"We are recidivists," declared Rita, a woman from Queens, New York, back for her second stay at Total Tennis that summer. Several of the campers were people she'd met on previous Total Tennis vacations, and she was now part of a group of more than ten people from all over the Northeast who had worked it out to be there at the same time. One of that contingent, himself another hearty Total Tennis perennial, described the camaraderie as commonplace. "We run into a lot of people we've met before, campers and staff," said Gary. "They're very friendly here. You call, they know who you are. You come through the door, they remember you." At any given session, roughly half of all the campers have been there before.

Total Tennis has a 25-year-long reputation for high-quality tennis camps. Originally staged at a private school in Massachusetts, it moved to its own year-round site in New York's Hudson Valley in the fall of 1997. Although the five-hour-a-day program remains unchanged—including the fact that you stay with the same pro throughout your visit—the quality of the experience has very much improved. So has the facility itself, which now has 25 courts in all, five of them indoors.

Overview

Places that cater primarily to tennis players are an endangered species. Most that do exist were built during the tennis boom of the 1970s. They cling to the notion that nothing is better than spending your vacation on court in the company of other players. But at a time when the world seems to have contracted mad-golf disease, tennis has become a devalued currency—one benighted national sports publication had even gone so far as to declare it dead. That makes it all the more extraordinary when someone like Ed Fondiller comes along and flaunts conventional wisdom by opening a year-round camp whose only market is tennis players.

Although the camp had run profitably for two decades of summers at the Williston-Northampton School in Massachusetts and thus had a loyal following, it was still a brave act to open a facility that would operate year-round, outside the Sunbelt no less. But when Total Tennis founder Ed Fondiller at last found an old lodge in New York's Catskill Mountains, an easy 90-minute drive from New York City, he believed he could make it all work.

So what if the lodge and its rooms needed extensive work, and courts had to be built? The quietly picturesque setting on 70 acres of woods and meadows had views of the rounded peaks of the Catskills and promised an escape from the city. Thus Fondiller and his crew set about extensively renovating the lodge and rooms, had brand-new courts and an indoor center built, fixed up the outdoor swimming pool, and then introduced his own brand of intensive tennis clinics in this sylvan setting.

Rather than stay in dorms you now bed down in simple lodge rooms, most of which have private baths. The food for the group dining has improved too, and now the main lodge and its bar provide a place for campers to congregate at night. There is usually some kind of evening activity planned, from a talk on sports psychology to a Saturday night dance in the game room with a DJ. Add to that a fitness center and occasional singles weeks (see Calendar), you have the formula for a popular tennis getaway.

Tennis Features

Pro Shop: 845-247-9177

Ed Fondiller adopts a simple approach to his camp: "I try to keep it laid back and relaxed," he says. "I want to keep tennis in perspective. If you're not out there having fun, you shouldn't be playing."

Talk to any of the camp regulars, and the comment you hear over and over again is that they like the people who attend. Despite its 5-plus-hour-a-day format, this is not a boot camp and neither does it seem, in general, to attract campers intense about their tennis. It provokes astonishingly disparate reactions. Many love it, while others—typically those who had attended Total Tennis when it was in Northampton, Massachusetts—rue the lack of things to do in Saugerties. And one disappointed camper complained that Fondiller had been very rude. "When one of our group complained that we hadn't received as many hours on court as we expected, Ed didn't try to do anything about it. Instead he said, 'That's the way I run my camp,'" the camper reported.

