What am I doing at Pinehurst, the largest of all the country’s golf resorts? I’m the guy, after all, who when asked whether he ever takes a set of clubs and heads for the fairways replies, “Excuse me? Golf is a four-letter word.” The last place I ought to be spending a weekend is in a North Carolina village.
Pinehurst does, of course, have good tennis credentials. From 1994-96 this was the site of the U.S. Clay Court Championships, an era that drew Patrick Rafter, David Wheaton, Todd Martin, Mats Wilander and the Woodies, among others. The tennis clubhouse, built in the same white clapboard as the historic hotel, anchors a complex of 16 clay courts. This is at once a club for some 350 members and a major resort amenity. It also hosts the National Men’s 70s, 85s, and 90s Championships and the N.C. Tennis Weekend, this last the kickoff event of the year for all industry leaders within USTA/NC.
The golf notwithstanding, tennis has an ever-strengthening foothold on guests’ time. “We see our resort tennis business growing,” Downing told me. A North Carolina native himself, he has been a part of Pinehurst for over a decade, having started out as head pro. Since taking over the directorship he has doubled the number of daily clinics—there are over a dozen weekly clinics as well as eight summer day camps for kids. He’s also been even more focused on game matching: “We try to contact people in advance to set up matches if we know they’re coming down,” he says. “We try to go the extra mile.” He has those 350 active members to draw on.
Meanwhile, the resort also has a spa, a fitness center, a large children’s playground next to the hotel, and children’s programs. The 16 conscientiously maintained clay courts are a five-minute walk from the historic hotel and so is the historic village of Pinehurst and its shops and restaurants. There are also three swimming pools on the property, croquet and lawn bowl courts adjacent to the main golf clubhouse, pickleball courts, an equestrian center, and even a lake with a beach and marina. And the amenities continue with seven restaurants.
In a peculiar way there are actually advantages to being at a resort most of whose guests are golfers. Court time is much easier to come by—and free on tennis packages. Granted, the infatuation with golf is inescapable, from the paintings of professional golfers, past and current, lining the walls to a rich wood-paneled bar called the Ryder Cup Lounge. But rather that sit inside and eavesdrop as golfers lament their performances on the fabled Donald Ross-designed No. 2, one of the top-ranked courses in the nation, I took my beer out onto the broad covered porch and relaxed in one of the many rocking chairs. You can spend a weekend here and never have to utter that four-letter word once.
Off Court
Golf Courses: Pinehurst has 8, including the legendary No. 2, which is considered Donald Ross’s masterpiece.
Accommodations
Lodging at Pinehurst consists of the main old hotel, two inns (Manor and Holly) and condos.
I had a fantastic time. From the minute you step on the property, the staff was friendly, smart and accommodating. The facilities were clean and top notch.
FM
Our Tennis Weekend at Pinehurst was a successful one. The clinics and instruction were comprehensive and of high quality. Two hour morning and afternoon sessions gave us different scenarios using specific shots and score totals. I found it challenging and a departure from typical club clinics. Early outdoor spring tennis was fun!!
JM
Such a beautiful setting with elegant charm. I would say this resort is ideal for adults wanted to be pampered while playing tennis on great courts with great pros.. Not sure if it is the place for vacation with children unless they are also avid golfers or tennis players. There is a great outdoor pool if the weather is suitable.. The tennis pros were very knowledgeable and upbeat . Clinics were arranged for our group and we played for over 4 hours a day . Everyone left the courts tired and happy with a lot of techniques to work on. The courts are hard-tru and very well maintained. We also had fun shopping in the pro shop. There was a great variety. For me the highlights beyond the tennis, were the spa and restaurant. The food was amazing! The spa had an indoor lap pool along with everything else one would expect at a 5 star spa. The entire resort staff was exceptional! Waiters were attentive and friendly, doors were opened with extreme courtesy, and the woman in the coffee shop was great Overall we had an amazing tennis experience, with great food. Definitely will return
DH
Fun
RS
Comprehensive 2 -day tennis camp. Covered all aspects of the game and put players into live action drills to work on strategies. Solid and insightful feedback on weaknesses/strengths. Communication was positive and enjoyable.
