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 had the pleasure of being coached by Thien Nguyen and couldn’t be more impressed. His professionalism, courtesy, and patience made every session enjoyable and productive. His expertise not only improved my tennis skills but also boosted my confidence on the court. I highly recommend Thien Nguyen to anyone seeking top-notch tennis instruction.
PG
Thien Nguyen is an excellent instructor with a warm, friendly manner. I particularly liked how he quickly picked up errors our group was making and demonstrated and reinforced how to cut down on unforced errors along with presenting basic doubles strategy. He also was quite attentive to making sure we were properly hydrated and rested before going on to our next planned lesson. Overall he made excellent use of our time together so that we could get the most out of our lessons. He was quite attentive to addressing our questions and moving us along.
JC
All of the tennis pros were professional and had great knowledge of the drills & practices. They were all positive. I liked that they made suggestions/corrections in a noncritical way. I felt that the practices were very well organized & on time. There were great accommodations made for the one rainy day that we had. Elliot gave wonderful instruction & tailored the drills to our skill level, along with the strategies that we requested to work on. I enjoyed his high energy & his compassion for teaching tennis was very evident. I feel that we were very lucky to have Elliot for the afternoon private sessions that the 4 of us had with him.
MS
GJ
Had a wonderful tennis vacation experience. The pros were outstanding – especially Elliott. High energy. Took the time to answer our questions and we had a lot. The resort had everything we could have asked for. The shuttle service was outstanding. The drivers were very friendly and knowledgeable. We are already talking about returning next year.
BF
My friends and I went down to Amelia Island for the second time this year. After going last year and loving it so much we wanted to replicate the exact same weekend we initially had. Elliot Muth was the pro we had for privates last year and loved him so much we made sure to book with him as much as possible this last trip. He and the team provide the perfect mix of fun and instruction. We already can’t wait to go back and request Elliott for our third time as he has made each trip so memorable and enjoyable.
TC
My stay here was really awesome!! I took a lesson with Thien Nguyen one of the pro’s and it was arguably the best lesson of my life! My serve has been a problem for me my entire tennis career. I have had a pause / hitch in my serve and was not jumping off both feet. I told Thien this and he fixed my motion within 5 minutes. Now my serve is synchronized and the kinetic chain does not break. My dad even complemented my serve and said he’s never seen me serve like this before. He also helped me with volleys and groundstrokes! He is a fantastic teacher. I have also taken lots of lessons throughout my 4 years of playing with many different teachers and he’s the only one who fixed my serve.
JK
Elliott and all the tennis pros were outstanding, they went out of their way to make the lessons and drill fun. They willingly accommodated all our requests. That is why we keep coming back
AP
We were disappointed with the resort in that we spend additional itme and money to get 3 specific villas for our group of 11 people. Due to the computer system outage we were not given the requested villas. Additionally, our group was split up to different areas of the resort and we were not given the ocean views that we requested.
JC
I loved the tennis instruction! The pros were the best!
CC
There are no negatives here! Tennis camp was the best ever! Amazing instruction from all coaches Particularly Elliot Muth. He was exceptional in all categories! We loved the resort as a whole and can’t wait to book out next trip! We stayed in a villa for 4 of us. Just outstanding girls’ vacation! I would give ten stars if I could!
DK
The tennis instruction and the pros, Hamas and Xavier were outstanding. The best instruction I’ve had in years. Their feedback was extremely helpful and provided in the moment for fast learning and correction. They explained things in a way that was easy to understand and remember. I wish I could work with them every week!
DY
SW
Our tennis pros Hassan Badran and Xavier were outstanding. Very energetic, polite gentlemen who made the experience so much fun. In addition, the knowledge they shared was invaluable and we are so excited to hone our new skills. We were a mixed skill level of women in our early 60’s and they were able to supply several takeaways for all ladies. We are already planning a return trip and hoping we will be able to work with them again. Both Hassan and Xavier are true assets to your organization. Susan Weinman and her gang of 7 fun loving ladies.
RM
The only disadvantage was carrying our luggage up all those steps to the villa
KB
We are two adults and one seven year old and we visit the Omni Amelia Island Resort and participate in a wide variety of tennis activities through Cliff Drysdale Tennis at Raquets (private lessons, adult clinics, junior tennis camps and junior tennis private lessons) twice per year. We absolutely love coming here. The tennis instruction is absolutely superb. We have worked with Rob, the Director, and all of the pros–Bryan, Eliot, Hassan, Jay, Thien and Xavier during multiple trips. They are all fantastic teachers and have delightful personalities and energy. We look forward to every experience with them. The other people who participate in the adult programs are incredibly friendly and fun to play with. The resort is beautiful. We stay in one of the Omni Hotel’s suites and very much enjoy that accommodation. Our seven year old also enjoys the many children’s activities that are on offer at the resort, which caters specifically to families with younger children in the most helpful way.
