Tennis players with longish memories associate North Conway, New Hampshire, with the old Volvo International men's tournament, which was played at the Mount Cranmore Racquet Club. Today, former touring pro Clare Grabher and her husband Kurt operate very high quality, 5-hour-a-day summer tennis camps on those same red-clay tournament courts. They put campers up in nearby condos, a mountain lodge, or a New England inn, and then ensure post-clinic camaraderie by adding group dinners at various restaurants in the area hosted by one or more of the pros.

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For the last several years, New England Tennis Holidays has had a lock on the No. 1 ranking for tennis camps on Tennis Resorts Online's annual reader poll. There are any number of reasons, but two of the most crucial are that Kurt and Clare Grabher, who started the camp more that 20 years ago, never let a season pass without asking what they can do better next year; and they typically hire not college kids but pros with years of teaching experience—the average was 15 years the last time I attended.

The three-hour morning sessions eventually cover all the major strokes as well as singles and doubles strategy. There is a break for lunch at noon—sandwiches, salads, and pastas at the adjacent Sports Club—and then the program continues with videotaping, a series of "Stroke Stations," during which you head for the court that is working on the stroke you want more help with, and the organized sessions end with a round robin. "People want to play," notes Kurt Grabher.

The result is a very balanced program, with a strong instructional component supplemented by a variety of playing situations. Though it runs five hours a day, I would not classify it among the grueling camps. When the afternoon sessions end, campers are typically tired but not exhausted—and a few, in fact, hang around the courts to play a bit more.

It helps, of course, that the camp takes place in northern New Hampshire, where a demanding program takes far less toll than it does in south Florida. And the staff encourages camaraderie by arranging group dinners at a different local restaurant each night, which helps makes this a comfortable option for people who come alone.

Courts & Fees. There are five red-clay courts set in the embrace of the stadium and four indoor hard courts, which can be used in case of inclement weather. Court fees: None for participants.

Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about New England Tennis Holidays.

• "This was my fifth year at New England Tennis Holidays in North Conway, NH. What a great camp! The pros are very knowledgeable, classes were small so there was lots of individual attention and instruction. This place is great."—M.K., Int., July 2008

• "What a blast! I had a great time and the instructors are amazing, up-beat, funny and professional. I would encourage anyone to do this camp. Keep up the good work."—N.A., Int., July 2008

• "What a fantastic camp! This is the third camp I have been to and it was, by far, the best! I loved the quality of the pros. They were patient, enthusiastic and motivating. Hats off to Kurt for running a spectacularly organized camp. Pros Curt, Wayne, Anders, Jeremy, Chris, Justin, Warren and Mike were very knowledgeable. I also loved the social aspect of dining with our fellow campers each night at wonderful restaurants. One suggestion I have would be for them to modify drills for beginners. It isn't realistic to expect beginners to participate in the same drills as intermediate and advanced players. Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing!"—M.D., Int., July 2008

• "Loved it, loved it, loved it. Can't wait to go again. The pros were great and provided really valuable and helpful instruction. My only critique is that (1) they need to modify live drills for beginner players and (2) sometimes they struggled to group the players by ability and beginner players were holding back some of the others (granted, there were a lot of factors and it is a hard job). Big props to Kurt, Curt, Wayne, Anders, Jeremy, Chris, Justin, Warren, and the rest of the gang. Loved them."—P.H., Low Int., July 2008

• "I just returned from my first tennis camp experience and have already recommended NETH to all my USTA teammates. It was wonderful!! I've taken tennis lessons off and on for over 30 years but these instructors were the absolute best! Curt, especially, performed a few minor miracles on my volley, forehand and serve - just by suggesting a few tweaks here and there. All of the instructors were professional, enthusiastic, and had really positive coaching techniques.
  I would highly recommend this tennis camp. In addition to the top-notch instruction, the surrounding scenery was beautiful and the nightly dinners encouraged comraderie among the players and also provided a great opportunity to meet other tennis enthusiasts. I will definitely be back next year. The only suggestion I would make would be to ease up on the music being played during the drills. It really wasn't necessary and seemed a bit inappropriate considering the stunning backdrop of the White Mountains."—D.H., Int., June 2008

• "I just returned from my 5th trip to NETH and it just gets better and better! I was happy to see so many of the same pros as I met during my first visit there. Kurt Grabner runs a top notch program which provides excellent instruction in an atmosphere of beautiful surroundings, great comraderie, wonderful accommodations and just loads of fun! I am one camper who will definitely be back!"—N.H., Int., June 2008

• "Just returned from our 4th year and already looking forward to next year. As always, the pro staff just has that way of bringing out your best and making the drills and events instructional and fun. Seeing your game broken down frame by frame on video is a must. I highly recommend."—B.C., Int., June 2008

• "Loved the viedo taping and Ball machine. Criticism was not putting equall skilled player together. To large a group and to much moving from court to court."—J.Q., Int., June 2008

• "This was my first tennis camp experience and I didn't really know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and offered numerous valuable tips without trying to disect and dismantle every aspect of my game. The program was well run and the staff made every attempt to accommodate the requests of campers.
  The daily schedule was perfect, and by the end of the day I felt that I had had a good workout without being totally exhausted. No matter what your level of play, you can have an enjoyable learning experience.
  My only criticism would be that it was somewhat confusing trying to remember "who goes where" when transitioning between drills. I would definitely recommend this camp to my friends."—C.T., Adv. Int., June 2008

