Shadow Mountain opened in the late 1940s with a single court, but over time it grew to be one of the celebrated places to play in the greater Palm Springs desert, expanding to 16 courts, three of them clay. It had a reputation for superb game matching, with legendary hostesses like Karen Haase, a personable former top-ranked junior who still puts in several days a week behind the desk. It also became known for its Desert Tennis Academy, a three-hour-a-day program run by Caerwyn Evans.
Shadow Mountain sits in a residential neighborhood a few blocks south of the celebrated boulevard of shops and restaurants called El Paseo. A high wall hides it from view. Beyond that wall is an unprepossessing collection of flat-roofed, two-story condominiums ranging in size from studios to three bedrooms. At the core of the resort is a large figure-8 swimming pool and the 16-court tennis complex. Life at Shadow Mountain revolves around those two amenities (though the resort now also owns the adjacent golf course).
Tennis Staff: Caerwyn Evans brings impressive credentials—and an engaging personality—to Shadow Mountain's tennis program. An elite junior in his native Australia, he went on to coach internationally, eventually ending up at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden—site of the BNP Paribas Open—before taking over the Desert Tennis Academy in 2013 and subsequently the entire tennis program.
Tennis Programs: The Desert Tennis Academy offers two programs: a three-hour morning session and a two-hour afternoon singles or doubles session. They can be booked either together or separately. The emphasis is on stroke production and video analysis. "We hit a lot of balls but all have a purpose to them," Evans told me. Although advertised at a 6:1 student:pro ratio, these frequently run more like 4:1 or even 3:1, which means the camps can be fairly intense when that's what students want.
Beyond the camps, Shadow Mountain runs clinics for serves, beginning adults, and Cardio tennis. Particularly noteworthy, however, are the 90-minute Liveball clinics. Evans describes these as "a fast-paced doubles game that's like one continuous point! It can be compared to or as a substitute for Cardio tennis." These are scheduled almost daily, with different levels and even a Liveball tournament. The resort has added padel to the mix, with introductory and advanced intermediate clinics and match play, including sessions for women only.
Finally, Shadow Mountain also has a Junior Desert Tennis Academy. Though intended for locals, it runs year-round and can readily accept the children of vacationing families.
Court Complex: The main bank of 10 hard courts (6 with lights) has been laid out in fairly orderly fashion in banks of three or four running not north-south—the preferred deployment—but northwest-southeast. The other six, three of which are clay, appear to have been shoehorned in wherever there was room. One of those even runs east-west. But though the layout suggests that the complex received secondary treatment, it is in fact a focal point of the resort. The courts flow from a two-story tennis clubhouse, which rises at one end of the figure-8 pool. It contains not only a full-service pro shop but also a small fitness center (make that very small) and the resort's only restaurant: the Courtside Cafe on the second floor overlooking the courts and pool. Its walls—and those in the main lobby—display historic black-and-white photos of the resort dating to the 1940s.
Court fees: None
Off Court
Golf Courses: The resort owns the adjacent Gene Sarazen-designed 5,418-yard, par-70 Shadow Mountain Golf Club, which is otherwise private, and can thus book tee times there. It can also make arrangements to play elsewhere in the Coachella Valley.
Fitness Center: Located in the Tennis Clubhouse, this small room has a handful of cardiovascular machines and one Body Master weight-training station. There are also saunas and a massage room.
Apart from the large figure-8 swimming pool and its adjacent Jacuzzi and firepit, there are three additional pools, one paddle tennis court, a pickleball court, a basketball court, a grass volleyball court.
Dining: The resort has one small, unpretentious restaurant, the Court Cafe and Bar. Located on the second floor of the tennis clubhouse, it has windows overlooking the teaching court and outside decks with tables overlooking the figure-8 pool. It serves breakfast and lunch daily—omelets, salads, sandwiches, smoothies—as well as craft beers. For evening dining, there is a Passport program that provides discounts at selected restaurants, many of them just a few blocks away on El Paseo Drive.
Accommodations
A flat-roofed, two-story condominiums ranging in size from studios to three bedrooms.
Getting there
Seasons: Although Shadow Mountain is open year-round, summer temperatures in the Palm Springs desert reach triple digits and that figure-8 pool will look much more appealing than the tennis courts. So for tennis, the season runs from October into early May.
