Saddlebrook Resort has a well-deserved reputation for staging one of the most—if not, the most—demanding tennis programs on the planet. The underlying philosophy owes much to the training techniques of the legendary Australian Davis Cup coach and notorious taskmaster Harry Hopman. His was a taxing regimen designed at once to improve technique and push the envelope of his charge’s stamina and endurance. That reputation for toughness draws aspiring juniors to its academy and committed adults, the latter attracted to the blend of rigorous workouts and Saddlebrook’s full resort amenities.
Saddlebrook Resort garnered awards for its design when it opened in 1981. The 480-acre layout, 25 miles north of Tampa, places the lodging, restaurants, shops, a lakesize swimming pool, tennis courts, spa, golf clubhouse, and meeting rooms at the center of a halo of golf fairways, condos, and residential neighborhoods. Centralizing all of the major amenities creates what they call a “Walking Village.” Foliage is lush, ponds and lakes dot the property, and birds are abundant, including several endangered species for which this is a refuge and a rookery.
This is hardly the setting you’d expect for the mother of all hard-core tennis camps, but having all those amenities provides relief from the rigors of the daily regimen while its guard gate provides privacy and security—one reason touring pros visit between tournaments to work on their games. Its juniors, both live-in and short term, hope the program will set them on the road to greatness (or at least a college scholarship), while adults come looking to get in shape, test their physical mettle, or perhaps search for a magic elixir to cure, once and for all, the flaws in their game. It is also often true that the adults frequently underestimate the physical demands a program like this makes, and that even though none has ever in his or her life played five hours of tennis a day, they somehow think they are ready for five hours a day of drills.
Although the historical philosophy of the program has to push you to the point that your game breaks down, find what is salvageable in the rubble, and rebuild from there. That said, after my last visit I came away thinking that this approach has mellowed somewhat in recent years. In my early participation in the Hopman program, as it was known then, I remember being chastised for ignoring a feed too wide for me to reach, only to have the next fed wider until I learned that it was crucial to make an attempt even when you thought you had no chance of reaching the balls. I remember, too, the so-called “bucket of ball” drills and “kamikaze” drills that had you scampering right and left and back again until you pleaded exhaustion or the pro was convinced you’d had enough.
My sense is that while the regimen remains demanding, the boot-camp approach has been abandoned. None of the pros on my latest visit adopted an in-your-face drill sergeant’s demeanor (though I was told that if that’s what you want, it is available). Instead, they established key concepts essential to hitting well—early preparation, eyes on the ball, full follow-through—and then ran drills and competitive exercises to put those concepts into practice. Still, there were times when we were grateful for the break afforded by the need to pick up balls.
Although there are exceptions, you typically stay with the same pro throughout your stay (barring his or her days off), so they oversee your progress first-hand. They tailor the work to the abilities of the campers they oversee. Rather than stand in one place and hit picture-perfect strokes, you pretty much have to run for every ball. Like the pros, you’ll do a lot of two-on-one drills, and if your skills permit it live-ball drills and competitive games with the other campers on your court. The process can be exhilarating, demoralizing, or both, but you will come away from this program knowing where you stand with respect to your aerobic conditioning and what you really need to do to take your game to the next level.
If courts alone were the measure of a great tennis resort, then Saddlebrook would rank near the top. It has 45 courts altogether, including hard, clay, red clay, Rebound Ace (the surface formerly used at the Australian Open) and grass, all of which—the grass included—are available to guests. The major complex is near the center of the resort. There is a secondary complex a mile away in Lakeside Village, which is also the site of the 3,000-square-foot fitness center and high-performance complex and where the juniors enrolled in the academy work out. All of the courts are laid out in clusters of two to five separated by an awning-covered patio furnished with chairs and a refrigerated water fountain.
Tennis Staff: Although Harry Hopman, the legendary Australian Davis Cup coach, died in 1985, the organization he built survives. The core group of staff, many longtime Saddlebrook pros, expands and contracts based on how many adults are enrolled in the programs—as many as are needed to keep the student:pro ratio at 4:1 of less.
Tennis Programs: Although the resort itself offers some perfunctory stroke-of-the-day clinics (run by tennis-academy staff), the real reason a tennis player would come here is the Hopman-inspired camps.
Unlike some other dedicated facilities and college-campus programs, Hopman’s does not include any meals in the package, so for other dining you’re left to fend for yourself at the quite good but pricey restaurants at the resort itself or pile into cars for trips beyond the resort. Caveat: The Saddlebrook program can be among the most physically demanding of all the camps, so start a workout regimen weeks before you come down. Bring two pairs of tennis shoes, several changes of clothes (washers and dryers are available in each lodging cluster), a hat, sunblock, two racquets if you have them (broken strings are commonplace), and overgrip.
Off Court
Golf Courses: Saddlebrook has two 18-hole courses, both designed by Arnold Palmer, and an Arnold Palmer Golf Academy. Tee times for any of the following courses can be reserved.
Palmer Course: This course is characterized by open, undulating fairways, and an abundance of lakes, streams and ponds. Par: 71. Length: 5,212-6,469 yards.
Saddlebrook Course: Though flatter than the Palmer course, this one is also tighter, with tree-lined fairways and water on most of its holes. Par: 70. Length: 5,183-6,603 yards.
Spa & Fitness Center: The 7,000-square-foot Spa in the walking village has 12 treatment rooms offering massages, hydrotherapy treatments, and some beauty services; however, it is currently closed. Campers who can still walk at the end of the day are welcome to use the 3,300-square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness center in Lakeside Village, a 10-minute walk from the Superpool, but it’s rate that anyone does so. It has a full line of Cybex equipment plus treadmills, stair steppers, recumbent bicycles, elliptical trainers, and rubber-encased freeweights all in rooms with views of a swimming pool or volley ball pit. Personal trainers are on hand to help you craft a workout regimen. There is also an adjacent high-performance sports center, which offers specialized training programs often to professional athletes.
The centerpiece of the resort is its half-million-gallon, amoeba-shaped Superpool, said to be the largest in Florida. At 270 feet long, it is vast enough to contain a 25-meter lap pool, water volleyball and water basketball courts, and a diving area. Around it are children’s wading pools and two heated whirlpools. There is another swimming pool near the Sports Village & Fitness Center. Otherwise, recreation run to bike trails around the property and bass fishing in the privately stocked lakes.
Children's programs: The S’Kids Club operates year round providing supervised activities for kids ages 4-12.
Dining: The TD’s Sports Bar has light fare and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dempsey’s Steakhouse is currently closed; however it’s menu prime beef and seafood is available at TD’s Sports Bar. There’s also a pool bar for lunch and poolside cocktails.
Accommodations
There are a total of 790 rooms and suites at Saddlebrook, most of them in 50-unit clusters variously arrayed near the main clubhouse and pool, or out along the golf fairways. Each cluster has an ice machine and washer/dryer. The most basic accommodation is a hotel room with two double beds and a private balcony or patio. The alternatives are one- and two-bedroom suites (which anywhere else would be called condos). These have full kitchens (with coffee makers and dishwashers; most have microwaves, if not you can request one), separate living and dining areas, and one or two bedrooms, each with a full bath. The living room opens onto a patio or balcony. High-speed Internet access is available throughout the resort.
Anyone who enrolls in the Saddlebrook International Tennis program is eligible for discounted room rates. By booking tennis and lodging together, you get a deluxe guest room, 5 hours/day of intensive tennis, complimentary court time, daily lunch, and access to the fitness center and spa. One- and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens are also available.
Getting there
Seasons: The resort and its Hopman tennis programs operate year-round; however, given the grueling nature of these clinics, you should think twice about coming in summer—unless, of course, you want to work out in hot, humid conditions. Principally for that reason, the camps are generally two to three times larger during the fall, winter, and spring than in summer.
