitness center affords guests with access to a variety of treatments and skincare services as well as to fitness Classes, sauna, hot tub, indoor pool and pool deck, daily afternoon tea, and a lakeside spa dining room open for breakfast and lunch.
And ... The property invites biking (bicycles rental is included in the resort fee) and hiking on private roads and off-the-beaten-path trails through canopied forests of trees and past acres of vineyards.
There are several options: rooms and suites in the Inn, suites in the Spa, and 2- and-3-bedroom golf villas with fulling equipped kitchens.
Between restaurants, lounges, and a pool bar there are seven outlets for food and beverage drawing inspiration from the South, Mediterranean, and Irish culinary traditions as well as healthful spa cuisine. There are also cooking classes available on select dates.
If it's wine that interests you, also check out (though neither had clay courts):
If it's something more general, with clay courts, take a look at:
Visit the website for current rates
Seasons. Year-round.
Travel Instructions. By air: Chateau Élan is a 80-minute drive from Atlanta-Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
General Tourist Information. Visit the Georgia On My Mind website or contact them by phone at 1-800-VISITGA (1-800-847-4842) or by email at travel@exploregeorgia.org.