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.
I have been vacationing in Amelia for Several years. Each and every time I try and do as many clinics and lessons as possible. Sal, Luis, and the entire staff are amazing. Not only are they great instructors, they also make it extremely fun for all levels.. JD
AM
Upbeat, happy, accommodating young staff, clay courts amongst lush green foliage, just minutes from the Ocean. I am a 2 hrs/day 3.5-4 tennis addict looking to improve my game and came solo with the intention of playing at least 5 hrs/day with feedback. I came for six days and in most ways the program delivered. Sal and Robert handled most of my private lessons and made plenty of helpful comments. Having Sal across several days kept things consistent. Daily hour with ball machine seemed to be a good way to consolidate the pointers. Unlike the Saddebrook and IMG programs which seem to attract more adults, I found myself alone or with just one other player during each of my weekday 2 hour ‘clinic’ sessions; the pro’s were fun but the work was very light and I could not test myself against others of my level. Fortunately, 2 local residents befriended me and provided me with extracurricular matches and camaraderie. Folks are very friendly here! I would indeed come back but with a group rather than solo.
JM
I visited this resort because of one of the tennis pros (Zach Lipson) I met him when I was vacationing in Amelia. Ive had numerous tennis lessons in the past but Zach brought something else to the table that I haven’t seen from any other tennis pro. Over the course of three days I was simultaneously able to strengthen my strengths and improve my weaknesses all while having such an amazing attitude on court. The front desk staff was extremely accommodating and nice as well. Zach told me that he would most likely be in Southampton for the summer so I will definitely find the time to go down to that club since I have a summer house in the Hamptons.
JB
The tennis instruction is one of the best! Sal and Mattie conducted great drills and made it so much fun! I will be returning for sure!! Thanks again Sal and Mattie!
DR
Went for a Cliff Drysdale camp with 9 others. The tennis pros were the factor that made our experience there fantastic! Would love to have some food options nearer to the courts. Some of our group arrived from airport 2 hours prior to first lessons and had difficulty grabbing a quick sandwich on property before playing. Restaurant service all around was pretty slow. Would love to see a large pro shop there. Was hoping to buy new tennis clothes but there wasn’t much in the pro shop. Ocean view rooms were great! Property was clean, pool area and beach were gorgeous.
BM
All I have to say is EXCELLENT! I am a teaching professional in Houston, TX and I gave my girlfriend a Christmas gift to a tennis resort. I tried contacting several popular resorts in Florida and they weren’t willing to accommodate my level or even return my calls. Sal and his staff responded immediately and totally took care of my girlfriend and I. It was totally what I was hoping for to make it an amazing experience for my girlfriend. I will definitely be visiting Amelia Island and participating in this program again, as long as Sal is still there!
DD
I loved this place. Tennis camp was fantastic. We were 10 ladies took this camp & we all were so glad we came to Amielia Island. Another sets of 10 ladies came after us. I have learned lots of technical shots from amazing pros. They are the best coaches I have ever got training from. They watch your shots & coach you right away to improve my shots. I strongly recommend others to come here. We will be for sure come again!
JK
Everything about this was fantastic! Sal and Luis are awesome! A group of 7 of us came for 3 full days of camp and loved every minute of it. Great instruction
HB
Scott and Sal never fail to put together the best instruction for our Girls Tennis Weekend. We always learn something new and bring home additional skills to unleash on our competitors. If you have not planned a tennis weekend at Cliff Drysdale Amelia you are missing out!
MZ
Cliff Drysdale at Amelia is a one-of-a-kind experience. Not only is the setting beautiful and unique, but the tennis instruction is excellent. Both I and my children have taken lessons there and attended camps. Every single instructor is well-trained, top notch and professional yet very pleasant. Our 12yo took lessons there last July, 3 weeks before his school tennis tryouts. We are confident that the classes/privates he took made him successful at tryouts and we are returning this summer as well for more fun and training! When we visit Amelia, we not only take lessons but allow Cliff Drysdale to set up round robins for us and our guests. I would highly recommend Cliff Drysdale at Amelia!
LK
What a fantastic tennis tennis camp! Our group of 7 love our tennis and we all are very competitive players. Sal and Mattie quickly assessed our levels and moved on to fun, fast paced drills that are on point with double strategies, and some match plays with pros. They did a exceptional job of finding the right balance of drilling, playing and instructions so the 3 hours went very quickly. Great job Sal and Mattie! We’ll be definitely coming back for more!
