More than 30 people were already on the teaching courts when I joined one of the morning drop-in clinics Sea Colony runs on weekdays. It was approaching July, when every one of some 2,200 condominiums and homes fill up with summer guests and homeowners. While the beach is unquestionably the biggest draw, tennis with 34 hard and clay courts, 6 of them indoors, could easily lay claim to being the No. 2 reason people opt to vacation at Sea Colony.
Many owners told me that the deciding factor in their purchase of a home At Sea Colony was the quality of the tennis, both for them and their kids. Apart from those midweek clinics, Sea Colony’s summer roster lures players to the courts with Live Ball and Cardio sessions, doubles clinics, Nike Adult Camps, Sea Colony’s own tennis camps, custom-designed tennis getaways with optional mental-toughness component, social pro-run round robins, and a mix of junior programs running the gamut from drills and games for 4- to 7-year-olds to Nike tennis camps and tournament tough training. And the year is otherwise peppered with exhibitions, junior tournaments, demo days, and more. At any season the staff is there to help set up games, aided now by the ability of guests and members to sign up online. All of this is designed to keep tennis in the forefront of people’s consciousness.
Sea Colony dates to the early 1970s and has something of a split personality. Route 1 divides two completely different neighborhoods. On one side is the beach—a broad boulevard of soft sand bordered by dunes over which looms a phalanx of frankly rather stark 10-to-14-story towers, their harshness somewhat relieved by long dune-fronting boardwalks, broad patios, and the occasional swimming pool, one of them indoors. On the opposite side of the highway, a tiny marketplace of shops and restaurants marks the entrance to a leafy and altogether tranquil community of residential streets with low-rise condominiums and homes, lakes, ponds, swimming pools, and a $7.5 million fitness and aquatics center, linked to one another and the beach by trams and dedicated bike paths.
Sea Colony boasts a top-tier tennis and pickleball facility—a three-time winner of the USTA Outstanding Facility of the Year award, most recently in 2022—and a wide range of programs that serve as a tremendous asset. This excellence is further enhanced by the friendly and always-helpful staff. With a talented team of professionals, including college and former college players, Sea Colony continues to deliver exceptional racquet sports experiences for players of all levels.
Tennis Programs: During the busy summer season, there are daily adult clinics, daily Cardio sessions, and a variety of junior clinics for various ages from Monday through Friday. There are as many as five round robins weekly during the busy summer. At any season the staff is there to help set up games, aided now by the ability of guests and members to sign up online (see Sea Colony Tennis for a detailed overview of all things tennis). And roughly once a month from April to October, some sort of special event—a professional, sanctioned, or social tournament, a visiting pro, or an exhibition—rounds out the program. And during the summer months of June to August there are two or three NIKE adult tennis camps each month (ALERT: these tend to sell out early). Beyond that, Sea Colony offers tailor-made weekend camps for small groups.
On paper, this all appears to be rock-solid choice of tennis options, but what sets them apart is the number of participants. On a day in August when temperatures had soared above 95 degrees, more than 30 adults and juniors turned out for the 10 a.m. intermediate clinic and another 30-plus attended the advanced clinic. I also counted 20 beginners in afternoon junior clinic, which had astutely been scheduled for the indoor courts.
Tennis aside, Sea Colony has also made the move into pickleball with four permanent courts and blended lines on 14 of the tennis courts and an additional 4 permanent courts, a total of 8 with lights. Certified pickleball instructors are available for clinics and private lessons, supplemented by pickleball and hybrid tennis and pickleball camps for adults (including some for advanced pickleball), and NIKE camps for juniors. Instruction aside, Sea Colony stages pickleball clinics, social round robins, and a variety of morning and evening Open Plays sessions for all levels. Court Complex. Although there are four lighted hard courts at the beach, the real tennis action takes place at the main tennis center. It comprises six indoor hard courts with sandwiched between another six outdoor courts and 14 Har-Tru courts. There are and additional four hard courts in the trees across the road, two of those now sporting blended lines to accommodate pickleball. Grand Central Station for tennis is the pro shop on the ground floor of the indoor building. Above it, a long viewing area overlooks the indoor courts and has a bar for use in special events. It opens in back onto a broad deck with a panoramic perspective on the Har-Tru courts, where The Vacasa Pro Women’s Open, a $25K Pro Circuit event, takes place in May. Although the pro shop closes at 7 p.m., those well-lighted indoor courts remain open on a first-come, first-served basis until 10 p.m.
