Ritz-Carlton, Bacara
Santa Barbara, California
By Roger Cox, Editor
The Ritz-Carlton 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 soft surface—a relative rarity in southern California—their location near the ocean, and the expertise of Cliff Drysdale Tennis (CDT), which manages the complex. Galina Bykova directs the programing. Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, she ranked among that country's Top 50 juniors. That led to an invitation to join the St. Petersburg tennis team, which went on to win the Russian Team Championship and earn Bykova the prestigious title of Master of Sports of Russia. She then came to the U.S. where she played Division I tennis at the University of Idaho, leading the team to the NCAA Division I Team Championships, before moving on to California State University, Fresno, where she captained the tennis team to its highest national ranking of 20.
At Bacara, she stages a weekly roster of tennis activities, including Cardio tennis, live ball and strategy drill sessions, social round robins, as more, as well as group and private lessons. And several times a year, she joins the Drysdale tennis team to host Tennis and Wine Weekends, supplementing two days of on-court activities with private wine tours and tasting at an award-winning local winery.
Tennis aside, Ritz-Carlton Bacara guests can swim in three pools, surf or sail at the beach, 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 wineries, inviting guests to explore beyond the resort to discover more of what the area has to offer.
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, while the surrounding area adds opportunities for horseback riding, biking, hiking, and more
 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. |
Tennis Features
Pro Shop: 805-571-3141
Email:
Ratings(33 Reviewers) |
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Tennis Overall
Tennis Staff
Instruction
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Game Matching
Junior Tennis
Pickleball
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Cuisine
Lodging
Spa & Fitness
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Dollar Value
Other Recreation
Setting
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Kids' Programs
Romance
Solo Travelers
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See Also
For comparison's sake, also look at:
- The Lodge at Pebble Beach, California
- Mauna Lani Auberge Resorts Collection, Hawaii
- Resort at Longboat Key Club, Florida
Rates and Reservations
Ritz-Carlton, Bacara
8301 Hollister Avenue
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
Travel Essentials
Seasons. Year-round.
Travel Instructions. The nearest major air gateway is Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA), 6 miles to the east.
General Tourist Information. For information about the Santa Barbara, visit the Visit Santa Barbara website.
Sponsor
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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. |
Ratings(33 Reviewers) |
|
|
Tennis Overall
Instruction
Tennis Staff
Cuisine
Dollar Value
Setting
Romance
Kids' Programs
|
Game Matching
Junior Tennis
Pickleball
Lodging
Spa & Fitness
Other Recreation
Solo Travelers
|
Advertiser
Your Call
Here's what others have had to say about Ritz-Carlton, Bacara.
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"If you can go and ask for Galina Bykova for private or group lessons, then I would highly recommend that. She is so good at working on your weak points in such a fun and upbeat way. Both my husband and I really enjoyed her."—M.G., Int., February 2023
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"My husband and I participated in a small group tennis camp for three days. The energy was amazing and the instruction was valuable to our game. Thank you to Galina and Dan for running an energized few days of tennis at a beautiful location!"—K.W., Int., February 2023
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"This is my second time to the tennis camp in Santa Barbara. Galena’s fun personality and tennis skill brought my group back. The Har-Tru tennis courts are fun to play on. The camp is organized to see how we play the first day, then provides drills to target the group’s specific needs. All of the drills were fun and effective. In fact I returned from my trip to playing USTA matches using what I learned and am winning."—C.B., Int., February 2023
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"Second time at this resort. The tennis was fantastic. Galina is an energetic and knowledgeable instructor. The hotel campus is beautiful. Only suggestion is to season the food a little better. everything was quite bland and too expensive."—J.H., Int., February 2023
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"The tennis Director is outstanding and a total blast for a fun tennis weekend."—M.B., Int., February 2023
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"Galina was a wonderful instructor. She assessed our skills, helped us work on our weaknesses, and elevated our level of play."—H.B., Int., November 2022
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"Tennis was Superb!! The grounds were beautiful and picturesque. The rooms and property were dated and had plumbing issues."—C.R., Adv. Int., November 2022
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"Galina is a gem. She made our trip incredible and we look forward to returning to work with her. We were impressed with her instruction and her energy. Her drills were high energy and pushed us athletically while focusing on skill development.
Keep her for as long as you can!
We will definitely refer our friends to take a trip to Santa Barbara!!"—K.B., Int., November 2022
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"Galina Bykova is an outstanding tennis instructor. She is high energy, always positive, hard driving, and really improved our form. I give Galina the highest possible marks and hope to work with her again soon. She is a tremendous asset to Cliff Drysdale!!!"—M.W., Int., November 2022
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"Everything about the property and the tennis program was beyond my expectations...Galina and Val had the most amazing energy at the tennis clinics and our whole team elevated their playing and had so much fun doing so! Just a magical experience- the resort, setting, service and tennis. All just amazing!"—C.S., Int., October 2022
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"I thought this Tennis Camp was fantastic! The instructors were high energy, engaging, and gave great pointers. The resort was stunning and a great location for a Tennis Camp. I would have liked one extra night! Also a late check-out was key when the clinic ended at the same time as check-out.
Overall, AMAZING and I can't wait to attend another one!"—H.R., Low Int., September 2022
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""—J.F., Int., September 2022
Rate Ritz-Carlton, Bacara