DN
I just spent 10 days at Amelia Island for my annual escape from the indoor hard court winter doldrums of the mid-Atlantic region. Rob and his team of high energy Pros made the morning clinics each day a non-stop new adventure, and the evening games rewarding. Jay, Elliot, Hassan and the others kept the energy flowing throughout my stay, and the convenience of the villas was excellent. I can’t wait to return next year!
DA
Attended a customized tennis weekend with two friends. We had a lesson for the group, joined a clinic, and each had an individual lesson. Overall, a very professional, knowledgeable staff with plenty of experience and personality. We each felt like we got the instruction we needed, whether in a private lesson or in a group, we felt seen and heard. Jay, Thein, Elliot, and Xavier were energetic, observant, and encouraging. Our group takes a tennis trip once a year and I would say this was the most helpful for each of us as individuals and as doubles partners. Also, the logistics were easy as Megan and was helpful and responsive. Our villa was just right, nothing super fancy but clean, spacious, and convenient.
BM
We were a group of 12 adults and have done tennis camps at other locations but have to say that the staff and accomodations/setting at the Amelia Island Omni (Cliff Drysdale Tennis) were exceptional. The resort itself is beautiful, sitting right on the beach and the restaurants, food and service was top notch. Our tennis instruction was exceptional. We had 3 tennis pro’s for 12 players a 4:1 ratio, which was perfect and they customized the tennis to our stated desires and abilities. The pro’s were funny yet professional and our lessons fit our needs to a t. Robert Wright is the head pro at this facility and he was great to work with and very communicative as we were flying in from NH and had some weather to work around. We will most definitely be back next year and would recommend this facility highly.
MA
We have probably taken over a dozen tennis trips in our time, and this was far and away the BEST trip we have ever had. The quality of the tennis drills and private instruction was exceptional.. The four different pros we worked with were knowledgeable, professional, and fun loving. We learned something valuable every day…and we had a lot of fun doing it. We would definitely come here again.
KC
This is my second time visiting the Omni and it did not disappoint. What keeps bringing me back is the tennis. It is so well run. The clinics are top notch run by excellent coaches with a multitude of drills. I did a two hour clinic everyday followed by a private lesson. I especially enjoyed Hassan, Elliott and Rob. Jay was my pro for my lessons almost everyday and he was superb. He helped get my forehand under control which has been a long term goal of mine. He was fun and spot on in his tips for serves and volleys as well. I go on this trip alone because the timing doesn’t work out well for my family but 3 hours of tennis everyday and then sitting by the pool gives me the R&R I need. Lastly, I’ll say the customer service is absolutely amazing. I had a horrible headache my first day and the head of facilities Mr Richard’s was greeting people at the door and asked if he could help. He saw my racket and didn’t want me to be late for tennis so he told me to wait for the shuttle and he ran to the gift shop to get me a bottle of advil! Andrew at the front desk was also so helpful too.
CS
Loved the tennis park!!
SJ
My daughter and I were back for the second time in 2 years and had an amazing experience once again. The staff are very attentive and the tennis instruction is phenomenal. The clinics are run very well with little to no downtime. Excellent player to pro ratio with lots of positivity and a lovely atmosphere. Over the 4 days we got to know them all quite well and became especially fond of Jay Smith. He is not only a very knowledgeable pro, but a fun guy and we had many laughs. Fabulous memories were made! We also connected with Xavier, Elliot and Hassan who were amazing as well. Kudos to all of you! We can’t wait to return!
JA
We absolutely loved our stay at the Omni! The villas were perfect for our group of 10, the restaurants were delicious, and the pool and ocean were wonderful. Our tennis pros, Elliot Muth, Hassan Badran and Jay Smith were GREAT; the clinic were well run, high energy and a ton of fun!
MC
Hassan Badran was excellent, knowledgeable, high energy and made our group’s clinics fun!
RP
The tennis was excellent, I wish we could have played the whole time. Hassin did a wonderful job instructing us. we all left motivated and ready for more tennis. Despite a weekend full of rain, he worked hard to get us on the court as much as we could. If only the resort accommodations were as excellent as the tennis, the weekend would have been perfect. The Omni rooms were sadly very outdated and not at all what we expected from a stay at a reputable hotel like this.
HY
Beautiful resort! So many offerings and things to do. I wish the weather would have been better, but the resort was amazing. And the staff did everything possible to make up for the rain. The tennis pros were incredibly helpful and entertaining. We had a blast.
