Escape the winter doldrums at these nearby resorts.
Edited and compiled by Cory Sekine-Pettite
We all know how exhausting the last couple of years have been, and for some of us, 2020 and 2021 were downright depressing. But we don’t want to dwell on that because most of us have made it through and started to live our normal lives again. Case in point: the incredible year of ALTA tennis we just completed.
But before you begin your spring season, why not consider a winter getaway? You deserve a little escape, some relaxation, and a break from responsibilities. Thus, we have compiled a list of the best winter tennis getaways for 2022, all of which are a short distance away and prioritize both on-court fun and off-court pampering. Read on to decide which destination best suits your need for a little self-care.
Sea Island Resort
Sea Island, Georgia
seaisland.com | 855.216.3774
With its expansive campus, five miles of private beach, and an array of accommodations options that include private cottages, as well as hotel rooms and suites, Sea Island Resort offers guests the opportunity to vacation while maintaining standards for safety and security. Its extensive array of off-the-court activities, the availability of private lessons, custom clinics, and 16 Har-Tru courts combine to make Sea Island the perfect spot for a winter getaway and a place to improve your game.
Tennis amenities
Sea Island features 16 Har-Tru clay courts (8 lighted) and instruction that is professional and instinctual, including clinics, camps, and customized lessons. The resort also recently expanded its pickleball offerings with eight lighted pickleball courts. Tennis clinics (for all levels from intermediate to advanced) are offered Monday through Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. for a maximum of four players per clinic. Private lessons and custom clinics are offered daily at The Cloister with Sea Island Tennis teaching professionals.
Tennis packages are offered year-round for guests staying at The Cloister or at The Inn at Sea Island.
At The Cloister, your tennis package consists of luxury accommodations, one-hour clinic or drill session daily, one-hour private lesson with a Sea Island tennis professional daily (For two people, the lesson will be shared.), and two hours of court time daily.
At The Inn at Sea Island, your tennis package consists of nightly accommodations at The Inn; four hours of court time during your stay per player, which may include round robin play based upon availability; four hours of scheduled group clinics per player with an Elite Pro over two days; and transportation to and from The Inn and The Cloister Tennis Center.
Off-court activities
The resort plays host to a 65,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, seven pools (one indoor), three championship golf courses, horseback riding on the beach, squash, six-lane bowling alley and pub, salt marsh nature tours, fishing, boating, water sports, shooting school, casual to Five-Star dining and more.
Plan your winter escape
Sea Island is home to four Forbes Five-Star experiences — The Cloister at Sea Island, The Lodge at Sea Island, The Spa at Sea Island, and the Georgian Room restaurant — and an extensive array of engaging nature adventures and recreational experiences, including five miles of private beach and accommodations that vary from hotel to private cottages.
The Racquet Club at Big Canoe
Big Canoe, Georgia
bigcanoepoa.org | 706.268.3367
Big Canoe is situated at the southern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains, so playing tennis there is like playing in a nature preserve. Imagine hitting the courts with tree-lined mountains as your backdrop and Lake Petit just a stone’s throw away. At Big Canoe, there’s never a problem getting a court. And no matter your surface preference — hard courts or clay, indoor or outdoor, pickleball or tennis — they’ve got you covered. Additionally, Big Canoe has a full-time Director of Racquet Sports in Geoff Hedges, a USPTA certified professional who manages the full-service Pro Shop.
Tennis amenities
Big Canoe has 10 tennis courts (eight outdoor and two indoor), plus four lighted pickleball courts); a full-service pro shop; a USPTA certified pro instructor; and spectacular views from the courts. You also can try your hand at bocce on one of four courts known as among the best in the state. So, if you’re planning an escape to the mountains, bring your racquets to Big Canoe.
Off-court activities
Big Canoe was recognized by the Atlanta Audubon Society as an official Wildlife Sanctuary. The community is home to 27 holes of championship golf; 25 miles of hiking trails that line babbling streams, fern forests, and waterfalls; a 13,000-square-foot Wellness Center and Spa; indoor and outdoor swimming pools; and five lakes, the largest of which has a marina equipped with fishing, boating rentals, and swimming; a clubhouse that hosts events and serves meals in the Black Bear Pub or in the open-air veranda.