MD
Outstanding instruction. Our group of 7 have been to other tennis camps over the years, and this was by far my favorite. We were all pleasantly surprised by the exceptional drills that no one had ever done before. Sal and Mattie provided great instruction. We all learned new things and had fun doing the drills and playing matches. I have been playing competitive tennis for the past 10 years (USTA 4.0) and can highly recommend tennis at Cliff Drysdale at Amelia. Can’t wait to come back. Thanks Sal and Mattie!
EK
Sal and Matt implemented fun and effective drills for us to work on, and we had such an amazing time doing it. Sal was also kind to recommend a great restaurant for us to have dinner which we enjoyed very much. This tennis camp is at the top of our list for our next tennis trip.
RK
We are a group of six 4.5 guys (one 5.0 – SC you know who you are) who went for 3 days of training. We take tennis very seriously and had an amazing time. Sal and his crew set up two courts for drilling in the morning and in the afternoon we did match play with the pros playing in and giving us advice on strategy and technique throughout. We play 6+ hours a day and Sal always finds the perfect balance between instruction, drilling and match play. I have been to all the major tennis resorts in the US and you would be hard pressed to find a comparable place in terms of quality of instruction and accommodations. We had an amazing time! Thanks you Sal and staff for customizing a tennis trip for our group.
JW
the enthusiasm of the tennis pros the ambiance of the clay tennis courts and the professionalism of the tennis pros makes for a great experience!!! Im coming back for more!!!
MY
I am new to tennis. The staff here was very professional, friendly and very engaging. Because of them, my comfort level in playing tennis has greatly increased to where I am playing tennis more often than I could ever imagine. The resort is one of a kind. Sal and his team really exceeded my expectations.
BK
Phenomenal resort with top-tier tennis facility and staff. Participated in the women’s tennis camp. Was incredibly well run with tons of attention to detail, fun and great tennis.
ME
Third time here and hands down, this one is my favorite. From the courts, coaches, location, lodging and the beautiful sunsets who would go anywhere else!
JP
I’ve spent countless hours at the Amelia Island plantation and witnessed first hand how phenomenal the tennis program is there. I had a group lesson with Sal and it completely changed my game. His knowledge and ability blew me away, and he’s super cool too! I can’t wait to come back .
TC
I’m the organizer of a group of Tennis friends at the 3.5 level. We have been enjoying Tennis weekends at Amelia for the past 5 years. The Tennis instruction is top quality and it’s always nice to see the awesome pros they have there every year like Sal Barbaro. Sal is always so accomodating for our group and he goes above and beyond to make sure our weekend getaway is fun and filled with quality tennis instruction. The fact that we’ve been going for 5 years should be tesatment enough that we love our girls Tennis weekend at Amelia!
JM
The tennis was amazing I had a fantastic time the coaches were patient and extremely knowledgeable especially Matt and Sal. The staff in the pro shop were friendly and helpful and I would recommend any of my friends to come here as I had the best tennis experience and I will be coming back
DD
I have gone to the ladies retreat for the past 5 years and it is one of the best weeks of my year. The pros are exceptional. They give individualized Instruction on all aspects of the game including strategy. Anyone Can hit well during a drill but what sets the Cliff Drysdale model apart is implementing what is taught in the morning into competitive matches. Match play is as Competitive as you want it to be and the “draft” and team competition fosters a Sense of friendly rivalry and team bonding. It is definitely A lot of Tennis but you can take it as seriously as You want or not at all. Truth be told there have been mornings when my hungover self was not overly engaged in working on my strokes! Highest recommendation. You will have a BLAST!!
EB
I loved this tennis camp. It was great to learn some of the techniques, but what made the camp for me was the instructors. Mitch and Luis, and Sal…they made the camp for me. They made the whole experience. I am not sure I would have enjoyed the camp as much if we had different instructors. My only suggestion is, on the second day they changes the instructors and brought someone different in. It changed the whole dynamic of the day. I had to get comfortable with someone new. I would prefer if I start a group with instructors, those instructors stay with the group through the duration of the clinic. I did not like the change.
AM
We spent several fantastic days at The Cliff Drysdale Amelia Island Tennis Camp. Sal Barbaro and his entire staff were amazing The lessons from Sal were terrific. The courts and facilities first class!
RP
This place is awesome. The staff is always super helpful and I’ve been able to do nothing but consistently improve every single time I take a lesson with one of their pros. I wouldn’t want to visit or train anywhere else.
NN
My boyfriend and I had another fantastic tennis vacation in Paradise!…this is our fourth time in Amelia Island. The Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort and Cliff Drysdale Tennis School has everything to offer, from outstanding tennis pros and facilities to top notch accommodations…endless pristine beaches, on-site shopping and restaurants. Thank you Sal Barbaro for inviting us to participate in the St. Patty’s mixer, we had a blast!… Sal and his staff make it fun for everyone! We can hardly wait to go back next year!.
