Familiar as the site of the WTA Mercury Insurance Open each summer, La Costa Resort & Spa has a long tradition of caring about tennis and of pampering the guests of its spa. But this is a far different La Costa than the one I first visited back in the 1980s. Over the last several years, more than $50 million to upgrade the resort, including renovations of the rooms, upgrades to the golf course, and a new adult swimming pool. Its architecture reflects the state's Spanish Colonial history—all white stucco, wrought iron, red tile, and open plazas. A handsome Feng Shui-aligned spa anchors one end of the main plaza, with restaurants scattered throughout, some with outdoor seating.
The tennis club has four red clay and 12 hard courts, one of the latter a sunken stadium with seating for 1,000, as well as four permanent pickleball courts. It is managed by Cliff Drysdale Tennis, who installed Bryce Cunningham as director. A certified USPTA elite professional coach and Tennis Australia professional coach, he had previously run camps and programs at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne and directed the Bluewater Bay Tennis Center, Niceville, both in Florida. At La Costa, he and his staff of nine pros offer not only private lessons but also thrice daily 3.0/Intermediate clinics supplemented by sessions for beginners and workouts for intermediate/advanced players. In addition, there are after-school programs for various ages of juniors and, during July, the San Diego Aviators host their home World Team Tennis at la Costa. Instruction is also available for those looking to learn pickleball or hone the skills they have, and for anyone wanting to play the club stages weekly pickleball mixers/open play events.
![]() Join the Cliff Drysdale Tennis team for a Tennis and Wine Weekends on the East and West Coasts at Chateau Elan Winery and Resort in Georgia or the Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara, CA. This unique camp will bring you the ultimate tennis experience where you can relax and unwind while playing tennis. Camp dates from May – Sept 2023. More information can be found online at Tennis and Wine Weekends. |
Pro Shop: 760-931-7501
Email:
Courts & Fees. The resort has 13 hard courts—one of them a stadium—and 4 red clay courts (7 with lights) arrayed below an attractive clubhouse containing an expansive, apparel-stocked pro shop. Court fees: $25/hour on hard courts, $35/hour on clay.
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There is no shortage of tennis resorts with spas—use my Search page to find others—but for comparison's sake, also look at:
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
2100 Costa del Mar Road
Seasons. Year-round.
General Tourist Information. There are two sources of information: for the immediate area, visit the North San Diego website or for the county as a whole, browse to Visit California, San Diego.