Twenty-four people showed up for a social round-robin on a Monday morning during my last visit to Waterville Valley Resort. The fee was $2/person for members and Waterville pass-holders to cover the cost of balls. Pairings were done by handing out playing cards: as a red 3 I played with another red 3 against the two black threes, and before the morning ended I’d played with or against most of the other players, most of whom seemed to be locals or second home owners.
Terraced into a grassy hillside and surrounded by forested mountains, Waterville’s 18 red-clay courts rank, among the most beautiful places I’ve played. The resort encourages guests to take advantage of the tennis and many other outdoor activities by offering a special “Summer Unlimited” package through several of the lodges and condominiums. The pass that comes with it affords everyone in the room complimentary access to everything from tennis and golf to bike rentals, athletic club facilities, watersports on the pond, the chairlift to the top of the mountain (where there are hiking and mountain biking trails), and even ice skating. With so much recreation available, it’s comforting not to have to think about cost each time you take up an activity.
The resort itself huddles in the valley. At its core stands a Town Square, a collection of shops and restaurants set beside a pond that spills over a rocky flume into a creek. Inns, lodges, and condo complexes fan out around it.
Not many resorts can trace their enthusiasm for tennis back more than a century. Waterville Valley still has the red-clay court that first lured players to this part of New Hampshire’s White Mountains as long ago as 1884. Now a sunken stadium with grassy berms, it has been in continuous use ever since. What has changed over the last century is the size of its complex: now there are 18 red-clay courts and another two synthetic grass indoors at the nearby Athletic Club. Tennis remains, after more than 110 years, a reason to visit. Tennis director Tom Gross, Jr., who trained with Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, and Lew Hoad among other legends, owns the tennis complex and the Athletic Club and runs it with an eye to satisfying the families of avid players who vacation there during New Hampshire’s glorious summers and fall.
Tennis Staff: Born in New England, Gross showed considerable talent as a child, winning his first tournament at age 6 and then going on to play for New England College while majoring in creative writing and history. But his love of teaching tennis determined his direction. “I made a commitment at 14, 15 years old to teach,” he remembers. “While friends of mine were playing the New England juniors, I was teaching.” During the tennis boom, he first taught for Laver-Emerson Tennis Holidays and then became its national director when Emerson left. He still employs much of their methodology in his teaching and clinics. He tends to focus on such things as preparation, contact, and follow-through r”ather than on the intricate details of technique. His first question for anyone taking a lesson is often “what’s your playing schedule?” That answer determines his approach to teaching. “If someone plays only once a week, then you have to be careful to take what they have an make them better,” Gross notes. “If they have time to practice, then you can be a little more creative.” Above all strives to keep it fun.
Tennis Programs: Each morning during the summer the tennis center schedules 90-minute clinics for adults and juniors. Those are followed by well-attended adult round robins, which take place daily, and by another for juniors, which takes place three times a week. Game matching tends to be rather more perfunctory: there is a “Looking for a Game” board and when pressed the staff may try to help but tends to rely more on natural selection of the clinics and round robins to bring guests together. There is some kind of tournament almost every summer weekend. The pro shop, a tiny timber structure with a deck overlooking the courts, has all the services you’re likely to need. For details about the programs, see Waterville Tennis.
Court fees: No charge for those on “Summer Unlimited” packages; otherwise, $50/hour for singles, $50 for 90 minutes of doubles.
Waterville Valley Resort is also home to New England Tennis Holidays at Waterville, which offers 2-to-5-day tennis camps from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.
Off Court
Golf Courses: The resort has a 9-hole golf course, which winds around the valley floor; however guests also have privileges at the public Owl’s Nest Golf Course in Thornton, roughly a dozen miles away. Designed by Cornish, Silva & Mungeam, Inc., this 6,818-yard, par 72 championship course follows the natural topography of the Pemigewasset River and the White Mountain National Forest. It has five sets of tees on each hole, bentgrass fairways and manicured greens, which makes it accessible to golfers of any skill level.
Spa & Fitness Center: The Athletic Club has swimming pools, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, an indoor jogging track, and a selection of weights and cardiovascular equipment. Massages are also available.
Kayaks, pedal boats, and canoes are available for use on Corcoran’s Pond, there are mountain bike trails and a mountain-bike park, an ice-skating rink, hiking trails to the summits of the valley’s 4,000-foot peaks, and a gymnasium for basketball and indoor floor hockey.
Children's programs: Waterville runs a summer recreation camp for children ages 4 to 16. Activities vary by age, including some specifically for teens. The resort also operates a free valley-wide shuttle bus to make getting around easy.
