Roughly 20 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona, the Carefree Highway slips away off Interstate 17 and runs due east toward the desert foothills. It ends at a hulking mound of 12-million-year-old granite rocks as haunting as the monuments of lost civilizations. It’s as if the Earth itself had heaved up a great dam against the urban sprawl that is rapidly devouring acre after acre of the Valley of the Sun.
Hidden behind those rocks is a 1,300-acre resort sensitively designed to preserve the raw power of the surrounding Sonoran Desert while cradling guests in uncommon comfort. Dubbed The Boulders, it takes the very shape and color of the rocks as an architectural model. The main lodge blends so well with the stones behind that from a distance it seems to be part of the landscape itself. So too do the 160 generously sized rooms, which have fireplaces, traditional viga ceilings, leather chairs, and private patios or balconies. Scattered below that pile of rocks, they occupy low, pueblo-like casitas the color of adobe and are thus themselves barely visible among the saguaro cactus, feathery palo verde trees, and the rest of a botanical garden of desert foliage. Rabbits, quail, and roadrunners scurry across paths and in and out of the foliage.
No less impressive are its two sterling golf courses—both the North Course & the South Course rank among the top 75 resort courses in the nation—and its tennis club and spa. There are natural trails and paths around the grounds including el Pedregal on the far side or to the top of the rock for sunset views across the Valley of the Sun.
The tennis and pickleball complex also basks in that desert landscape. Its five hard tennis courts and twelve pickleball courts cluster below the golf clubhouse, where they share space with a swimming pool, fitness center, and modest tennis pro shop with views to the west of that riveting pile of rock. It is 10 to 15 degrees cooler there in this part of Scottsdale than it is in Phoenix, which encourages guests and members to play.
Tennis director Dale Light and his staff follow the hotel’s policy of providing attentive service, which on the courts means working assiduously to set up games. “I want us to have a complete program so that people can come from anywhere and get all the tennis they want,” says Light.
Tennis Staff: I’ve known Dale Light since the 1980s when he was at New Mexico’s Inn of the Mountain Gods. I caught up with him again, Dale Light, Boulders Resort and Spa, Carefree, Arizonamore than a decade later, at Colorado’s Broadmoor, where he started a tennis aerobics program and worked with its then camp director and former U.S. Davis Cup Captain Dennis Ralston. He continues to introduce innovative ideas here at Boulders, a post he’s held since 2000. Currently he describes his approach as “Heart-Centered Holistic Coaching,” which, he says, strives to find a balance and purpose in playing. “I’m not Dr. Dale,” he told me, “but I have a really good background in the healing arts.” And it’s that background he seeks to utilize in his approach to tennis coaching.
Tennis Programs: His weekly roster lists instruction and drill clinics every day of the week. At first glance, these may seem to be typical of those you’d find at any other active resort. What sets them apart, however, is Light’s approach to teaching. Adopting an Eastern-influenced philosophy (he spends three weeks in China each year), he feels that players can improve more by focusing on posture, alignment, and movement, and even health and diet, than from a narrow concentration on technique. He is also acutely attuned to differences in players’ internal makeups and strives to help them be aware of what he calls “their signature style” and to nurture it. “The joy we derive from tennis should come from engaging in a healthy, holistic, fun experience and not be dependent on winning,” he believes, adding “I teach completely from that place.”
Much of the activity at the courts is designed with local or seasonal members in mind, including leagues, tennis exchanges with local clubs, and special events. Guests, however, are welcome to take part in most of these activities, and every other week or so Light stages a social mixture, which also brings locals and guests together.
Court Complex: The five hard tennis courts and 12 pickleball courts spill down several levels through the natural desert landscaping and of plots of yucca, ocotillo cactus, and desert flowers in reds, oranges, and purples. Bike rentals are also available here. The courts lie perhaps a quarter mile from the rooms, along a nature trail through a botanical garden of desert species—though a free shuttle is available for those who choose not to walk. Mornings are generally busier than afternoons.
Court fees: $25/court-hour
Off Court
Golf Courses: Boulders has two 18-hole golf courses, Jay Morrish designed both to draw their power from the surrounding desert landscape.
Spa & Fitness Center: At 33,000 square feet, the Zen-inspired Spa at the Boulders delivers a broad range of treatments and services variously focused on relaxation, healing, and beauty using aromatic scents, organic ingredients, and therapeutic intentions.
Within the spa is a well-equipped fitness center spanning several rooms. A suite of Cardio workout equipment has been strategically placed to face windows that frame view of the desert foliage and rocks. Those are supplements an array of LifeFitness stations and free weights. Classes are offered in Pilates, Tai chi, yoga, and water fitness, as well as spinning, Zumba, stretching, TRX, and more.
