Ritz-Carlton, Bacara

Santa Barbara, California

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By Roger Cox, Editor

Bacara perches atop a bluff overlooking two miles of beach, a little north of Santa Barbara. Architecturally it resembles a Spanish Colonial village, as winding pathways connect low-slung buildings with open balconies and courtyards with fountains. Within its 78 acres are 311 rooms and suites, a 42,000-square-foot spa, a fitness center, 3 rimless swimming pools, and 4 Har-Tru tennis courts. Its connection to a 1,000-acre lemon and avocado ranch adds more dimensions, like horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking. Golfers, meanwhile, have privileges at local courses.
Four courts is a modest number for a hotel this size, but they stand out for their location near the ocean and their talented tennis director Wayne Barnes. Barnes has a history of catering to those who choose upscale resorts, having spearheaded the programs at the Phoenician in Arizona and the J.W. Marriott Ihilani in Hawaii before coming here in 2000 when the resort opened. It's not that he has a wealth of programming beyond daily adult and junior clinics&emdash;four courts really don't allow that&emdash;it's that he strives to ensure that any guest looking for a game finds one by drawing on local residents to fill in as opponents when none can be found among the guests. That and the soft courts, a relative rarity in southern California, give Bacara a higher tennis profile than its modest court complex suggests.

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara guests can swim in three pools, surf or sail at the beach, receive one-on-one attention from the resident tennis pro, play a round at the adjacent championship golf course or walk the on-property nature trail. Santa Barbara is also home to a thriving arts community, festival circuit and winery region, inviting guests to explore beyond the resort to discover more of what the area has to offer.

GOLF

Santa Barbara’s three 18-hole championship golf courses include Sandpiper Golf Club, located next door to the resort. Tee times at all courses can be arranged through the resort.

TENNIS

The resort’s four Har-Tru clay composition courts host adult and junior clinics, matches and private and semi-private lessons. Equipment is also available for rental.

BEACHES AND POOLS

Set on 78 acres, the resort offers two-mile natural beach, three zero-edged saline, heated pools with private cabana rentals and watersports including surfing, kayaking and paddle boarding. Learn more about our Pool Cabana rentals.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

Santa Barbara offers horseback riding, biking, hiking and other activities. Rentals and tours are available through the onsite Bacara Adventures. 

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Ratings (9 Reviewers)
Tennis Overall Tennis Staff Instruction	Game Matching Junior Tennis	Cuisine Lodging Spa & Fitness	Dollar Value Other Recreation Setting	Romance Solo Travelers

Rates and Reservations

Ritz-Carlton, Bacara
8301 Hollister Avenue
Santa Barbara, CA 93117

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Here's what others have had to say about Ritz-Carlton, Bacara.

• ""—S.M.,  May 2022

• ""—H.W., Int., May 2022

• "Loved the tennis trip here with my girlfriends!"—K.C., Int., May 2022

• "Galina and Ted were absolutely fabulous. They had great energy and were good at setting drills and technique and strategy. They kept us moving and did not just sit there and feed balls but really tried to improve our tennis game and pushed us but did not push us to an extreme. I highly recommend these two pro's and experience. Thank you so much for taking good care of our group."—L.I., Int., May 2022

• "I truly enjoyed my tennis experience at the Ritz Calton's Tennis Camp in Santa Barbara. The coaching staff was knowledgeable and encouraging. They were able to help provide small adjustments that made big differences in consistency and placement. The tennis camps were small enough that you were still able to get some focused attention. The private training was great. The only challenge was using courts in free time after camps and lessons to put into place what you worked on."—J.R., Adv. Int., April 2022

• ""—C.W., Low Int., April 2022

• "I have played 138 Southern California and Central Coast 4.0 men’s singles tourneys since 2007. I am ALWAYS looking for professional staff to make improvements in my competitive tennis strategies. The Bacara staff, perform this with the result of making me a better tourney player. Staff focus is to get student feedback on improvements areas and work towards that improvement goal. I have improved my volleys, baseline hitting, approach shots, and improved percentage play for a variety of shots. Next few lessons will focus on serves and return of serves. I have to been to this clinic 8 times since Oct 2020. I will continue this great priced Clinic and Private Lesson Package deals at least 4 times a year. A great Central Coast Resource for Tennis improvements and Focused Fun during the clinics."—M.I., Adv. Int., April 2022

• ""—M.S., Adv. Int., August 2021

• ""—S.C., Int., August 2021

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