For this group on the Top 45 list, the racquet facilities and programs are profiled for Wayzata Country Club in Wayzata, Minn.; Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Va.; Bonita Bay Club in Bonita Springs, Fla.; The Pinery Country Club and The Club at Prader in Parker, Colo.; Navesink Country Club in Red Bank, N.J.; Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborogh, N.Y.; Philadelphia (Pa.) Country Club; The Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, Va.; Sea Pines Country Club in Hilton Head, S.C.; and Bradenton Country Club in Bradenton, Fla.
Club + Resort Business’ capital expenditures study, conducted at the end of 2020 about clubs’ spending plans for 2021 showed that racquet sports are once again growing in popularity and gaining participation numbers. C+RB’s inaugural Top Ranked initiative for Racquet Facilities highlights the club and resort properties with the Top 45 Racquet Facilities and programs, as judged independently by a panel of racquet professionals and industry experts.
The full rankings can be viewed a on the main Top Ranked Listing Page. Here are profiles of the 6-15 Ranked Private Clubs in the Racquet Facilities category.
6. Wayzata Country Club in Wayzata, Minn.
Wayzata (Minn.) Country Club has a high-quality adult and junior racquet sport program; which offers private lessons, group lessons, drills, Interclub play, court rental, and event mixers. WCC is one of the only private clubs in Minnesota to offer premier facilities for the four major racquet sports of Tennis, Pop Tennis, Pickleball, and Platform.
In addition to a robust racquets program, Wayzata offers golf, swimming and multiple dining options.
7. Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Va.
Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Va. offers a number of reasons why its racquets facilities were ranked No. 7 on the inaugural C+RB Top Ranked list.
– Sheer Scope and size for a tennis facility in the full-service country club industry (golf, swim, fitness, F&B);
– Placement of facility. The outdoor courts are showcased directly behind a Platinum Country Club clubhouse with every balcony and patio with a view of the tennis courts. A spot normally reserved for a golf finishing hole at a country club;
– Innovative design. LEED Silver Clubhouse. Underground irrigation of Har-Tru courts. First club in Mid-Atlantic to build dedicated 36ft. 8U Junior courts. State of the art LED lighting at Indoor for maximum visibility and energy saving. First country club in the area to build eight dedicated pickleball courts (with four more courts to be added later this summer);
– Recognized as an industry leader with awards that include a National USTA Facility of the Year Award and showcased as the Green Club of the Year. Recognized as the Private Facility of the Year by a national tennis magazine;
– Exceptional teaching pro staff, all with collegiate and/or professional playing experiencing. Each captaining their collegiate teams, which in a family-oriented club is vital as they are role models to hundreds of juniors. The talent of this team has led to a court usage pattern where instructional court use time nearly doubles general play time;
– Exceptional maintenance staff that keeps the facility in top shape year-round; and
– Consistent pattern and trend of growing use and participation. An already vibrant tennis community is now running in conjunction with a pickleball community that has reached almost 500 members after less than one full year of running programs and capturing participation from long-time members who used to only golf.
8. Bonita Bay Club in Bonita Springs, Fla.
Bonita Bay Club was the Racquet Sports Industry’s Private Facility of the Year in 2015. Bonita Bay Club in Bonita Springs, Fla. ran a 6-year event for charity that raised $1.3 Million (with tennis only) to build a Children’s Pharmacy at our Children’s hospital six years ago. It is the largest tennis-only charity I have known.
Bonita Bay Club is now in its second year of hosting a 100K Professional Women’s Tournament, with the proceeds and a Gala (virtual this year) to benefit the brand new Lee Health Regional Cancer Center. Our members are totally involved. In this upcoming professional tournament, we have more than 85 member volunteers. Our members support the event with their time and energy and also via a philanthropic standpoint.
Bonita Bay Club has 18 subsurface irrigated courts with a beautiful skybox with glass viewing panels, which will seat 70+. The club has lights on its championship court that would be able to accommodate a WTA or ATP event and nine tennis courts with LED lighting, four metal halide lighting. We have 10 Pickleball courts (five currently and five that will open for play on January 3 that are a gel Laykold surface (called Laykold Masters) … this surface is much more kind on the body. All of the pickleball courts are LED lighted. Included in the 10 courts is one championship court that is 70’x 38’, larger than the other nine which are also all oversized.
