The Grand Slam of Tennis at Hilton Head Island

LIVE NEAR A BEST TENNIS ACADEMY

Folks searching for the perfect tennis getaway often beeline to the Hilton Head beach tennis resort. But when it comes to living near a full service South Carolina tennis and beach resort, Hilton Head Island ranks again as the place to plant your family’s roots and enjoy island living 365 days a year while improving your tennis skills.  With over 60 years of experience in tennis instruction, active Boomers and their families will find one of the nation’s elite Tennis Resort and Private Club which earned ranking as one of The 50 Greatest U.S. Tennis Resorts in the nation by Tennis Magazine and Carolinas’ Top 5 Tennis Resort.  Programs are offered and lessons are provided for all ages and abilities at a very affordable price.  

There are some other spectacular tennis resorts on the island that are also worth exploring.  Whether you’re a beginner or an elite tournament level player, tennis clinics, lessons, workshops and tournaments abound in Hilton Head Island which has over 500 tennis courts on this 12 mile island, that’s what makes it a tennis lover’s paradise. Tennis enthusiasts will also find the best tennis academy on Hilton Head Island.  

Not only is tennis fun and family friendly, it is also a great way to stay in shape and remain socially active as one approaches those retirement years.  According to Dr. Jack Groppel, “there is no doubt that tennis is one of the best sports for you to play.”  In an article he wrote about the many health benefits associated with playing tennis, including the psychological benefits, he summarized the healthy aspect of the sport and they are certainly worth noting.  Here are the facts:

• With only 3 hours of moderate tennis play, people cut their risk of death in half from any cause according to physician Ralph Paffenbarger who studied over 10,000 people over a 20 year period.
• According to Dr. Joan Finn at Southern Connecticut State University, tennis players scored higher in vigor, optimism and self-esteem and lower in depression, anger, confusion, anxiety and tension.
• Scientists at the University of Illinois found that tennis may generate new connections between nerves in the brain due to the alertness and tactical thinking of tennis.
• Dr. Jim Gavin found that tennis outperforms golf, inline skating and most other sports in developing positive personality characteristics (great for your adults!).
• Competitive tennis burns more calories than aerobics, inline skating or cycling according to caloric expenditure research.

Physically, tennis improves both aerobic and anaerobic fitness, stamina, power, speed, leg strength, body coordination, motor control, agility, balance, and improves bone strength and density often helping tennis players avoid the symptoms of osteoporosis.  Tennis also helps to improve the immune system which promotes overall wellness and helps the body resist diseases.  Eye hand coordination is also enhanced by the game as players judge the timing between the on-coming ball and the proper contact point.  Flexibility is also a benefit of playing tennis due to constant stretching and maneuvering to return the ball.  Psychologically tennis helps to develop a work ethic; develop discipline; learn to compete one-on-one; accept responsibility; manage adversity, accommodate stress effectively; helps to problem solve and helps individuals plan and implement strategies.  Getting kids involved early in the game will definitely play a key role in their development as a young adult.

With hundreds of tennis courts scattered throughout Hilton Head Island, there is always a place to play.  Hilton Head is also the home to two world famous tennis pros, Dennis Van Der Meer and Stan Smith.  The Van de Meer tennis university draws tennis students from all over the world and is known for teaching both amateurs and professionals.  The year round mild climate also makes Hilton Head a top choice when looking for that perfect tennis getaway. 

The Van De Meer Shipyard Resort offers many clinics, camps and tournaments and is one of the top choices when visiting the region for tennis.  It also is the only covered and indoor tennis courts in the Hilton Head Island area and the facility boasts 20 courts, 13 Har-Tru and 7 hard, 8 of the courts are lighted and with the magnificent landscaping, this tennis academy stands out as one of the best found in the country.  Here are some of the upcoming events at the Van Der Meer Shipyard Resort:

• August 18 – Special Olympics Tennis Coaches Training School
• September 12-13 – VDM Academy Classic (Juniors)
• September 23-25 – VDM Shipyard Cup Wildcard Event (Pro Circuit)
• October 4-11 – VDM Shipyard Cup (Pro Circuit)

