There is a certain breed of tennis player who cannot be stopped by the weather, and the debate over winter tennis in Florida vs. summer tennis in New England resorts is one they live rather than argue.
From the prominent Coachella Valley to the breezy coastlines of San Diego and Santa Barbara, this guide covers seven standout properties that have made California one of the most celebrated tennis destinations in the world.
There is a certain breed of tennis player who cannot be stopped by the weather, and the debate over winter tennis in Florida vs. summer tennis in New England resorts is one they live rather than argue.
From the prominent Coachella Valley to the breezy coastlines of San Diego and Santa Barbara, this guide covers seven standout properties that have made California one of the most celebrated tennis destinations in the world.
This guide covers six padel resorts in Italy, from a family-friendly all-inclusive village on the Calabrian coast to a five-star lakeside retreat in Veneto.
Amelia Island has roughly the same dimensions as Manhattan Island—13 miles long by 2 miles wide—but any similarity ends there. Situated off the extreme northeast coast of Florida, this southernmost of the large Atlantic barrier islands has fewer inhabitants than a square block of the Big Apple, many of those in the tiny historic town of Fernandina Beach at the northern tip. The Omni Amelia Island Resort cuts a 1,350-acre swath across the center, from the dune-lined Atlantic to the tidal marshlands bordering the Intracoastal Waterway. Forest and shade abound, and so does bird life.
The resort has always paid more than the usual attention to its tennis. For 29 years, the 23 Har-Tru courts at its Racquet Park were home to the annual Bausch & Lomb Tennis Championships, a major stop on the women’s tour (the event has since been dropped from the calendar). Attractively and spaciously laid out among the moss-bearded live oaks, the courts (now including 7 pickleball courts) border a large pro shop and a splendid indoor fitness center—complete with a lap pool in a greenhouse-like enclosure. Wicker chairs await on the outside decks, providing a place to relax and watch the action on the nearby courts. One of these is the Stadium Court, an intimate venue framed by a few rows of terraced seats. It is available for any guest who wants to play on the same court where the pros used to compete each spring.
Otherwise, Amelia stands out for its multiple dimensions. Lodging options include the 402-room Omni Amelia Island Resort, a resort that Omni refurbished and expanded both to provide better lodging for the adjacent conference center and to give vacationers the option of full hotel services as an alternative to a condominium rental. The resort also has three golf courses within its borders. Kids can look forward to their own island, home to a well-run children’s program. There is also an excellent nature program, miles of bike lanes to supplement its free on-property shuttle, Segway tours (those one-person motorized pair of wheels), a gourmet market and a dozen or so shops in the village at the entrance and adjacent to The Spa. That attention to tennis is only one aspect of its appeal.
When Omni hotels took over the resort, they immediately sought to revitalize the tennis and to do so brought in the Cliff Drysdale Tennis group both to run the day-to-day tennis programs for adults and juniors and to stage tennis camps.
Tennis Staff & Programs: The Drysdale group installed Rob Wright as director. Originally from Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, Wright is an LTA-certified teaching pro with more than a decade of coaching experience. Since joining CDT in early 2016, Wright has held key roles at resorts across the country, including The Inn at Perry Cabin in Maryland, Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in California, and Sand Valley in Wisconsin. Since arriving, he has increased activity, beefed up the game matching and introduced daily themed instructional clinics followed by a drills session. There are also Cardio sessions and social round robins, both of which run three times a week, as well as Quickstart programs for kids, after-school junior programs, and a summer junior day camp. As a guest you can also take advantage of the staff’s game matching services and participate in round robins. Finally, the resort runs 2- and 3-day tennis packages for individuals, couples, and families and for teams—all with the option to customize—and on selected dates runs special Ladies Only retreats and Doubles Retreats.
Courts: Racquet Park has 23 Har-Tru courts (5 with lights for evening and night play) and 7 pickleball courts laid out through a forest of live oaks. Many of the courts are thus in shade—a significant benefit during the hot, steamy summers. One of these is a sunken stadium court, which has a few tiers of seats
Off Court
Beach: This broad corridor of grass-tufted sand extends along the length of the island, though it is at its most beautiful within the resort, where it borders natural dunes that rise as high as 50 feet in places. All the construction took place behind the primary dune line, with strategically placed boardwalks over the dunes providing access to the beach and Atlantic Ocean.