Dining: There are half a dozen places to eat in Waterville, from delis and pizzerias to seafood and steaks in the Wild Coyote Grill at the Athletic Club
Accommodations
Rooms in Waterville Valley range from simple accommodations for 2 in a country inn to 3-bedroom condos capable of sleeping 6.
Getting there
Seasons: The outdoor tennis season runs from June through October, though play is possible indoors year-round.
Travel Instructions: The nearest airport is Manchester, NH, 70 miles to the south. Other options are: Boston, 130 miles; Montreal, 225 miles; and New York, 325 miles.
Awesome place. Strengths: The location is first off incredible. In the middle of the Mountains with georgeous scenery. There are 18 clay courts and they are all very well maintained. The place is very low key and also hosts bigger tournements such as the New Hampshire Open. Everyone is friendly. There are kids clinics and private lessons available, and it it the perfect place for both families and anyone serious about there tennis game. There are also many other activities to do around the Valley. Weaknesses: Being in the White Mountains of NH you will get quite a bit of rainy days, so the outdoor clay courts aren’t always open, though there are two indoor courts.
NB
great courts! Love it!
NF
Waterville Valley offers sports, swimming, tennis, boating,skiing A great resort area for couples or families Has something to offer year round Fantastic place to bring kids of all ages We actually own a condo in WV and are avid skiers in the winter and enjoy other activities in the other season
PM
very friendly to all, easy to find people to play with, every morning, laid back in gorgeous setting, everyone plays together all ages, genders et… fun. excellent instruction, many lodging possibilities, good restaurant and fitness center , many pools. very basic pro shop so don’t wait to buy hour tennis clothes there, but no need to shleppe a racket either, many to rent. reasonable prices
AG
Overall great place to play tennis….great pro….highly recommend it
CL
Great tennis court! Staff is friendly and helpful (especially Emily!) and explains the courts procedures in depth. Was great for new players as well as experienced players. Was able to explain why some rackets were better then others, and explain the equitment in the pro shop.
EC
It was a fun filled tennis weekend. Facility is wonderful, instructors are excellent. Instructions are PLENTIFUL, some helpful, some slightly confusing… probably due to lots of information offered in such a short time frame. Overall, a very positive experience. Would love to return next year.
MP
This is the second year that I’ve been to Waterville Valley for tennis camp and I love it. The pros are just wonderful and I was happy to see them again this year. I played tennis over 30 years ago but just got back into it 3.5 years ago. I would highly recommend this to any tennis player who wants to improve on their game. While at Waterville Valley I just made use of the tennis and lunch at Town Square. My level is between itermediate and strong intermediate.
GM
If you are looking to channel the tennis wisdom of the greats, Laver, Hoad, Emerson etc, the head pro at this club, Tom Gross, is the man to see. This is a world class tennis pro. The courts and resort are nice…very nice but I would travel to a concrete tennis court in Alaska during the winter time to take a lesson from Tom. Great workout, great instruction fun time.
AS
Great courts and beautiful environment. No problem to schedule our courts and the staff there were really helpful!
EL
Beautiful, prestige red clay courts, and lush green mountain surroundings. Tom Gross is a fantastic teaching pro. He was able to quickly re-wire 2 significant bad habits in my game. Folks are extremely friendly and accomodating. There’s tons to do in the valley; mountain biking and hiking are superb. Weaknesses: black flies – comes with the beautiful territory – bring your insect repellent – reapply periodically and you’ll be fine.
BR
I have been going here one week a year for a few years now, doing 3-4 drills (3-4 people in each drill) each time. Tom is a great teaching pro (provides tweaks for seasoned players and basics for beginners), and I have had nice improvements to my game as a result of each session. The courts are perfectly maintained down to the evenly tacked down lines, the orientation in relation to the sun perfect, and the view of the mountains inspiring.
EY
It’s beautiful here – so much to offer and it’s a small community. They have everything you could want for a getaway and great staff and things to do in the area.
SB
great place to visit and to live. great in the winter and in the summer every season has it’s perks.i should know we live here and we enjoy all it has to offer.
JM
It was our second time to visit Waterville Vally. I enjoyed Tom’s daily clinics as well as private lessons. Overall, wonderful experience.
KM
I took Tom’s clinics for about a week. I learned more from Tom than what I had learned at my local tennis club in a year. Look forward to next summer.
YM
Highly recommended. Tom’s clinics are a wonderful opportunity to receive individualized instructions. We will be there again next summer.
MM
I really enjoyed Tom Gross’s clinics. A lot of individual attention. I like his teaching philosophy.