Plan your winter escape
Big Canoe can help you to plan the perfect getaway, customized by Geoff Hedges. The community’s menu of outdoor activities, from golf to hiking to indoor swimming to off-road driving on their Jeep Trail is just a short drive from metro Atlanta. Check their website for details.
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
Destin, Florida
Sandestin.com/tennis | 800.622.1038
If you’ve yet to visit the Gulf of Mexico — particularly this part of Florida — then you’re truly missing out. One glance off into the horizon and there’s no guessing why this area is called the Emerald Coast. Imagine taking a sunrise swim or sitting by a crackling bonfire at night. How will you fill the moments in between? Well, with tennis and other outdoor activities, of course! More than a collection of vacation rentals, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort captures beautiful snapshots in time: Time spent out on the water or splashing in it; time perfecting your golf swing or tennis strokes; shopping until you drop; or feeling the salty breeze on your face as you bike along the coast.
Tennis amenities
Serving up the best tennis experience in Northwest Florida, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort features 12 world-class HydroGrid clay courts and three hard courts. There are a wide range of experiences available, including private lessons with pros, a highly ranked Junior Tennis program, and fun round robin tournaments for all skill levels. If you’re looking for a customized experience or package, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort can tailor a program just for you.
Off-court activities
When you book direct, you receive beach parking, free access to four resort pools, free bicycle rentals, access to the fitness center, kayak and boogie board rentals, free resort transportation, and free tennis court time. So, in addition to the water sports, spend your off-court time enjoying outdoor movies and evening shows, live music, and fireworks over the lagoon. And you can find fun, free events every day of the week in the Village of Baytowne Wharf.
Plan your winter escape
Enjoy the calming waves on the Gulf of Mexico this winter. Sandestin offers many savings packages for golf and tennis enthusiasts. For example, the resort is offering 30 percent off your stay of two or more nights. Mild weather and fewer crowds make winter a great time to visit the beach. Learn more at sandestin.com/offers-packages/a-warmer-winter-0.
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
PalmettoDunes.com/tennispickleball | 866.287.2679
Tennis lovers near and far can book their perfect regional escape at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island. Enjoy tennis court time, lessons, clinics, and more daily at the award-winning Palmetto Dunes Tennis & Pickleball Center. Along with its easy-to-access proximity, Hilton Head Island remains evergreen all year-round, making its 2,000-acre resort an ideal regional destination for tennis players of every skill level. Hilton Head Island is approximately a 4.5-hour drive (280 miles) southeast from Atlanta on Interstate 16.
Tennis amenities
The Palmetto Dunes Tennis and Pickleball Center has been named the island’s top tennis and pickleball resort. It offers 19 Har-Tru tennis courts, four of which are lighted for night play, as well as a well-stocked, 1,800-square-foot tennis pro shop — Hilton Head Island’s largest.
Palmetto Dunes not only boasts 24 lighted pickleball courts, but also one of the most comprehensive instructional programs on the East Coast. The center serves an impressive number of resort visitors and also counts about 300 local members in its pickleball club. League play, lessons, and clinics are available for all ages and ability levels. Racquet Sports Industry Magazine named the Palmetto Dunes Tennis & Pickleball Center as the 2020 “Pickleball Resort of the Year,” while Sarah Ansboury, the resort’s director of pickleball instruction, was tapped as the “PPR Member of the Year.”
Off-court activities
Along with the beach and ocean, Hilton Head’s generally mild climate during winter months makes the Lowcountry ideal to enjoy one of Palmetto Dunes’ three award-winning, championship golf courses. Guests also can bike along the beach and miles of paved paths, kayak the 11-mile inland lagoon system or explore Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina for a variety of dining, shops, entertainment, fishing charters, nature tours, water sports and more.
Plan your winter escape
Palmetto Dunes has a variety of tennis activities, clinics, and lessons to keep your game sharp throughout the winter. Jump in an Adult Round Robin Program for some competitive fun; sign up for a Serving Clinic to focus on your delivery; or try the Grand Slam Clinic for fast-paced drills. You can take a private lesson with Director of Tennis Instruction, Eric Wammock or Head Tennis Professional, Patrick Walker. The Create Your Own Clinic Program also can be designed to work on the skills and strategies that you want to improve the most.