• "My teammates and I got so much out of our tennis weekend that we are all planning to return! The pros were great, the pace and scheduling of the days were excellent and the videotape analysis was eye-opening.
  The ten of us arrived for opening weekend in May and were very impressed with how smoothly and seamlessly this operation is run. Cranmore is beautiful in every season and our weekend was sunny and warm, but quite buggy with the mayflies. Those of us there with our partners worked along side each other improving our individual strokes as well as our doubles game. Five plus hours of tennis a day seemed like just the right amount, leaving our group of women in their 40s tired at the end of the day, but not too sore and exhausted. Each of the pros was excellent and had their own style of instruction.
  Sunday afternoon we compared notes and were surprised that everyone had a different favorite instructor. At the end of the day on Saturday it was fun to watch the pros who had been working with us all day play an exhibition match and then we all got together afterwards for a beer or a glass of wine and got to know our fellow players and the staff better. I left feeling like I had received top notch instruction and plenty of individual attention.
  I worked hard, enjoyed the camaraderie and had a lot of fun! A month later I am playing better, still implementing what I learned and planning our group's return trip for September."—K.V., Adv. Int., June 2008

• "I really enjoyed this camp, it was the first time I attended one since I was in high school over 15 years ago. I went by myself for 5 days and felt a little intimidated at first. By the owner of the camp, Kurt, and the pros I worked with; Jeremy, Wayne, Mike; were all real down the earth people who provided a fun atmosphere. Quickly, I felt quite comfortable. The instruction was good as I picked up a few tips that should help my overall game. Dinners were fun with the pros and other campers.
  My only negative comment is that one night some of the other campers were a little annoying at dinner, they felt like they had to be loud and make a scene at the resteraunt. They had a good lunch spread. Overall, it was good and I will return."—F.E., Adv. Int., June 2008

• "This was just a great holiday! Just the right mix of drills and fun events. Great staff attention to the needs of the individual as well as the overall needs of all. This is my second trip and I definitely want to return again. It's not only a lot of fun ... it helps my game!"—B.O., Adv. Int., May 2008

Other Recreation

Golf Courses. There is a 9-hole course at the White Mountain Hotel & Resort, one of three lodging choices offered by New England Tennis Holidays.

Fitness Center. In addition to indoor and outdoor courts, the Cranmore Sports Club has a complete fitness center with Nautilus equipment, cardiovascular machines, and free weights. There are also aerobics and yoga classes, an indoor climbing wall, and steam, sauna, and Jacuzzi. Massages can also be arranged. Use of the facility is free to New England Tennis Holiday participants.

And ... If shopping is recreation, then North Conway with its scores of factory outlets and no-tax policy qualifies as a major diversion.

Children's Programs

The Cranmore Sports Club runs an adventure camp for children ages 5-12 from early July to late August. It includes tennis, gymnastics, swimming, crafts, hiking and more and can be arranged daily or weekly. For more information and prices, call 800-786-6754, ext. 5.

Lodging

The more frequently chosen lodging is the White Mountain Hotel & Resort, beautifully situated below the rocky face of White Mountain and surrounded by woods and a 9-hole golf course. Some of the meals are served there, and it has coin-operated washer-dryers for guests' use. One modest disadvantage is that it lies several miles from the Sports Center on the opposite side of town and thus requires you to commute back and forth.

The alternative is to stay in one of the condos near the Sports Center. Large and well appointed, these have full kitchens, fireplaces, washer-dryers, and outside decks. The condo complex also has its own swimming pool. Breakfast is not included if you stay in a condo.

The final option is the 16-room Cranmore Inn, which sits on eight acres roughly one mile from the Sports Club. It has a game room, restaurant, and library.

Restaurants

The package includes dining in a different restaurant each night, including a seafood buffet at the White Mountain Hotel, "Country European" cuisine at Maestro's in town, and excellent pub food at Delaney's.

See Also

If you're looking for an all-day tennis camp with lots of social atmosphere, also check out New England Tennis Holiday's other venue in Vermont or any of the following:

• Nike Amherst Tennis Camp, Massachusetts Summer only
• John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas
• Total Tennis, New York Liveliest summer and early fall

Travel Essentials

Seasons. The programs at Cranmore run from May to mid September.

New England Tennis Holidays
P.O. Box 1648
North Conway, NH 03860
603-356-9696
Toll-free: 800-869-0949
Web Link: New England Tennis Holidays

 

Travel Instructions. The nearest airport is Portland, Maine, an hour and 15 minutes' drive to the south. NETH can arrange for a shuttle to pick you up and make sure you have a ride back and forth from you lodging to the courts and dinner, but in truth you'll probably be happier with the freedom that comes with having your own transportation.

General Tourist Information. Visit the New Hampshire Office of Travel & Tourism web site or contact them at 172 Pembroke, P.O. Box 1856, Concord, NH 03302. Phone: 603-271-2343 or 800-FUN-IN-NH.

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