MD
It was a great weekend, lots if tennis great instruction the video instruction of my serve finally allowed me to visualize the changes that needed to be made. The food was wonderful. Had the upgraded accommodations and the hotel was lovely.
TB
I love the Pinehurst adult tennis camp weekends. The instructors are great and they make all the drills fun. They will video your strokes and your serve and really work with you on any specific areas of concern. The resort is great as far as accommodations (I prefer the Holly Inn over the main resort) and the restaurants.
DP
Great clay courts, well groomed. Staff is very friendly. Instructors are great. Tennis experience is great, but so is the rest of the vacation activities. The resort had several activities for families (ids game room) and outside of tennis package.
LK
The Pinehurst facility is very open and the staff are very friendly. We did a GrandSlam tennis package and really liked both pros that we worked with. One was a stroke of the day clinic and the other was private lesson- both of which we got useful tips and fun drills from. The package included dinner at the Ryder Cup which was enoyable and they actually had live music on the porch when we were there. We will definitely go back again.
PH
Excellent facilities and great setting. Meals are aoutstanding. Responsiveness of Tennis staff needs improvement. We did not hear back from 2 emails and phone calls re putting a package together for out tennis team.
SP
Our tennis team attended a wonderful weekend of clinics which were very helpful to my 4.0 game. I improved in both physical and mental toughness. The staff was very professional and attentive to individual instruction as well as the group. I especially liked that they video taped our serves. To see it on screen along with the tips on how to improve it were very useful. I would like to go back for another weekend clinic.
TB
My husband and I had a get away couple of days for our anniversary. Pinehurst was wonderful. We had a fantastic time. The tennis instruction was excellent, they also made attempts to find matches for us. The accomodations were very quaint and we loved walking the area. The food was out of this world.
MO
Planned our 4th Annual tennis clinic weekend with the girls at Pinehurst for June. Matt and his staff are wonderful instructors and the video analysis although painful, is most helpful. The Holly Inn and Village is conducive to a wonderful weekend although you are exhausted after 2 days of instruction and the match play.
JM
One of the best weekend intensive camps I have ever participated in. Camp included fast-paced drills, live action doubles play and video analysis. Two pros, Matt and Kevin were prepared, knowledgable and gave clear and concise instruction. After playing doubles (and clinics) for many years, I came away from the weekend armed with a few new weapons. Great tennis experience!
SN
Overall, this was a fun, relaxing atmosphere with solid tennis instruction. I was with a group of 10 women. We had 2 instructors, Matt and Kevin to ourselves. We stayed in The Manor and our only complaint was that there are no mirrors it the bedrooms. It’s hard for 2 women to get ready at the same time with one mirror. (in the shared bathroom.) Package price included 4 great meals.
EF
The tennis pros are extremely informative and help with several aspects of the game (doubles strategy, serving, ground strokes, drop shots, lobes, and more). The video analyzes was a favorite as it helps to see what you’re doing incorrect. with several pros to rotate through you get many different prospectives on your game. Regarding weaknesses, there were really none to note. The camp program was extremely instructional and enjoyable. I’ll go back as soon as I can.
RB
Very good camp. Good instruction with emphasis on skills that are readily and more easily addresses in the time frame allowed for this camp(2 days). Will definitely try to get a larger group together for the camp next year.
My wife and I went down for our 15th anniversary. Had a great, great time. Great meals, wonderful staff, didn’t get in our car all weekend. The tennis instruction was fantastic. Lars is a great guy who makes the instruction enjoyable and informative. He went out of his way to make our instruction a lot of fun. Would highly recommend this to any tennis enthusiast.