Court fees: None, not even for the indoor courts.
Off Court
Beach: Sea Colony fronts ½ mile of Bethany Beach, a broad boulevard of soft sand washed by the Atlantic Ocean. A free shuttle takes guests from Sea Colony West (where the tennis center is) across Route 1 to the beach.
Fitness Center:Â A short walk from the tennis center is $7.5 million multi-use fitness and aquatic center with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a snack bar, gymnasium, and a well-equipped workout room. Personal trainers are available as are a variety of classes, including spinning, Zumba (both aquatic and dry land), yoga, Barre toning, and water aerobics.
Bike paths lace Sea Colony West making it easy for kids to get from houses and townhomes there to the tennis courts, fitness center, or marketplace (though to reach the beach they have to cross busy Route 1).
Children's programs: Colony Kids and Club Sea Colony take kids for 2 and 4 hours respectively for a mix of swimming, games, crafts, and other diversions.
Dining: The Marketplace at the entrance to Sea Colony has two restaurants: several restaurants, Fin’s Ale House and Armand’s Pizza among them, but there are numerous other choices within easy driving distance in Bethany and Fenwick Beaches.
Accommodations
Lodging consists of 1-to-5 bedroom condos and houses, some oceanfront, others near the tennis complex. During the summer, one-week bookings are required.
Getting there
Seasons: Year-round thanks to its indoor courts.
Travel Instructions: The nearest major airports are Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), each roughly a 2½-hour drive from Bethany Beach. The alternative is to fly into Salisbury Regional Airport (SBY) in Salisbury, MD, which is approximately 45 minutes’ drive south of Bethany Beach.
I have been to Sea Colony over the last several years for their tennis camp. I absolutely love it! The instructors are fantastic and keep everything moving with a variety of drills that have definitely improved my game (both in play and in strategy). I’ll definitely be back!!
DS
This was my second visit to Sea Colony for their weekend tennis camp. Amazing experience both times. Gene and his staff are excellent at giving instruction and meeting the players at their level. There is very little down time and the drills are fun and competitive. I definitely leave with more skills than I came with.
LW
great camp! Enjoy it every year!
KB
The instructors are so well versed with their craft! Everyone is super nice, very knowledgeable, and motivating. We learned so much in one weekend!
MC
Sea Colony is one of the best events, and I truly enjoy. The Pros are great and make tennis so much fun, especially Gene.
All the Pros were fabulous. Cannot wait to go back The club is really nice and vey clean
JD
Gene was a fantastic group leader. Our group had multiple levels of players and Gene was able to make the instruction valuable for everyone. He listened, provided excellent direction, kept things moving, and was responsive to the individual questions of each person in the group.
The other pros were also very knowledgeable and helpful and made the camp fun and informative.
AS
Great facility and good tennis camp hours for the investment. Overall, this is a great experience.
The camp could go further to adapt group trainings for play-level differences within the group. Some drawbacks in the adult tennis camp during my last visit were pairings with those of a dramatic level difference, which led to a few drills not conducive to the overall group. However, this may be out of their control if the drills are set in stone ahead of time. Still, as we list our play levels when registering, it would be nice to have more challenging drills for those prepared for it, and adapt it for the different groups’ levels.
Worth the commitment for a great weekend of exercise, great insights on doubles strategy and techniques, and plenty of courts to throw in additional practice around clinics. Will continue attending future functions.