CP
Outstanding resort, outstanding tennis! I’ve visited four times now, loved every minute, and will continue going! The courts are my favorite courts I’ve played on, and the pros and instruction level is exceptional! Five stars in all categories!
SR
In January 2018, I came to the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort to learn to play tennis. I’d only started playing two years earlier, and it’s tough to pick up a brand new sport in your 40s. I arrived with zero volley skills and a pretty shaky backhand. By the time I left, I was playing competitive doubles at the 4.0 level and could rally with the pros to 100 fairly consistently at a hard pace. In fact, by the end, we’d often practice with just a single ball to help me focus. I played about 6 hours of tennis per day for 3 full months, so I had ample time to get to know all the pros, clinics, teaching styles . . . basically everything about the program. There was no aspect of the tennis program that I didn’t have contact with since I was spending so much intensive time there. The biggest strength of the resort is the friendliness and quality of tennis pros and the consistent high-level of instruction. We delved deep into technique — learning not just how to hit the ball back and forth, but how to raise the entire level of play. I left Amelia Island as a completely different tennis player. But perhaps more important, I left the island with genuine friendships with the pros, some of whom I continue to stay in touch with. I can only think of one weakness. The Amelia Island tennis resort has no indoor courts. So you can’t play tennis there when it rains. That said, the clay courts drain incredibly quickly. So they are usually playable within two hours of rain if the sun is out. (And the indoor courts at resorts that have them book up instantly during rainy days.) In summary, I couldn’t have had a better experience at Amelia Island. All of the pros were top-notch, as were the other staff. And the guests were incredibly friendly. I made a ton of friends, and transformed my tennis game.
JT
Beautiful grounds and great tennis courts. The staff is extremely friendly and the tennis pros are very professional and knowledgeable. They helped us a lot improving our strokes and the strategy for doubles games. We were a bigger group ( seven players) and everyone was given personal attention. We will definitely return next year and hope to find Hannah and Luis here again! They were absolutely a pleasure to work with!
ML
Beautiful resort and tennis academy. First class instruction by experienced tennis coaches.
MN
Stayed at the omni, which is a conference and family geared resort and played 3 days at the tennis facility. The pros were great and generally very accommodating. The level of the clinics varied quite a bit so they pulled another pro to hit with me on the days when the second hour clinics were not up to snuff. The only complaint is that on the second day the courts near the clubhouse were being used for a weekly match so they moved us to a side court. The issue is that the side court was right next to the construction being done for the car show. There were at least 10 empty courts visible so I’m not sure why they would do that unless it just didn’t occur to them. If coming again (and I was on my own this time) I might stay somewhere else and drive over for the tennis. I did have some billing issues at the Omni and it was very difficult to contact them online afterward. The Omni staff was quite friendly but there were a lot of service issues (wrong food, late food due to broken kitchen printer, overly-early breakfast delivery etc.)
MC
I had a blast taking lessons with Luis. I’ve been playing for a number of years but Luis was terrific at improving my performance. I’ve been to numerous other resorts but found Luis’ instruction better than with any other pro with whom I’ve played. I had a foot injury and couldn’t do any running but Luis kept the lessons productive and fun. Luis is a great pro who could identify a flaw and articulate the corrective action so that my shots and serves hit a level that I’d never seen. I was really amazed at some of the monster serves I was executing.
HC
Sal was a terrific pro who improved my game and gave me a lot of great pointers. I had a great time!
ML
Attended two Cliff Drysdale Women’s Retreats this year. What a fabulous week of tennis. The Pros are so conscientious of all the participants; helping each and everyone become better players. Bryce and Travis have a unique way of bringing out the best in the players. It is the best way to improve your game, have fun and enjoy the game of tennis. I would highly recommend Cliff Drysdale Women’s retreat!!
JL
Beautiful facility. Beautiful hotel. Beautiful setting. Thank so much the to the Cliff Drysdale staff for making our tennis vacation fantastic!
IE
fantastic. Scott Colbourne was our coach and he is truly exceptional.
JF
We have done a girls’ tennis trip here for consecutive years, and we will be back again. The tennis instruction is not only top-notch, but Sal and his staff make it fun for everyone. The grounds are beautiful, and the accommodations were perfect for our group. Love this place!
RL
I have done tennis camp at Amelia three years in a row now. Best instruction I have found yet. Great way to perfect your tennis game in a beautiful setting with great accommodations.