Golf Courses: Omni Amelia Island Resort has 36 holes of championship golf. Coquina shell cart paths predominate (asphalt has been used only when necessary to prevent erosion), and the fairway edges have been flared to prevent runoff from entering adjacent lagoons and creeks. Only organic chemicals known not to adversely affect bird life are used and colorants are avoided entirely. There is also a 10-hole Little Sandy course, arrayed around Red Maple Lake, with holes ranging from 30-125 yards
Long Point: Tom Fazio’s scenic if tight course winds through marshes, thick oak and pine forests, and oceanfront dunes. Par: 70. Length: 4,863-6,567 yards.
Oak Marsh: The first course and still most demanding course at the Omni Amelia Island Resort, Oak Marsh was designed by Pete Dye—his signature bulkheads outline numerous greens—and is notable for its natural rough and use of existing features. Water hazards riddle 14 of these holes. Par: 72. Length: 4,983-6,607 yards.
Oak Marsh Golf Course is currently closed for renovation, expected to reopen November 1, 2024.
Spa & Fitness Center: The Spa at Omni Amelia Island, a 13,000-square-foot island of tranquility designed by noted spa architect Bob Henley, backs up to Red Maple Lake not far from the reception center. Taking its cue from Lowcountry style, this low-slung building has gray clapboard walls, lighter gray trim, and a tin roof. Inside Douglas fir pillars support rough redwood beams in a simple but handsome entrance foyer and then floors paved with slate from China lead north and south to treatment rooms, some of which open onto balconies on the lake. Treatments include massage, hydrotherapy, facials, herbal wraps and more supplemented by retreats and personal growth programs.
The fitness center, whose location in Racquet Park makes it extremely convenient for tennis players, contains a broad selection of Cardio equipment, Cybex stations, and free weights. There’s also an indoor lap pool and whirlpool in a greenhouse-like building with windows on the courts. Both men’s and women’s lockers have sauna, steam, and whirlpools. Personal trainers are available and so are classes in aerobics, Pilates, and body sculpting.
In addition to everything else Amelia has more than 7 miles of biking and nature trails, guided nature tours, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
Children's programs: The resort runs an award-winning children’s program called “Camp Amelia” for children ages 4-10 and is available to guests of the resort, The Villas of Amelia Island and Amelia Island Club member. It operates year-round. Kids are divided by age group (3-4, 5-7, and 8-10) and entertained with a variety of activities. Sessions are $95/child.
Dining: Among the 10 choices, my top two picks are the Verandah located at Racquet Park for its seafood and a southern table and country market called Marché Burette located at The Shops at Omni Amelia Island. For variety, it’s worth the drive into Fernandina Beach to dine at the Beech Street Grill, at once delicious, informal, and very reasonably priced for the high quality of the food.
Accommodations
At eight stories tall, the 402-room hotel provides convenient access for meeting groups drawn to the adjacent conference center, and also lures vacationers wanting breathtaking ocean views, easy access to room service, a mere elevator ride to a living-room like lobby lounge and two excellent restaurants, and the most central location in the resort.
Parked behind the dunes lining a 3-mile-long beach, the narrow, flowing 402-room hotel provides every guestroom with a full-width balcony and sweeping views of the Atlantic. The entrances to all the rooms are on the back side from open, covered walkways with views westward across the live oak and pine forests.
The alternative to the hotel is any of the extensive array of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom villas available through The Villas of Amelia Island in various locations around the resort including oceanfront, Racquet Park, and in wooded neighborhoods beyond. That includes a set of Tennis Villas immediately behind the courts. All the condominiums are individually owned.
Getting there
Seasons: The resort is open year-round. Though the winter months do not invite a dip in the Atlantic, the two pools at the resort are heated and the tiered pool deck also has two hot tubs. The lower rates in the winter months make them good bargains if you’re interested in golf or tennis, however.