BP
Rex and Micheal were great coaches. They gave good advise and were upbeat excited to share information and techniques. I will definitely recommend the camp to others and look forward to joining again .
BF
Our group of 12 need up being 10 for a 3 day camp. We focused mainly on doubles tactics and strategy, A little bit of everything was covered. All of the pros were helpful, knowledgable and enthusiastic. We had a lot of reps to end up with a good workout and feeling confident about our shots. More so than other camps I have done where they conducted more drills for a shorter amount of time. I think the SC approach was better for me because there was less discussion time. The courts are nice. I like having the tables where you can sit and set your water bottles and racquets temporarily. The center has a changing room, viewing deck, ice machine and water fountain. It is easy to find, plenty of parking, near everything. The pros adjusted to some requests we had, which was impressive. I would highly recommend.
GZ
Our second year of a 3 day group clinic with Gene was outstanding once again. The facility was great, the staff very friendly, and the tennis instruction top notch. I have been doing tennis clinics for many years and have a lot to compare this experience with. I really appreciated the intensity level and the degree of difficulty and expectations for our group that were obviously thought about in advance. Gene crafted a program that built on what we did last year and focused it on strategy and court and game awareness – there was a lot of nuance we hadn’t been focused on. We will be back next year.
DC
Gene is a great tennis coach and person. He gives easy-to-understand instructions for being a better tennis player and is always very positive.
JP
I am thrilled to provide a top review to Gene Cutter and Sea Colony Tennis. As the person responsible for booking a group weekend at the resort, Sea Colony was so organized and accommodating……thank you Krissa!!! The facility itself spoiled us all, being modern and well-cared for, even down to the carts of balls used for drills. Our pro, Gene Cutter, was uniquely excellent. He merged five players’ games into drills that engaged and helped each individual, all the while keeping a level of physical intensity that helped us focus and sweat! Finally, Gene is gifted in his observations and analysis. This is coaching at its best! Please give Sea Colony Tennis a try!!
AB
I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for the exceptional coaching I have received from Gene Cutter at Sea Colony Tennis. From the moment we began training, I was impressed by Gene’s dedication, expertise, and ability to create a positive and motivating learning environment.
Gene possesses a deep understanding of the game and a unique ability to break down complex techniques into easily digestible steps. His patience and encouragement have been invaluable, helping me to overcome challenges and build confidence.
Beyond his technical expertise, Gene has fostered a supportive and enjoyable atmosphere. His positive reinforcement and constructive feedback created a comfortable environment where I felt comfortable taking risks and exploring new skills.
The facility itself is top-notch. The courts are well-maintained, and the overall facility is clean and inviting. The amenities, including the pro shop and locker room further enhance the experience.
I highly recommend Sea Colony Tennis to anyone seeking to improve their tennis game. Their commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of their program.
MM
Gene is the best teaching pro I have ever worked with, and I work with many. His knowledge of the game and ability to communicate the lessson in a way that each person can best consume information. This is the difference between a good and great coach; Gene is great.
TP
Have been playing here for years! Clinics are top notch and facilities are so well-maintained. Coaching staff consistently very high quality.
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614 Reviews on “Sea Colony Racquet Sports”
I have been to Sea Colony over the last several years for their tennis camp. I absolutely love it! The instructors are fantastic and keep everything moving with a variety of drills that have definitely improved my game (both in play and in strategy). I’ll definitely be back!!
This was my second visit to Sea Colony for their weekend tennis camp. Amazing experience both times. Gene and his staff are excellent at giving instruction and meeting the players at their level. There is very little down time and the drills are fun and competitive. I definitely leave with more skills than I came with.
great camp! Enjoy it every year!
The instructors are so well versed with their craft! Everyone is super nice, very knowledgeable, and motivating. We learned so much in one weekend!
Sea Colony is one of the best events, and I truly enjoy. The Pros are great and make tennis so much fun, especially Gene.