Excellent tennis instruction, exceeded my expectations and I will definitely be back…..with more friends! Thank you Howard, Curly, Pat, Rod!
JB
Steve was an AWESOME!!!! teacher!
AV
everything was EXCELLENT!
JA
Terrific for any player, at any level, at any age! My friend and I, both newer 3.0 level players, booked a weekend “girl’s getaway” to Saddlebrook thinking we might pick up a few pointers and sharpen skills. After all, how much improvement could one expect in just 2 days of coaching? Well, little did we know what the Hopman Program could do for a couple of club hackers until they were through with us! (Of course, we didn’t know we were such hackers until they unraveled our game and re-built it into something more worthy of a modern tennis racket!) Although every pro displayed a passion for the game and treated each player as if their was an “Open” in their future, I have to make special mention of Curley…the miracle maker! His expertise is only surpassed by his unique ability to take potentially complicated stroke and strategy details and turn them into something simple and easy to duplicate. Curley will have you thinking you’re just a fast learner, but the truth is, he’s a skilled teacher! His humor and constant encouragement had us so motivated, that he actually had to remind us to stop and drink the cold water they provided. Overall, we felt that what we gained from the Hopman Program was worth the price of the entire trip! We considered our beautiful 2 bedroom suite with a balcony overlooking a their pristine property, like a bonus that came free with the lessons! …along with the enormous pools, tiki bar (great rum runners!), and delicious breakfast buffet. We are definitely going back, but we’re still undecided as to whether it’s more fun for a “girl’s weekend”, or better to bring the guys back for some lessons and a romantic get-away. We only encountered one problem the whole time…a fear that our opponents will discover our little secret and book a trip to Saddlebrook! Argh!
JM
I’m 46 and a usta 5.5 player…went down with a buddy who is a 3.5….Howard Moore and curly Davis did a great job of matching our experience to our ability….I worked out with some excellent young pros who were very helpful to me and gave me some tips I had not heard before…they are very friendly down there as well…if you have a special need howard or curly worked hard to accommodate…..I went down there to work out some specific kinks and they drilled me and put me in the pressure situations I liked…they are a great place for a beginner to an advanced player….I would highly recommend.
CH
Nice facilities, lots of tennis, good instruction and enthusiastic staff and instructors. Everyone goes out of their way to make sure you’re happpy and having fun. Very quiet in the off season, not much to do at the resort at night, although not much energy after all that tennis anyway! More crowded with locals on the weekend.
RW
Saddlebrook’s adult tennis program has a country club atmosphere and is ideal if you enjoy golf as well. The head of the program is a superb teacher who exudes enthusiasm. His instructors are hit or miss. Over the years I have come to appreciate some of the instructors’ instruction, including changing my forehand grip to semi-western, and come to regret others, including some overly complicated ideas regarding my serve. Probably the greatest weakness is their use of young inexperienced instructors with heavily accented English who don’t share the enthusiasm of their charismatic leader. Still, they’ll hit a thousand balls at you so you’ll definitely leave a better player.
LJ
I’m just back from a week at the Saddlebrook Tennis Academy, and since it was a great week, I thought I should drop a note with some of my great impressions – specifically about John Fritts and Curley Davis. My son and I first met Curley walking towards the courts – early at 7:45, we didn’t really know where to go, but he pointed us in the right direction. What a great guy, and a good way to start our day. He met us over there to start our week, and then he was kind enough to drive my son to his group on the other side of the camp resort. I had some issues with my son during the week – he was complaining about the heat (it was about 98), the fitness drills, didn’t want to go some days… general kids stuff. The great thing about Curley was that since I saw him every day on the “adult side,” we spoke often, and he actually cared enough about my son to make sure he got over there every day and to see how he was doing, not to mention a couple rides! From my perspective, the camp was really well organized – I’m still not sure how Curly did it, but every day we started out with an organized warmup, he got new people coming in with new pros, and since it was so hot, he made sure we had towels, water and Gatorade. He managed to get players of similar abilities together every day, which seems almost impossible to me. One day he even drove us to the grass courts to play a few games over there – another day he drove us home! He actually did the videotaping; which was great, and worked with John to review our strokes on the TV– one of the most interesting parts of the week. I had a ton of questions during the week – even extending my stay by a half day – and Curley was always there to answer them. I’d have to say that one of my favorite parts was him “motivating” me from the next court over! I can totally see how having Curley running the Adult program is the best thing for everyone. In addition, the pro I was with the whole week I was with John Fritts. I’ve been to a lot of camps, had a lot of instruction, but never anyone even close to this good. I’ve never met anyone who had such a detailed knowledge of strokes – he broke down my serve (which I thought was actually OK before I got there) into so many pieces – then worked with me to fix a couple things, then put it all back together… and by the end of the week my serve was way better! Also, the first day, we talked together about changing my forehand grip – something very hard to do after 30 years. John was never pushy about it, but encouraged me to do it and explained why during the week. John had a great mix of pure instruction (talking or hitting balls) and games – we never played sets or anything, which was good, but John had so many things he could do to keep things competitive – where we could score points against each other… that was one of the best parts. Many of the drills we could keep track of scoring points – different amounts of points for different things, etc. I’ve never experienced that before, and it was so great. We were in 90-100 degree heat all week, which made everything difficult. Somehow, I think John knew just hard enough to push us. He knew when we needed water or some shade, and when to get us back out on the court. I think at these temperatures, that’s something that is really hard to do. When we did take a break, or we were picking up balls together, John was so interesting to talk to – he knew so much about tennis I enjoyed picking his brain. John was so good about demonstrating strokes – he could show us exactly what we should be doing after watching us. His form was so good that I knew just what I wanted to emulate. He was insistent in a good way about reminding us what we should do – for example, not yelling at me to step forward and get down lower on volleys, but he would always mention it is I didn’t do it – just never in a way that it got annoying. And not just hitting balls, either – he was able to talk strategy; court positioning, etc. that I never thought about. So, after one week with John, my game is better. Now it’s up to me to keep that going at home. I guess the way to best sum it up is that I already made plans to return later this year. There are a lot of other camps out there (closer to where I live), but I’m definitely coming back to Saddlebrook!
NM
I had a fantastic week at Saddlebrook – I did an intensive coaching week which consisted of 5 hours on court per day, in small groups with a coach. Although I was initially put into a relatively weak group, it was immediately obvious that I didn’t fit in and I was moved up at the end of the first morning. The coaching was excellent throughout the week, with emphasis on both stroke production and tactics, and after the first session I always had strong players to hit with. I was at Saddlebrook to train for the British Army tennis championships and would like to thank the coaching staff, in particular John Fritts and programme director Howard Moore, for their help and patience. After my Saddlebrook trip, I won the Army singles final 6-0 6-0, and also took the ladies’ and mixed doubles titles – a great way to end my Army career!
JC
We live in New York and decided to have our kids who are 12 and 13 come to Saddlebrook instead of attending our local clubs summer program. We felt that the diversity of the program would give our children exposure they couldn’t gain at home. The trip started as a 2 week venture and we just decided to extend it another week. The instruction, care and concern of the the Tennis Director Howard Moore, his staff of Pat, Shawn, Gerfard, Alvaro, Rohan and others have been more than what expected. The kids are having a blast, playing tennis all day long with kids from all around the world, making new friends and having an experience of a life time. The instruction is top notch and the daily match play allows them to be challenged every day. After tennis the staff plans night activities like pool parties, bowling, go karts and the movies. While the kids are at the Jr. program my wife and I are playing in the adult program, having just as much fun. We highly recommend Saddlebrook to any tennis player or family of players.
RA
Great experience. Well organized. The staff was excellent. Strongly recommended. Will go back again.