KJ
My private lessons with Jay Smith were incredible. I let him know I was getting back into tennis after a long break and wanted to work on technique. He went into detail on my forehand, backhand, backhand slice, and serve and provided very detailed technique to improve my strokes and serve. He also watched me at the clinics and told me I played much better when I was aggressive and when are good times to use my defensive game. Both my friend and I left our private lessons saying they were the best private lessons we have ever had (and we both played tennis competitively in juniors and in college)!
LS
DF
LB
This was my first time to the Omni Amelia Island. We had a group of 10 ladies scheduled for a weekend of tennis. The weather didn’t fully cooperate, but the tennis staff was very accommodating and did everything they could to make up our time. We had the pleasure of being coached by Jay, Elliot, Xavier, and Amy. They were all great! I had a fantastic weekend, and I’m already planning our next trip back!
TK
Jay, Hassan and Elliot were the best! We had so much fun and learned so much.
JM
A few things I would like to highlight in this review. First is the setting – the tennis resort is situated on the unparalleled Amelia Island. Amelia Island has pristine, always empty beaches on one side, on the other side is a beautiful intercoastal view. The courts themselves are surrounded by beautiful trees covered in Spanish moss like vegetation. The 23 courts are Har-Tru, easy on the joints and well maintained. The instruction and staff are top notch. They offer daily clinics at a reasonable price in addition to cardio tennis, speed doubles, doubles and bubbles, and other clinics on a weekly basis. If you are looking to improve your strokes, volleys, or doubles strategy, this is the place. The tennis resort is situated on the Omni Amelia Island resort. We always request a Tennis Villa, which are among the newest accommodations available. If you stay at a tennis villa, the 23 courts are right outside your building. In addition, the fitness center, indoor pool, and Verandah restaurant are all less than a 5-minute walk. The beach is less than a 10-minute walk. There are miles of biking trails that go right past the tennis resort or Tennis Villas leading to either Amelia Island State Park or Peters Point Beachfront Park. On the resort grounds are also Drummond Point, the Amelia Island Nature Center, and the beautiful Omni pool scape. The resort offers multiple restaurants including Verandah and Steak Out at Marche Burette. If you decide to head 15 minutes downtown, you’ll visit a quaint town with dozens of great restaurants and breweries. I’ve been to multiple tennis resorts in the United States and the Caribbean and hands down, this is the nicest one I have ever visited.
JM
GD
Elliot Muth-absolutely a professional in the tennis world. He’s a fantastic coach with tremendous amounts of patience. He has a gentle nature which makes learning so much easier. Jay Smith- A wonderful coach who is incredibly patient. He explains everything so well to make learning tennis easier. He has a very cool, calm demeanor that makes learning easier. Hassan Badran- Amazing coach with a wonderful personality. He makes tennis incredibly fun. Incredibly patient and is always laughing(with me) and smiling always. Truly an asset to the tennis team.
VV
AG
This doubles tennis camp blew me away. I loved that the ratio of players to coaches was 4:1. There was no standing around – we were playing constantly. The instruction was incredibly high quality. I was impressed with the knowledge and teaching skills of the young and seasoned coaches. The coaches knew how to work with every skill level and provided feedback and instruction in extremely digestible form for realistic situations. They also divided people up appropriately based on skill, which made the camp even more useful. Most importantly, the coaches brought pure joy to the court! I played hard and laughed hard. I have recommended this camp to my tennis friends and am already hoping to book another one soon. Even weeks later, I am still thinking about what I learned. The coaches at this camp have inspired me to be a better tennis player. I cannot thank them enough.
MB
Amazing pros, wonderful surrounding, superb tennis instruction. Best weekend ever!
ST
For a tennis retreat, highly, highly, highly recommend! The resort was awesome, our villa accommodations were lovely and comfortable. The restaurants and hotel bar were yummy. And the tennis instruction was phenomenal. As 2.5 players we needed more offensive and aggressive strategies and that’s certainly what we got. Learned a lot! And the price was amazing for what we got. Overall, loved!
HI
We were a group of 7 that attended a weekend doubles tennis clinic, it was really informative and lots of fun! The pros were great, we came away with some really useful tips and our game improved in that short space of time. I would highly recommend and would say it would be fun whether you go as a group or just solo!
RK
The tennis pros are all amazing at the Omni Resort in Amelia Island. They give 100% to their clinics and make playing fun. They teach concepts so that anyone can understand and remember. I highly recommend!
ML
We went to this resort for the tennis, and it did not disappoint. We will go back just for the Tennis Pro’s. We stayed in a villa, and while it was good value and spacious it’s in serious need of updating. We were in the Shipwatch villas. On a positive note, we had extraordinary views of the ocean and the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. The resort staff were also very helpful and we found the restaurants to be varied and mostly delicious. We were visiting in what is regarded as off-season for Florida, in late December, but it was a wonderful trip, and we will definitely return.
