The 1,041-room Boca Raton Resort & Club straddles the IntraCoastal Waterway roughly halfway between Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale. On the mainland side stands Addison Mizner's ornate 1926 Cloister hotel and the 1969 South Tower, a 27-story pink monolith rising at one corner of the Cloister's richly tiled courtyard. To the north lies the new 108-room Yacht Club, which faces the IntraCoastal Waterway, a cluster of Golf Villas. Boats and shuttles leave from the main complex for the Beach Club, a seven-story complex of rooms, restaurants, and swimming pools fronting a half-mile of private Atlantic-washed beach on a barrier island just across the IntraCoastal.

Tennis at the resort took on a new dimension with the debut in March of 1998 of the $10 million Tennis and Fitness Center and again late in 2001 with the opening of the palatial Spa Palazzo. Architecturally, the new clubhouse looks like a contemporary of the neighboring Cloister. From the hotel a path along the croquet courts leads to a two-story Mediterranean-inspired structure tricked out in the same pink stucco and barrel tile as Addison Mizner's original. Straight ahead double wooden doors on the first floor open onto a bright fitness center full of state-of-the-art cardiovascular equipment and Cybex workout stations, while to the right and left twin stone staircases lead to an arched and pillared second-floor arcade and the entrance to the expansive tennis shop.

Rich in wood trim and a large selection of well-displayed clothing, this 5,000-square-foot retail outlet looks more like a boutique than a full-service pro shop. Behind it a covered deck extends above the fence line of courts Nos. 1 and 2 and provides a panorama of the complex. The courts themselves, 18 in all, are arrayed to either side of a bricklined alleyway, decorated with benches, trees, and flowers. All of the courts are clay with a subsurface watering system called HydroGrid. What you cannot see from this perspective is that this entire complex of 18 courts sits atop a parking garage.

Overview

The effort that went into the new complex is being matched by the efforts of the staff to take good care of tennis players. Chief among the services is a well-honed system of finding matches for guests, typically by calling on local members. To do that the resort designates some of its staff as "tennis concierges," with the responsibility not only to set up games but also to carpenter together a personalized tennis program, including any of five daily clinics, tennis aerobics, and occasional round robins. The man behind the programs is director Erik Silver, who has been on these courts since he first started to work there at age 14.

In the fall of 2007, the resort added another, welcome dimension: an adult version of the Evert Tennis Academy. Run by Drew Evert (Chris's brother), these adult training sessions bundle match simulation drills, singles and doubles strategies, technical training, competitive games, and match play. The 1½-to-2-hour sessions take place on selected long weekends from late November through late April.

Tennis Features

Pro Shop: 561-447-3000, ext. 3141

When you walk into the pro shop, through the double doors, you come face to face with a raised counter and two tennis concierges eager to arrange matches or create an individually tailored program from the week's menu of activities. That and the physical beauty of the complex make an indelible first impression.

Tennis Staff. With his model-like looks and long wavy dark brown hair, tennis director Erik Silver looks the part of a resort tennis pro. His mother has been a member here for 25 years, and Silver first began working with the colorful Warren Woodcock, a former director, in 1978. After eight years as head pro, he took over as director in 1996. He has assembled a large staff of very personable pros, including his assistant director Brett Maynard, head pro Larry Gottfried, and an attentive crew to man the pro shop.
Tennis Programs. Apart from game matching, which is handled by a "Tennis Concierge", and private lessons, the staff runs 5 to 6 daily clinics, a few weekly round robins, and tennis aerobics.
Courts & Fees. There are 18 Har-Tru courts at the tennis center (3 with lights) and another 12 at the Country Club. Courts Fees. $18/person/day, but packages offer free unlimited court time.

Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about Boca Raton Resort & Club and Evert Tennis Academy.

• "This hotel is true luxury on and off the courts. Beautiful pool, many restaurants, shops in the hotel, salon, van to the warm clear Atlantic Ocean, and then there's tennis! All clay courts, perfectly manicured. Choose from several clinics, or pick from the various pros available for private lessons. My 7 year old son took his lessons from Drew Evert. He knows children, and how to get them to the next level. And a very personable, kind man. We will definitely be back next year!"—T.B., Adv. Int., August 2008

• "Strenghts, tennis teachers, courts and playing options. Nice setting easy atmosphere, relaxed. Good gym and pool, excellent golf. Weakness, not beach front, about ten minute drive."—N.L., Adv., March 2008

• "Best lesson ever with Eric! We've had many lessons but he really did a fabulous job."—D.K., Adv. Int., March 2008

• "I am a seasoned tennis player and have taken lesson with various tennis instructors around the world. In my personal opinion Eric Silver stands out as the most exceptional instructor I have ever had the privelage of taking a lesson with. Without Eric the Boca Raton Resort & Club is not an elite tennis resort."—J.L., Adv. Int., December 2007

• "Consistant instruction and the same pros are just two of the reasons i come back year after year. Professional, well mannered staff make you feel most welcome. Awesome camps, drills and private lessons offered daily....and the resort is beautiful. Close to great shopping, theatre, and restaurants. Can't wait to come back for the weekend tennis camps! Erik, you are the best!"—B.F., Adv., October 2007

• "Beautiful courts and fabulous instruction from Eric Silver head pro there."—E.S., Adv. Int., October 2007

Other Recreation

Beach. The Beach Club, across the Intracoastal Waterway on a barrier island facing the Atlantic, fronts half a mile of private beach, furnished with padded lounge chairs with fold-up canopies each with an individual flagpole to use to request beverage or other service.