JS
My son who is both deaf and learning disabled attended the tennis camp at Saddlebrook. Upon my arrival I was shocked to find out that the staff received a memo about my son and the room was fully equipped with devices for the deaf. As a result of the schedule, staff, other kids respect, and facility preparation, my son was fully independent at Saddlebrook, which allowed me to have my own time as a parent. This set the tone for a FANTASTIC week of instruction for both my son and I. The Pros all treated my son as they would any other youth and in the process encouraged him to play to his potential and beyond. In fact, my son developed his tennis skills, sportsmanship, enthusiasm for tennis, and most importantly self-esteem as a result of the teaching from the professionals on the court. Youth came from around the world which only made the entire week more interesting and fun. Trips at night were a nice break from the intense workouts. Volleyball in the pool and trip to the mall were the favorites. I never saw my son eat so well, managed to get some recipes from the chef to take home with me. Food extremely well planned and nutritious. The only weakness is that on some instances, it was hard to find the equipment to go with the volleyball, basketball and football facilities on the grounds. Room keys are also sensitive to cell phones. As an adult, I found the on grounds food excellent, bar by the pool fun to hang out in. Make no mistake, Saddlebrook is a regimented and rigorous training facility for which all the youth and adults are better athletes for attending. We even met a few NFL players while walking the grounds. Can’t wait to go Back!!!!
CL
Tennis instruction is fantastic!!!! Instructors are very informative. Rooms could use updating. Would like to have a cooler of water/sports drink on each court that is replenished throughout the day.
AS
Third trip to Saddlebrook, best trip yet!!! Mark was awesome… great instruction, patient, funny, just an overall blast.
HW
My experience: Excellent instructor,focus on drills with explanations rather than the reverse,low number of students per instructor, intense on-court practice, video analysis of players. Not all instructors provided this level of active training based on adjacent courts observations.
MK
My wife and I just returned from a 4 day trip to Saddlebrook. We came in with high expectations, as many members of our club make annual pilgramages to Saddlebrook and rave about the resort and the instruction. Our expectations were definitely met if not exceeded. Our pro, Shawn, was fantastic. He was able to break down our ground strokes and volleys quickly, and kept it simple. The drills and games were intense and physically challenging, but were tons of fun. We will definitely be back for more next year.
KB
My husband and I just spent five days on the court at Saddlebrook and had an amazing time. It was rigourous, fun, exhilirating, game-changing and exhausting (especially in the heat this time of year!) all at once. We loved our pros and give a special nod to Curly Davis who is the Adult Director and also teaches with a keen eye on the individual and a knack for keeping things lively. We can’t wait to go back again and again!
NB
This is a REAL tennis camp with the BEST pros you will find anywhere. If you spend just one weekend here, your game will improve immensely! The staff is accommodating, you are matched up with players at your level and the pros really take your improvement personally. My friend and I went down for the weekend and worked with a pro (I’m hesitant to give his name because I don’t want him to get too booked!) who knew how to motivate us while we enjoyed playing the game. Or, as he says…play, play, play….WIN. Even though we worked hard in the Florida sun for 2 1/2 days, I came home feeling relaxed and reenergized. We are already planning our next trip to Saddlebrook!
MS
Instruction was exemplary, wouldn’t go later than mid May to avoid extreme heat. Program tailored to meet our (my doubles Partner and I) needs. We made more progress toward improving our technical and strategic play in 2.5 days than in two years of lessons and clinics at home.
MM
I had a great experience at Saddlebrook. I’ve been to other tennis schools/camps. I think what made the difference was my exceptional instructor that I was lucky enough to have for 2 out of 3 of the group lesson days that I was in his sessions – Steve Getchell. Steve was able to provide not only the workout of the game but also great technical advice/tips. He had great analogies so you could picture the best way to hit the ball. Had me doing things that I didn’t think I could do after playing tennis for 30 yrs now. Steve was so good, that I took a private with him and I rarely treat myself to such a luxory. Thank you to Steve and the program. WELL DONE!
RR
This is the 4th year I have attended the adult tennis “boot camp” and I am planning my return trip for next year. The atmosphere on the resort is wonderful and all the staff were helpful and friendly. The tennis is amazing – lessons on clay courts with knowledgeable pros. I particularly enjoyed the energy and humor of Shawn and Steve. They were able to improve my game without trying to make any major changes, just tips and small adjustments. This tennis program is a must for any tennis lover.
RC
I’ve attended clinics as well as taken private and semi-private lessons at Saddlebrook. I’m never disappointed! Most recent experiences include instruction from a new pro, Eugene as well as Saddlebrook veteran, John Fritz. Worth every penny – every time! In addition, Howard and the others at Hopman always make you feel welcome and you’re the reason they exist. We held our small (generally 8 guys), annual “guys tennis week” get-away at Saddlebrook again this year, and once again couldn’t be more pleased with the service and value.
JH
Fabulous as always, the pro’s are attentive and knowledgeable. Great fun and we all learned something.. wouldn’t go anywhere else!!
MT
First class all the way. The best tennis vacation possible.
SP
We’ve been here 8 times and will continue to come back. Great combo of tennis instruction and resort ammenities.
GC
Outstanding, intense tennis program. Good job placing generally equal ability players on courts with appropriate instructor. Very nice resort, excellent accommodations, good food but a bit pricey. Have gone to tennis camp there once each year for about the last ten years.
CB
I go to Saddlebrook about 3 times a year and always always love it there. The pros are super and the staff (Curly, Howard & Nona are so so accomadating and really care. The office staff Lois and April are also wonderful. To me – heaven must be Saddlebrook Tennis Camp.
MC
As always, Howard and his staff made us feel welcome in every way. The tennis instruction, courts, and grounds are all wonderful! Can’t wait to return.
AW
Good courts, very good instructors, with a full day of a variety of activities, both individually and as part of a clinic.
FP
My wife and i visited Saddlebrook for a week stay 4/2/thru 4/8/2010. We stayed in a well appointed one bedroom condo on-site. We attended the Hopman clinic for all except the last day. The tennis director, Curly Davis set us up each am on court assignment and the sessions were excellent with 2,3 or 4 guests on court with a teaching pro. The program started each morning promptly at 8:00 with jogging warm up and static stretching, followed by a 3 hour clinic the a break and after noon session from 1-3 pm (we did mornings only), all on Har-Tru clay. The afternoon poolside is very nice, plenty of room and well attended. We rented a court for 1 1/2hrs for ourselves in the late afternoon to further work our drills. We had nice evening meals at the on site restaurant. We did not need a rental car after the first day for grocery shopping, approx 1/2 mi. drive. We were a short walk to the tennis courts, restaurants, pool and golf center. The complex provided transport via large double length golf carts when needed.
LH
Saddlebrook was a an excellent tennis vacation. Ideal for singles or groups. You truly are able to play tennis until you drop! The Hopman staff are friendly, organized, and care about your tennis experience.
PM
I’ve just returned from my latest Saddlebrook trip with my girlfriends. This is probably my 8th or 9th time. The reason I keep going back is because the 5-hour tennis days filled with game-enhancing, aerobic-conditioning drills are fantastic!! The tennis pros are unequaled. They are knowledgeable, energetic, and fun. There are never more than 4 people per court and the staff is very accommodating to groups. I always bring 3 girls from my USTA team so we have our own court and I even request the pro we’d like to work with during our stay. SHAWN McGEE is our favorite. He’s AWESOME!
