Longboat Key Club/Resort
On Florida's SW coast;home of New 20-court Tennis Gardens
www.longboatkeyclub.com
Gunterman Tennis Schools
Amelia Island, FL; year-round Flexible pkgs; adults & jrs.
www.greattennis.com
Here's what others have had to say about Naples Tennis Club & Resort and Academia Sanchez-Casal Adult Camp.
"The program of Sanchez Casals was evident and enthusiastically followed by our 2 instructors. My wife and I attended the program over Easter. My wife is a 3.5 and I am 4.5. We were on the court together to drill which I thought I would dread but the program allows for this.
The program strength was its emphasis on footwork and drills that can be used as a component of game play. The pros picked up on poor habits and corrected them quickly but stayed focused on the program.The program builds from a game play defensive position to winning the point. The weaknesses I could not pick up.
My wife and I are avid middle aged players who want to work hard to improve our games. This camp is what I think Bolliteri and saddlebrook have lost over the last few years. If you like to work this program is it but we would recommend staying nearer the beach rather than on the resort as it is tired."—J.L., Adv., April 2009
"Was here in Jan. 2009 with 3 of my tennis buddies. We are 3.5 USTA. We did the 10 hour Silver Adult program over 3 days. 4 hours for 2 days and 2 hours one day. We also played among ourselves for a few extra hours each day. Had Bill Beverly as an instructor and he was terrific. Improved our games without making major changes. Stayed onsite which was very convenient. Used the pool and hot tub."—M.H., Int., January 2009
"I participated in a two day (4 hrs per day) adult camp in January 2009. The instruction (Oscar) was excellent. There were two people in the camp (including myself). Neither one of us stayed on the property although it seemed very nice. The camp was physically pretty demanding but the vibe overall was relaxed. We did a ton of footwork drills and I found that it has helped my overall game. Oscar also rallied with us quite a bit. I would return to this camp."—J.M., Int., January 2009
"The instruction provided was excellent . That said you must be sure to check what level of players will be available when you are coming . As a 4.5 I could not even get one match scheduled as there was a Seniors tournament being held and no other players were available. I was amazed that they couldn't even get a local member of that level ."—S.B., Adv. Int., August 2008
"My two children have been to the other major Florida resort programs, but by far the SC instruction is the best I've seen. Great ratio, and plenty of 1 on 1 instruction. All coaches had something unique to offer. Great technical and match coaching. Great students from all over the world. Not a place to goof off. Work ethic was stressed, but the kids all had fun. Will definitely return. Naples is great and facility is beautiful"—B.P., July 2008
If you visited Naples Tennis Club & Resort—or as it was then known, the Naples Bath & Tennis Club—during the 1970s and '80s, you probably remember it as one of the great tennis havens, a place where all of the activity focused on its 37 clay courts and where seemingly every condo owner or renter was an avid player. If you visited during the 1990s, you may have wondered what all the hype was about as resort lost its way as it passed through a series of owners. But if you go back now, you'll find, as I did, a concerted effort being made to return to its old glory.
The rebirth began in May 2000, when its then new owners sank more than $6 million to refurbish the clay courts and thoroughly modernize the clubhouse and its amenities and the surrounding landscaping. That included the addition of a 3,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness center, new locker rooms with sauna and steam, new massage rooms, and a new pub with an indoor dining room adjacent and an outdoor patio overlooking the courts. Then in the late spring of 2005, another set of owners, all of them passionate players, bought the property with plans to continue that transformation. So far their most dramatic act has been to lure Spain's renowned Academia Sánchez-Casal to set up a branch at Naples Tennis.
The new owners have plans to add terraced seating below the clubhouse to create a stadium court, where they want to stage high-profile exhibitions and ATP Tour events. Plans also call for a new pro shop, a full-service spa, and 30-room upscale boutique hotel. I'll keep you posted as plans progress.
Pro Shop: 239-261-5524
The white clubhouse with a blue tile roof sits atop a grassy knoll overlooking a sea of 38 tennis courts, all but one of them clay. The clubhouse itself is a semicircular building embracing a vast patio on the court side. At one end is the Palm Restaurant, the Pub, and a card rooms; at the other, the fitness center, aerobics room, and offices. The pro shop occupies space in the open lobby at the center of the clubhouse at the moment but will eventually take over what are now offices.
Tennis Staff. Curly Davis has left Naples Tennis. As soon as I know who has replaced him, I'll provide that information here. Meanwhile, Bill Beverly, who was the glue that held Naples Bath together during its heyday as a tennis haven, is back, this time as membership director.
Junior Programs: The Academia Sanchez-Casal brings a new level of junior development to Naples Tennis. Preliminary plans call a small number of live-in juniors—perhaps 10 to 20—from all over the world to train there year-round while offering short-term camps and day camps for other aspiring young tennis players. As I get more details I'll post them here.
Courts & Fees. There are 37 clay courts (10 with lights) and 1 lighted hard court and during temperate times of the year you'll still find every court in use at 9 a.m. Court fees: None.
Spa & Fitness Center. The new 3,000-square-foot fitness center has cardiovascular and weight-training equipment as well as free weights. Windows along one side face an outside deck that overlooks the swimming pool, while windows on the opposite side look out toward a lake. Personal trainers are available as are classes in Pilates and aerobics. Stairs from the fitness center lead down to locker rooms with sauna and steam and to a suite of massage rooms.
And ... NBTC has a junior Olympic swimming pool, a kiddie pool, and jogging and biking trails.
At the moment there are roughly 50 units in the rental pool, ranging in size from one to three bedrooms. All have fully equipped kitchens and washers and dryers. Some of them have been thoroughly refurbished and are owned by the resort, others have individual owners and thus can vary in decor and upkeep (though owners with units in the rental pool are being encouraged to upgrade if they haven't already).
Greg Revener, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of Florida, oversees the Royal Palm Room, the main dining area, which specializes in traditional and Continental fare. It is open for dinner. The Banyan Grille, which extends outside onto the patio beneath, what else?, a banyan tree, serves sandwiches and salads.
The other resorts where tennis is the most important diversion are:
The resort offers 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom condos. There is a minimum 2-night stay and rates are subject to 10% tax.
Dec. 17, 2007-Apr. 16, 2008
$235-$345
Apr. 17-May 31, 2008
$170-$275
June 1-Sept. 30, 2008
$105-$175
Seasons. Year-round though summers are hot in this part of Florida.
Travel Instructions. By Air: The nearest airport is Southwest Florida International Airport in Ft. Myers, 35 miles to the north. By Car: From I-75 North or Alligator Alley take Exit 16. Proceed west on Pine Ridge Road for approximately 2 miles to Airport Road and turn left to head south to the first traffic light. Go through the light and NBTC is on the right about ¼ mile along.
General Tourist Information. For information about this region, visit the Tourism Alliance of Collier County web site.