LC
I have been to a few tennis retreats over the past 10 years and I would rate Cliff Drysdale Tennis Retreat at Omni Amelia Island as the BEST ever! The “Ballbuster” Team led by Sal Barbaro was full of great instruction and strategy. All of the Pro Staff at the Amelia Retreat – Scott, Yana, Luis, Robert, Harry and Jake were also extremely helpful, enthusiastic and patient!!! You have not experienced a real tennis retreat until you have experienced a CDT Retreat!!
CS
I am a huge fun of Cliff Drysdale tennis retreats. They have the best program for tennis competition with fun and quality time. My last visit was at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort and I really enjoyed the view, the serenity, the service, the tennis facility, overall a great and amazing fun experience… I am always up to join their retreats!
KC
My family and I recently visited Amelia Island for Spring Break and I can’t say enough about how great this place is! The hotel was in such a beautiful setting located right on the beach. My entire family signed up for clinics and lessons. The pros were extremely energetic and fun, but also very informative. They were able to pin point small things to help you improve. Thanks to Sal, Yana, and Luis for giving our family an incredible experience. We can’t wait to come back!
EE
I went with a friend from my tennis team to the Cliff Drysdale Ladies Retreat at Amelia Island. This was my first time and it was the BEST tennis program I’ve ever had the pleasure of participating in! The pros were super friendly, enthusiastic, talented and made sure everyone had a good time. The tennis facility was amazing – so many courts in a beautiful scenic surrounding. Everyday we drilled in the morning where the pros kept it lively and fun and then we split into teams and played matches against the other teams in the afternoons. Dinner was arranged each evening at a nice restaurant or at the hotel. There’s a fun awards night at the end with hilarious video footage taken during the retreat. The ladies who attended were awesome and friendly. The resort itself lies right on the beach and every room has a view of the ocean – I’m in heaven! I can’t say enough wonderful things about the tennis, the staff, the facility — I would most definitely come back here!!! 🙂
CL
Cliff Drysdale Tennis at Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort is the best tennis resort I’ve been to. Sal Barbaro is an amazing tennis professional. He and his team know how to make tennis learning fun. He gives you pointers that stick with you long after you leave the camp. Sal & Scott Colebourne’s combined talent and wonderful personalities shine to make this resort a MUST VISIT! I plan to get a group of friends to join me again this year.
HS
I visited with my family, and being an advanced junior playing college tennis, I was really looking for an tennis camp to push me and improve my game. The pros did a great job breaking down the clinics based on ability and pushing you to work hard. In my privates each day, Sal and Luis really helped to improve my consistency and court awareness without changing my style of play. I cannot wait to use what I learned in my upcoming matches.
JS
This was exactly what I was looking for in a tennis vacation. The resort is stunning with the trees, beach, and awesome tennis instruction. I went with my family, and we did the clinics in the morning and a private lesson every day. The clinics allowed us to play agains other guests visiting and rotate with the pros. They did a great job breaking us down based on our ability. My private lesson really allowed me to work on my individual weaknesses. The resort offered many ways for us to relax once our tennis was over each day.
JS
Excellent camp. Did not like the Omni, however.
RB
Our group of five from little rock ar took our first visit here this February. We did the four day tennis camp. This place is so AWESOME. The condo on the golf course is first class. The neighbors are friendly and helpful lEttinger us know places to do and see in the area. The beaches very nice. The pools and hot tubs are great and came in handy. All the staff very friendly and helpful. Jim got some golf in and loved the courses. Now about the TENNIS, we loved it. Sal,Scott and Yana are very professional and made it fun to learn and play this awesome sport of tennis. It’s just enough hours not to get tired or burned out. The drills are fun. The other players we met were having fun. You get that one on one from all the pro’s. Not there to change your game but to improve it. You will learn and have fun. If you never been on clay courts before, you will love these. I love and play clay courts more than hard tops. When you go, tell them Batman sent you. No discount but you might get some good stories. I get loud when having fun. Thanks Sal,Scott and Yana for making it a awesome place. Batman
ME
Arriving at this sprawling resort at evening time was breathtaking! With so much to do from the adorable shops in the village, luxury massages/spa time for the ladies and miles of beaches with sunsets that pictures alone do no justice. The best part of the trip was attending the tennis retreat that was full of amazing talent from Sal Barbaro, competition was fierce and the courts were superb! Thank you to Sal for making our trip one to remember with skilled direction, coaching and lots of laughs! Just how a trip should be!
DB
Very friendly, outgoing, positive and knowledgeable instructors. Lots of energy and enthusiasm in a beautiful setting.