Golf Courses. The resort has two 18-hole courses. It is also home to the Dave Pelz Scoring Game School and the ESPN Golf School.

Resort Course: Reconstructed and reconfigured in 1999, this course now features water on most of its fairways, including the 18th, which has an island green. Par 71. Length: 6,253 yards from the back tees.
Country Club Course: Also redesigned in 1999, the Country Club course features contoured greens and many deep, greenside bunkers. Par 72. Length: 6,714 yards from the back tees.

Spa & Fitness Center. The 6,200-square-foot fitness center at the tennis courts has a full line of aerobic and cardiovascular equipment as well as a set of Cybex stations. Its exercise studio schedules a variety of aerobics and toning classes, and personal training is available from the staff. The resort also has a second fitness center at the Country Club. Both have saunas, steam and private massage rooms.
Just across the road from the tennis center stands Spa Palazzo, a 50,000-square-foot sanctuary with 22 treatment rooms, an opulent wet room, an eclectic menu of spa treatments, sunning terraces, and an additional 10,000 square feet of gardens with waterfall whirlpools and a spa pool with underwater music.

And ... The resort has six swimming pools, one at the Cloister, two at the Beach Club, and one each at the Country Club, Golf Villas, and Spa Palazzo. The resort also has a full-service marina immediately adjacent to the historic Cloister on the IntraCoastal Waterway. It has 27 slips and can accommodate sailing vessels up to 170 feet in length. There are also croquet lawns, racquetball courts, volleyball, basketball, and badminton.

Children's Programs

Children's activities and recreation are divided into three groups by age: Boca Tots, ages 3-5; Boca Bunch, ages 6-11; and Boca Sport, ages 12-17.

Lodging

The nostalgic first choice in lodging would seem to be the historic Cloister hotel until you discover that its quarters seem small by today's standards and at best have views of the golf course. As a result, those who adore the beach will opt instead for the recently refurbished rooms at the Boca Beach Club, even though that puts you a shuttle or boat ride away from the the tennis courts and many of the restaurants. The South Tower thus stands out for its convenience, the spaciousness of its rooms, and the glorious views from the mid to high floors. Those who want seclusion can opt instead for the golf villas, some of whose rooms and suites have kitchens. The newest lodging is in the luxuriously appointed Yacht Club, whose design resembles a Venetian palace.

Restaurants

Rather than have one chef oversee the entire resort operation, the Boca Raton brought in outside chefs for some of its restaurants. Of the dozen or so food outlets on property, the signature restaurant is 27 Ocean Blue, overseen by the resort's executive chef James Reaux. From its location on the 27th floor, it looks up and down the Intracoastal Waterway and in a state as flat as Florida seems to afford the ability to see forever. Among the other notable options are noted restaurateur Drew Nieporent's Tuscan-inspired Lucca in the Cloister Piazza and Nick's Fishmarket at the Boca Beach Club, where it serves local seafood, pastas, and salads.

See Also

Among the other top tennis resorts with the Boca Raton Resort's grand style are:

• The Breakers, Florida
• The Broadmoor, Colorado
• Sea Island Resort, Georgia
• The Greenbrier, West Virginia

Travel Essentials

Seasons. Although the resort is open year-round, summers in south Florida are hot and steamy and tennis activity wanes. Rates are almost half what they are in winter, however.

Rates.

Reservations:

Boca Raton Resort & Club
501 E. Camino Real
Boca Raton, FL 33432
561-447-3000
Toll-free: 888-491-BOCA
Fax: 561-447-3183
Web Link: Boca Raton Resort & Club

NEW!

Book Online: Boca Raton Resort & Club

Evert Tennis Academy
10334 Diego Drive South
Boca Raton, FL 33428
561-488-2001
Toll-free: 800-417-3783
Fax: 561-488-2055
Web Link: Evert Tennis Academy

Travel Instructions. By Air: Palm Beach Airport is 28 miles to the north, Fort Lauderdale is 24 miles to the south, and Miami International is 45 miles south. By car: Take I-95 or the Florida Turnpike to Camino Real and head east. The Resort located between U.S. 1 (a.k.a. Federal Highway) and Highway A1A.

General Tourist Information. Visit the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau web site or contact them at 1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 204, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Phone: 561-471-3995.

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