VW
great tennis drills and lots of fun. Wish we worked more on doubles strategy and had more time allocated for doubles play. If I were to go again, I would want to have some of my tennis buddies come along, as that seemed to be the way others did it.
TD
We had a small group (7 total) for two days of tennis instruction with two [New England Tennis Holisdays’] pros. I felt like I received a lot of personalized attention and great tips.
HC
It’s a special relaxing place, non commercial, with all outdoor activities. Welcoming atmosphere. Limited nightlife. There is no place like Waterville Valley.
PB
Great facility, courts well maintained, helpful staff. Excellent clinics led by Tom Gross, an outstanding coach who patiently dealt with 4 low-intermediate players. Made the vacation worthwhile.
CM
If you want to improve your tennis in a beautiful setting on well-maintained red clay, you can’t do better than to work with Tom Gross, Owner and Head Pro.
DC
Awesom
CS
There is nothing better–or more beautiful–than standing on the red clay courts surrounded by the mountains. There are daily round-robins, instruction is available, and the club runs several tournaments throughout the summer. It’s a spectacular place to be!
RM
Fantastic setting, laid back attitude, lots of games available, daily round-robins.
JM
Waterville is a beautiful setting, has lots of outdoor clay courts, round robins every weekday and lessons from the pro. The indoor facility is limited (2 courts),but they are well kept and easy on the joints (softer playing surface). I would recommend this resort for anyone interested in a tennis vacation or just for someone who enjoys a variety of activities. Lots to do in the Watervlle Area.
JA
It is the most beautiful place to play tennis. You are surrounded by the mountains as you play. The courts and venue are absolutely fantastic.
DA
You can’t ask for a more beautiful setting…sometimes it makes it hard to concentrate on the ball when you’re surrounded by 4,000-foot mountains! The clay courts are well-maintained. The staff is friendly and helpful. The resort offers other 4-season recreational options besides tennis, so you can’t ever get bored.
RS
18 red clay courts surrounded by 4,000 ft.peaks, quiet, pristine, scenic and the courts are as good a clay as you will find anywhere.
KK
Great facilities, great staff and wonderful environment. Will definitely visit again
SL
Always an activity to do, whether snow or shine… skiing, bicycling, hiking, swimming at the White Mountain Athletic Club indoors or relaxing by the outdoor, Olympic sized-pool. Beautiful any time of the year and easy to travel to. Dinner at the Coyote Grill is scrumptious!
TH
Great teaching staff. Wonderful setting. Awesome clay courts!!!
TS
Courts always in great shape, good rates and spectacular scenery.
RP
Our Waterville Valley Resort Tennis experience was excellent. I was fortunate to have an adult clinic with Tennis director Tom Gross, Jr, who was able to spent extra time with me on my decades old form and technique. My six year old son had his own clinic with one of the staff and loved it. We look forward to our visit next summer.
BM
The setting is beautiful and the clay courts were awesome to play on. We had a private group lesson and it was a blast!
DA
The instruction from professional,Tom Gross, was outstanding. We appreciated the individual attention received during the Adult Clinics. We definitely plan to return.
LS
Stayed here twice this summer. First visit… came to the resort took a clinic and played some tennis with my family. Great facilities, beautiful setting, great instructor and had lot of fun. Second time…. attended a camp. Very intensive. Would recommend camp if really focused on instruction. Video analysis was terrific. Not as much time and would have enjoyed additional round robin or general situational play.
DC
Loved the ratio of coach to player. All coaches are very knowledgeable and experienced. I learn so much every time I attend this camp [New England Tennis Holidays]. Well done!
JM
great friendly and relaxed atmosphere! Tom runs really good clinics that he makes fun. The round-robins are a big plus as they are well run and again lots of fun which to me is the bottom line. Then the real bonus is the beautiful scenery of the White Mountains and the town itself. A must for all tennis players
JG
I thought the instruction was superb and the value at Waterville was simply unsurpassed.
SJ
WV resort is absolutely breathtaking in its beauty. It has 18 clay tennis courts and a 9-hole golf course, great for fishing and hiking all with a great view of Mount Tecumseh, the ski mountain and other peaks. We just loved our experience there and can’t wait to return.
RH
The views are amazing and the courts are the best I have played on in years. The staff is extremely friendly and always willing to help out. I love WV!!!
DV
Amazingly beautiful place to spend any season. There really are no weaknesses to this resort.
JV
Great Facilities and absolutely incredible beautiful place. Few places in the world I would rather be than in the Valley..
BL
gorgeous setting outdoors, with indoor courts in case of rain that have a great surface (carpet without the dreaded sand!!), beautiful resort with no commercial intervention, no stop lights, cute town square with a couple of great restaurants and stores, easy to get to..just 2 hours from Boston!