Other options include guided hikes, boulder climbing, guided mountain biking tours, and nighttime bike rides along the golf cart paths while wearing night-vision lenses.
Dining: Palo Verde in the main lodge spills out onto a terrace that overlooks the golf course and duck pond. Its menu runs to contemporary Southwestern-inspired cuisine, sourced, as much as is feasible, locally. Alternatively, guests can dine at the Kitchen Grill and Bar in the golf clubhouse near the tennis courts, which serves everything from burgers and sandwiches to seafood and dry-aged steaks; at the Spotted Donkey Cantina in El Pedregal just a short walk or shuttle from the main resort, a popular hangout for Mexican food and tequila; or the Spa Cafe, which serves healthy, nutritious breakfast and lunch options prepared, when possible, from ingredients in the resort’s own gardens.
Accommodations
The lodging options at The Boulders begin with the 550-square-foot casita suites scattered through the desert to the north and south of the main Lodge, its restaurant, and swimming pool. Fresh from a total renovation, these spacious digs now sport flagstone floors, big leather chairs facing wood-burning fireplaces, viga ceilings, and outdoor patios or balconies with views of the desert and its foliage. Each has a huge bath with walk-in closet, separate tub and shower (the walls of the latter faced with a mosaic of colorful pebbly stones), twin sinks, and bright lighting. Guests needing more space or teams and groups of players can opt instead for one-, two-, or three-bedroom villas or even larger two-to-three-bedroom haciendas all with fully equipped kitchens and a range of luxury amenities.
Getting there
Seasons: Year-round, though most comfortable from September to June.
Travel Instructions:
By Air: The nearest major airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), roughly 20 miles to the south.
Tennis courts are not in a good condition–dirty, cracks are widening
LR
A BEAUTIFUL place to play tennis in Carefree Arizona. Small and friendly, it’s the best!
DS
This is a wonderful club. Good competition, but at the same time, everyone is SO welcoming. Great pros, who give individual players superb support. And beautiful grounds, courts and views that create an outstanding atmosphere / experience.
TC
We are residents of The Boulders and very much enjoy playing pickleball. The staff – Jheng and Cris, are very welcoming and helpful. They respond immediately to request for scheduling, equipment and after we play always ask if we had fun and enjoyed ourselves. They are very accommodating and provide a fun atmosphere.
AC
The pickleball staff of Jheng and Cris is exceptional. They are very welcoming, accommodating, energetic and helpful. Each time I see them they remember my name, ask if they can help me and smile! Great team!
HD
The resort is in a beautiful setting with great weather, the cuisine is excellent and the tennis courts are very well maintained. The tennis pros are also top notch.
RH
If you play tennis, the Boulders is the place to do it. Great facilities and a great staff.
DE
Staff is the BEST…always friendly, helpful. Courts in great shape.
BS
Great tennis pros who are fun and give very good instruction Highly recommend the tennis clinics
DC
I am a senior tennis player who appreciates being able to play at a great facility against good competition, for my age. The tennis pros are very busy, teaching all levels, which includes critical instruction, as necessary. The club is very busy during winter months. We start very early in the summer. Love the club!
PH
Boulders excels at tailoring programs to individual needs and levels. It is a good community member and supports local tennis as well as visiting guests
KM
The setting of the Boulders Tennis Garden is beautiful. The teaching staff of Dale Light and Jeng is excellent. They are patient, have excellent personalities, make their lessons fun and know their tennis.
HT
The Boulders tennis pro’s and staff provide personal attention to your game, training needs and enjoyment of the tennis experience. My thanks to all involved!!
IM
first of all, who would have thought nor dream of this wonderful place will offer us a great lesson with a very energetic teacher who spoke French. We were not expecting this kind of surprise. We LOVE Jheng!!! She was awesome in so many ways. We will definitely come back just beacuse of her.
LA
This is an absolutely beautiful tennis and golf resort with beautiful vistas and a most welcoming staff. They have 2 excellent teaching pros on staff and are happy to try and arrange a game for you at your level and will go out of their way to make your tennis experience one you won’t soon forget.
TR
You can’t beat the weather in Phoenix during the winter months and The Boulders is a beautiful tennis destination. Dale Light is the total package. He can work with children, league teams and could coach a player on the tour. If you are serious about learning the game of tennis, he is not to be missed. His philosophy is simple: “Has your game improved over the years? If no, why not?” The tennis shop is small but has a surprising variety of choices. The staff goes out of their way in finding you a game and providing racket rentals. Jheng in particular has a fun personality and is very knowledgeable. They converted one of the eight courts to pickleball. While it is probably good for business and the right thing to do, us true tennis players can find the sound annoying. All in all, thumbs way up!
