Whistler/Blackcomb in Canada’s British Columbia is best known for its stellar—and year-round—skiing, but savvy tennis players have also discovered that this award-winning resort also has an exceptional tennis venue in the Whistler Racquet Club.
Although former Top 50 player Marjorie Blackwood, a three-time Canadian champion, and her husband National Masters Doubles Champion Peter Schelling no longer direct the day-to-day operations, they do continue to run a handful of camps on selected dates during the summer. Sandwiched in among those programs are “Skills & Drills Scandinave Spa Camps”, variously run by DJ Jansen or Kirk Paterson, and on Mixed Doubles and one Ladies Doubles “Champagne Camp” run by Whistler Sports Academy Director Jamie Grant. All in all, there is something scheduled for nearly every weekend from late May to late September, as well as a variety of daily programs during the week.
The club has 10 hard courts (three of them covered), grouped around a clubhouse with a fireside bar/lounge, pro shop, and exercise room. Many summer weekends are given over to special programs. From late June to mid August, there are also 3-hour-a-day midweek camps for juniors. Meanwhile, even if you miss one of the camps, you can look forward to socials, leagues, and game matching while having full access to all the summer mountain recreation Whistler/Blackcomb offers. Lodging rates in the area can be remarkably reasonable, making this at once a superb tennis getaway and uncommon bargain.
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41 Reviews on “Whistler Racket Club”
Whistler Racquet Club saved my (aborted) ski trip. We had a week of terrible weather, warm and rainy in January, and I shouldn’t have been on skis to begin with. When I decided to hang up my ski boots for good, we still had more than half a week left at Whistler. Luckily this Club was three blocks from our unit. I went over and soon was having a private tennis lesson with Davi, who’s as good a tennis instructor as anyone I’ve worked with and a great guy to boot. Next day I took a private pickleball lesson with Davi and had a similar experience. I’d only played pickle a few times in the past so this was really welcome and I learned a lot in an hour. Next night was Friday chili-and-music night. My guys came along and we all wound up on the pickleball court with Davi. My friend Bill and my son Sam had never played pickle but no matter: We had a terrific time playing, eating chili, then playing some more. It’s a pity I live in the Washington DC area because I’d make this club my regular hangout.
Best coaching i have ever had. My game has improved so much and little time
The teaching staff are great! James was helpful to help revive my game after 3 months off. Davi then took it to another level, pushing me out of my comfort zone to take it up another level. He makes it fun and challenging. The social tennis is very fun and Davi, James & Val do a good job of keeping things moving and challenging in the clinics. It’s a great combo to ski in mornings and play tennis in afternoons. This place is a gem – I just wish the management did more to fully utilize the cool facilities and the great teaching staff. I did not even know they had tennis in Whistler until this February!
A great little tennis facility right in the heart of beautiful Whistler, BC. I had a lesson at 4pm, right after skiing all day. Davi was great and the lesson was both informative and fun. Can’t go wrong here.
I’ve been going to this club for the last 2 years. I was just there in late March. I skiied for 2 days and played tennis 2 days. The weather was gorgeous. It’s a small facility but on of the tennis pros, named Davi is very good. My girlfriend and I had 2 hour private lessons with him and learned alot in a very fun atmosphere. will definitely be doing this again if Davi is there!
I had the pleasure to meet Davi while staying in Whistler for spring break. Davi is an excellent coach and provided me with some great tips to help improve my game. He was very accommodating and took the time to make me feel welcome. He is very engaging and makes you feel like you have known him for years. To top it off, the rest of the staff and the local players were very social and gracious hosts. I look forward to coming back to the Whistler Racquet Club, it was a fantastic experience.
davi went out of his way in videoing me and emailing me info…could correct bad strokes quickly and efficently….and entertaining to boot….wish i had more time with him….thanks davi
Whistler Racquet Club offers Outstanding instructions with the BEST Customer Service, . All this at an affordable price. We visited Feb 2019 for four days and after skiing attended the locals night on Tuesdays which was great and included a fun social event afterwards. My daughter attended two 3 clinics and we did a private lesson with Davi. Even though we were already over the hour, Davi continued to instruct to make sure she understood what he was addressing. She had 3 different instructors for the clinics Davi, Val and James all were GREAT. Melanie who worked the front desk is also very helpful. Davi the senior pro went out of his way to help my daughter prep for High School tryouts. He not only helped us at Whistler but also continued to help us via texting (often) when we were in the states. He helped us order a racquet with suggestions for strings, tension etc.. Then he helped us with several issues. My daughter even texted him from school with a stroke question and he helped her figure out what she was doing wrong. As soon as my daughter was notified she made the team the first person she texted was Davi and he texted her right back at 9:30pm. At this point if you are still reading this you should be AMAZED at the outstanding customer service provided on and off the court. We usually just go to Whistler in the winter but now will for sure return in the summer so she can train with the pros at Whistler Racquet club. The Whistler community is lucky to have such as asset right in their backyard.
fun, well organized.