Tennis Staff. Ed Fondiller founded the camp and continues to take an active part in its day-to-day operation. Much of his staff has been with him for years and about half of them now work at the camp year-round. During the busy summer months he supplements those pros with high school and college coaches and some college players.
Tennis Programs. Campers have the option of a half-day or full-day program. The morning sessions typically begin at 8:45 with an introduction to the morning's topic—ground strokes, doubles, whatever—and then move onto the courts for three hours of drills interrupted by a juice break. Afternoon sessions usually start at 1:30 p.m. and continue to 3 p.m., after which there may be a round robin, pro-am doubles, or open court time. Because campers tend to work with the same pro throughout their stay (barring days off), the work done on court can be tailored to their needs and skill level. Ratios never exceed 4:1. Everyone also gets a ½-hour private lesson.
Courts & Fees. There are 25 courts altogether: 11 red clay, 12 hard (5 of them indoors), and two artificial grass. Court Fees: None outdoors; $15/hour indoors.
Caveat: Any program that puts you with the same pro throughout the week risks the occasional personality conflict. If you're not happy, my advice is to ask to be switched, even if that means having to join a group of players above or below your level.
The other element to be aware of is that there is no courtside water at Total Tennis, so bring your own water jug (the camp puts out ice where campers can easily get it) to take to the courts with you.

Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about Total Tennis.

• ""—J.S., Int., September 2008

• "I've just returned from a weekend at TotalTennis. The tennis is great; the pro I had was great--He was able to help me work on different strokes. He helped me then put it all together. 1/2 hour private is included.
  My only real complaint is that the room (at least mine) was in need of some renovation--glaze on the tub was peeling, paint around the bathroom window was chipped The tile around the tub was different colors--as if someone repaired it but with mix-matched tile. The room needed more light. Otherwise, the room was super clean and comfortable. (You spend so little time in the room that it almost doesn't matter.) I enjoyed about 13 hours of tennis including private lessons.
  The food was magnificent. The campers were friendly. The setting is gorgeous even though this was a rainy weekend. I will definitely return, hopefully this upcoming spring, maybe before then. If you want to play a lot of tennis, try Total Tennis."—E.M., Int., September 2008

• "the rooms were basic, clean, fit the bill. great views of the catskills. i really did learn a lot, although it would have been better if we had a smaller group (i.e. 4 ppl vs 6). my game really did improve, on top of which i had a really relaxing stay. also, the chef was very helpful in customizing the menu to meet my dietary needs."—E.Z., Low Int., September 2008

• "Lots of balls and court time, but the tennis customer service needs help.
  I attended a Thursday-Sunday maxi-weekend, up from Washington DC with my regular doubles partner. I learned a number of things: (1) Most of the guests are from NYC, and several of them told me that they significantly exaggerate the skill level that they give to the teaching pros to start with. I did not do this and was placed on the lowest court with more than one player for whom consistency was a big problem (at Total Tennis, the self-rated 3.5 players were equal to 2.5 players in DC). (2) Few people came for the Thursday-Friday portion (only enough people to fill just two courts), meaning a very wide skill range on the lower court. But no one saw fit to adjust the court assignments after everyone had hit for a session (some on the top court had exaggerated their skill level, but they stayed there all four days). (3) The pro on my court told me the court assignments could be reconfigured Saturday when the weekenders showed up, and the owner (Ed) told me he would be walking around Saturday morning to make sure everyone was on a skill-appropriate court. Neither happened (maybe because the owner or the system he maintains is not customer oriented or because the “recommended gratuity for your pro” would get complicated if I moved courts in the middle of the maxi-weekend; I split my tip, no big deal). I had to rather forcefully insist that afternoon that I be reassigned to an appropriate court, although by that time more than half the maxi-weekend was already over (and I only got moved one court up, still two levels away from where comparable players were). (4) This place is focused on tennis, but out of the 40 players over the weekend, few seemed to be match tennis players other than the doubles partner I arrived with. Most were NYCers out for a weekend away from the city looking to hit lots of balls, which the camp seems to be geared for.
  On the plus side: (1) The teaching pros on court were friendly and enthusiastic, especially the older of the two Bobs there, who gave me a 30-min. individual lesson that was the best thing for my tennis in 15 years. They had a variety of drills and tried to adjust for everyone’s skill level. (2) There were some nice, funny players on my courts, with great attitudes. (3) The food was good all the time, although the dinners were not the “fine dining” the website implies. (4) The room, main lodge, hot tub, and grounds were well kept.
  So if you go: (1) Enjoy the company of the other guests and the teaching pros. (2) Exaggerate your skill level, if you’re there for competitive match-ups. (3) Better yet, bring your own competition with you. (4) If you’re on the wrong court, it’s up to you to change that. They won’t do it for you. (5) If you’re there to improve your match play, as opposed to just hitting around, take charge. Almost all of what normally takes place involves hitting drills, even though I think the pros are capable of more than that. (6) Woodstock and historic Saugerties are nice diversions during the afternoons."—B.A., Int., August 2008