GR
I just recently attended a day clinic with 10 other women from Johnston and Wake Co.(Raleigh, NC area). I think all of us had a great time and really appreciated Matt’s and Kevin’s clinics and stradegy. We look forward to doing it again, probably in the fall of 2010 if not before. Thanks for your help and now I will try to put it to good use. Gloria Rowe
JL
A very good experience. The instructor was great and the woman arranging our clinics etc. was very efficient to work with.
LW
It was a lovely, relaxing weekend. Our tennis pro was terrific and we all considered the trip a huge success. The only negative was that one of us wanted to buy a new tennis racket and the person running the pro shop didn’t know pricing, how to order one, or anything else to do with a racket purchase. It’s too bad as my friend would have bought the racket she demoed on the spot.
RW
Beautiful Facility; Shuttle Bus to Property; Great Coach
LW
I would tell my friend that was enjoyable, fun, and learning experince, to include lodging and food.
KZ
I loved the Adult Tennis Weekend at Pinehurst. We were on the courts for 12 hours over a two-day period and received more than 7 hours of top-notch instruction. The tennis pros were very personable and the video-analysis was extremely valuable. Pinehurst was a beautiful setting at which we had the chance to tune up our games, rest, relax, dine in 5 star restaurants walk the quait town, ride bikes and lounge at the spa! It was the perfect place to go with my tennis playing friends – for a girls weekend away! I would recommend this resort and tennis program to anyone!
MP
Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Great instructors and excellent facility. Outstanding scenery and location.
FH
Pinehurst is a beautiful place and the courts are excellent. The Adult Tennis Camp was just the right amount of tennis and instruction. The pros were responsive and smart. Make sure you go with people at your level so you can work with them.
CK
Woonderful tennis resort. Just a wonderful resort overall. People were extremely friendly from the front desk to our tennis instructors. The instructors Matt and Kevin were great at analyzing my game and suggesting changes for improvement. The lessons and clinics were fun and instructive. The clay courts were well groomed and maintained. The grounds were beautiful. Everything was first rate! The pro shop was filled with quality items with lots of variety. The framed welcoming sign with my name and my husband’s on it at the pro shop entrance was a very nice touch and much appreciated. We felt special from that moment on.
RW
Good instruction. Would like to play with teammate on match play rather than others. Would prefer for the video taping during the match play.
KH
Pinehurst is a beautiful resort! The accommodations and food were EXCELLENT! The staff were both attentive and energetic! The tennis instruction was great and I learned a great deal about my play.
DA
The Pinehurst Resort and staff are truly wonderful. My group reservation contact upgraded us free of charge to one of the Villa units that had a shared hospitality suite in the middle of four connected rooms. We received 10 hours instruction with video analysis, free court time, breakfast, dinner and lodging for 2 nights for $405 each (that $ included a 10% discount for USTA members). We had great dinners and ordered straight off the menu, three course meals, all of which were included in the package. The tennis staff were very attentive and offered a free social with appetizers and beverages the first night. They talked strategy and seemed genuinely interested. The drills were very good and ones that we could take home and practice. The instruction was good, but not great. Out of three teaching pros, only one really offered instruction. Match play was also fun but the competition varied. If your goal was a weekend social get away centered around playing tennis, learning a few things and having fun, this is a perfect setting. Our group will definitely return for next year’s Adult Tennis Camp!
PM
The Pinehurst Tennis Camp was everything I wanted and more. The coaches were knowledgeable, patient, and could handle each participant’s level of tennis. The schedule was rigorous and packed with drills, game strategy, and fun. The individual videos of our strokes and serves were extremely helpful for making improvements to our game. The only weakness–it was too short! I had a ball. Also, the resort was a great setting. The grounds were beautiful, the hotel was top-notch, the hotel staff was extremely accommodating, and the food was great. I plan to return to Pinehurst next year!