Credit One Charleston Open
Charleston, South Carolina
creditonecharlestonopen.com | 843.856.7900
Why not include a professional tournament into your tennis getaway? The Credit One Charleston Open is the largest women’s only tennis tournament in North America, welcoming 90,000 spectators and more than 100 world-class, women athletes to participate in the excitement of the tournament in Charleston each spring. The tournament features a singles draw of 56 players, a qualifying draw of 32 players, and a doubles draw of 16 teams. Its 2022 field features some of the top players in the world, past champions, and up-and-coming players. Fans won’t want to miss what happens next at the 2022 Credit One Charleston Open, April 2-10.
The Credit One Charleston Open will celebrate 50 years of tennis in 2022 and welcome back fans for the first time since 2019. The newly renovated Credit One Stadium also will be unveiled during the tournament, offering upgraded seating options and elevated hospitality experiences for patrons on-site. The state-of-the-art facility will expand from 7,500 seats to 11,000 seats and feature 16 fully conditioned permanent suites, all-new concessions, more bathrooms, and a 75,000-square-foot Stage House with a partial roof.
Tennis amenities
The newly renovated Credit One Stadium will not only serve as the home of one of the WTA’s Premier tournaments, but also provide residents of the greater Charleston area access to one of the finest tennis facilities in the Southeast. Resting on 32 acres are 20 championship tennis courts, 14 clay and six hard, with lighting for night play on all. All of the clay courts on-site also have been upgraded to Har-Tru HyQ courts, with subsurface irrigation systems that reduce court maintenance time and increase play time.
Off-court activities
Whether it’s your first time visiting the area or you’re a regular in the Lowcountry, Charleston offers a unique and memorable experience for all. And the idyllic temperatures in April makes it the perfect time to visit.
Plan your winter escape
The Credit One Charleston Open offers a range of packages for the tournament, including the Team Getaway Package (from $120 per person), the Tournament Long Package (starting at $600), the Finale Package ($360 per package), and the Champions Package ($275 per package). See the tournament’s website for complete details, and please note: Team Getaway Packages must be booked through the Open’s box office, by calling 843.856.7900, ext. 2.
Sea Pines Resort
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
seapines.com | 866.561.8802
The Sea Pines Resort is set in a beautiful, oceanfront location with ease of driving access from metro Atlanta. Guests can choose from an array of accommodations, including 300 villas, 100 rental homes, and the luxurious 60-room Inn & Club at Harbour Town, a Forbes Four-Star boutique hotel and Preferred Hotel Group member.
Tennis amenities
The Sea Pines Resort’s Racquet Club, its 20 outdoor clay courts, lessons, clinics, and academy comprise the region’s #1 tennis resort. Last fall, the resort added six pickleball courts, designed to meet the demands of avid players and novices.
Open daily for play from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with 24-hour advance reservations, courts are available to resort guests ($15/hour) and non-guests ($20/hour). Round robin matches are offered Monday through Friday from 9-10:30 a.m. and on Saturday from 9:30-11 a.m. The fully stocked pro shop has equipment available for rent, as well as major pickleball paddle brands and accessories for purchase.
Stan Smith, a former US Open and Wimbledon Champion and 2000 U.S. Olympic Men’s Coach, has served as The Sea Pines Resort’s touring professional and ambassador for 50 years. He has developed a world-class program for players of all ages and skill levels, including The Smith Stearns Tennis Academy, one of the nation’s top tennis programs where students achieve a well-rounded lifestyle in preparation for success in all areas of life.
Off-court activities
This is the resort for nature lovers. Situated on the southernmost tip of Hilton Head Island, the legendary Lowcountry destination features five miles of unspoiled beaches, 14 miles of bike and walking trails, horseback riding, Eco-Adventures, water sports, and the 605-acre Sea Pines Forest Preserve filled with wildflowers, wetlands, and more than 130 species of birds.
Plan your winter escape
Sea Pines’ tennis packages make planning your stay a breeze. For example, the “Best Weekend in Tennis” package includes four days and three nights’ stay in deluxe villa accommodations in Harbour Town, just steps from the courts; eight hours of tennis instruction; a round robin and unlimited court time; daily breakfast; a luncheon; unlimited court time; and prizes.
Meanwhile, the “Weekend Workout” package is available for those looking for more professional instruction to improve their game.
