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 One of the Leading Hotels of the World, the turreted Palace Hotel is a landmark in Switzerland's Saane Valley, two hours east of Geneva. Though best-known in the United States for its skiing, this mountain village is if anything even more beautiful in summer and fall. And it's then, in fact, that tennis legend Roy Emerson arrives to conduct six-day tennis camps on the hotel's four red-clay courts.
The hotel itself dates to 1913 and has been managed since 1938 (and owned since 1947) by the Scherz family. At 150 rooms, it is Switzerland's largest pension and yet for all its size retains the feel of an inn. Among its amenities are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa and fitness center, an indoor squash court, and mountain bike rentals. Golf, horseback riding, clay-pigeon shooting, and river rafting are all nearby.
For tennis players, the reason to come is Roy Emerson. Personable and outgoing, this winner of 12 Grand Slam singles titles runs 5-hour-a-day clinics. "We go through most aspects of the game," he says of the program. "It's a pretty serious 6 days. We play a lot of doubles."
Roughly midweek the routine is broken as everyone goes off with Emmo on a picnic in the Alps, and at least once during the session he rounds up guests for a night out at a typical Swiss place for dinner. Camps sizes vary from 15 to 40 (he has access to other courts in town if necessary). "We get all standards of play, and gear the instruction accordingly," he says of his approach. Though he trained under the legendary Australian Davis Cup coach Harry Hopman (where Emerson won 36 of his 40 matches), he backs off the rigorous Hopman methods for those who aren't up to it.
The crowd is typically a mixture of Americans, Swiss, Germans and other Europeans.
Here's what others have had to say about Palace Hotel Gstaad/Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks.
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"This is the ultimate tennis in the world. With Roy and his son Antony by his side( And of course the lovely Joy)there is nothing better than The Hamlet of Gstaad, the mountains the Swiss Open and the 5Star hotel and food the palace offers. There is a reason they call it the PALACE! The staff and food are a religious experience.
 But it is Roy himself that creates the ambience and the tennis couldn't be any better. Every pro he hand picks so everyone has way too much fun; laughing allday long on; sneakin' "Sally thru the Alley" and "Down the Middle Solves the Riddle". Tennis instructions start at 9am and go to Noon; then a sumptous lunch( try not to start w/ the Swiss desserts) and tennis resumes @ 2pm with additional instruction from Roy and his Pro's and then doubles play.
You play w/ people from all over the world and all the coaches speak several languages and it's so much fun. Especially if you are lucky enough to get Patrick Zurcher as your coach for the day! Boy can that Swiss boy dance! So save your energy after a full day in the mountains with Roy because@ midnight the GREENGO opens and we dance till the wee hours of the morning.
Andreas Sherz;and his lovely wife Laura are the supreme host and hostess; always making sure every detail of your stay is perfect. This is a family owned and operated property so all sorts of evernts are planned to perfection when Roy Emerson hosts his Tennis Weeks. One needs to sign up early ( I sign up before I leave for the next year)as the availablity is limited. There is a reason this special place Gstaad is called MY BLUE HEAVEN. I took my tennis partner 2 years ago and all we do now is plan our enitre year and wardrobe around returning to the Palace and attend the Swiss Open and then overlap w/a week w/ ROY! These girls just gotta have fun ( and look good). This Tennis resort is NUMBER 1 in my opinion. Once you go and play and stay it becomes your family!"—S.M., Adv., March 2008
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"Outstanding and excellently organized tennis camp. The affable Roy Emerson makes almost anyone feel comfortable right from the first day, also due to the Aussie humor. Roy is obviously one of a kind. This man has exceptional teaching skills and is so encouraging. He can pinpoint what you have to work on at a glance.
Even if your game doesn't seem to be going anywhere at all, you can expect a boost of enthusiasm by the end of the week. There are highly skilled pros, some of whom have also played the circuit. The players are arranged appropriately in groups so everyone gets their fun. There is somewhat of a focus on the doubles game, which is fun because people tend to socialize throughout the week.
The smooth organization of the camp is also much due to Roy's charming wife Joy. The unique alpine setting and the outstanding Palace Hotel, which boasts one the best staffs in the world, make the tennis week all the more complete. It's hard to describe this wonderful experience in just a few words. We've now attended five times and hope to be back for more."—P.H., Int., October 2007
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"Roy Emerson Tennis Week at the Palace Hotel in Gstaad is something I look forward to every year. Roy and his staff of pros from all over the world put together a great and entertaining program. The tennis is unsurpassed. The Palace Hotel is set in the Swiss Alps offers food and service that are truly five star. If you attend one year, you will return."—S.C., Adv. Int., October 2007
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"This Roy Emerson tenniscamp is not just a tenniscamp It provides all what can make life so wonderfull by moments. First the tennis is great. In the mornings Roy takes a 15-20 minutes moment to highlight a topic like e.g. the forehand and shows in detail the stroke. I saw it more than once but I’m still impressed by the immense control, simplicity of the movement and power he can generate in his strokes.
Did you ever see somebody hitting 5 lobs in a row fired from the baseline just landing within a few inches at the other baseline? Awesome. In the morning Roy and the skilled pro’s arrange training drills. In the afternoon doubles are played. The matching of the double teams is always perfect and clearly done with great personal involvement and care for detail. You know and feel he still loves the game and it shows in his humorfull remarks.