JG
2 pros with different and interesting approaches to the game. One Zen like, the other tells it like it is. But both friendly, caring and will do what they can to provide a wonderful experience. Our favorite for years. Shhh!
BT
I have gone to The Boulders with a group of 3.5/4.0 Level ladies 3 years in a row. We could not be happier with every aspect of the trip. The Boulders tennis staff tailors a program for us based on our requests. The pros (Dale and Jheng) are exceptional. They work together to help us become more well rounded tennis players both as teammates and individual players. They are extremely positive in their approach and are great at honing in on what will help each individual the most. In addition, the tennis facilities are excellent and the court setting is breathtaking. We enjoy delicious lunches at the spa in between our tennis sessions and relax in the hot tub before cleaning up for dinner. The whole experience is something we all look forward to each year. I cannot wait to go back!
TR
The staff ar the resort is very friendly. The tennis pros are amazing and fun. Have gone three years in a row and can’t wait until next year.
KF
This visit has become an annual tradition for my tennis team. Dale and Jhegn are outstanding tennis professionals. Dale focuses on the whole picture: balance, movement, feel and emotion all while giving technical advice to improve your game. We are a group of women that range in age from 30s to 70s. Dale and Jhegn can instruct for improvement at all ages and levels. The resort also takes care of every need: they shuttle us between the tennis center, hacienda, spa and restaurants. The spa has incredible services, facilities and shopping! We’ve also enjoyed eating at every resort restaurant and highly recommend The Spotted Donkey.
CC
The Boulders is such a gem in the Arizona desert! The Tennis Director, Dale Light has done a fantastic job for the past 3 years with our annual ladies Tennis trip. Every year we come back with new lessons for on and off the court. It’s hard to put into words his positive impact to our very diverse group. The Assistant Director, Jane brings the perfect balance of energy to Dale’s Zen and pushes us all on the court to get to the next level. The Hacienda accommodations work great for our group, we also love the spa lunch, workouts/stretching classes and a trip to the spa . The countdown til next year starts as soon as we leave. Thanks to the Boulders for creating such amazing memories for this special group!
SP
Fabuous setting, beautiful courts, very friendly and talented staff.
RM
This is a beautiful Resort in a stunning desert setting. The courts are in fabulous shape and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. It is definitely worth planning a visit here!
DS
The Boulders is the best place I have ever played tennis. I have played for over 40 years and recently moved to Scottsdale AZ near The Boulders. I was worried that I would not find the quality of a resort I was looking for but was soon relieved of that concern when I visited The Boulders. I was welcomed by Jheng and Dale, the two top-notch pros running the facility. They are extremely professional and excellent instructors of the sport. The courts themselves are perfect, beautifully maintained. There is plenty active players at all levels to keep everyone constantly involved, and lots of social activities to add to the competitive tennis. When you are here playing tennis, seeing the views surrounding the courts, the atmosphere makes you feel like this is tennis nirvana. Love it!
EV
The courts here are maintained beautifully, the staff is friendly and the pros are outstanding. The tennis facility at the Boulders Resort (which includes a superb golf course and clubhouse as well) is located in an area full of giant natural boulders and desert landscaping in the town of Carefree, Arizona. A great experience!
WJ
Dale light provides a very pleasant place for scheduled or pick up tennis
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126 Reviews on “Boulders Resort and Spa”
Tennis courts are not in a good condition–dirty, cracks are widening
A BEAUTIFUL place to play tennis in Carefree Arizona. Small and friendly, it’s the best!
This is a wonderful club. Good competition, but at the same time, everyone is SO welcoming. Great pros, who give individual players superb support. And beautiful grounds, courts and views that create an outstanding atmosphere / experience.
We are residents of The Boulders and very much enjoy playing pickleball. The staff – Jheng and Cris, are very welcoming and helpful. They respond immediately to request for scheduling, equipment and after we play always ask if we had fun and enjoyed ourselves. They are very accommodating and provide a fun atmosphere.
The pickleball staff of Jheng and Cris is exceptional. They are very welcoming, accommodating, energetic and helpful. Each time I see them they remember my name, ask if they can help me and smile! Great team!
The resort is in a beautiful setting with great weather, the cuisine is excellent and the tennis courts are very well maintained. The tennis pros are also top notch.
If you play tennis, the Boulders is the place to do it. Great facilities and a great staff.
Staff is the BEST…always friendly, helpful. Courts in great shape.
Great tennis pros who are fun and give very good instruction Highly recommend the tennis clinics
I am a senior tennis player who appreciates being able to play at a great facility against good competition, for my age. The tennis pros are very busy, teaching all levels, which includes critical instruction, as necessary. The club is very busy during winter months. We start very early in the summer. Love the club!