MS
I visited Cliff Drysdale Amelia Island the week between Christmas and New Year’s as a solo traveler and had a great experience. I highly recommend it as a place to strengthen your game and enjoy tennis with new people. The staff were all excellent teachers and fun people who enjoyed interacting with the guests. This made both clinics and lessons helpful in improving my game and lots of fun. I was always surprised that the time of each clinic/lesson passed so quickly. I took a series of private lessons with Xavier and was extremely happy with them. Rather than make fundamental changes to my game, he picked out concepts I knew already and reinforced them during our sessions. This was exactly what I hoped for. I asked him to be tough and demanding and he obliged, making me repeat drills and sequences of strokes until I got them right. At the same time, I saw him working with some beginner players and he very patiently taught fundamentals of the game in a fun way that had them excited to play more. He really helped me. This was a real highlight. I also joined the daily drills for several days. These sessions drew both resort guests and tennis-playing residents to fast-paced two hour sessions. Each day had a different theme, from volleys and overheads to doubles strategy to ground strokes to approach shots. A group of the tennis staff jointly led each session, which began with drills reinforcing the day’s skill and the moved to point play. The staff rotated groups with every drill, keeping everything fresh and providing the guests a variety of instruction styles. Xavier, Thien, Amy, Hassan, Rob, and Elliott kept us moving! I’m a 3.5 player and was probably in the upper third of the group as far as tennis experience. These clinics were also a real highlight. The location at Omni Amelia Island is really beautiful. The resort consists of a main hotel with outlying “villas” – privately owned, centrally managed condominiums – on the northernmost Atlantic barrier island in Florida. The construction of the resort skillfully takes advantage of the thick oak forest on the island so that a maximum amount of the forest remains. My villa was very comfortable, nicely decorated, and had a spectacular view of the ocean. There is an efficient shuttle service for getting around the large resort but because I visited during a slow period I didn’t end up using it. The tennis facility is in character for the resort, with something like 25 har-tru courts spaced among the trees. I imagine it can get really hot during the summer, but I had sunny, cool weather each day I was there. There were several nice restaurants on the resort at different levels of fancy-ness, and several more in nearby Fernandina Beach. Despite playing 4 hours of tennis per day, I think I gained weight during the week. Weaknesses were few. While the pro shop staff were always efficient and friendly, virtually all the gear there was for women. I hoped for at least a t-shirt to take home as a souvenir. Also, the restaurant hours at the resort were somewhat unusual during the slow season, but I doubt this would be an issue during the warmer months. Overall a very successful, enjoyable trip. I’m looking forward to using my newly-honed skills to show up my tennis group back home. Next time, I’ll look to bring the family.
GL
My tennis experience was fantastic. Rob, Thien, Hasan, Brian, Xavier, and Amy were all awesome.
RW
Unparallelled tennis camp, lessons, staff, professionals! Resort itself old but well-kept. The Beechwood Villas were bland, worn and dull. Stocked with the very minimum of necessities, especially in kitchen. Gorgeous beach and wonderful pools. 82 gazillion children if you’re looking for a good family atmosphere. I’ll return but not for the resort-just for the well-run tennis camp, its facilities and the tennis staff. Not for the resort..
KB
We are two adults and one seven year old child and we just returned from our second week long trip this year to the Omni Amelia Island for a family tennis vacation. Our child participated in the holiday tennis camp and we participated in the group clinics. The clinics are high energy and fun. All three of us also took private lessons. First and foremost, the tennis instruction is exceptional. We worked with Rob, Thien, Hassan, Xavier, Bryan, Eliot and Amy. Each was organized with a plan for each lesson. The pros actually observed our performance at the clinics and tailored the lessons to address weaknesses in our game. We all noticeably improved after each visit. Our child enjoys the tennis camp and was always excited to go. The tennis camp ran concurrently with the adult tennis clinics, enabling our participation in the adult clinics. On days that the tennis camp was not offered, our child participated in Camp Amelia at the Omni, which was also fantastic. Again, our child was always excited to go. Camp Amelia is also offered on Friday and Saturday nights, allowing us adults to have an evening out. The Omni is a lovely setting–especially for families. We plan to return again in 2024.
CM
FA
Instruction was excellent. Elliot was high energy and always supportive. Hassan was very patient and kept helping. Brian was engaged and suggested new strategies. Thien was motivated to see improvement and kept encouraging.
SC
Excellent resort with a variety of incredible activities. But not much to do on a rainy day so make sure it’s sunny.