Travel Instructions: Amelia Island is 29 miles from Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), which is served by all of the major airlines.
Beautiful location with plenty of shaded courts and great pros!
EM
Heaven on Earth! 23 of the most beautiful courts anywhere in the world. HarTru to protect the joints. A great staff and an abundance of clinics.
Amelia Island is one of the best Islands in the entire US. The town has a great music and restaurant scene. Dozens of miles of beautiful biking trails. Excellent bird watching. A beautiful easy drive from Jacksonville Airport. Nice on property restaurants and an awesome beach and poolscape on property. You cannot ask for more in a Tennis Resort.
KK
The Amelia Island tennis camp was great! Gregor and Amy were fantastic pros providing memorable tips and instruction I will take back with me. The facilities are set in a natural surrounding with huge trees and Spanish moss around the courts. It’s a great walking beach and we had nice ocean views from the condo. We had a fantastic time. Thank you Gregor and Amy!
AI
Our group of 7 women had a wonderful long weekend of tennis instruction and beachfront fun. The highlight was definitely the tennis. Gregor and Amy were wonderful instructors, giving lots of tips, drills, and coached match play. They were flexible and checked in regularly to make sure we were getting the most out of our experience with them. Of the many excellent camps we’ve been to, this was the best coaching experience we’ve had. Thank you!
The accommodations in the villas were great (location on the beach was ideal). The tennis experience and beachfront resort experience was pretty much perfect. We’ll be back!
PH
Awesome experience from start to finish. The pros and facilities and the entire experience is extremely well done. Had a great time and hope to return.
SK
Rob and Gregor were great! Excellent tennis instruction, fun banter, and listened to what our group needed. Would recommend!
CB
Fantastic instruction from Rob and Gregor. Cannot recommend them enough. Lessons were spot on. Will absolutely return to this resort because of them.
CG
Pros were awesome
BM
This is our third year visiting Omni Amelia Island/Cliff Drysdale Tennis Academy and each year is better and better. We work with Megan to book tennis instruction and accomodations and she is great to work with. Our group has varied from 8-12 each year and we often get folks dropping out and adding in so I have had to email quite a bit with Megan and she is always super responsive and unflappable. She found us the perfect town houses, walking distance to the hotel and beach and close together so it was easy for our group to hang out together. The transition to Rob, the head tennis pro, was seamless.
Once at the resort, Rob and his crew take great care of us. The tennis instruction is great and tailored to our needs. It is fast paced, fun and informative and Rob and Gregor (this years pro) really took the time to get to know us and our tennis game. 10 out of 10.
So overall, HIGHLY recommended without any hiccups.
KC
Once again we had Jay as our tennis pro and he did not disappoint! So talented and so much fun. We’ll be back next year.
MM
I have been coming to Amelia Island and it is always a great experience. Amazing coaches. Thanks Jay and Gregor!
HI
This was my 3rd year attending one of the tennis camps at Omni Amelia Island and it was as great as always! Gregor and Amy were excellent. The clinic was fun and informative and I would highly recommend and look forward to returning next year!
JE
We were a group of 8 for a 3-day camp with Gregor and his 2 assistants. It was fabulous! The 3 hours a day flew by because we were learning so much and because it was so fun. Amelia Island Resort and Spa was fantastic as well. We will definitely return when we can.
SV
About two weeks ago, a group of 8 friends (from Northern Virginia) went to Drysdale. A friend of ours arranged the entire trip and set us up with lessons with Gregor. He was wonderful. He made our classes fun. And his two assistants were also very good. They focused not on stroke technique but doubles strategies which we loved as we are seasoned tennis players. We really enjoyed our time on Amelia Island.
KE
We had a 3 day, 3 hours per day 4.0 tennis clinic with 8 ladies, 2 instructors, Gregor and Hunter/Brian. The clinic was well organized and very professional, fast paced with lots of good information and feedback. We were exhausted and had a blast. Good job!
RW
Gregor, Hunter and Bryan were so knowledgable, upbeat and courteous to all members of our tennis team. We all came away from their tennis camp with something specific to improve play. Excellent instruction!