• "I took a 4-day weekend (Th-Sun) at Total Tennis in June. It was a good mix of fairly serious tennis and enjoyable vacationing in a nice setting in the Catskills. Unless you're a tournament level junior or open-level player, the 17 hours of on-court time was plenty. Most of the time was action, not just standing around listening to lectures. You can also play on our own after the sessions, and there are optional round robin and pro-am tournaments. The pros are good: they're all mid-20s and above with teaching experience, not just teens who can hit hard but don't know how to explain it to you.
  The camp's model is to have you stick with one pro for your entire stay: this can be good for continuity and for the pro to get familiar with your personal strengths and weaknesses, but bad if you don't get along with the pro. The campers when I was there seemed to roughly track the distribution of USTA league tennis: some beginners, mostly 3.0 and 3.5, maybe 20% 4.0 and above. If you're 4.5 or above (I'm not), there may not be enough other campers above your level to challenge you, but the pros are more than able to keep pushing you.
  It's a camp, not a resort: the accommodations are spartan/rustic, a bit worn, but clean. There's a nice pool. The food is fantastic, a real strong point: three delicious meals a day with a varied menu. This was my first tennis camp experience so I don't have a point of comparison, but I'd return to Total Tennis."—A.B., Adv. Int., July 2008

• ""—A.M., Int., July 2008

• "I went to total tennis with my husband and another couple during july fourth weekend, and we all had an amazing time. We called ahead to let them know we were arriving late on thursday night, so the receptionist saved us dinner, which was really nice. The food there was awesome the entire weekend. The instruction was great.
  I was in a 3.0 group, but it seems like people there inflate their ratings, and looking around, i should've been in a 3.5 group. But nevertheless, I didn't change groups because I liked the people in my group and loved our instructor Mattias. He put in so much effort and gave us a lot of helpful tips. Our drills were always fun and never repetitive.
  In terms of level, there were a lot of intermediate players there but not as many 4.5+ players. The round robin doubles were a bit weird because they mix everyone together and you have to switch partners every 15 min, so it was hard to get into it. The people there that weekend were great. We had long dinners just chatting with other people so time passed quickly at night.
  We had a upgraded room in Cherry Hill, which was well worth the price. It was big with a deck, and had a view of the mountains and the pool. We also had a 30 min massage, which wasn't long enough. They don't have many masseuses, so book earl. Overall, it was such a fun experience, we are planning to go back again later this season!"—J.W., Int., July 2008

• "I've gone to Total Tennis 5 times. Loved every visit. If you are not in EXCELLENT physical condition, do not try the week-long session. They work you very hard (at least the 4.0 - 4.5 players) -- but that's what you go there for: tennis boot camp. Meals are amazingly good. Staff changes every year, but has always been excellent. Rooms in the lodge are entirely adequate for totally frazzed players getting recharged for the next day's drills and play. I can't think of a better situation for total immersion in tennis. Will go back at next opportunity whether summer or winter."—W.J., Adv. Int., May 2008

• "Red clay courts are great, food was excellent and setting is beautiful. Rooms are spartan but do have AC and plenty of hot water! Indoor facility is superior. Having one instructor for the entire stay is a big drawback. Instructors should be rotated from group to group. Massage therapist was superior:knows her stuff and worked miracles!"—F.R., Adv. Int., April 2008

• "I visited in April when the weather was dicey and the indoor courts were fine. Located at an old Catskill resort, it's not fancy, but very comfortable, with excellent food, a common recreation area, and wireless access (at least in the main lodge).
  I had two brief private lessons, which were OK, but the group work with two pros was excellent--lots of good strategic advice and well-designed, vigorous drills. Also got a massage while there, which I enjoyed but can't compare to anything since it was my first."—B.G., Int., April 2008