CH
The training/coaching, personal and group feedback, personal (but diverse) styles of coaches, schedule, and hotel amenities were superb. The video feedback was an excellent feature to enable me to see some of the adjustments I needed to make that the coaches described to me on the court. This experience has inspired me to get back on the court after a 10-year hiatus. Well worth the cost. I’LL BE BACK!!!!
KB
Great location and nice tennis courts. Instruction was very hands-on and the video critique was very useful. Resort amenities, particularly the dining, were top notch. The rooms could use a bit of updating, but overall a great experience. I highly recommend the Tennis Camp. We did a “girl’s weekend” with members of our tennis team so we’ve been able to use the skills we learned at Pinehurst for our league play.
PS
Excellent coaching and facilities. Not to many matchups however.
WR
The tennis was great and the instruction was outstanding. The weakness is actually going through the resort vs. the tennis center. With a package deal you aren’t exactly sure how much things cost because it is always different when you check out vs. what was in the brochure. I will be back to take lessons though, but I will go through the tennis center and find my own place to stay.
SY
Quaint town and fun packages
LC
Instruction was very good and the pro was very personable and gave us tips and skills that we could perform and take back to our own league and practice!
DK
Friendly and welcoming staff. Kevin Criscoe is a great pro and fun to work with. Beautiful facilities.
AB
Pinehurst is beautiful. All of the facilities were well kept with helpful staff. We had a great time. The only negative was that there weren’t that many other tennis players. It looks like they changed their tennis package b/c I noticed that they are currently offering more court time and more group involvement etc.
40 Reviews on “Pinehurst Resort”
I had a fantastic time. From the minute you step on the property, the staff was friendly, smart and accommodating. The facilities were clean and top notch.
Our Tennis Weekend at Pinehurst was a successful one. The clinics and instruction were comprehensive and of high quality. Two hour morning and afternoon sessions gave us different scenarios using specific shots and score totals. I found it challenging and a departure from typical club clinics. Early outdoor spring tennis was fun!!
Such a beautiful setting with elegant charm. I would say this resort is ideal for adults wanted to be pampered while playing tennis on great courts with great pros.. Not sure if it is the place for vacation with children unless they are also avid golfers or tennis players. There is a great outdoor pool if the weather is suitable.. The tennis pros were very knowledgeable and upbeat . Clinics were arranged for our group and we played for over 4 hours a day . Everyone left the courts tired and happy with a lot of techniques to work on. The courts are hard-tru and very well maintained. We also had fun shopping in the pro shop. There was a great variety. For me the highlights beyond the tennis, were the spa and restaurant. The food was amazing! The spa had an indoor lap pool along with everything else one would expect at a 5 star spa. The entire resort staff was exceptional! Waiters were attentive and friendly, doors were opened with extreme courtesy, and the woman in the coffee shop was great Overall we had an amazing tennis experience, with great food. Definitely will return
Fun
Comprehensive 2 -day tennis camp. Covered all aspects of the game and put players into live action drills to work on strategies. Solid and insightful feedback on weaknesses/strengths. Communication was positive and enjoyable.
It was a great weekend, lots if tennis great instruction the video instruction of my serve finally allowed me to visualize the changes that needed to be made. The food was wonderful. Had the upgraded accommodations and the hotel was lovely.
I love the Pinehurst adult tennis camp weekends. The instructors are great and they make all the drills fun. They will video your strokes and your serve and really work with you on any specific areas of concern. The resort is great as far as accommodations (I prefer the Holly Inn over the main resort) and the restaurants.
Great clay courts, well groomed. Staff is very friendly. Instructors are great. Tennis experience is great, but so is the rest of the vacation activities. The resort had several activities for families (ids game room) and outside of tennis package.
The Pinehurst facility is very open and the staff are very friendly. We did a GrandSlam tennis package and really liked both pros that we worked with. One was a stroke of the day clinic and the other was private lesson- both of which we got useful tips and fun drills from.
The package included dinner at the Ryder Cup which was enoyable and they actually had live music on the porch when we were there. We will definitely go back again.