DW
Very strong tennis program, well structured instruction that was amazing in the way it incorporated all player levels in one session. Hassan is an awesome pro with excellent teaching style. Loved speed doubles at night.. My only issues were with my lodging… fleas/bedbugs, no wifi, etc. this is unrelated to tennis
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416 Reviews on “Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa”
I had the pleasure of being coached by Thien Nguyen and couldn’t be more impressed. His professionalism, courtesy, and patience made every session enjoyable and productive. His expertise not only improved my tennis skills but also boosted my confidence on the court. I highly recommend Thien Nguyen to anyone seeking top-notch tennis instruction.
Thien Nguyen is an excellent instructor with a warm, friendly manner. I particularly liked how he quickly picked up errors our group was making and demonstrated and reinforced how to cut down on unforced errors along with presenting basic doubles strategy. He also was quite attentive to making sure we were properly hydrated and rested before going on to our next planned lesson. Overall he made excellent use of our time together so that we could get the most out of our lessons. He was quite attentive to addressing our questions and moving us along.
All of the tennis pros were professional and had great knowledge of the drills & practices. They were all positive. I liked that they made suggestions/corrections in a noncritical way. I felt that the practices were very well organized & on time. There were great accommodations made for the one rainy day that we had. Elliot gave wonderful instruction & tailored the drills to our skill level, along with the strategies that we requested to work on. I enjoyed his high energy & his compassion for teaching tennis was very evident. I feel that we were very lucky to have Elliot for the afternoon private sessions that the 4 of us had with him.
Had a wonderful tennis vacation experience. The pros were outstanding – especially Elliott. High energy. Took the time to answer our questions and we had a lot. The resort had everything we could have asked for. The shuttle service was outstanding. The drivers were very friendly and knowledgeable. We are already talking about returning next year.
My friends and I went down to Amelia Island for the second time this year. After going last year and loving it so much we wanted to replicate the exact same weekend we initially had. Elliot Muth was the pro we had for privates last year and loved him so much we made sure to book with him as much as possible this last trip. He and the team provide the perfect mix of fun and instruction. We already can’t wait to go back and request Elliott for our third time as he has made each trip so memorable and enjoyable.
My stay here was really awesome!! I took a lesson with Thien Nguyen one of the pro’s and it was arguably the best lesson of my life! My serve has been a problem for me my entire tennis career. I have had a pause / hitch in my serve and was not jumping off both feet. I told Thien this and he fixed my motion within 5 minutes. Now my serve is synchronized and the kinetic chain does not break. My dad even complemented my serve and said he’s never seen me serve like this before. He also helped me with volleys and groundstrokes! He is a fantastic teacher. I have also taken lots of lessons throughout my 4 years of playing with many different teachers and he’s the only one who fixed my serve.
Elliott and all the tennis pros were outstanding, they went out of their way to make the lessons and drill fun. They willingly accommodated all our requests. That is why we keep coming back
We were disappointed with the resort in that we spend additional itme and money to get 3 specific villas for our group of 11 people. Due to the computer system outage we were not given the requested villas. Additionally, our group was split up to different areas of the resort and we were not given the ocean views that we requested.
I loved the tennis instruction! The pros were the best!
There are no negatives here! Tennis camp was the best ever! Amazing instruction from all coaches Particularly Elliot Muth. He was exceptional in all categories! We loved the resort as a whole and can’t wait to book out next trip! We stayed in a villa for 4 of us. Just outstanding girls’ vacation! I would give ten stars if I could!
The tennis instruction and the pros, Hamas and Xavier were outstanding. The best instruction I’ve had in years. Their feedback was extremely helpful and provided in the moment for fast learning and correction. They explained things in a way that was easy to understand and remember. I wish I could work with them every week!
Our tennis pros Hassan Badran and Xavier were outstanding. Very energetic, polite gentlemen who made the experience so much fun. In addition, the knowledge they shared was invaluable and we are so excited to hone our new skills. We were a mixed skill level of women in our early 60’s and they were able to supply several takeaways for all ladies. We are already planning a return trip and hoping we will be able to work with them again. Both Hassan and Xavier are true assets to your organization. Susan Weinman and her gang of 7 fun loving ladies.
The only disadvantage was carrying our luggage up all those steps to the villa
We are two adults and one seven year old and we visit the Omni Amelia Island Resort and participate in a wide variety of tennis activities through Cliff Drysdale Tennis at Raquets (private lessons, adult clinics, junior tennis camps and junior tennis private lessons) twice per year. We absolutely love coming here. The tennis instruction is absolutely superb. We have worked with Rob, the Director, and all of the pros–Bryan, Eliot, Hassan, Jay, Thien and Xavier during multiple trips. They are all fantastic teachers and have delightful personalities and energy. We look forward to every experience with them. The other people who participate in the adult programs are incredibly friendly and fun to play with. The resort is beautiful. We stay in one of the Omni Hotel’s suites and very much enjoy that accommodation. Our seven year old also enjoys the many children’s activities that are on offer at the resort, which caters specifically to families with younger children in the most helpful way.