• "This is a great tennis resort. It has great courts, great staff, great location and great food. The only comment I have is that depending on the pro that you are assigned, you may have to keep nudging him/her to keep the "learning" going. They sometimes have a tendancy to get a bit lazy."—J.F., Adv. Int., April 2008

• "Total Tennis rocks if you are a no-nonsense tennis geek. The instruction is first rate and groups are small and personal. The facility is plain, this is no 5 star resort but it has everything you need to improve your game. Food, served buffet style is fantastic. So leave your white gloves at home and go for the tennis."—D.S., Adv. Int., April 2008

Other Recreation

Golf Courses. Although there is no golf course at the camp, there is one 9-hole course just up the road.

Spa & Fitness Center. One long, narrow room in the building that houses the indoor courts will become the fitness center but at the moment lacks equipment. Plans now call to outfit it during the winter of 1999/2000, but if that is important to you check before you come up to verify that the equipment has in fact been installed. Ed Fondiller also has longer range plans of adding a spa; however, at the moment, the only service available is massages.

And ... The camp has a recreational swimming pool open during the summer and fall.

Children's Programs

Not a place for children.

Lodging

Total Tennis has 43 rooms altogether. Most occupy one of three three wooden buildings: the Lodge, Cherry Hill, and the Barn. Sparely furnished, they typically have one or two beds with quilted bedspreads, simple pine dressers and end tables, carpeted floors, and tiny private baths with tubs and showers. All are air conditioned but none has a phone, television, or even radio (bring an alarm). Those in the Lodge and Cherry Hill also have balconies or patios with rocking chairs facing the swimming pool and the Catskill Mountains. On very busy weekends—when there could be as many as 70 people in camp—Total Tennis also uses the rooms in three cabins.

For those accustomed to the dorms at the old Massachusetts property, these rooms represent a major step up; however, like the dorms, they are really not much more than places to sleep, change, and store your belongings, and some are very small. None has so much as a table, chair, or adequate reading light. This is clean, functional, but by no means posh space.

Restaurants

Everyone eats in the dining room at long pine tables. Longtime Total Tennis loyalists say the food is better than ever under the new chef, who also tends to be conscious of minimizing the amount of fat he uses even in something like tortellini Alfredo. On he whole, the food is simple but tasty. In a typical week you may get an outdoor barbecue one night (chicken, ribs, veggie burgers), Italian another, turkey a third. Lunch and dinner both includes plenty of salads, vegetables, and fruit. And breakfast consists of hot and cold items.

See Also

If you're looking for an all-day tennis camp with lots of social atmosphere, also check out:

• Nike Amherst Tennis Camp, Massachusetts Summer only
• Bollettieri Tennis Academy, Florida
• John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas
• New England Tennis Holidays, New Hampshire Late spring into early fall only.

Travel Essentials

Seasons. Year-round, however the outdoor season runs from mid May to mid October. During the winter most people come for weekends or long weekends.

Rates include lodging, three meals a day, roughly 5 hours/day of tennis instruction (with the option for half-day sessions). Higher rates may apply over holidays.

Weekend and 2-day midweek prices quoted here, though longer sessions also available.

Total Tennis
Box 28
Saugerties, NY 12477
845-247-9177
Toll-free: 800-221-6496
Fax: 845-247-0221
Web Link: Total Tennis

 

Travel Instructions. By Air: The nearest major airport is Albany, 47 miles to the north. By Car: Total Tennis is three miles from Exit 20 off the New York State Thruway. That puts it roughly 90 miles north of New York City. By Bus: Adirondack Trailways stops in Saugerties on its route between New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal and Albany. You can phone from the drop-off point (Dacey's Family Restaurant) and someone from Total Tennis will pick you up. By Rail: The nearest Amtrak station is Rhinecliff, New York; it is approximately $22 by cab from there to the camp.

General Tourist Information. Although Saugerties provokes flashbacks to the original Woodstock Festival, it has become known more recently for its antique shops and its eight-square-block National Historic District. For more information about it, visit the Saugerties web site on the Hudson Valley Network.

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