KF
Great experience with enthusiastic and skilled tennis pros (Kudos to Yana!). Variety of clinics and new drills make it very fun. The resort is simply stunning and there is so much to do, tennis, beaches, biking! You will be in awe of the atmosphere and the tennis is no exception.
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.
423 Reviews on “Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa”
I have been vacationing in Amelia for Several years. Each and every time I try and do as many clinics and lessons as possible. Sal, Luis, and the entire staff are amazing. Not only are they great instructors, they also make it extremely fun for all levels.. JD
Upbeat, happy, accommodating young staff, clay courts amongst lush green foliage, just minutes from the Ocean. I am a 2 hrs/day 3.5-4 tennis addict looking to improve my game and came solo with the intention of playing at least 5 hrs/day with feedback. I came for six days and in most ways the program delivered. Sal and Robert handled most of my private lessons and made plenty of helpful comments. Having Sal across several days kept things consistent. Daily hour with ball machine seemed to be a good way to consolidate the pointers. Unlike the Saddebrook and IMG programs which seem to attract more adults, I found myself alone or with just one other player during each of my weekday 2 hour ‘clinic’ sessions; the pro’s were fun but the work was very light and I could not test myself against others of my level. Fortunately, 2 local residents befriended me and provided me with extracurricular matches and camaraderie. Folks are very friendly here! I would indeed come back but with a group rather than solo.
I visited this resort because of one of the tennis pros (Zach Lipson) I met him when I was vacationing in Amelia. Ive had numerous tennis lessons in the past but Zach brought something else to the table that I haven’t seen from any other tennis pro. Over the course of three days I was simultaneously able to strengthen my strengths and improve my weaknesses all while having such an amazing attitude on court. The front desk staff was extremely accommodating and nice as well. Zach told me that he would most likely be in Southampton for the summer so I will definitely find the time to go down to that club since I have a summer house in the Hamptons.
The tennis instruction is one of the best! Sal and Mattie conducted great drills and made it so much fun! I will be returning for sure!! Thanks again Sal and Mattie!
Went for a Cliff Drysdale camp with 9 others. The tennis pros were the factor that made our experience there fantastic! Would love to have some food options nearer to the courts. Some of our group arrived from airport 2 hours prior to first lessons and had difficulty grabbing a quick sandwich on property before playing. Restaurant service all around was pretty slow. Would love to see a large pro shop there. Was hoping to buy new tennis clothes but there wasn’t much in the pro shop. Ocean view rooms were great! Property was clean, pool area and beach were gorgeous.
All I have to say is EXCELLENT! I am a teaching professional in Houston, TX and I gave my girlfriend a Christmas gift to a tennis resort. I tried contacting several popular resorts in Florida and they weren’t willing to accommodate my level or even return my calls. Sal and his staff responded immediately and totally took care of my girlfriend and I. It was totally what I was hoping for to make it an amazing experience for my girlfriend. I will definitely be visiting Amelia Island and participating in this program again, as long as Sal is still there!
I loved this place. Tennis camp was fantastic. We were 10 ladies took this camp & we all were so glad we came to Amielia Island. Another sets of 10 ladies came after us. I have learned lots of technical shots from amazing pros. They are the best coaches I have ever got training from. They watch your shots & coach you right away to improve my shots. I strongly recommend others to come here. We will be for sure come again!
Everything about this was fantastic! Sal and Luis are awesome! A group of 7 of us came for 3 full days of camp and loved every minute of it. Great instruction
Scott and Sal never fail to put together the best instruction for our Girls Tennis Weekend. We always learn something new and bring home additional skills to unleash on our competitors. If you have not planned a tennis weekend at Cliff Drysdale Amelia you are missing out!
Cliff Drysdale at Amelia is a one-of-a-kind experience. Not only is the setting beautiful and unique, but the tennis instruction is excellent. Both I and my children have taken lessons there and attended camps. Every single instructor is well-trained, top notch and professional yet very pleasant. Our 12yo took lessons there last July, 3 weeks before his school tennis tryouts. We are confident that the classes/privates he took made him successful at tryouts and we are returning this summer as well for more fun and training! When we visit Amelia, we not only take lessons but allow Cliff Drysdale to set up round robins for us and our guests. I would highly recommend Cliff Drysdale at Amelia!
What a fantastic tennis tennis camp! Our group of 7 love our tennis and we all are very competitive players. Sal and Mattie quickly assessed our levels and moved on to fun, fast paced drills that are on point with double strategies, and some match plays with pros. They did a exceptional job of finding the right balance of drilling, playing and instructions so the 3 hours went very quickly. Great job Sal and Mattie! We’ll be definitely coming back for more!