I just spent 10 days at Amelia Island for my annual escape from the indoor hard court winter doldrums of the mid-Atlantic region. Rob and his team of high energy Pros made the morning clinics each day a non-stop new adventure, and the evening games rewarding. Jay, Elliot, Hassan and the others kept the energy flowing throughout my stay, and the convenience of the villas was excellent. I can’t wait to return next year!
Attended a customized tennis weekend with two friends. We had a lesson for the group, joined a clinic, and each had an individual lesson. Overall, a very professional, knowledgeable staff with plenty of experience and personality. We each felt like we got the instruction we needed, whether in a private lesson or in a group, we felt seen and heard. Jay, Thein, Elliot, and Xavier were energetic, observant, and encouraging. Our group takes a tennis trip once a year and I would say this was the most helpful for each of us as individuals and as doubles partners. Also, the logistics were easy as Megan and was helpful and responsive. Our villa was just right, nothing super fancy but clean, spacious, and convenient.
We were a group of 12 adults and have done tennis camps at other locations but have to say that the staff and accomodations/setting at the Amelia Island Omni (Cliff Drysdale Tennis) were exceptional. The resort itself is beautiful, sitting right on the beach and the restaurants, food and service was top notch. Our tennis instruction was exceptional. We had 3 tennis pro’s for 12 players a 4:1 ratio, which was perfect and they customized the tennis to our stated desires and abilities. The pro’s were funny yet professional and our lessons fit our needs to a t. Robert Wright is the head pro at this facility and he was great to work with and very communicative as we were flying in from NH and had some weather to work around. We will most definitely be back next year and would recommend this facility highly.
We have probably taken over a dozen tennis trips in our time, and this was far and away the BEST trip we have ever had. The quality of the tennis drills and private instruction was exceptional.. The four different pros we worked with were knowledgeable, professional, and fun loving. We learned something valuable every day…and we had a lot of fun doing it. We would definitely come here again.
This is my second time visiting the Omni and it did not disappoint. What keeps bringing me back is the tennis. It is so well run. The clinics are top notch run by excellent coaches with a multitude of drills. I did a two hour clinic everyday followed by a private lesson. I especially enjoyed Hassan, Elliott and Rob. Jay was my pro for my lessons almost everyday and he was superb. He helped get my forehand under control which has been a long term goal of mine. He was fun and spot on in his tips for serves and volleys as well. I go on this trip alone because the timing doesn’t work out well for my family but 3 hours of tennis everyday and then sitting by the pool gives me the R&R I need. Lastly, I’ll say the customer service is absolutely amazing. I had a horrible headache my first day and the head of facilities Mr Richard’s was greeting people at the door and asked if he could help. He saw my racket and didn’t want me to be late for tennis so he told me to wait for the shuttle and he ran to the gift shop to get me a bottle of advil! Andrew at the front desk was also so helpful too.
Loved the tennis park!!
My daughter and I were back for the second time in 2 years and had an amazing experience once again. The staff are very attentive and the tennis instruction is phenomenal. The clinics are run very well with little to no downtime. Excellent player to pro ratio with lots of positivity and a lovely atmosphere. Over the 4 days we got to know them all quite well and became especially fond of Jay Smith. He is not only a very knowledgeable pro, but a fun guy and we had many laughs. Fabulous memories were made! We also connected with Xavier, Elliot and Hassan who were amazing as well. Kudos to all of you! We can’t wait to return!
We absolutely loved our stay at the Omni! The villas were perfect for our group of 10, the restaurants were delicious, and the pool and ocean were wonderful. Our tennis pros, Elliot Muth, Hassan Badran and Jay Smith were GREAT; the clinic were well run, high energy and a ton of fun!
Hassan Badran was excellent, knowledgeable, high energy and made our group’s clinics fun!
The tennis was excellent, I wish we could have played the whole time. Hassin did a wonderful job instructing us. we all left motivated and ready for more tennis. Despite a weekend full of rain, he worked hard to get us on the court as much as we could. If only the resort accommodations were as excellent as the tennis, the weekend would have been perfect. The Omni rooms were sadly very outdated and not at all what we expected from a stay at a reputable hotel like this.
Beautiful resort! So many offerings and things to do. I wish the weather would have been better, but the resort was amazing. And the staff did everything possible to make up for the rain. The tennis pros were incredibly helpful and entertaining. We had a blast.
