Stratton has a long if episodic association with tennis. The John Newcombe organization ran tennis camps there in the 1970s and ’80s and during that period it was the site of a Grand Masters tournament. Later, Andre Agassi first burst into national consciousness in 1986 when as a qualifier he reached the semifinals of the former Volvo International Tennis Championships, which was held at Stratton from 1985-89 (the event moved to New Haven when local property owners refused to allow the construction of a permanent tennis stadium), and Stratton briefly hosted the Acura U.S. Women’s Hardcourts Championships. In the 1984, it further enhanced its tennis credentials by building an impressive sports center with indoor courts, two racquetball courts, a complete fitness area, massage rooms, an indoor lap pool, and a fully equipped tennis and fitness shop. And the resort subsequently brought in the Cliff Drysdale Tennis (CDT) organization to manage the racquet-sports programming.
Tennis Staff: CDT’s Robert Menzies has run the racquet sports program since 2013. took over as tennis director late in 2013 after spending part of the summer there familiarizing himself with the program. A native New Zealander, he grew up playing tournaments, even qualifying for a national ranking, before committing to academics. He studied Sport and Recreation at the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, with a particular emphasis on coaching, nutrition, and sports psychology, and then joined CDT becoming head pro at the Omni Amelia Island Resort in Florida before taking over at Stratton.
The roster of summer tennis option is diverse. There are daily clinics, open play session, and group and private lessons. Those looking for a more structured program can opt for the midweek or weekend tennis camps, which variously devote from 2½ to 5 hours a day of group instruction, live-ball drills, and match play. Groups and teams can tailor their own program.
Junior Tennis Camps and Academy: During the summer months, the facility hosts a large junior rackets camp that features tennis, pickleball, swimming, group games, and other activities. Targeted to 5- to 14-year-olds, the program runs midweek and weekends and is open to players of all levels (the on-court sessions are divided by age group and ability). Juniors who take there tennis more seriously can opt for the Stratton Mountain Academy. Geared to players 11 to 18, it takes a more focused approach, with lower student:pro ratios, private lessons, and instructive match-play sessions. Finally, Menzies has addressed underserved population of players: the 14 to 18-year-olds, especially those hoping to make their high school tennis team. Rather that funnel them into an adult camp, he created a Mountain Strong program specifically for them. It follows the same format and low student:pro ratios as the adult program, while giving teens an opportunity to get together with other teens, with tennis as the common language. “It proved very popular,” Menzies told me.
Court Complex: The sports complex consists of six red-clay courts, four outdoor with blended lines for pickleball, and two indoor tennis courts.
213 Reviews on “Stratton Mountain Resort”
Last summer my husband booked us a trip to Vermont and we chose this facility for a tennis getaway. Very affordable program with lots of tennis on offer! We worked with a good team of pros, all positive and fun and it made the experience awesome! A private lesson each day after three hours of morning clinics meant a lot of time on the court, but we were there for tennis and we got a lot out of it! We talked to Rob the director and we are heading back this summer for a weekend trip this year and one of their “special” weekend programs. We did change our accommodation from the hotel to a condo type lodging as the hotel wasn’t in a great state, but the condos were fantastic.
Incredible experience for myself and my wife. We had a great time working with a variety of pros during the morning clinic. I worked with the pro Mo each day during my private lesson and my wife worked with a number of different pros including Rob and Toby. It’s a good program; three hours of morning clinics each day and a private lesson each afternoon, and they did a good job of splitting up the numbers and the random levels that showed up each day. Off court, the mountain had a few things to offer, but neither of us golf and we were too tired to hike after all the tennis. Would recommend to anybody that wants to spend their time focusing on the tennis.
My 10-year-old did the summer camp last year and absolutely loved it. The coaches struck a perfect balance between instruction and fun. He came home excited every day and more confident in his game. We’ll definitely be back this summer.
If you’re a serious player, this is the place. The pros don’t just feed balls; they coach strategy, movement, and decision-making. The live ball and point play segments were especially valuable. It’s one of the few resort programs where I felt pushed the entire time. I requested the strongest pro for my private session in the afternoon and out came a 12UTR that I didn’t see in the morning clinics… That was a humbling experience.
As someone who travels solo specifically for tennis, this program exceeded expectations. The drills were intense, the coaching was sharp, and the level of play was strong across the board. There were days where I was one or only two in the clinics, but the next day there were another ten people out there; it was a nice mix of social and focused one-on-one learning. I left feeling like my game actually improved and I look forward to coming back next season
What stood out most was the clarity of instruction. The coaching staff communicates technical adjustments in a way that’s easy to implement immediately. The sessions were structured, efficient, and focused on improvement rather than just activity.
My kids didn’t just like camp—they LOVED it. Every morning was a countdown to get back on court. The coaches have so much energy and make it fun while still teaching real skills. As a parent, that’s all you can ask for.
I’ve been to a lot of resort programs, and this one is among the best. The morning clinics are varied depending on the day (I was the only person one day), but the pros are energetic and knowledgeable, and the drills are never repetitive. There is a real sense on enthusiasm amongst the pros. The highlight was Rob who came out to say hi, introduce the pro, give his two cents before running over a large academy court to play in a game with the kids. I saw him thirty minutes later having balls thrown at him with a bunch of five year olds before coming back to check in on me.
We brought our USTA team up for a summer training weekend last year after missing out on sectionals, and it was exactly what we needed. We were in contact with Rob before arriving and he mentioned that he was going to run the Doubles Boot Camp format for us. The coaching staff ran structured sessions that focused on doubles patterns, communication, and point construction. We are hoping to make Nationals this year, but if not, we’ll be back at Stratton!
I chose a rough weekend for my first visit to Stratton Mountain. Rain and Snow on Memorial Day Weekend! The resort itself was very quiet due to this, but my experience on the indoor tennis courts was great! There was only a handful of us in attendance for the morning clinics (I signed up for the Weekend Package so morning clinics Saturday, Sunday and Monday) but Rob and his team made sure we were treated well and focused on correctly. While he had two pros feeding on the two courts, Rob would be with us, talking to each person, giving advice while we waited for our turn and it was all personal advice, nothing too generic! I will be back on what I hope will be a warmer weekend!
Cliff Drysdale Tennis at Stratton Mountain offers a fantastic tennis program for all seasons. I have been coming here for years and appreciate having indoor instructional programs in the winter while the rest of my family skis. Rob Menzies and his talented pros also run a great summer adult camp that combines heart pumping drills and fun point play in a beautiful mountain setting. My friends and I always look forward to returning every year for our ladies’ trip. I highly recommend this resort – one of the best in the Northeast.
This is a great place to play tennis when I visit Stratton! I play indoors in the winter when I can as a weekend warrior. It’s always worth going! Rob is a great pro, he’s funny & engaging and always gives good tips for how to improve. Maybe one day I’ll try pb, but I love the tennis program!
The tennis program is fantastic! The instruction is focused and on point. I am a 4.0 player. I visit often and always leave the court thinking I have learned something to improve my game and I had fun! Rob and his team do a great job running clinics for a variety of levels.