We want to see your racquet sports vacations! When you’re documenting your trip, tag @TennisResortsOnline on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn and use #TROAdventures for a chance to be featured on our page.
467 Reviews on “Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa”
Beautiful location with plenty of shaded courts and great pros!
Heaven on Earth! 23 of the most beautiful courts anywhere in the world. HarTru to protect the joints. A great staff and an abundance of clinics.
Amelia Island is one of the best Islands in the entire US. The town has a great music and restaurant scene. Dozens of miles of beautiful biking trails. Excellent bird watching. A beautiful easy drive from Jacksonville Airport. Nice on property restaurants and an awesome beach and poolscape on property. You cannot ask for more in a Tennis Resort.
The Amelia Island tennis camp was great! Gregor and Amy were fantastic pros providing memorable tips and instruction I will take back with me. The facilities are set in a natural surrounding with huge trees and Spanish moss around the courts. It’s a great walking beach and we had nice ocean views from the condo. We had a fantastic time. Thank you Gregor and Amy!
Our group of 7 women had a wonderful long weekend of tennis instruction and beachfront fun. The highlight was definitely the tennis. Gregor and Amy were wonderful instructors, giving lots of tips, drills, and coached match play. They were flexible and checked in regularly to make sure we were getting the most out of our experience with them. Of the many excellent camps we’ve been to, this was the best coaching experience we’ve had. Thank you!
The accommodations in the villas were great (location on the beach was ideal). The tennis experience and beachfront resort experience was pretty much perfect. We’ll be back!
Awesome experience from start to finish. The pros and facilities and the entire experience is extremely well done. Had a great time and hope to return.
Rob and Gregor were great! Excellent tennis instruction, fun banter, and listened to what our group needed. Would recommend!
Fantastic instruction from Rob and Gregor. Cannot recommend them enough. Lessons were spot on. Will absolutely return to this resort because of them.
Pros were awesome
This is our third year visiting Omni Amelia Island/Cliff Drysdale Tennis Academy and each year is better and better. We work with Megan to book tennis instruction and accomodations and she is great to work with. Our group has varied from 8-12 each year and we often get folks dropping out and adding in so I have had to email quite a bit with Megan and she is always super responsive and unflappable. She found us the perfect town houses, walking distance to the hotel and beach and close together so it was easy for our group to hang out together. The transition to Rob, the head tennis pro, was seamless.
Once at the resort, Rob and his crew take great care of us. The tennis instruction is great and tailored to our needs. It is fast paced, fun and informative and Rob and Gregor (this years pro) really took the time to get to know us and our tennis game. 10 out of 10.
So overall, HIGHLY recommended without any hiccups.
Once again we had Jay as our tennis pro and he did not disappoint! So talented and so much fun. We’ll be back next year.
I have been coming to Amelia Island and it is always a great experience. Amazing coaches. Thanks Jay and Gregor!
This was my 3rd year attending one of the tennis camps at Omni Amelia Island and it was as great as always! Gregor and Amy were excellent. The clinic was fun and informative and I would highly recommend and look forward to returning next year!
We were a group of 8 for a 3-day camp with Gregor and his 2 assistants. It was fabulous! The 3 hours a day flew by because we were learning so much and because it was so fun. Amelia Island Resort and Spa was fantastic as well. We will definitely return when we can.
About two weeks ago, a group of 8 friends (from Northern Virginia) went to Drysdale. A friend of ours arranged the entire trip and set us up with lessons with Gregor. He was wonderful. He made our classes fun. And his two assistants were also very good. They focused not on stroke technique but doubles strategies which we loved as we are seasoned tennis players. We really enjoyed our time on Amelia Island.
We had a 3 day, 3 hours per day 4.0 tennis clinic with 8 ladies, 2 instructors, Gregor and Hunter/Brian. The clinic was well organized and very professional, fast paced with lots of good information and feedback. We were exhausted and had a blast. Good job!
Gregor, Hunter and Bryan were so knowledgable, upbeat and courteous to all members of our tennis team. We all came away from their tennis camp with something specific to improve play. Excellent instruction!