My private lessons with Jay Smith were incredible. I let him know I was getting back into tennis after a long break and wanted to work on technique. He went into detail on my forehand, backhand, backhand slice, and serve and provided very detailed technique to improve my strokes and serve. He also watched me at the clinics and told me I played much better when I was aggressive and when are good times to use my defensive game. Both my friend and I left our private lessons saying they were the best private lessons we have ever had (and we both played tennis competitively in juniors and in college)!
This was my first time to the Omni Amelia Island. We had a group of 10 ladies scheduled for a weekend of tennis. The weather didn’t fully cooperate, but the tennis staff was very accommodating and did everything they could to make up our time. We had the pleasure of being coached by Jay, Elliot, Xavier, and Amy. They were all great! I had a fantastic weekend, and I’m already planning our next trip back!
Jay, Hassan and Elliot were the best! We had so much fun and learned so much.
A few things I would like to highlight in this review. First is the setting – the tennis resort is situated on the unparalleled Amelia Island. Amelia Island has pristine, always empty beaches on one side, on the other side is a beautiful intercoastal view. The courts themselves are surrounded by beautiful trees covered in Spanish moss like vegetation. The 23 courts are Har-Tru, easy on the joints and well maintained. The instruction and staff are top notch. They offer daily clinics at a reasonable price in addition to cardio tennis, speed doubles, doubles and bubbles, and other clinics on a weekly basis. If you are looking to improve your strokes, volleys, or doubles strategy, this is the place. The tennis resort is situated on the Omni Amelia Island resort. We always request a Tennis Villa, which are among the newest accommodations available. If you stay at a tennis villa, the 23 courts are right outside your building. In addition, the fitness center, indoor pool, and Verandah restaurant are all less than a 5-minute walk. The beach is less than a 10-minute walk. There are miles of biking trails that go right past the tennis resort or Tennis Villas leading to either Amelia Island State Park or Peters Point Beachfront Park. On the resort grounds are also Drummond Point, the Amelia Island Nature Center, and the beautiful Omni pool scape. The resort offers multiple restaurants including Verandah and Steak Out at Marche Burette. If you decide to head 15 minutes downtown, you’ll visit a quaint town with dozens of great restaurants and breweries. I’ve been to multiple tennis resorts in the United States and the Caribbean and hands down, this is the nicest one I have ever visited.
Elliot Muth-absolutely a professional in the tennis world. He’s a fantastic coach with tremendous amounts of patience. He has a gentle nature which makes learning so much easier. Jay Smith- A wonderful coach who is incredibly patient. He explains everything so well to make learning tennis easier. He has a very cool, calm demeanor that makes learning easier. Hassan Badran- Amazing coach with a wonderful personality. He makes tennis incredibly fun. Incredibly patient and is always laughing(with me) and smiling always. Truly an asset to the tennis team.
This doubles tennis camp blew me away. I loved that the ratio of players to coaches was 4:1. There was no standing around – we were playing constantly. The instruction was incredibly high quality. I was impressed with the knowledge and teaching skills of the young and seasoned coaches. The coaches knew how to work with every skill level and provided feedback and instruction in extremely digestible form for realistic situations. They also divided people up appropriately based on skill, which made the camp even more useful. Most importantly, the coaches brought pure joy to the court! I played hard and laughed hard. I have recommended this camp to my tennis friends and am already hoping to book another one soon. Even weeks later, I am still thinking about what I learned. The coaches at this camp have inspired me to be a better tennis player. I cannot thank them enough.
Amazing pros, wonderful surrounding, superb tennis instruction. Best weekend ever!
For a tennis retreat, highly, highly, highly recommend! The resort was awesome, our villa accommodations were lovely and comfortable. The restaurants and hotel bar were yummy. And the tennis instruction was phenomenal. As 2.5 players we needed more offensive and aggressive strategies and that’s certainly what we got. Learned a lot! And the price was amazing for what we got. Overall, loved!
We were a group of 7 that attended a weekend doubles tennis clinic, it was really informative and lots of fun! The pros were great, we came away with some really useful tips and our game improved in that short space of time. I would highly recommend and would say it would be fun whether you go as a group or just solo!
The tennis pros are all amazing at the Omni Resort in Amelia Island. They give 100% to their clinics and make playing fun. They teach concepts so that anyone can understand and remember. I highly recommend!
We went to this resort for the tennis, and it did not disappoint. We will go back just for the Tennis Pro’s. We stayed in a villa, and while it was good value and spacious it’s in serious need of updating. We were in the Shipwatch villas. On a positive note, we had extraordinary views of the ocean and the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. The resort staff were also very helpful and we found the restaurants to be varied and mostly delicious. We were visiting in what is regarded as off-season for Florida, in late December, but it was a wonderful trip, and we will definitely return.