AM
It is great! We just got back from our third year in a row, and all 5 of us had an amazing time. Kids age 12, 10 and 7 all played tons of tennis, learned and improved and loved every minute of it. The adults also loved it. The tennis coaches are amazing – they can fix things that have bothered you for ages. The 5 hours per day is like boot camp, and gives you the time not only to learn new things or improve and then to really practice them. The video analysis is amazing and the follow through of the coaching staff in terms of making sure each person gets the coaching and peer work they need is amazing. Over 4 days I had 4 instructors, and was also moved with different people to work on different skills. For 2 1/2 hours I had a coach one-on-one just working with me. And my husband even fit in 18 holes of golf after 5 hours of tennis as it is all so close and walking distance. The no-car ‘village’ makes it easy to get to meals and the hot tub before, in between and after the tough tennis work out. Definitely going back and taking other families with us again. Terrific program. Lots of fun. If you had to pay for that kind of tennis instruction on an hourly basis it would cost a lot more. Also kids club is amazing – as my 7 year old wanted to take a break one day – and they went searching for wildlife, bike riding and swimming with a one-on-one sitter and we just picked her up at the lunch break (from tennis) and then returned her when we when back to the courts (kids can stay in kids club for the 2 hour tennis break for only $6 more). It is the only kids club she has ever wanted to go to. All my kids made friends and because of the lay-out could go between the courts and the pool, etc. easily with friends.
DH
This was our 5th or 6th trip to Saddlebrook over the last 3 years and it continues to be the fantastic tennis vactaion we’ve come to expect. The staff led by Hopman tennis director Howard Moore is fantastic; Curly supervises the adult tennis and Larry is responsible for the juniors– both do a spectacular job. Our kids feel so comfortable at Saddlebrook and they come home wanting to play more tennis– what could be better about a tennis vacation? Adults and kids are placed in groups matched closely to their ability so no one feels over- or under-matched, and the instructors are ALL terrific. The guests feel like they’ve known Howard and his staff forever! I recommend Saddlebrook Hopman Tennis as enthusiastically as possible!
BW
My wife and I have taken private lessons from Howard Moore and his staff twice in the past 6 months and have noticed significant progress in our games. We are looking forward to our next trip. Mr. Moore and his staff take time to explain what needs to be improved and how to make changes. In essence, a very professional approach that meets our needs.
DR
Just back to Seattle from another fantastic week at Saddlebrook. Having been there 7 or 8 times now you’d think we would know exactly what we are getting, but again Howard, Curly, and his great staff of pro’s have outdone themselves!!! We are family of four with two junior’s 15 and 13 and two adults at different levels, 4.5 and 3.0, Saddlebrook can handle it all!! Besides the great tennis it’s sunny weather in a beautiful setting. Golf, spa, pool, good food, what more could you want? Oh, there is also the added benefit of seeing James Black, and John Isner waiting along with us for the valet…James’s car was a lot nicer than our Hertz rental. Already planning our next trip.
RK
My son Jourdan and I attended the Saddlebrook Tennis Academy for one week a few years ago and I wrote a glowing recommendation of the facility at that time. Incredibly in this day and age of cut backs, mediocrity, poor service etc. the Saddlebrook Tennis Academy has continued to maintain its Perfect 10 Status. Howard and Martin are on top of everything and I mean EVERYTHING. They are consummate professionals – courteous, extremely hard working, helpful, and knowledgeable. From the “beginner” to the “up and coming professionals” they are hands on and make sure that each player – camper is maximizing his tennis experience and given the chance to improve every aspect of their game. All the coaches are first-rate and they motivate you to be “the best that you can be”. Every aspect of tennis is covered- ground strokes, net game, overheads, physical fitness as well as strategy and mental approaches to the game. Saddlebrook is also a stunning facility in a picturesque natural setting. The staff is also “top notch”- helpful and courteous and doing everything they can to make your stay a most enjoyable experience. Thank you Howard and Martin (and my coach Sean who revived my “long lost backhand”) and all of the coaches and staff for a once again – memorable experience. Saddlebrook has everything to offer from “beginner” to “touring pro” and I highly recommend that tennis players of all levels who want to combine a great vacation with great tennis come to Saddlebrook to see for themselves.
SR
I had an amazing week at Saddlebrook. There was never a time during the vacation that anyone ever told us no. Whatever we wanted, we got! Coach Steve was incredible. He was funny, kind, but worked us hard. He showed us the slightest changes that made a world of difference in our games. Drew at the Spa is the most informed massuse with incredible hands. Kelly the concierge could not have done enough for us. Jeff the Bellman was there for anything we needed. I will deffinatley go back and wish I could be there now.
DN
Nona was a very responsive and friendly program coordinator. Shawn was a friendly pro with a great attitude for teaching and had great drills and games. The resort has 2 great golf courses in addition to tennis and the food at the restaurants was very good.
KC
An excellent experience for developing my tennis skills. Every instructor will be able to teach you different things and challenge you in different ways. Highly skilled players can feel comfortable in knowing that they will be playing on clay, so a great deal of wear on the body is taken away. I’ve been there about six times in the last eighteen months, so I’m very satisfied with their program. Both the tennis and adminstration staff do an excellent job of making sure that I have an excellent tennis experience and most important improve my game.
BA
Tennis instruction was very good – although, unlike Bollitterri, the instructors vary widely. Some are much better than others (and usually the best are those who work with the kids and come over to do adults on weekends.) Also, one instructor might give one advice and the other something very different. That said, they tend to keep you with the same person, and are pretty flexible if you are unhappy. The good instructors are VERY good and VERY nice and extremely helpful. My game dramatically improved. The desk in the tennis shop was very disorganized (regarding booking private lessons and extra court time) and they have weird extra charges considering you are booked for the 5-hour/day program (charging you to use their balls, high costs for use of extra court time if you want to play and expensive for private lessons.) The tennis program itself (run by Nona) is VERY WELL run and excellent – the video analysis was amazing! The housing was terrific and very close to the courts. Free breakfast was fine, but not exceptional. However the room had full kitchen so we could shop and make sandwiches for lunch. Dinner options on-site are pricey, and off-site are mediocre (lots of chains – but you’re so tired it doesn’t matter!) We got massages twice over our 5-day tennis intensive and the masseurs were very talented (but very expensive – $135/hour). The fitness center you are allowed to use is minimal (the amazing fitness center they promote is actual only for the academy kids.) All in all, we actually enjoyed Saddlebrook more than Bolliterri as it feels more like a vacation and the grounds/resort are beautiful.
KM
This is a personal thank you more than anything else, as while my tennis improved dramatically it was the people there that really made the difference and made me push harder each day. My family and I stayed at Saddlebrook for one week in April 2007… by June 2007 I finally packed my bags and headed back home to NZ. Not only did I end up extending my trip by 2 months but my tennis improved out of site. My tennis when I arrived at Saddlebrook was average at best; I could return the ball but often in the most unorthodox way and with no real planning or placement. By the time I left Saddlebrook some 2 months later; I can honestly say that you would not have recognised me as the same person!! I cannot say enough good things about Saddlebrook. As a young female, staying by myself in a foreign country I was initially very aware of being “all alone”. This was not the case Howard, Nona and Ashley (3 of the nicest, most genuine people) took me under their wings and made sure that I got as much as I possibly could out of the experience, they always made me feel welcome and like I was a part of the team. Howard, Nona, Dwayne, Vladimir, Robert, Andre, Ashley, Tony, Rafael, Bo, Larry, Mark, Shawn, Juan Carlos – just to name a few 😉 you are the people that encouraged me to reach my potential, to push a little harder and to try a little more, you are the people that helped make Saddlebrook my home for those 2 months. This was without a doubt one of the best times of my life, made possible but some extremely talented people!!