6 Reviews on “Shadow Mountain Resort & Club - Desert Tennis Academy”
Very Good
3.7
6 reviews
MM
Resort was started in 1946 and some of the courts are original and not oriented north/south so sun is brutal playing on one side. Attended a few clinics/lessons. Watch out pricing is rather odd. A private lesson for 4 people for 90 minutes costs $155, but for 2 hours cost $320. Had 3 hour private lesson (which they called clinic) for 4 people and cost was $400 with head pro. Two of us thought it was great and two thought it was below average and not worth the money. He started with I am going to just enhance your game, not try to change things up, then proceeded to want us to change just about everything. Even said several times this goes against everything you’ve been taught, but you need to change this. For example – fewer large steps is much better, don’t want to see lots of little steps or adjustment steps. Provided very little individual tips or instructions – just generalities to entire group which consisted of two 3.5 women, one 3.5 man and one 4.0 man with very different playing styles. Loved the live ball drills which were only $25/player for 90 minutes. Really enjoyed private lesson with Dimitri for 2 hours. He provided lots of individualized tips and instructions. Stayed at resort for 4 nights in 2 bedroom villa. Loved the location. It was located within walking distance to wonderful shopping and great restaurants. Golf course was a very fun, narrow, short course that was well maintained and walking distance. Villas were very much in need of updating. We went during off season (May). For a highly ranked tennis center, I would expect balls in the hoppers to be changed out regularly. Even pro commented that he had trouble finding 3 decent balls to provide for us to play a few games with at the end of our lesson. These were the balls that were used for all of our instructions and drills. Very disappointing. Because of the location and our overall trip, would consider going back, but it isn’t because the tennis center was top notch and definitely not because the accommodations. Beds, linens, etc. were just average. Pro shop was running 50% off all clothing and was pretty bare bones. We attributed that to the fact that it was off season and we were told things were really ramping down because of the season.
LF
Beautiful surroundings, very comfortable lodging, very laid-back atmosphere. Everyone was very nice. Excellent for solo traveller who seeks to play tennis and be comfortable. The studio is spacy and with a fully equipped kitchen, and the place is 5 mns away (by car) from a great shopping center. I only took private lessons, and the instructor (John) was very professional. Also, they were extremely attentive in trying to find the best match -up for you. I recommend heartily: very good quality/price.
RL
Good value, nice surroundings, somewhat dated, great staff…well run tennis program, great for seniors
KB
Great instuction by seasoned and knowledgeable pros. Beautiful setting and low player to pro ratio. Great way to hit a lot of balls while working on strategy and technical skills.
RO
Rating very accurate. Tennis-centered, not much else on the resort, but a very short walk to lots of restaurants and shops and a short drive to other activities. Clinics were good-developed an open forehand. Resort was very accomodating when we had departure flights cancelled due to eastern snowstorm and gave us a room at reduced rate.
RB
Travel 6000 miles and take 20 hours from the UK to get to this one-but worth it. As good as ever, units seem to be a little better than before. Karen, Mark and Bob in the pro-shop are top seeds when it comes to finding games-great people! Our 4th or 5th time here, will keep coming.
6 Reviews on “Shadow Mountain Resort & Club - Desert Tennis Academy”
Resort was started in 1946 and some of the courts are original and not oriented north/south so sun is brutal playing on one side. Attended a few clinics/lessons. Watch out pricing is rather odd. A private lesson for 4 people for 90 minutes costs $155, but for 2 hours cost $320. Had 3 hour private lesson (which they called clinic) for 4 people and cost was $400 with head pro. Two of us thought it was great and two thought it was below average and not worth the money. He started with I am going to just enhance your game, not try to change things up, then proceeded to want us to change just about everything. Even said several times this goes against everything you’ve been taught, but you need to change this. For example – fewer large steps is much better, don’t want to see lots of little steps or adjustment steps. Provided very little individual tips or instructions – just generalities to entire group which consisted of two 3.5 women, one 3.5 man and one 4.0 man with very different playing styles. Loved the live ball drills which were only $25/player for 90 minutes. Really enjoyed private lesson with Dimitri for 2 hours. He provided lots of individualized tips and instructions. Stayed at resort for 4 nights in 2 bedroom villa. Loved the location. It was located within walking distance to wonderful shopping and great restaurants. Golf course was a very fun, narrow, short course that was well maintained and walking distance. Villas were very much in need of updating. We went during off season (May). For a highly ranked tennis center, I would expect balls in the hoppers to be changed out regularly. Even pro commented that he had trouble finding 3 decent balls to provide for us to play a few games with at the end of our lesson. These were the balls that were used for all of our instructions and drills. Very disappointing. Because of the location and our overall trip, would consider going back, but it isn’t because the tennis center was top notch and definitely not because the accommodations. Beds, linens, etc. were just average. Pro shop was running 50% off all clothing and was pretty bare bones. We attributed that to the fact that it was off season and we were told things were really ramping down because of the season.
Beautiful surroundings, very comfortable lodging, very laid-back atmosphere. Everyone was very nice. Excellent for solo traveller who seeks to play tennis and be comfortable. The studio is spacy and with a fully equipped kitchen, and the place is 5 mns away (by car) from a great shopping center. I only took private lessons, and the instructor (John) was very professional. Also, they were extremely attentive in trying to find the best match -up for you. I recommend heartily: very good quality/price.
Good value, nice surroundings, somewhat dated, great staff…well run tennis program, great for seniors
Great instuction by seasoned and knowledgeable pros. Beautiful setting and low player to pro ratio. Great way to hit a lot of balls while working on strategy and technical skills.
Rating very accurate. Tennis-centered, not much else on the resort, but a very short walk to lots of restaurants and shops and a short drive to other activities. Clinics were good-developed an open forehand. Resort was very accomodating when we had departure flights cancelled due to eastern snowstorm and gave us a room at reduced rate.
Travel 6000 miles and take 20 hours from the UK to get to this one-but worth it. As good as ever, units seem to be a little better than before. Karen, Mark and Bob in the pro-shop are top seeds when it comes to finding games-great people! Our 4th or 5th time here, will keep coming.