All the Pros were fabulous. Cannot wait to go back The club is really nice and vey clean
Gene was a fantastic group leader. Our group had multiple levels of players and Gene was able to make the instruction valuable for everyone. He listened, provided excellent direction, kept things moving, and was responsive to the individual questions of each person in the group.
The other pros were also very knowledgeable and helpful and made the camp fun and informative.
Great facility and good tennis camp hours for the investment. Overall, this is a great experience.
The camp could go further to adapt group trainings for play-level differences within the group. Some drawbacks in the adult tennis camp during my last visit were pairings with those of a dramatic level difference, which led to a few drills not conducive to the overall group. However, this may be out of their control if the drills are set in stone ahead of time. Still, as we list our play levels when registering, it would be nice to have more challenging drills for those prepared for it, and adapt it for the different groups’ levels.
Worth the commitment for a great weekend of exercise, great insights on doubles strategy and techniques, and plenty of courts to throw in additional practice around clinics. Will continue attending future functions.
Rex and Micheal were great coaches. They gave good advise and were upbeat excited to share information and techniques. I will definitely recommend the camp to others and look forward to joining again .
Our group of 12 need up being 10 for a 3 day camp. We focused mainly on doubles tactics and strategy, A little bit of everything was covered. All of the pros were helpful, knowledgable and enthusiastic. We had a lot of reps to end up with a good workout and feeling confident about our shots. More so than other camps I have done where they conducted more drills for a shorter amount of time. I think the SC approach was better for me because there was less discussion time. The courts are nice. I like having the tables where you can sit and set your water bottles and racquets temporarily. The center has a changing room, viewing deck, ice machine and water fountain. It is easy to find, plenty of parking, near everything. The pros adjusted to some requests we had, which was impressive. I would highly recommend.
Our second year of a 3 day group clinic with Gene was outstanding once again. The facility was great, the staff very friendly, and the tennis instruction top notch. I have been doing tennis clinics for many years and have a lot to compare this experience with. I really appreciated the intensity level and the degree of difficulty and expectations for our group that were obviously thought about in advance. Gene crafted a program that built on what we did last year and focused it on strategy and court and game awareness – there was a lot of nuance we hadn’t been focused on. We will be back next year.
Gene is a great tennis coach and person. He gives easy-to-understand instructions for being a better tennis player and is always very positive.
I am thrilled to provide a top review to Gene Cutter and Sea Colony Tennis. As the person responsible for booking a group weekend at the resort, Sea Colony was so organized and accommodating……thank you Krissa!!! The facility itself spoiled us all, being modern and well-cared for, even down to the carts of balls used for drills. Our pro, Gene Cutter, was uniquely excellent. He merged five players’ games into drills that engaged and helped each individual, all the while keeping a level of physical intensity that helped us focus and sweat! Finally, Gene is gifted in his observations and analysis. This is coaching at its best! Please give Sea Colony Tennis a try!!
I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for the exceptional coaching I have received from Gene Cutter at Sea Colony Tennis. From the moment we began training, I was impressed by Gene’s dedication, expertise, and ability to create a positive and motivating learning environment.
Gene possesses a deep understanding of the game and a unique ability to break down complex techniques into easily digestible steps. His patience and encouragement have been invaluable, helping me to overcome challenges and build confidence.
Beyond his technical expertise, Gene has fostered a supportive and enjoyable atmosphere. His positive reinforcement and constructive feedback created a comfortable environment where I felt comfortable taking risks and exploring new skills.
The facility itself is top-notch. The courts are well-maintained, and the overall facility is clean and inviting. The amenities, including the pro shop and locker room further enhance the experience.
I highly recommend Sea Colony Tennis to anyone seeking to improve their tennis game. Their commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of their program.
Gene is the best teaching pro I have ever worked with, and I work with many. His knowledge of the game and ability to communicate the lessson in a way that each person can best consume information. This is the difference between a good and great coach; Gene is great.
Have been playing here for years! Clinics are top notch and facilities are so well-maintained. Coaching staff consistently very high quality.