Outstanding instruction. Our group of 7 have been to other tennis camps over the years, and this was by far my favorite. We were all pleasantly surprised by the exceptional drills that no one had ever done before. Sal and Mattie provided great instruction. We all learned new things and had fun doing the drills and playing matches. I have been playing competitive tennis for the past 10 years (USTA 4.0) and can highly recommend tennis at Cliff Drysdale at Amelia. Can’t wait to come back. Thanks Sal and Mattie!
Sal and Matt implemented fun and effective drills for us to work on, and we had such an amazing time doing it. Sal was also kind to recommend a great restaurant for us to have dinner which we enjoyed very much. This tennis camp is at the top of our list for our next tennis trip.
We are a group of six 4.5 guys (one 5.0 – SC you know who you are) who went for 3 days of training. We take tennis very seriously and had an amazing time. Sal and his crew set up two courts for drilling in the morning and in the afternoon we did match play with the pros playing in and giving us advice on strategy and technique throughout. We play 6+ hours a day and Sal always finds the perfect balance between instruction, drilling and match play. I have been to all the major tennis resorts in the US and you would be hard pressed to find a comparable place in terms of quality of instruction and accommodations. We had an amazing time! Thanks you Sal and staff for customizing a tennis trip for our group.
the enthusiasm of the tennis pros the ambiance of the clay tennis courts and the professionalism of the tennis pros makes for a great experience!!! Im coming back for more!!!
I am new to tennis. The staff here was very professional, friendly and very engaging. Because of them, my comfort level in playing tennis has greatly increased to where I am playing tennis more often than I could ever imagine. The resort is one of a kind. Sal and his team really exceeded my expectations.
Phenomenal resort with top-tier tennis facility and staff. Participated in the women’s tennis camp. Was incredibly well run with tons of attention to detail, fun and great tennis.
Third time here and hands down, this one is my favorite. From the courts, coaches, location, lodging and the beautiful sunsets who would go anywhere else!
I’ve spent countless hours at the Amelia Island plantation and witnessed first hand how phenomenal the tennis program is there. I had a group lesson with Sal and it completely changed my game. His knowledge and ability blew me away, and he’s super cool too! I can’t wait to come back .
I’m the organizer of a group of Tennis friends at the 3.5 level. We have been enjoying Tennis weekends at Amelia for the past 5 years. The Tennis instruction is top quality and it’s always nice to see the awesome pros they have there every year like Sal Barbaro. Sal is always so accomodating for our group and he goes above and beyond to make sure our weekend getaway is fun and filled with quality tennis instruction. The fact that we’ve been going for 5 years should be tesatment enough that we love our girls Tennis weekend at Amelia!
The tennis was amazing I had a fantastic time the coaches were patient and extremely knowledgeable especially Matt and Sal. The staff in the pro shop were friendly and helpful and I would recommend any of my friends to come here as I had the best tennis experience and I will be coming back
I have gone to the ladies retreat for the past 5 years and it is one of the best weeks of my year. The pros are exceptional. They give individualized Instruction on all aspects of the game including strategy. Anyone Can hit well during a drill but what sets the Cliff Drysdale model apart is implementing what is taught in the morning into competitive matches. Match play is as Competitive as you want it to be and the “draft” and team competition fosters a Sense of friendly rivalry and team bonding. It is definitely A lot of Tennis but you can take it as seriously as You want or not at all. Truth be told there have been mornings when my hungover self was not overly engaged in working on my strokes! Highest recommendation. You will have a BLAST!!
I loved this tennis camp. It was great to learn some of the techniques, but what made the camp for me was the instructors. Mitch and Luis, and Sal…they made the camp for me. They made the whole experience. I am not sure I would have enjoyed the camp as much if we had different instructors. My only suggestion is, on the second day they changes the instructors and brought someone different in. It changed the whole dynamic of the day. I had to get comfortable with someone new. I would prefer if I start a group with instructors, those instructors stay with the group through the duration of the clinic. I did not like the change.
We spent several fantastic days at The Cliff Drysdale Amelia Island Tennis Camp. Sal Barbaro and his entire staff were amazing The lessons from Sal were terrific. The courts and facilities first class!
This place is awesome. The staff is always super helpful and I’ve been able to do nothing but consistently improve every single time I take a lesson with one of their pros. I wouldn’t want to visit or train anywhere else.
My boyfriend and I had another fantastic tennis vacation in Paradise!…this is our fourth time in Amelia Island. The Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort and Cliff Drysdale Tennis School has everything to offer, from outstanding tennis pros and facilities to top notch accommodations…endless pristine beaches, on-site shopping and restaurants. Thank you Sal Barbaro for inviting us to participate in the St. Patty’s mixer, we had a blast!… Sal and his staff make it fun for everyone! We can hardly wait to go back next year!.