AL
Amazing service!
ML
Great place to vacation and spend time with the family. Outstanding views and great activities/sports.
SH
The only weakness of this resort would be that it exists so far from my home! Excellent condition of clay courts. Staff is always so friendly. Waterville is my home away from home.
MB
Best tennis courts in THE WORLD!!!!!!! Waterville Valley has so much to offer. I’d go back again and again!!!
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350 Reviews on “Waterville Valley Resort”
Awesome place. Strengths: The location is first off incredible. In the middle of the Mountains with georgeous scenery. There are 18 clay courts and they are all very well maintained. The place is very low key and also hosts bigger tournements such as the New Hampshire Open. Everyone is friendly. There are kids clinics and private lessons available, and it it the perfect place for both families and anyone serious about there tennis game. There are also many other activities to do around the Valley.
Weaknesses: Being in the White Mountains of NH you will get quite a bit of rainy days, so the outdoor clay courts aren’t always open, though there are two indoor courts.
great courts! Love it!
Waterville Valley offers sports, swimming, tennis, boating,skiing A great resort area for couples or families Has something to offer year round Fantastic place to bring kids of all ages We actually own a condo in WV and are avid skiers in the winter and enjoy other activities in the other season
very friendly to all, easy to find people to play with, every morning, laid back in gorgeous setting, everyone plays together all ages, genders et… fun. excellent instruction, many lodging possibilities, good restaurant and fitness center , many pools. very basic pro shop so don’t wait to buy hour tennis clothes there, but no need to shleppe a racket either, many to rent. reasonable prices
Overall great place to play tennis….great pro….highly recommend it
Great tennis court! Staff is friendly and helpful (especially Emily!) and explains the courts procedures in depth. Was great for new players as well as experienced players. Was able to explain why some rackets were better then others, and explain the equitment in the pro shop.
It was a fun filled tennis weekend. Facility is wonderful, instructors are excellent. Instructions are PLENTIFUL, some helpful, some slightly confusing… probably due to lots of information offered in such a short time frame. Overall, a very positive experience. Would love to return next year.
This is the second year that I’ve been to Waterville Valley for tennis camp and I love it. The pros are just wonderful and I was happy to see them again this year. I played tennis over 30 years ago but just got back into it 3.5 years ago. I would highly recommend this to any tennis player who wants to improve on their game. While at Waterville Valley I just made use of the tennis and lunch at Town Square. My level is between itermediate and strong intermediate.
If you are looking to channel the tennis wisdom of the greats, Laver, Hoad, Emerson etc, the head pro at this club, Tom Gross, is the man to see. This is a world class tennis pro. The courts and resort are nice…very nice but I would travel to a concrete tennis court in Alaska during the winter time to take a lesson from Tom. Great workout, great instruction fun time.
Great courts and beautiful environment. No problem to schedule our courts and the staff there were really helpful!
Beautiful, prestige red clay courts, and lush green mountain surroundings. Tom Gross is a fantastic teaching pro. He was able to quickly re-wire 2 significant bad habits in my game. Folks are extremely friendly and accomodating. There’s tons to do in the valley; mountain biking and hiking are superb.
Weaknesses: black flies – comes with the beautiful territory – bring your insect repellent – reapply periodically and you’ll be fine.
I have been going here one week a year for a few years now, doing 3-4 drills (3-4 people in each drill) each time. Tom is a great teaching pro (provides tweaks for seasoned players and basics for beginners), and I have had nice improvements to my game as a result of each session.
The courts are perfectly maintained down to the evenly tacked down lines, the orientation in relation to the sun perfect, and the view of the mountains inspiring.
It’s beautiful here – so much to offer and it’s a small community. They have everything you could want for a getaway and great staff and things to do in the area.
great place to visit and to live. great in the winter and in the summer every season has it’s perks.i should know we live here and we enjoy all it has to offer.
It was our second time to visit Waterville Vally. I enjoyed Tom’s daily clinics as well as private lessons. Overall, wonderful experience.
I took Tom’s clinics for about a week. I learned more from Tom than what I had learned at my local tennis club in a year. Look forward to next summer.
Highly recommended. Tom’s clinics are a wonderful opportunity to receive individualized instructions. We will be there again next summer.
I really enjoyed Tom Gross’s clinics. A lot of individual attention. I like his teaching philosophy.
great tennis drills and lots of fun. Wish we worked more on doubles strategy and had more time allocated for doubles play. If I were to go again, I would want to have some of my tennis buddies come along, as that seemed to be the way others did it.