CW
Strengths: Variety of instruction, good outdoor facilities (and weather!), very accommodating to instruction requests, easy to schedule Weaknesses: fitness center hours limited (would’ve liked to have been able to access earlier in the morning) and also spa hours–would’ve liked to have been able to access later in the evening (between 7 pm and 9 pm)
BR
Saddlebrook is a vey relaxing spot. Nature (trees and animals) is beautiful ; the swimming-pool is gorgious and the lodging very comfortable. Children enjoyed it a lot too. We enjoyed our week of tennis : coaches are very skilled, like their job and are very nice. Ratio is max. 4/1.
CP
My wife and I have attended Saddleback on three occasions. Every time the tennis instruction has been top notch. With five hours a day it can challenge some, but it is truly worth it. My wife and I have attended Saddleback on three occasions. Every time the tennis instruction has been top notch. With five hours a day it can challenge some, but it is truly worth it. The accomodations are first rate and the overall setting is beautiful. We are not golfers, but the course and surroundings look immaculate. We can’t wait to go back.
DK
I’ve traveled to and played at many tennis resorts and Saddlebrook is the best of the best. The pros are personable and experienced and the clinics are extremely well orgainized. This was my third visit and I can’t wait to get back.
RB
Saddlebrook has a great facility, top notch instructors and a demanding tennis program. If you want to go to a camp that’s all about tennis this is it. The day long program is one of the best if not the best. The food is very good at the restaurants on site and a new shopping mall minutes away has several more choices. The only thing this Florida site doesn’t have is the ocean.
GS
I just returned from a week at Saddlebrook. I did 5 days of tennis instruction and had a wonderful experience. My instructor Mark, was patient and explanatory. I have taken many lessons and have not taken away the knowledge that I did with Mark as my instructor. The tennis is intense but the program is great and I learned alot.
AH
Very well organized. Great instructors. All levels of play are welcomed and accommodated. Accomodations are very good. All resort amenities are very attractive. Nona is a terrific organizer of the place and always takes a personal approach to ensuring guests are comfortable and get the full value out of their trip. We had a great time with our instructors: John, Larry, Steve, Mark, Vlad and Rodrigo. We will definitely return again next year and likely make it an annual trip.
JW
I would highly recommend Saddlebrook Tennis Resort for anyone that wants to bring more game to their tennis game. Nona Wagh, of the Hopman Tennis Program at Saddlebrook, created a first rate program for me when I arrived at Saddlebrook in late October of 2009. Nona and her staff ran a wonderful program assessing my strengths and weakness before I started the clinic and then placing me with a group of three other players of my level, along with a pro. I would highly recommend Saddlebrook Tennis Resort for anyone that wants to bring more game to their tennis game. Nona Wagh, of the Hopman Tennis Program at Saddlebrook, created a first rate program for me when I arrived at Saddlebrook in late October of 2009. Nona and her staff ran a wonderful program assessing my strengths and weakness before I started the clinic and then placing me with a group of three other players of my level, along with a pro. The three-hour morning clinic focused on strategies necessary for our level and it was over far too quickly. The resort has wonderful amenities including large, comfortable rooms, a Spa, walking trails, a large resort style pool with hot tubs, workout facilities, several restaurants, and golf and tennis pro shops. Every interaction with the staff was first class. I cannot wait to go back. The three-hour morning clinic focused on strategies necessary for our level and it was over far too quickly. I would highly recommend Saddlebrook Tennis Resort for anyone that wants to bring more game to their tennis game. Nona Wagh, of the Hopman Tennis Program at Saddlebrook, created a first rate program for me when I arrived at Saddlebrook in late October of 2009. Nona and her staff ran a wonderful program assessing my strengths and weakness before I started the clinic and then placing me with a group of three other players of my level, along with a pro. The three-hour morning clinic focused on strategies necessary for our level and it was over far too quickly. The resort has wonderful amenities including large, comfortable rooms, a Spa, walking trails, a large resort style pool with hot tubs, workout facilities, several restaurants, and golf and tennis pro shops. Every interaction with the staff was first class. I cannot wait to go back. The resort has wonderful amenities including large, comfortable rooms, a Spa, walking trails, a large resort style pool with hot tubs, workout facilities, several restaurants, and golf and tennis pro shops. Every interaction with the staff was first class. I cannot wait to go back.
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732 Reviews on “Saddlebrook Resort”
Excellent tennis instruction, exceeded my expectations and I will definitely be back…..with more friends! Thank you Howard, Curly, Pat, Rod!
Steve was an AWESOME!!!! teacher!
everything was EXCELLENT!
Terrific for any player, at any level, at any age! My friend and I, both newer 3.0 level players, booked a weekend “girl’s getaway” to Saddlebrook thinking we might pick up a few pointers and sharpen skills. After all, how much improvement could one expect in just 2 days of coaching? Well, little did we know what the Hopman Program could do for a couple of club hackers until they were through with us! (Of course, we didn’t know we were such hackers until they unraveled our game and re-built it into something more worthy of a modern tennis racket!)
Although every pro displayed a passion for the game and treated each player as if their was an “Open” in their future, I have to make special mention of Curley…the miracle maker! His expertise is only surpassed by his unique ability to take potentially complicated stroke and strategy details and turn them into something simple and easy to duplicate. Curley will have you thinking you’re just a fast learner, but the truth is, he’s a skilled teacher! His humor and constant encouragement had us so motivated, that he actually had to remind us to stop and drink the cold water they provided.
Overall, we felt that what we gained from the Hopman Program was worth the price of the entire trip! We considered our beautiful 2 bedroom suite with a balcony overlooking a their pristine property, like a bonus that came free with the lessons! …along with the enormous pools, tiki bar (great rum runners!), and delicious breakfast buffet. We are definitely going back, but we’re still undecided as to whether it’s more fun for a “girl’s weekend”, or better to bring the guys back for some lessons and a romantic get-away.
We only encountered one problem the whole time…a fear that our opponents will discover our little secret and book a trip to Saddlebrook! Argh!
I’m 46 and a usta 5.5 player…went down with a buddy who is a 3.5….Howard Moore and curly Davis did a great job of matching our experience to our ability….I worked out with some excellent young pros who were very helpful to me and gave me some tips I had not heard before…they are very friendly down there as well…if you have a special need howard or curly worked hard to accommodate…..I went down there to work out some specific kinks and they drilled me and put me in the pressure situations I liked…they are a great place for a beginner to an advanced player….I would highly recommend.
Nice facilities, lots of tennis, good instruction and enthusiastic staff and instructors. Everyone goes out of their way to make sure you’re happpy and having fun. Very quiet in the off season, not much to do at the resort at night, although not much energy after all that tennis anyway! More crowded with locals on the weekend.
Saddlebrook’s adult tennis program has a country club atmosphere and is ideal if you enjoy golf as well. The head of the program is a superb teacher who exudes enthusiasm. His instructors are hit or miss. Over the years I have come to appreciate some of the instructors’ instruction, including changing my forehand grip to semi-western, and come to regret others, including some overly complicated ideas regarding my serve. Probably the greatest weakness is their use of young inexperienced instructors with heavily accented English who don’t share the enthusiasm of their charismatic leader. Still, they’ll hit a thousand balls at you so you’ll definitely leave a better player.
I’m just back from a week at the Saddlebrook Tennis Academy, and since it was a great week, I thought I should drop a note with some of my great impressions – specifically about John Fritts and Curley Davis.
My son and I first met Curley walking towards the courts – early at 7:45, we didn’t really know where to go, but he pointed us in the right direction. What a great guy, and a good way to start our day. He met us over there to start our week, and then he was kind enough to drive my son to his group on the other side of the camp resort. I had some issues with my son during the week – he was complaining about the heat (it was about 98), the fitness drills, didn’t want to go some days… general kids stuff. The great thing about Curley was that since I saw him every day on the “adult side,” we spoke often, and he actually cared enough about my son to make sure he got over there every day and to see how he was doing, not to mention a couple rides!