Womens only format was a plus, improved my positioning and got lots of (needed) attention on my volleys. Pete & Marj and their assistants were so welcoming and helped me find chances to play during the rest of my stay. It’s a small club but it has a great community atmosphere.
This is our group’s (8 ladies) 3rd year of attending a tennis camp with Marjorie & Peter and we keep coming back. We originally signed up for one of their camps but last year and this we opted to arrange our own. It has been a wonderful experience and great tennis. M&P are terrific teaching pros, both have exceptional experience, and together they combine professionalism with friendly courtesy. Everyone in our group has only wonderful things to say about both the coaching and the ambiance. Plus Whistler is a great resort location.
Marjorie and Pete just nail doubles strategy in this camp. You will see the game from a new perspective by learning simple patterns that allow you and your partner to set up points with strategy. The camp is rounded out nicely with some stroke basics and the total package is excellent.
We had a blast – four of us went from our tennis team for three days of drills and round robin play. There was one instructor per four players and the clinic was set up in a “station” format. All three instructors were excellent, and each brought something different to the experience. Loved it!
Old small facility, Very good solid instruction from very able pros,no frills.
Loved the camp. Very, very practical skills. Focused on actual tennis tactics. Never sat around. Always on the move. Excellent coaches. Excellent drills and advice. Very willing to help. Very fun atmosphere. Exceptional doubles camp!!
very professional, well organized i learn a lot, higly recoment
Fun and informative…great drills and time to put new skills into practice!
I can’t say enough good things about the camps at Whistler put on by Marjorie & Peter. They are highly skilled coaches and so well organized that the time flys by quickly. If you’ve never been here, I highly recommend it – both the tennis camp and Whistler are top notch.
I thoroughly enjoyed my tennis camp experience at the Whistler Tennis and Racquet Club. It was very well run and organized. A lot of “positive only” feedback from the pros and suggestions on how to improve your game and strokes. Camp was well organized into skill levels.
Stayed at the recommended resort Summit Lodge and got a great rate and room upgrade. First time to Whistler, wish I had more energy after tennis camp to mountain bike, hike and raft. Superb dining at Whistler Village. Will definitely be back.
The gorgeous setting of this tennis facility is simply spectacular.
The camp was well organized with a quick pace and personal touch. Director Marjorie Blackwood and her capable instructors Kirk, Jesse and Pete provided an excellent blend of one-on-one / group input, in each session. Key video added nice reinforcement. The blend of instructor and camp attendee personalities was a treat.
My wife and I took this four day tennis camp to learn and to improve. Better still 4 days in Whistler were good for the soul: great food, beautiful setting, entertaining company and serious learning. Terrific few days, real fun, loads of laughs, wonderful value. Nothing negative.
A relaxed enjoyable camp.
The Tennis Camp, organized by Marjorie Blackwood was excellent.The instruction was right at my level, and the other participants were fairly equal. The setting, surrounded by snow-capped mountains- was second to none!
The ladies doubles tennis camp is outstanding. The instructors are skilled, fun and encouraging and the setting amongst the Whistler mountains is absolutely beautiful. It is a wonderful weekend getaway that results in great practice and tips for a better game. Highly recommended.
Strengths: Very friendly and skilled tennis instructors. The rotation of the small group instructions provided an effective learning environment for the drills.
The Singles Drills/Play/Tactics tennis camp is excellent. The instruction and coaching is extremely helpful, the student /instructor ratio is great and we were constantly moving. We are planning on making it a yearly event.
What a fabulous 4 days. Marjorie and Peter make learning seem so easy and what they teach really works. I can’t believe how my game has improved.
I certainly would recommend the Whistler Racket Club to friends. The instruction was the best I have had. We were moving the entire time. The interaction with 2 instructors was also a plus. Their instruction complemented each other. My plan is to make this a yearly affair. Whistler is such a gorgeous place, so much to do after tennis. The drive from Seattle was easy, fairly short. Wonderful experience all a round. Thank you Pete and Marjorie. Enjoyed every minute.
The lessons were germain to the doubles that we were working on. Marjorie and Peter covered specific strategies for problem opponents, while also giving us some individual pointers for our own technical stengths and weaknesses. Because of the altitude at Whistler, I wish I’d gone up a day before, just to acclimate a little. All in all, a wonderful camp and experience.
I took a tennis camp in the fall of 2009. The camp was run by Peter Schelling and Marjorie Blackwood, and focused on doubles skills and strategy. I found the intructor’s to be caring and competent, and my volley improved greatly with their help. Five hours on court on the Saturday was physically tough. I recommend people should be in good enough shape to be on court for that length of time. The meals and social time with other campers was fun and friendly.