Second the Gstaad Palace hotel is a exceptional place to be. Beautifull scenery on the swiss alps surrounds it and so you during tennis and the high quality lunches on the Grand Terras. The stay, lunches and diners are Italian top class but without the stiffness and artificial politeness. The atmosphere is warm, friendly and honest. Highly recommended."—J.D., Adv. Int., October 2007
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"Great tennis camp. Roy Emerson is a wonderful person. He and his excellent team of pros from all over the world show you all the good tricks. Lots of good tennis, lots of fun and a wonderful location at the Palace Hotel in Gstaad. We will definitely be back next year."—B.T., Int., September 2007
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"top class coaching.outstanding friendly coaches.
very well thoughtfully organised.wonderful ennvironnement and superb Hotel."—C.P., Adv., September 2007
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"I have now attended the camp about 10 times and it is quite simply the best tennis hoiday I have had in my 27 years of playing tennis around the world. Roy is a legend and a great host, of course, but it is his personality combined with the outstanding pro's from around the world, the fantastastic Palace Hotel and the landscape that make it so special.
At least 6 of my friends have been and all have re-booked over the years. This year the weather was terrible, as it ws accross Europe and the only negative is that there are only a limited number of indoor courts if the weather is bad, but that was good for me I need the rest. In summary it is simply the best."—H.K., Adv., September 2007
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"Since 1999 we have attended six of Roy Emerson's tennis weeks at Palace Hotel in Gstaad. My wife and I have traveled most all the USA and participated in many tennis programs at Top 50 rated tennis resorts. However, the premier tennis experience of the world is clearly an Emerson's Tennis Week @Palace Hotel in Gstaad,CH.
Roy, his wife Joy, teaching pro's and entire hotel staff work diligently to make sure your week is one of the most memorable tennis destination trips of a lifetime.
Our experience with the gourmet hotel food has been outstanding, hotel accommodations luxurious, mountain scenery and vistas incredible, but most of all the tennis instruction, match play and camradery with great people from all over the world has formed many great friendships.
The tennis competition is quite competitive as I have player USTA 4.0 level tournaments for a nubmer of years and have foundn plenty of very strong competition and the teaching pro's also actively play in your group level daily doubles play. Roy and staff evaluate tennis participants daily to insure participante are appropriately placed by skill level and everyone has a fund tennis experience in Gstaad.
For a tennis experience of a lifetime, plan a tennis destination vacation to Europe and participate in an Emerson's tennis week, and you will have fond memories of your tennis week forever! We sure have as many other couples also do and return on an annual basis to enjoy tennis ambience in the Alps with Roy Emerson."—C.B., Adv. Int., August 2007
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""—G.D., Adv., August 2007
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"Have been to Roys tenniscamp for 8 or 9 years and will go again ! The combination of Roys camp, the Palace Hotel and Gstaad is unsurpassed."—J.D., Adv. Int., August 2007
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"The one thing that no other camp can have is Roy Emerson and his joie de vivre/joie de tennis! The accessibility of a champion and personality such as Roy has got to be unparallelled. In addition, everything about the Tennis Weeks is customizable and many other things are very flexible: the tennis is as intense or relaxed as any individual wants to make it in lots of ways -- competitive and social.
The pro's are outstanding and have backgrounds as varied as the attendees. The atmosphere is very friendly and un-intimidating and, therefore, can be very personalized. Everyone becomes very close (not just those associated with the tennis but the hotel staff as well!) -- almost like family, making returning to the camp even more delightful.
There are plenty of other extracurricular activities to keep anyone engaged. Although the week flies by, it's hard to leave the camp without having improved on some skill or something in your game. It is honestly difficult to think of any weaknesses."—V.L., Adv. Int., August 2007
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"Roy is great as a player, teacher and person and he and his wife Joy are great organizers and run a program that works for people of varying ages (we've met 30's to 80's)and parts of the world. Roy teaches a new tennis element each morning and afternoon and then sends well matched players (usually 3 or 4) off with an excellent pro to work on the element as well as play doubles. Roy is on the courts for every session and works directly with every participant during the course of the week. The tennis is great, the teachers uniformly excellent and the people we've met (we've attended 6 times) interesting and fun company.
The Palace Hotel in Gstaad is uniquely beautiful and grandly situated in the Alps. The tennis week includes three fabulous meals a day in a luxurious setting with gracious and friendly service.
My husband is a USTA tournament player but always finds he's gotten a boost from the program. I have played all my life but my enthusiasm for tennis was rekindled by our first Emerson Week and the pleasure of working on skills and actually seeing results has continued all these years."—S.S., Adv., August 2007
If looking for other luxury resorts with programs by a former touring pro, check out:
Also look for special programs at:
Rates.
The prices for the Emerson weeks include lodging for six nights, instruction, all meals, one massage, use of the swimming pool and gymnasium, and taxes. Contact Roy Emerson directly if you're interested at: (949) 644-6505 or send an email to Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks. For rates at the hotel, visit the Palace Hotel web site.
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Emerson Weeks: June 8-14, June 15-21, 2008 |
From CHF 3,780; non-participant in same room, CHF 2,980 |
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Emerson Weeks: June 22-28, June 28-July 4, 2008 |
From CHF 3,780; non-participant in same room, CHF 2,980 |
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Emerson Weeks: July 13-19 & 20-26, 2008 |
From CHF 3,780; non-participant in same room, CHF 2,980 |
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Emerson Weeks: Sept. 13-17 & 14-20, 2008 |
From CHF 3,780; non-participant in same room, CHF 2,980 |
Reservations:
Palace Hotel Gstaad/Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks
CH-3780 Gstaad, Switzerland
Web Link: Palace Hotel Gstaad/Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks
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