From my perspective, the camp was really well organized – I’m still not sure how Curly did it, but every day we started out with an organized warmup, he got new people coming in with new pros, and since it was so hot, he made sure we had towels, water and Gatorade. He managed to get players of similar abilities together every day, which seems almost impossible to me. One day he even drove us to the grass courts to play a few games over there – another day he drove us home! He actually did the videotaping; which was great, and worked with John to review our strokes on the TV– one of the most interesting parts of the week.
I had a ton of questions during the week – even extending my stay by a half day – and Curley was always there to answer them. I’d have to say that one of my favorite parts was him “motivating” me from the next court over! I can totally see how having Curley running the Adult program is the best thing for everyone.
In addition, the pro I was with the whole week I was with John Fritts. I’ve been to a lot of camps, had a lot of instruction, but never anyone even close to this good. I’ve never met anyone who had such a detailed knowledge of strokes – he broke down my serve (which I thought was actually OK before I got there) into so many pieces – then worked with me to fix a couple things, then put it all back together… and by the end of the week my serve was way better! Also, the first day, we talked together about changing my forehand grip – something very hard to do after 30 years. John was never pushy about it, but encouraged me to do it and explained why during the week.
John had a great mix of pure instruction (talking or hitting balls) and games – we never played sets or anything, which was good, but John had so many things he could do to keep things competitive – where we could score points against each other… that was one of the best parts. Many of the drills we could keep track of scoring points – different amounts of points for different things, etc. I’ve never experienced that before, and it was so great.
We were in 90-100 degree heat all week, which made everything difficult. Somehow, I think John knew just hard enough to push us. He knew when we needed water or some shade, and when to get us back out on the court. I think at these temperatures, that’s something that is really hard to do. When we did take a break, or we were picking up balls together, John was so interesting to talk to – he knew so much about tennis I enjoyed picking his brain.
John was so good about demonstrating strokes – he could show us exactly what we should be doing after watching us. His form was so good that I knew just what I wanted to emulate. He was insistent in a good way about reminding us what we should do – for example, not yelling at me to step forward and get down lower on volleys, but he would always mention it is I didn’t do it – just never in a way that it got annoying. And not just hitting balls, either – he was able to talk strategy; court positioning, etc. that I never thought about. So, after one week with John, my game is better. Now it’s up to me to keep that going at home.
I guess the way to best sum it up is that I already made plans to return later this year. There are a lot of other camps out there (closer to where I live), but I’m definitely coming back to Saddlebrook!
I had a fantastic week at Saddlebrook – I did an intensive coaching week which consisted of 5 hours on court per day, in small groups with a coach. Although I was initially put into a relatively weak group, it was immediately obvious that I didn’t fit in and I was moved up at the end of the first morning. The coaching was excellent throughout the week, with emphasis on both stroke production and tactics, and after the first session I always had strong players to hit with.
I was at Saddlebrook to train for the British Army tennis championships and would like to thank the coaching staff, in particular John Fritts and programme director Howard Moore, for their help and patience. After my Saddlebrook trip, I won the Army singles final 6-0 6-0, and also took the ladies’ and mixed doubles titles – a great way to end my Army career!
We live in New York and decided to have our kids who are 12 and 13 come to Saddlebrook instead of attending our local clubs summer program. We felt that the diversity of the program would give our children exposure they couldn’t gain at home. The trip started as a 2 week venture and we just decided to extend it another week.
The instruction, care and concern of the the Tennis Director Howard Moore, his staff of Pat, Shawn, Gerfard, Alvaro, Rohan and others have been more than what expected. The kids are having a blast, playing tennis all day long with kids from all around the world, making new friends and having an experience of a life time. The instruction is top notch and the daily match play allows them to be challenged every day.
After tennis the staff plans night activities like pool parties, bowling, go karts and the movies. While the kids are at the Jr. program my wife and I are playing in the adult program, having just as much fun. We highly recommend Saddlebrook to any tennis player or family of players.
Great experience. Well organized. The staff was excellent. Strongly recommended. Will go back again.
My son who is both deaf and learning disabled attended the tennis camp at Saddlebrook. Upon my arrival I was shocked to find out that the staff received a memo about my son and the room was fully equipped with devices for the deaf. As a result of the schedule, staff, other kids respect, and facility preparation, my son was fully independent at Saddlebrook, which allowed me to have my own time as a parent. This set the tone for a FANTASTIC week of instruction for both my son and I.
The Pros all treated my son as they would any other youth and in the process encouraged him to play to his potential and beyond. In fact, my son developed his tennis skills, sportsmanship, enthusiasm for tennis, and most importantly self-esteem as a result of the teaching from the professionals on the court. Youth came from around the world which only made the entire week more interesting and fun. Trips at night were a nice break from the intense workouts. Volleyball in the pool and trip to the mall were the favorites. I never saw my son eat so well, managed to get some recipes from the chef to take home with me. Food extremely well planned and nutritious. The only weakness is that on some instances, it was hard to find the equipment to go with the volleyball, basketball and football facilities on the grounds. Room keys are also sensitive to cell phones.
As an adult, I found the on grounds food excellent, bar by the pool fun to hang out in. Make no mistake, Saddlebrook is a regimented and rigorous training facility for which all the youth and adults are better athletes for attending. We even met a few NFL players while walking the grounds. Can’t wait to go Back!!!!
Tennis instruction is fantastic!!!! Instructors are very informative. Rooms could use updating. Would like to have a cooler of water/sports drink on each court that is replenished throughout the day.
Third trip to Saddlebrook, best trip yet!!! Mark was awesome… great instruction, patient, funny, just an overall blast.
My experience: Excellent instructor,focus on drills with explanations rather than the reverse,low number of students per instructor, intense on-court practice, video analysis of players. Not all instructors provided this level of active training based on adjacent courts observations.
My wife and I just returned from a 4 day trip to Saddlebrook. We came in with high expectations, as many members of our club make annual pilgramages to Saddlebrook and rave about the resort and the instruction. Our expectations were definitely met if not exceeded. Our pro, Shawn, was fantastic. He was able to break down our ground strokes and volleys quickly, and kept it simple. The drills and games were intense and physically challenging, but were tons of fun. We will definitely be back for more next year.
My husband and I just spent five days on the court at Saddlebrook and had an amazing time. It was rigourous, fun, exhilirating, game-changing and exhausting (especially in the heat this time of year!) all at once. We loved our pros and give a special nod to Curly Davis who is the Adult Director and also teaches with a keen eye on the individual and a knack for keeping things lively. We can’t wait to go back again and again!
This is a REAL tennis camp with the BEST pros you will find anywhere. If you spend just one weekend here, your game will improve immensely! The staff is accommodating, you are matched up with players at your level and the pros really take your improvement personally. My friend and I went down for the weekend and worked with a pro (I’m hesitant to give his name because I don’t want him to get too booked!) who knew how to motivate us while we enjoyed playing the game. Or, as he says…play, play, play….WIN. Even though we worked hard in the Florida sun for 2 1/2 days, I came home feeling relaxed and reenergized. We are already planning our next trip to Saddlebrook!
Instruction was exemplary, wouldn’t go later than mid May to avoid extreme heat. Program tailored to meet our (my doubles Partner and I) needs. We made more progress toward improving our technical and strategic play in 2.5 days than in two years of lessons and clinics at home.
I had a great experience at Saddlebrook. I’ve been to other tennis schools/camps. I think what made the difference was my exceptional instructor that I was lucky enough to have for 2 out of 3 of the group lesson days that I was in his sessions – Steve Getchell. Steve was able to provide not only the workout of the game but also great technical advice/tips. He had great analogies so you could picture the best way to hit the ball. Had me doing things that I didn’t think I could do after playing tennis for 30 yrs now. Steve was so good, that I took a private with him and I rarely treat myself to such a luxory. Thank you to Steve and the program. WELL DONE!