The coaching staff are exceptionally skilled and even though they must’ve led many clinics it was like they came into the camp with enthusiasm; sincerity, and with a sense of urgency to bring out each participants strengh to having a better understanding of the game of tennis.
Introduction of personalized video and playback of technique, or lack of, was a blast and did not feel uncomfortable, or that I was wasting their time by asking questions. I liked the fact that there was 3 coaches to every four players.
Much emphasis was given on using 3 zones of the court with repetition of basic patterns of play emphasizing specific point situations you might get in match play. The two day clinic was very well structured for the best use of time with a mini-camp tournament held one afternoon.
Strong social element at meals times mixing with participants and coaches, therefore getting to know a little bit about one another.
I left the clinic feeling rewarded knowing I had achieved a better understanding of strategies with improved timing and execution. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this camp to any tennis player that is looking to better their technique and game. To be quite frank I have no negative comments to make.
There really aren’t any weaknesses with this camp. Very professional coaching, great venue, good fun and very helpful for all aspects of the game. Also wonderful dinner and final day brunch included.
This is an excellent quality camp with very professional instruction and well thought of program, where attention is paid to game strategy and court sense. The mountain scenery is difficult to beat. All in all, it was a great experience and I’ll do it again.
This tennis camp at Whistler is one of the best I have ever attended (and I have been to several others around the states). If fact my husband and I have returned to the Whistler camp annually for the past 6 years. Marjory Black wood and Peter Schell are skilled and perceptive instructors. They are excellent at communicating and demonstrating the drills and absolutely amazing at individual analysis of each persons strenghts and weeknesses. I always come away from this camp knowing what I can do to improve my game and have the tools to help practice and improve my strokes. Beside that the setting is beautiful in the whistler Mountain resort. You just can’t beat it.
This is the fourth time that I have attended the Whistler tennis camp with Marjorie and Pete. As always, it was a fantastic experience. There are many regular tennis players who attend. The instruction is high end and practical. Marjorie and Pete know how to match players to maximize an individual’s experience. Some video analysis is included with comparison to select pros on tour.
Marjorie was on tour (in the 1980’s I believe) and Pete helped her train. They know strategy and technique, plus they are both very fun and personable. The junior pros, Jamie and Kirk, were also fantastic. The camp is also social with a dinner Friday night and lunch on the last day. There is a lot to do at Whistler!
The Whistler Extreme Tennis Camp is excellent. There was a very clear structure to the camp and Marjorie and her staff communicated clear and concise instruction to each element of their camp. The bonus is that they were able to find time to work at the individual level and provide detailed instruction to each student regarding any issue that the student wanted to work on. Marjorie and her staff (Peter, Kirk and Jamie) were professional yet easy-going and very approachable, at the same time they worked us hard and didn’t let us stray from our own goals as well as the camp goals. The weakness for me would be the first two days . . . you start on a Friday at 5pm for a couple hours and then you’re back on the court Saturday at 9am! I would prefer a consistent morning schedule. Those first couple days can be jolting . . . but, hey, I’m playing tennis and I’m in Whistler!!!
An excellent Tennis Camp at one of the most scenic and charming locations in North America. We’ve been through many tennis classes, courses and drills, and rate their ‘Extreme Tennis’ program the best. 16 students with 4 exceptional coaches, a broad assortment of technical play, video feedback, in and outdoor courts with 3 to 4 hours of instruction over 4 consecutive days. It doesn’t get any better than this!
Wonderful teaching pros, very positive with lots of great drills. They always put together a fun and camp, with video analysis, and tips for improving your strokes and your strategy.
Our group of 6 women recently attended a 3 1/2 day tennis camp at Whistler and we all agreed that is was a wonderful experience. The pros are terrific – friendly, experienced and positive. You get lots of practice, and great instruction incl. videos. Highly recommended.
The tennis camps run by Majorie and Peter at the Whistler Racquet Club are by far the best value for your money you can get. The expert coaching staff offer tips, analysis and plenty of hitting in a low key/serious enviroment, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had. Combine the great camp with the natural beauty of the Whistler resort and you really can’t beat taking a tennis vacation/camp at the Whistler Racquet club.
I had a great time. The camp was excellent, highly organised, and customised to what players felt that they wanted to work on. If I had to point to anything, I’d like to have more feedback about what I did well/poorly so that I can better focus my training in order to improve in both stroke technique and matchplay.
I took part in the “Drills/Skills & Match Play” tennis weekend with Marjorie and Peter. From my “intermediate” level of play, it was full of great instruction, plenty of positive reinforcement and practical applications. Our coaching staff showed great energy amd interest in our progress over the course of the entire weekend.