Another great place for tennis is at the Sea Pines Resort, The Sea Pines Racquet Club under the direction of former U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion Stan Smith.  With a wide array of teaching clinics, instructional programs and tennis vacation packages under the direction of a “7 time Davis Cup team winner”, and former U.S. Olympic men’s tennis coach, Stan Smith offers ongoing clinics and true tennis buffs flock to this resort rated as one of the best in the nation by Tennis Magazine.  Here are some upcoming events to look forward to at the Sea Pines Racquet Club:

• September 18-20 (Friday 2-5pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-12pm) – Stan Smith Super Series.  This 9 hour class will feature video analysis of your serve, stroke and strategy instruction, footwork and many practice drills. With a max student to pro ratio of 4:1, lots of personal tips are guaranteed.
• November 26-28 – (Thanksgiving, Friday and Saturday 9am-12pm) – Stan Smith Super Series (see above).  Come to this festive event and meet Stan and bring a donation of canned goods to help Deep Well charity.  Please call (843) 363-4495 for more information.

As a registered guest at The Sea Pines Racquet Club, folks will receive 2 hours each day complimentary when booking a tennis vacation package.  Guests will also enjoy:

• TENNIS Magazine's "#1 Ranking for Tennis Programs"
• A total of 21 clay courts, 4 lit courts, all at The Sea Pines Racquet Club in Harbour Town
• 1,800-seat stadium court
• Two hours of complimentary tennis per day
• Full-service pro shop
• Liberal schedule of round robins, mixers, and open-court times

Another great Hilton Head beach tennis resort is the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront resort which provides the ultimate tennis vacation for anyone looking to improve his or her tennis skills.  It is ranked as one of The 50 Greatest U.S. Tennis Resorts by Tennis Magazine; it is also ranked #2 in the world for instructors and events; it is ranked #3 in the world for junior programs and ranked #5 in the world overall by Tennis Resorts Online.  Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort offers some excellent tennis packages for all levels of play.  The Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center has 23 clay and 2 Nova ProBounce courts (6 courts are lighted for night play).  Here folks will find a full schedule of seasonal activities, daily round robin tournaments and some outstanding instructional programs.  The center also has the latest tennis equipment with brands that include: Nike, Prince, Babolat, Wilson, Head, Fila, Bolle, Tail, Lija and more.

There are a lot of tennis tournaments on Hilton Head Island as one can imagine.  There are too many too list but interested enthusiasts can visit tennislink.usta.com for more information on upcoming events:

• September 4 – Adult/Fall Classic at Palmetto Dunes
• September 11 – Junior Classic at Van Der Meer
• October 2 – Banana Open 
• October 15 – USTA SC Combo 
• October 17 – So. Junior Champs at Van Der Meer 
• October 30 – Nutty Buddy at Palmetto Dunes
• November 4 – USTA SC 65 & 75 at Palmetto Dunes
• November 5 – Special Olympics at Van Der Meer
• November 13 – Carmine Team Tennis at Palmetto Dunes

For residents of Hilton Head Island there are plenty of public tennis courts under the supervision of the Island Recreation Center with the cooperation of Public Tennis, Inc.  There are 8 courts that are lighted for night play.  At the Chaplin Public Tennis Center in the Chaplin Community Park there are 6 courts and 4 more at the Cordillo Public Tennis Center which are designated for locals.  There are 2 courts at the Fairfield Station County Park on the north end under the supervision of the Beaufort County Parks and Leisure Services. Hilton Head High School has 6 courts and the Hilton Head Middle School has 4 more available on evenings and weekends (these courts have no user fees).  From Memorial Day to Labor Day fees are charged for the use of these courts and they are open from 8am to 9:30pm unless reserved for lessons of USTA use. 

In addition to great tennis facilities, Hilton Head Island is a fun place to consider buying a retirement or vacation home.  There are plenty of great restaurants featuring local cuisine, and culturally the island is thriving with Broadway-quality plays at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, the 120-member full chorus of the Hilton Head Choral Society, the renowned Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and the largest outdoor wine tasting event on the east coast.  There are also plenty of community festivals year round and Hilton Head also hosts the Heritage Golf Classic, and a PGA Tour tournament played on the Harbour Town Golf Links at the Sea Pines Resort. So why not live near one of the best tennis academies? Book a stay at one of Hilton Head beach tennis resorts and see for yourself why Hilton Head Island is nicknamed “slice of heaven” by tennis enthusiasts.

Ask us introduce you to our trusted colleague on the island who can show you Hilton Head homes in active tennis communities.