This is the 4th year I have attended the adult tennis “boot camp” and I am planning my return trip for next year. The atmosphere on the resort is wonderful and all the staff were helpful and friendly. The tennis is amazing – lessons on clay courts with knowledgeable pros. I particularly enjoyed the energy and humor of Shawn and Steve. They were able to improve my game without trying to make any major changes, just tips and small adjustments. This tennis program is a must for any tennis lover.
I’ve attended clinics as well as taken private and semi-private lessons at Saddlebrook. I’m never disappointed! Most recent experiences include instruction from a new pro, Eugene as well as Saddlebrook veteran, John Fritz. Worth every penny – every time! In addition, Howard and the others at Hopman always make you feel welcome and you’re the reason they exist.
We held our small (generally 8 guys), annual “guys tennis week” get-away at Saddlebrook again this year, and once again couldn’t be more pleased with the service and value.
Fabulous as always, the pro’s are attentive and knowledgeable. Great fun and we all learned something.. wouldn’t go anywhere else!!
First class all the way. The best tennis vacation possible.
We’ve been here 8 times and will continue to come back. Great combo of tennis instruction and resort ammenities.
Outstanding, intense tennis program. Good job placing generally equal ability players on courts with appropriate instructor. Very nice resort, excellent accommodations, good food but a bit pricey. Have gone to tennis camp there once each year for about the last ten years.
I go to Saddlebrook about 3 times a year and always always love it there. The pros are super and the staff (Curly, Howard & Nona are so so accomadating and really care. The office staff Lois and April are also wonderful. To me – heaven must be Saddlebrook Tennis Camp.
As always, Howard and his staff made us feel welcome in every way. The tennis instruction, courts, and grounds are all wonderful! Can’t wait to return.
Good courts, very good instructors, with a full day of a variety of activities, both individually and as part of a clinic.
My wife and i visited Saddlebrook for a week stay 4/2/thru 4/8/2010. We stayed in a well appointed one bedroom condo on-site. We attended the Hopman clinic for all except the last day. The tennis director, Curly Davis set us up each am on court assignment and the sessions were excellent with 2,3 or 4 guests on court with a teaching pro. The program started each morning promptly at 8:00 with jogging warm up and static stretching, followed by a 3 hour clinic the a break and after noon session from 1-3 pm (we did mornings only), all on Har-Tru clay.
The afternoon poolside is very nice, plenty of room and well attended. We rented a court for 1 1/2hrs for ourselves in the late afternoon to further work our drills. We had nice evening meals at the on site restaurant.
We did not need a rental car after the first day for grocery shopping, approx 1/2 mi. drive. We were a short walk to the tennis courts, restaurants, pool and golf center. The complex provided transport via large double length golf carts when needed.
Saddlebrook was a an excellent tennis vacation. Ideal for singles or groups. You truly are able to play tennis until you drop! The Hopman staff are friendly, organized, and care about your tennis experience.
I’ve just returned from my latest Saddlebrook trip with my girlfriends. This is probably my 8th or 9th time. The reason I keep going back is because the 5-hour tennis days filled with game-enhancing, aerobic-conditioning drills are fantastic!! The tennis pros are unequaled. They are knowledgeable, energetic, and fun. There are never more than 4 people per court and the staff is very accommodating to groups. I always bring 3 girls from my USTA team so we have our own court and I even request the pro we’d like to work with during our stay. SHAWN McGEE is our favorite. He’s AWESOME!
It is great! We just got back from our third year in a row, and all 5 of us had an amazing time. Kids age 12, 10 and 7 all played tons of tennis, learned and improved and loved every minute of it. The adults also loved it. The tennis coaches are amazing – they can fix things that have bothered you for ages.
The 5 hours per day is like boot camp, and gives you the time not only to learn new things or improve and then to really practice them. The video analysis is amazing and the follow through of the coaching staff in terms of making sure each person gets the coaching and peer work they need is amazing.
Over 4 days I had 4 instructors, and was also moved with different people to work on different skills. For 2 1/2 hours I had a coach one-on-one just working with me. And my husband even fit in 18 holes of golf after 5 hours of tennis as it is all so close and walking distance. The no-car ‘village’ makes it easy to get to meals and the hot tub before, in between and after the tough tennis work out.
Definitely going back and taking other families with us again. Terrific program. Lots of fun. If you had to pay for that kind of tennis instruction on an hourly basis it would cost a lot more.
Also kids club is amazing – as my 7 year old wanted to take a break one day – and they went searching for wildlife, bike riding and swimming with a one-on-one sitter and we just picked her up at the lunch break (from tennis) and then returned her when we when back to the courts (kids can stay in kids club for the 2 hour tennis break for only $6 more). It is the only kids club she has ever wanted to go to. All my kids made friends and because of the lay-out could go between the courts and the pool, etc. easily with friends.
This was our 5th or 6th trip to Saddlebrook over the last 3 years and it continues to be the fantastic tennis vactaion we’ve come to expect. The staff led by Hopman tennis director Howard Moore is fantastic; Curly supervises the adult tennis and Larry is responsible for the juniors– both do a spectacular job.
Our kids feel so comfortable at Saddlebrook and they come home wanting to play more tennis– what could be better about a tennis vacation? Adults and kids are placed in groups matched closely to their ability so no one feels over- or under-matched, and the instructors are ALL terrific. The guests feel like they’ve known Howard and his staff forever! I recommend Saddlebrook Hopman Tennis as enthusiastically as possible!
My wife and I have taken private lessons from Howard Moore and his staff twice in the past 6 months and have noticed significant progress in our games. We are looking forward to our next trip.
Mr. Moore and his staff take time to explain what needs to be improved and how to make changes. In essence, a very professional approach that meets our needs.
Just back to Seattle from another fantastic week at Saddlebrook. Having been there 7 or 8 times now you’d think we would know exactly what we are getting, but again Howard, Curly, and his great staff of pro’s have outdone themselves!!! We are family of four with two junior’s 15 and 13 and two adults at different levels, 4.5 and 3.0, Saddlebrook can handle it all!!
Besides the great tennis it’s sunny weather in a beautiful setting. Golf, spa, pool, good food, what more could you want? Oh, there is also the added benefit of seeing James Black, and John Isner waiting along with us for the valet…James’s car was a lot nicer than our Hertz rental. Already planning our next trip.
My son Jourdan and I attended the Saddlebrook Tennis Academy for one week a few years ago and I wrote a glowing recommendation of the facility at that time. Incredibly in this day and age of cut backs, mediocrity, poor service etc. the Saddlebrook Tennis Academy has continued to maintain its Perfect 10 Status.
Howard and Martin are on top of everything and I mean EVERYTHING. They are consummate professionals – courteous, extremely hard working, helpful, and knowledgeable. From the “beginner” to the “up and coming professionals” they are hands on and make sure that each player – camper is maximizing his tennis experience and given the chance to improve every aspect of their game.
All the coaches are first-rate and they motivate you to be “the best that you can be”. Every aspect of tennis is covered- ground strokes, net game, overheads, physical fitness as well as strategy and mental approaches to the game.
Saddlebrook is also a stunning facility in a picturesque natural setting. The staff is also “top notch”- helpful and courteous and doing everything they can to make your stay a most enjoyable experience.
Thank you Howard and Martin (and my coach Sean who revived my “long lost backhand”) and all of the coaches and staff for a once again – memorable experience.
Saddlebrook has everything to offer from “beginner” to “touring pro” and I highly recommend that tennis players of all levels who want to combine a great vacation with great tennis come to Saddlebrook to see for themselves.