Excellent facilities and great setting. Meals are aoutstanding. Responsiveness of Tennis staff needs improvement. We did not hear back from 2 emails and phone calls re putting a package together for out tennis team.
Our tennis team attended a wonderful weekend of clinics which were very helpful to my 4.0 game. I improved in both physical and mental toughness. The staff was very professional and attentive to individual instruction as well as the group.
I especially liked that they video taped our serves. To see it on screen along with the tips on how to improve it were very useful. I would like to go back for another weekend clinic.
My husband and I had a get away couple of days for our anniversary. Pinehurst was wonderful. We had a fantastic time. The tennis instruction was excellent, they also made attempts to find matches for us. The accomodations were very quaint and we loved walking the area. The food was out of this world.
Planned our 4th Annual tennis clinic weekend with the girls at Pinehurst for June. Matt and his staff are wonderful instructors and the video analysis although painful, is most helpful. The Holly Inn and Village is conducive to a wonderful weekend although you are exhausted after 2 days of instruction and the match play.
One of the best weekend intensive camps I have ever participated in. Camp included fast-paced drills, live action doubles play and video analysis. Two pros, Matt and Kevin were prepared, knowledgable and gave clear and concise instruction. After playing doubles (and clinics) for many years, I came away from the weekend armed with a few new weapons. Great tennis experience!
Overall, this was a fun, relaxing atmosphere with solid tennis instruction. I was with a group of 10 women. We had 2 instructors, Matt and Kevin to ourselves. We stayed in The Manor and our only complaint was that there are no mirrors it the bedrooms. It’s hard for 2 women to get ready at the same time with one mirror. (in the shared bathroom.) Package price included 4 great meals.
The tennis pros are extremely informative and help with several aspects of the game (doubles strategy, serving, ground strokes, drop shots, lobes, and more). The video analyzes was a favorite as it helps to see what you’re doing incorrect. with several pros to rotate through you get many different prospectives on your game. Regarding weaknesses, there were really none to note. The camp program was extremely instructional and enjoyable. I’ll go back as soon as I can.
Very good camp. Good instruction with emphasis on skills that are readily and more easily addresses in the time frame allowed for this camp(2 days). Will definitely try to get a larger group together for the camp next year.
Strengths: facilities tennis pros — outstanding organization of camp — outstanding Weaknesses: None.
My wife and I went down for our 15th anniversary. Had a great, great time. Great meals, wonderful staff, didn’t get in our car all weekend. The tennis instruction was fantastic. Lars is a great guy who makes the instruction enjoyable and informative. He went out of his way to make our instruction a lot of fun. Would highly recommend this to any tennis enthusiast.
I just recently attended a day clinic with 10 other women from Johnston and Wake Co.(Raleigh, NC area). I think all of us had a great time and really appreciated Matt’s and Kevin’s clinics and stradegy. We look forward to doing it again, probably in the fall of 2010 if not before. Thanks for your help and now I will try to put it to good use. Gloria Rowe
A very good experience. The instructor was great and the woman arranging our clinics etc. was very efficient to work with.
It was a lovely, relaxing weekend. Our tennis pro was terrific and we all considered the trip a huge success. The only negative was that one of us wanted to buy a new tennis racket and the person running the pro shop didn’t know pricing, how to order one, or anything else to do with a racket purchase. It’s too bad as my friend would have bought the racket she demoed on the spot.
Beautiful Facility; Shuttle Bus to Property; Great Coach
I would tell my friend that was enjoyable, fun, and learning experince, to include lodging and food.
I loved the Adult Tennis Weekend at Pinehurst. We were on the courts for 12 hours over a two-day period and received more than 7 hours of top-notch instruction. The tennis pros were very personable and the video-analysis was extremely valuable. Pinehurst was a beautiful setting at which we had the chance to tune up our games, rest, relax, dine in 5 star restaurants walk the quait town, ride bikes and lounge at the spa! It was the perfect place to go with my tennis playing friends – for a girls weekend away! I would recommend this resort and tennis program to anyone!
Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Great instructors and excellent facility. Outstanding scenery and location.
Pinehurst is a beautiful place and the courts are excellent. The Adult Tennis Camp was just the right amount of tennis and instruction. The pros were responsive and smart. Make sure you go with people at your level so you can work with them.
Woonderful tennis resort. Just a wonderful resort overall. People were extremely friendly from the front desk to our tennis instructors. The instructors Matt and Kevin were great at analyzing my game and suggesting changes for improvement. The lessons and clinics were fun and instructive. The clay courts were well groomed and maintained. The grounds were beautiful. Everything was first rate! The pro shop was filled with quality items with lots of variety. The framed welcoming sign with my name and my husband’s on it at the pro shop entrance was a very nice touch and much appreciated. We felt special from that moment on.
Good instruction. Would like to play with teammate on match play rather than others. Would prefer for the video taping during the match play.
Pinehurst is a beautiful resort! The accommodations and food were EXCELLENT! The staff were both attentive and energetic! The tennis instruction was great and I learned a great deal about my play.
The Pinehurst Resort and staff are truly wonderful. My group reservation contact upgraded us free of charge to one of the Villa units that had a shared hospitality suite in the middle of four connected rooms. We received 10 hours instruction with video analysis, free court time, breakfast, dinner and lodging for 2 nights for $405 each (that $ included a 10% discount for USTA members). We had great dinners and ordered straight off the menu, three course meals, all of which were included in the package.
The tennis staff were very attentive and offered a free social with appetizers and beverages the first night. They talked strategy and seemed genuinely interested. The drills were very good and ones that we could take home and practice. The instruction was good, but not great. Out of three teaching pros, only one really offered instruction. Match play was also fun but the competition varied.
If your goal was a weekend social get away centered around playing tennis, learning a few things and having fun, this is a perfect setting. Our group will definitely return for next year’s Adult Tennis Camp!
The Pinehurst Tennis Camp was everything I wanted and more. The coaches were knowledgeable, patient, and could handle each participant’s level of tennis. The schedule was rigorous and packed with drills, game strategy, and fun. The individual videos of our strokes and serves were extremely helpful for making improvements to our game. The only weakness–it was too short! I had a ball.
Also, the resort was a great setting. The grounds were beautiful, the hotel was top-notch, the hotel staff was extremely accommodating, and the food was great. I plan to return to Pinehurst next year!
The training/coaching, personal and group feedback, personal (but diverse) styles of coaches, schedule, and hotel amenities were superb. The video feedback was an excellent feature to enable me to see some of the adjustments I needed to make that the coaches described to me on the court. This experience has inspired me to get back on the court after a 10-year hiatus. Well worth the cost. I’LL BE BACK!!!!
Great location and nice tennis courts. Instruction was very hands-on and the video critique was very useful. Resort amenities, particularly the dining, were top notch. The rooms could use a bit of updating, but overall a great experience. I highly recommend the Tennis Camp. We did a “girl’s weekend” with members of our tennis team so we’ve been able to use the skills we learned at Pinehurst for our league play.
Excellent coaching and facilities. Not to many matchups however.
The tennis was great and the instruction was outstanding. The weakness is actually going through the resort vs. the tennis center. With a package deal you aren’t exactly sure how much things cost because it is always different when you check out vs. what was in the brochure. I will be back to take lessons though, but I will go through the tennis center and find my own place to stay.
Quaint town and fun packages
Instruction was very good and the pro was very personable and gave us tips and skills that we could perform and take back to our own league and practice!
Friendly and welcoming staff. Kevin Criscoe is a great pro and fun to work with. Beautiful facilities.
Pinehurst is beautiful. All of the facilities were well kept with helpful staff. We had a great time. The only negative was that there weren’t that many other tennis players. It looks like they changed their tennis package b/c I noticed that they are currently offering more court time and more group involvement etc.