Boulders excels at tailoring programs to individual needs and levels. It is a good community member and supports local tennis as well as visiting guests
The setting of the Boulders Tennis Garden is beautiful. The teaching staff of Dale Light and Jeng is excellent. They are patient, have excellent personalities, make their lessons fun and know their tennis.
The Boulders tennis pro’s and staff provide personal attention to your game, training needs and enjoyment of the tennis experience. My thanks to all involved!!
first of all, who would have thought nor dream of this wonderful place will offer us a great lesson with a very energetic teacher who spoke French. We were not expecting this kind of surprise. We LOVE Jheng!!! She was awesome in so many ways. We will definitely come back just beacuse of her.
This is an absolutely beautiful tennis and golf resort with beautiful vistas and a most welcoming staff. They have 2 excellent teaching pros on staff and are happy to try and arrange a game for you at your level and will go out of their way to make your tennis experience one you won’t soon forget.
You can’t beat the weather in Phoenix during the winter months and The Boulders is a beautiful tennis destination. Dale Light is the total package. He can work with children, league teams and could coach a player on the tour. If you are serious about learning the game of tennis, he is not to be missed. His philosophy is simple: “Has your game improved over the years? If no, why not?” The tennis shop is small but has a surprising variety of choices. The staff goes out of their way in finding you a game and providing racket rentals. Jheng in particular has a fun personality and is very knowledgeable. They converted one of the eight courts to pickleball. While it is probably good for business and the right thing to do, us true tennis players can find the sound annoying. All in all, thumbs way up!
2 pros with different and interesting approaches to the game. One Zen like, the other tells it like it is. But both friendly, caring and will do what they can to provide a wonderful experience. Our favorite for years. Shhh!
I have gone to The Boulders with a group of 3.5/4.0 Level ladies 3 years in a row. We could not be happier with every aspect of the trip. The Boulders tennis staff tailors a program for us based on our requests. The pros (Dale and Jheng) are exceptional. They work together to help us become more well rounded tennis players both as teammates and individual players. They are extremely positive in their approach and are great at honing in on what will help each individual the most. In addition, the tennis facilities are excellent and the court setting is breathtaking. We enjoy delicious lunches at the spa in between our tennis sessions and relax in the hot tub before cleaning up for dinner. The whole experience is something we all look forward to each year. I cannot wait to go back!
The staff ar the resort is very friendly. The tennis pros are amazing and fun. Have gone three years in a row and can’t wait until next year.
This visit has become an annual tradition for my tennis team. Dale and Jhegn are outstanding tennis professionals. Dale focuses on the whole picture: balance, movement, feel and emotion all while giving technical advice to improve your game. We are a group of women that range in age from 30s to 70s. Dale and Jhegn can instruct for improvement at all ages and levels. The resort also takes care of every need: they shuttle us between the tennis center, hacienda, spa and restaurants. The spa has incredible services, facilities and shopping! We’ve also enjoyed eating at every resort restaurant and highly recommend The Spotted Donkey.
The Boulders is such a gem in the Arizona desert! The Tennis Director, Dale Light has done a fantastic job for the past 3 years with our annual ladies Tennis trip. Every year we come back with new lessons for on and off the court. It’s hard to put into words his positive impact to our very diverse group. The Assistant Director, Jane brings the perfect balance of energy to Dale’s Zen and pushes us all on the court to get to the next level. The Hacienda accommodations work great for our group, we also love the spa lunch, workouts/stretching classes and a trip to the spa . The countdown til next year starts as soon as we leave. Thanks to the Boulders for creating such amazing memories for this special group!
Fabuous setting, beautiful courts, very friendly and talented staff.
This is a beautiful Resort in a stunning desert setting. The courts are in fabulous shape and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. It is definitely worth planning a visit here!
The Boulders is the best place I have ever played tennis. I have played for over 40 years and recently moved to Scottsdale AZ near The Boulders. I was worried that I would not find the quality of a resort I was looking for but was soon relieved of that concern when I visited The Boulders. I was welcomed by Jheng and Dale, the two top-notch pros running the facility. They are extremely professional and excellent instructors of the sport. The courts themselves are perfect, beautifully maintained. There is plenty active players at all levels to keep everyone constantly involved, and lots of social activities to add to the competitive tennis. When you are here playing tennis, seeing the views surrounding the courts, the atmosphere makes you feel like this is tennis nirvana. Love it!
The courts here are maintained beautifully, the staff is friendly and the pros are outstanding. The tennis facility at the Boulders Resort (which includes a superb golf course and clubhouse as well) is located in an area full of giant natural boulders and desert landscaping in the town of Carefree, Arizona. A great experience!
Dale light provides a very pleasant place for scheduled or pick up tennis