I visited Cliff Drysdale Amelia Island the week between Christmas and New Year’s as a solo traveler and had a great experience. I highly recommend it as a place to strengthen your game and enjoy tennis with new people. The staff were all excellent teachers and fun people who enjoyed interacting with the guests. This made both clinics and lessons helpful in improving my game and lots of fun. I was always surprised that the time of each clinic/lesson passed so quickly. I took a series of private lessons with Xavier and was extremely happy with them. Rather than make fundamental changes to my game, he picked out concepts I knew already and reinforced them during our sessions. This was exactly what I hoped for. I asked him to be tough and demanding and he obliged, making me repeat drills and sequences of strokes until I got them right. At the same time, I saw him working with some beginner players and he very patiently taught fundamentals of the game in a fun way that had them excited to play more. He really helped me. This was a real highlight. I also joined the daily drills for several days. These sessions drew both resort guests and tennis-playing residents to fast-paced two hour sessions. Each day had a different theme, from volleys and overheads to doubles strategy to ground strokes to approach shots. A group of the tennis staff jointly led each session, which began with drills reinforcing the day’s skill and the moved to point play. The staff rotated groups with every drill, keeping everything fresh and providing the guests a variety of instruction styles. Xavier, Thien, Amy, Hassan, Rob, and Elliott kept us moving! I’m a 3.5 player and was probably in the upper third of the group as far as tennis experience. These clinics were also a real highlight. The location at Omni Amelia Island is really beautiful. The resort consists of a main hotel with outlying “villas” – privately owned, centrally managed condominiums – on the northernmost Atlantic barrier island in Florida. The construction of the resort skillfully takes advantage of the thick oak forest on the island so that a maximum amount of the forest remains. My villa was very comfortable, nicely decorated, and had a spectacular view of the ocean. There is an efficient shuttle service for getting around the large resort but because I visited during a slow period I didn’t end up using it. The tennis facility is in character for the resort, with something like 25 har-tru courts spaced among the trees. I imagine it can get really hot during the summer, but I had sunny, cool weather each day I was there. There were several nice restaurants on the resort at different levels of fancy-ness, and several more in nearby Fernandina Beach. Despite playing 4 hours of tennis per day, I think I gained weight during the week. Weaknesses were few. While the pro shop staff were always efficient and friendly, virtually all the gear there was for women. I hoped for at least a t-shirt to take home as a souvenir. Also, the restaurant hours at the resort were somewhat unusual during the slow season, but I doubt this would be an issue during the warmer months. Overall a very successful, enjoyable trip. I’m looking forward to using my newly-honed skills to show up my tennis group back home. Next time, I’ll look to bring the family.
My tennis experience was fantastic. Rob, Thien, Hasan, Brian, Xavier, and Amy were all awesome.
Unparallelled tennis camp, lessons, staff, professionals! Resort itself old but well-kept. The Beechwood Villas were bland, worn and dull. Stocked with the very minimum of necessities, especially in kitchen. Gorgeous beach and wonderful pools. 82 gazillion children if you’re looking for a good family atmosphere. I’ll return but not for the resort-just for the well-run tennis camp, its facilities and the tennis staff. Not for the resort..
We are two adults and one seven year old child and we just returned from our second week long trip this year to the Omni Amelia Island for a family tennis vacation. Our child participated in the holiday tennis camp and we participated in the group clinics. The clinics are high energy and fun. All three of us also took private lessons. First and foremost, the tennis instruction is exceptional. We worked with Rob, Thien, Hassan, Xavier, Bryan, Eliot and Amy. Each was organized with a plan for each lesson. The pros actually observed our performance at the clinics and tailored the lessons to address weaknesses in our game. We all noticeably improved after each visit. Our child enjoys the tennis camp and was always excited to go. The tennis camp ran concurrently with the adult tennis clinics, enabling our participation in the adult clinics. On days that the tennis camp was not offered, our child participated in Camp Amelia at the Omni, which was also fantastic. Again, our child was always excited to go. Camp Amelia is also offered on Friday and Saturday nights, allowing us adults to have an evening out. The Omni is a lovely setting–especially for families. We plan to return again in 2024.
Instruction was excellent. Elliot was high energy and always supportive. Hassan was very patient and kept helping. Brian was engaged and suggested new strategies. Thien was motivated to see improvement and kept encouraging.
Excellent resort with a variety of incredible activities. But not much to do on a rainy day so make sure it’s sunny.
Very strong tennis program, well structured instruction that was amazing in the way it incorporated all player levels in one session. Hassan is an awesome pro with excellent teaching style. Loved speed doubles at night.. My only issues were with my lodging… fleas/bedbugs, no wifi, etc. this is unrelated to tennis