Outstanding resort, outstanding tennis! I’ve visited four times now, loved every minute, and will continue going! The courts are my favorite courts I’ve played on, and the pros and instruction level is exceptional! Five stars in all categories!
In January 2018, I came to the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort to learn to play tennis. I’d only started playing two years earlier, and it’s tough to pick up a brand new sport in your 40s. I arrived with zero volley skills and a pretty shaky backhand. By the time I left, I was playing competitive doubles at the 4.0 level and could rally with the pros to 100 fairly consistently at a hard pace. In fact, by the end, we’d often practice with just a single ball to help me focus. I played about 6 hours of tennis per day for 3 full months, so I had ample time to get to know all the pros, clinics, teaching styles . . . basically everything about the program. There was no aspect of the tennis program that I didn’t have contact with since I was spending so much intensive time there. The biggest strength of the resort is the friendliness and quality of tennis pros and the consistent high-level of instruction. We delved deep into technique — learning not just how to hit the ball back and forth, but how to raise the entire level of play. I left Amelia Island as a completely different tennis player. But perhaps more important, I left the island with genuine friendships with the pros, some of whom I continue to stay in touch with. I can only think of one weakness. The Amelia Island tennis resort has no indoor courts. So you can’t play tennis there when it rains. That said, the clay courts drain incredibly quickly. So they are usually playable within two hours of rain if the sun is out. (And the indoor courts at resorts that have them book up instantly during rainy days.) In summary, I couldn’t have had a better experience at Amelia Island. All of the pros were top-notch, as were the other staff. And the guests were incredibly friendly. I made a ton of friends, and transformed my tennis game.
Beautiful grounds and great tennis courts. The staff is extremely friendly and the tennis pros are very professional and knowledgeable. They helped us a lot improving our strokes and the strategy for doubles games. We were a bigger group ( seven players) and everyone was given personal attention. We will definitely return next year and hope to find Hannah and Luis here again! They were absolutely a pleasure to work with!
Beautiful resort and tennis academy. First class instruction by experienced tennis coaches.
Stayed at the omni, which is a conference and family geared resort and played 3 days at the tennis facility. The pros were great and generally very accommodating. The level of the clinics varied quite a bit so they pulled another pro to hit with me on the days when the second hour clinics were not up to snuff. The only complaint is that on the second day the courts near the clubhouse were being used for a weekly match so they moved us to a side court. The issue is that the side court was right next to the construction being done for the car show. There were at least 10 empty courts visible so I’m not sure why they would do that unless it just didn’t occur to them. If coming again (and I was on my own this time) I might stay somewhere else and drive over for the tennis. I did have some billing issues at the Omni and it was very difficult to contact them online afterward. The Omni staff was quite friendly but there were a lot of service issues (wrong food, late food due to broken kitchen printer, overly-early breakfast delivery etc.)
I had a blast taking lessons with Luis. I’ve been playing for a number of years but Luis was terrific at improving my performance. I’ve been to numerous other resorts but found Luis’ instruction better than with any other pro with whom I’ve played. I had a foot injury and couldn’t do any running but Luis kept the lessons productive and fun. Luis is a great pro who could identify a flaw and articulate the corrective action so that my shots and serves hit a level that I’d never seen. I was really amazed at some of the monster serves I was executing.
Sal was a terrific pro who improved my game and gave me a lot of great pointers. I had a great time!
Attended two Cliff Drysdale Women’s Retreats this year. What a fabulous week of tennis. The Pros are so conscientious of all the participants; helping each and everyone become better players. Bryce and Travis have a unique way of bringing out the best in the players. It is the best way to improve your game, have fun and enjoy the game of tennis. I would highly recommend Cliff Drysdale Women’s retreat!!
Beautiful facility. Beautiful hotel. Beautiful setting. Thank so much the to the Cliff Drysdale staff for making our tennis vacation fantastic!
fantastic. Scott Colbourne was our coach and he is truly exceptional.
We have done a girls’ tennis trip here for consecutive years, and we will be back again. The tennis instruction is not only top-notch, but Sal and his staff make it fun for everyone. The grounds are beautiful, and the accommodations were perfect for our group. Love this place!
I have done tennis camp at Amelia three years in a row now. Best instruction I have found yet. Great way to perfect your tennis game in a beautiful setting with great accommodations.