We had a small group (7 total) for two days of tennis instruction with two [New England Tennis Holisdays’] pros. I felt like I received a lot of personalized attention and great tips.
It’s a special relaxing place, non commercial, with all outdoor activities. Welcoming atmosphere. Limited nightlife. There is no place like Waterville Valley.
Great facility, courts well maintained, helpful staff. Excellent clinics led by Tom Gross, an outstanding coach who patiently dealt with 4 low-intermediate players. Made the vacation worthwhile.
If you want to improve your tennis in a beautiful setting on well-maintained red clay, you can’t do better than to work with Tom Gross, Owner and Head Pro.
Awesom
There is nothing better–or more beautiful–than standing on the red clay courts surrounded by the mountains. There are daily round-robins, instruction is available, and the club runs several tournaments throughout the summer. It’s a spectacular place to be!
Fantastic setting, laid back attitude, lots of games available, daily round-robins.
Waterville is a beautiful setting, has lots of outdoor clay courts, round robins every weekday and lessons from the pro. The indoor facility is limited (2 courts),but they are well kept and easy on the joints (softer playing surface). I would recommend this resort for anyone interested in a tennis vacation or just for someone who enjoys a variety of activities. Lots to do in the Watervlle Area.
It is the most beautiful place to play tennis. You are surrounded by the mountains as you play. The courts and venue are absolutely fantastic.
You can’t ask for a more beautiful setting…sometimes it makes it hard to concentrate on the ball when you’re surrounded by 4,000-foot mountains! The clay courts are well-maintained. The staff is friendly and helpful. The resort offers other 4-season recreational options besides tennis, so you can’t ever get bored.
18 red clay courts surrounded by 4,000 ft.peaks, quiet, pristine, scenic and the courts are as good a clay as you will find anywhere.
Great facilities, great staff and wonderful environment. Will definitely visit again
Always an activity to do, whether snow or shine… skiing, bicycling, hiking, swimming at the White Mountain Athletic Club indoors or relaxing by the outdoor, Olympic sized-pool. Beautiful any time of the year and easy to travel to. Dinner at the Coyote Grill is scrumptious!
Great teaching staff. Wonderful setting. Awesome clay courts!!!
Courts always in great shape, good rates and spectacular scenery.
Our Waterville Valley Resort Tennis experience was excellent. I was fortunate to have an adult clinic with Tennis director Tom Gross, Jr, who was able to spent extra time with me on my decades old form and technique. My six year old son had his own clinic with one of the staff and loved it. We look forward to our visit next summer.
The setting is beautiful and the clay courts were awesome to play on. We had a private group lesson and it was a blast!
The instruction from professional,Tom Gross, was outstanding. We appreciated the individual attention received during the Adult Clinics. We definitely plan to return.
Stayed here twice this summer. First visit… came to the resort took a clinic and played some tennis with my family. Great facilities, beautiful setting, great instructor and had lot of fun.
Second time…. attended a camp. Very intensive. Would recommend camp if really focused on instruction. Video analysis was terrific. Not as much time and would have enjoyed additional round robin or general situational play.
Loved the ratio of coach to player. All coaches are very knowledgeable and experienced. I learn so much every time I attend this camp [New England Tennis Holidays]. Well done!
great friendly and relaxed atmosphere! Tom runs really good clinics that he makes fun. The round-robins are a big plus as they are well run and again lots of fun which to me is the bottom line. Then the real bonus is the beautiful scenery of the White Mountains and the town itself. A must for all tennis players
I thought the instruction was superb and the value at Waterville was simply unsurpassed.
WV resort is absolutely breathtaking in its beauty. It has 18 clay tennis courts and a 9-hole golf course, great for fishing and hiking all with a great view of Mount Tecumseh, the ski mountain and other peaks. We just loved our experience there and can’t wait to return.
The views are amazing and the courts are the best I have played on in years. The staff is extremely friendly and always willing to help out. I love WV!!!
Amazingly beautiful place to spend any season. There really are no weaknesses to this resort.
Great Facilities and absolutely incredible beautiful place. Few places in the world I would rather be than in the Valley..
gorgeous setting outdoors, with indoor courts in case of rain that have a great surface (carpet without the dreaded sand!!), beautiful resort with no commercial intervention, no stop lights, cute town square with a couple of great restaurants and stores, easy to get to..just 2 hours from Boston!
Amazing service!
Great place to vacation and spend time with the family. Outstanding views and great activities/sports.
The only weakness of this resort would be that it exists so far from my home! Excellent condition of clay courts. Staff is always so friendly. Waterville is my home away from home.
Best tennis courts in THE WORLD!!!!!!! Waterville Valley has so much to offer. I’d go back again and again!!!