I had an amazing week at Saddlebrook. There was never a time during the vacation that anyone ever told us no. Whatever we wanted, we got! Coach Steve was incredible. He was funny, kind, but worked us hard. He showed us the slightest changes that made a world of difference in our games. Drew at the Spa is the most informed massuse with incredible hands. Kelly the concierge could not have done enough for us. Jeff the Bellman was there for anything we needed. I will deffinatley go back and wish I could be there now.
Nona was a very responsive and friendly program coordinator. Shawn was a friendly pro with a great attitude for teaching and had great drills and games. The resort has 2 great golf courses in addition to tennis and the food at the restaurants was very good.
An excellent experience for developing my tennis skills. Every instructor will be able to teach you different things and challenge you in different ways. Highly skilled players can feel comfortable in knowing that they will be playing on clay, so a great deal of wear on the body is taken away. I’ve been there about six times in the last eighteen months, so I’m very satisfied with their program. Both the tennis and adminstration staff do an excellent job of making sure that I have an excellent tennis experience and most important improve my game.
Tennis instruction was very good – although, unlike Bollitterri, the instructors vary widely. Some are much better than others (and usually the best are those who work with the kids and come over to do adults on weekends.) Also, one instructor might give one advice and the other something very different. That said, they tend to keep you with the same person, and are pretty flexible if you are unhappy.
The good instructors are VERY good and VERY nice and extremely helpful. My game dramatically improved. The desk in the tennis shop was very disorganized (regarding booking private lessons and extra court time) and they have weird extra charges considering you are booked for the 5-hour/day program (charging you to use their balls, high costs for use of extra court time if you want to play and expensive for private lessons.) The tennis program itself (run by Nona) is VERY WELL run and excellent – the video analysis was amazing!
The housing was terrific and very close to the courts. Free breakfast was fine, but not exceptional. However the room had full kitchen so we could shop and make sandwiches for lunch. Dinner options on-site are pricey, and off-site are mediocre (lots of chains – but you’re so tired it doesn’t matter!) We got massages twice over our 5-day tennis intensive and the masseurs were very talented (but very expensive – $135/hour). The fitness center you are allowed to use is minimal (the amazing fitness center they promote is actual only for the academy kids.)
All in all, we actually enjoyed Saddlebrook more than Bolliterri as it feels more like a vacation and the grounds/resort are beautiful.
This is a personal thank you more than anything else, as while my tennis improved dramatically it was the people there that really made the difference and made me push harder each day. My family and I stayed at Saddlebrook for one week in April 2007… by June 2007 I finally packed my bags and headed back home to NZ.
Not only did I end up extending my trip by 2 months but my tennis improved out of site. My tennis when I arrived at Saddlebrook was average at best; I could return the ball but often in the most unorthodox way and with no real planning or placement. By the time I left Saddlebrook some 2 months later; I can honestly say that you would not have recognised me as the same person!!
I cannot say enough good things about Saddlebrook. As a young female, staying by myself in a foreign country I was initially very aware of being “all alone”. This was not the case Howard, Nona and Ashley (3 of the nicest, most genuine people) took me under their wings and made sure that I got as much as I possibly could out of the experience, they always made me feel welcome and like I was a part of the team.
Howard, Nona, Dwayne, Vladimir, Robert, Andre, Ashley, Tony, Rafael, Bo, Larry, Mark, Shawn, Juan Carlos – just to name a few 😉 you are the people that encouraged me to reach my potential, to push a little harder and to try a little more, you are the people that helped make Saddlebrook my home for those 2 months.
This was without a doubt one of the best times of my life, made possible but some extremely talented people!!
Strengths: Variety of instruction, good outdoor facilities (and weather!), very accommodating to instruction requests, easy to schedule
Weaknesses: fitness center hours limited (would’ve liked to have been able to access earlier in the morning) and also spa hours–would’ve liked to have been able to access later in the evening (between 7 pm and 9 pm)
Saddlebrook is a vey relaxing spot. Nature (trees and animals) is beautiful ; the swimming-pool is gorgious and the lodging very comfortable. Children enjoyed it a lot too. We enjoyed our week of tennis : coaches are very skilled, like their job and are very nice. Ratio is max. 4/1.
My wife and I have attended Saddleback on three occasions. Every time the tennis instruction has been top notch. With five hours a day it can challenge some, but it is truly worth it. My wife and I have attended Saddleback on three occasions. Every time the tennis instruction has been top notch. With five hours a day it can challenge some, but it is truly worth it.
The accomodations are first rate and the overall setting is beautiful. We are not golfers, but the course and surroundings look immaculate. We can’t wait to go back.
I’ve traveled to and played at many tennis resorts and Saddlebrook is the best of the best. The pros are personable and experienced and the clinics are extremely well orgainized. This was my third visit and I can’t wait to get back.
Saddlebrook has a great facility, top notch instructors and a demanding tennis program. If you want to go to a camp that’s all about tennis this is it. The day long program is one of the best if not the best. The food is very good at the restaurants on site and a new shopping mall minutes away has several more choices. The only thing this Florida site doesn’t have is the ocean.
I just returned from a week at Saddlebrook. I did 5 days of tennis instruction and had a wonderful experience. My instructor Mark, was patient and explanatory. I have taken many lessons and have not taken away the knowledge that I did with Mark as my instructor. The tennis is intense but the program is great and I learned alot.
Very well organized. Great instructors. All levels of play are welcomed and accommodated. Accomodations are very good. All resort amenities are very attractive. Nona is a terrific organizer of the place and always takes a personal approach to ensuring guests are comfortable and get the full value out of their trip. We had a great time with our instructors: John, Larry, Steve, Mark, Vlad and Rodrigo. We will definitely return again next year and likely make it an annual trip.
I would highly recommend Saddlebrook Tennis Resort for anyone that wants to bring more game to their tennis game. Nona Wagh, of the Hopman Tennis Program at Saddlebrook, created a first rate program for me when I arrived at Saddlebrook in late October of 2009. Nona and her staff ran a wonderful program assessing my strengths and weakness before I started the clinic and then placing me with a group of three other players of my level, along with a pro. I would highly recommend Saddlebrook Tennis Resort for anyone that wants to bring more game to their tennis game. Nona Wagh, of the Hopman Tennis Program at Saddlebrook, created a first rate program for me when I arrived at Saddlebrook in late October of 2009. Nona and her staff ran a wonderful program assessing my strengths and weakness before I started the clinic and then placing me with a group of three other players of my level, along with a pro. The three-hour morning clinic focused on strategies necessary for our level and it was over far too quickly. The resort has wonderful amenities including large, comfortable rooms, a Spa, walking trails, a large resort style pool with hot tubs, workout facilities, several restaurants, and golf and tennis pro shops. Every interaction with the staff was first class. I cannot wait to go back. The three-hour morning clinic focused on strategies necessary for our level and it was over far too quickly. I would highly recommend Saddlebrook Tennis Resort for anyone that wants to bring more game to their tennis game. Nona Wagh, of the Hopman Tennis Program at Saddlebrook, created a first rate program for me when I arrived at Saddlebrook in late October of 2009. Nona and her staff ran a wonderful program assessing my strengths and weakness before I started the clinic and then placing me with a group of three other players of my level, along with a pro. The three-hour morning clinic focused on strategies necessary for our level and it was over far too quickly. The resort has wonderful amenities including large, comfortable rooms, a Spa, walking trails, a large resort style pool with hot tubs, workout facilities, several restaurants, and golf and tennis pro shops. Every interaction with the staff was first class. I cannot wait to go back.
The resort has wonderful amenities including large, comfortable rooms, a Spa, walking trails, a large resort style pool with hot tubs, workout facilities, several restaurants, and golf and tennis pro shops. Every interaction with the staff was first class. I cannot wait to go back.