I have been to a few tennis retreats over the past 10 years and I would rate Cliff Drysdale Tennis Retreat at Omni Amelia Island as the BEST ever! The “Ballbuster” Team led by Sal Barbaro was full of great instruction and strategy. All of the Pro Staff at the Amelia Retreat – Scott, Yana, Luis, Robert, Harry and Jake were also extremely helpful, enthusiastic and patient!!! You have not experienced a real tennis retreat until you have experienced a CDT Retreat!!
I am a huge fun of Cliff Drysdale tennis retreats. They have the best program for tennis competition with fun and quality time. My last visit was at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort and I really enjoyed the view, the serenity, the service, the tennis facility, overall a great and amazing fun experience… I am always up to join their retreats!
My family and I recently visited Amelia Island for Spring Break and I can’t say enough about how great this place is! The hotel was in such a beautiful setting located right on the beach. My entire family signed up for clinics and lessons. The pros were extremely energetic and fun, but also very informative. They were able to pin point small things to help you improve. Thanks to Sal, Yana, and Luis for giving our family an incredible experience. We can’t wait to come back!
I went with a friend from my tennis team to the Cliff Drysdale Ladies Retreat at Amelia Island. This was my first time and it was the BEST tennis program I’ve ever had the pleasure of participating in! The pros were super friendly, enthusiastic, talented and made sure everyone had a good time. The tennis facility was amazing – so many courts in a beautiful scenic surrounding. Everyday we drilled in the morning where the pros kept it lively and fun and then we split into teams and played matches against the other teams in the afternoons. Dinner was arranged each evening at a nice restaurant or at the hotel. There’s a fun awards night at the end with hilarious video footage taken during the retreat. The ladies who attended were awesome and friendly. The resort itself lies right on the beach and every room has a view of the ocean – I’m in heaven! I can’t say enough wonderful things about the tennis, the staff, the facility — I would most definitely come back here!!! 🙂
Cliff Drysdale Tennis at Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort is the best tennis resort I’ve been to. Sal Barbaro is an amazing tennis professional. He and his team know how to make tennis learning fun. He gives you pointers that stick with you long after you leave the camp. Sal & Scott Colebourne’s combined talent and wonderful personalities shine to make this resort a MUST VISIT! I plan to get a group of friends to join me again this year.
I visited with my family, and being an advanced junior playing college tennis, I was really looking for an tennis camp to push me and improve my game. The pros did a great job breaking down the clinics based on ability and pushing you to work hard. In my privates each day, Sal and Luis really helped to improve my consistency and court awareness without changing my style of play. I cannot wait to use what I learned in my upcoming matches.
This was exactly what I was looking for in a tennis vacation. The resort is stunning with the trees, beach, and awesome tennis instruction. I went with my family, and we did the clinics in the morning and a private lesson every day. The clinics allowed us to play agains other guests visiting and rotate with the pros. They did a great job breaking us down based on our ability. My private lesson really allowed me to work on my individual weaknesses. The resort offered many ways for us to relax once our tennis was over each day.
Excellent camp. Did not like the Omni, however.
Our group of five from little rock ar took our first visit here this February. We did the four day tennis camp. This place is so AWESOME. The condo on the golf course is first class. The neighbors are friendly and helpful lEttinger us know places to do and see in the area. The beaches very nice. The pools and hot tubs are great and came in handy. All the staff very friendly and helpful. Jim got some golf in and loved the courses. Now about the TENNIS, we loved it. Sal,Scott and Yana are very professional and made it fun to learn and play this awesome sport of tennis. It’s just enough hours not to get tired or burned out. The drills are fun. The other players we met were having fun. You get that one on one from all the pro’s. Not there to change your game but to improve it. You will learn and have fun. If you never been on clay courts before, you will love these. I love and play clay courts more than hard tops. When you go, tell them Batman sent you. No discount but you might get some good stories. I get loud when having fun. Thanks Sal,Scott and Yana for making it a awesome place. Batman
Arriving at this sprawling resort at evening time was breathtaking! With so much to do from the adorable shops in the village, luxury massages/spa time for the ladies and miles of beaches with sunsets that pictures alone do no justice. The best part of the trip was attending the tennis retreat that was full of amazing talent from Sal Barbaro, competition was fierce and the courts were superb! Thank you to Sal for making our trip one to remember with skilled direction, coaching and lots of laughs! Just how a trip should be!
Very friendly, outgoing, positive and knowledgeable instructors. Lots of energy and enthusiasm in a beautiful setting.
Great experience with enthusiastic and skilled tennis pros (Kudos to Yana!). Variety of clinics and new drills make it very fun. The resort is simply stunning and there is so much to do, tennis, beaches, biking! You will be in awe of the atmosphere and the tennis is no exception.