Bonita Bay Club has a very active interclub program (just getting going in pickleball with several leagues, but we have only had the courts three years, and one year was the pandemic.). We run an extremely ambitious member activity calendar, in pickleball and tennis, mixing great social and fun tennis with food and drink in addition to competitive events and a creative instructional offering, to meet the needs of all our players.
Bonita Bay Club has a very high-level teaching staff, with one USPTA Master Professional and four elite professionals, also certified to teach cardio tennis. All its Pickleball professionals (2) are certified by the ITPTA.
Bonita Bay Club has the PlaySight system on four tennis courts, which records/video play but also supplies the players with an amazing amount of statistical data to help them improve. Very impressive system, players can use with a partner, or via the ball machine.
Bonita Bay Club has two ball machines in tennis, one ball machine in pickleball. The pickleball courts just hosted an exhibition with the top player in the country—Ben Johns—and three others ranked in the top 15 in the country.
The tennis courts have had so many former number one ranked players in the world … I can’t even being count. Fred Stolle, Stan Smith, Gigi Fernandez … just to name a few. Bonita Bay Club has had Nick Bolletieri, Andy Brandi … all into coach its members.
Bonita Bay Club has GREAT amenities, but I am most proud of our members. There are a lot of great clubs in this country, but our members really make this club special. And, as a result Bonita Bay Club has been incredibly lucky to find a very warm, caring and passionate group of individuals to serve our members.
The Bonita Bay Club racquet sports center was rebuilt three years ago around an outdoor restaurant (Breezeway) which is open for lunch and dinner and live music at times … it faces the courts and also the pool. Our members love this area. It is 3,870 sq. ft. of just food and beverage. On one side of the building is the 2,530 sq ft. of retail and the other side is locker rooms and rest rooms for sports and restaurant, so it creates a Breezeway, hence the name.
9. The Pinery Country Club and The Club at Prader in Parker, Colo.
Two clubs—The Pinery Country Club and The Club at Prader in Parker, Colo.—one all-inclusive racquet sports membership … separated by a mere five miles with the facilities, programming, and variety to appeal to every level and type of player.
Tennis enthusiasts love the beautiful tennis complex, featuring six lighted outdoor and three indoor courts and an exceptional variety of year-round competitive and social playing opportunities for juniors and adults – ranging from leagues and round robins to couple’s play nights, tournaments, and mixers. A comprehensive tennis instructional program, taught by top USPTA teaching professionals, includes private and semi-private instruction, group lessons, junior camps, and specialty clinics for players of all ages and abilities.
Aptly billed the Summit Membership, participating members are afforded multiple options at every turn with access to both indoor and outdoor facilities. A combination of adult and junior leagues, local high school home courts, USTA kids and adult tournaments, pickleball leagues, junior tennis, and summer camps, are among the numerous offerings.
A staff of USTA-certified tennis professionals brings their expertise to the courts for private and group lessons, as well as clinics. This same talented team creates a broad scope of special events such as pickleball beginners’ mixers, “Tennis Never Dies” (a James Bond-themed tennis and entertainment extravaganza), and the “Tennis Spring Fling” in the indoor tennis bubble. Cross-utilizing their facilities, the staff has created other fun options including drive-in movie nights (where films are projected onto the tennis bubble) and introductions to out-of-the-box sports that fit any active lifestyle such as dodgeball!
One club’s tennis players are more competitive, but the emphasis is on social, family and fun. It serves as the tennis center for both private clubs and has a tennis shop for retail, equipment needs, and any member special orders. The robust programming and activities here are a perfect complement to the more relaxed tennis experience at the second club.
10. Navesink Country Club in Red Bank, N.J.
Victor Vidal and the racquets staff never stop at Navesink Country Club in Red Bank, N.J. With 11 months of programs in tennis, pickleball, and paddle, the membership and their families have fantastic access to instruction throughout the year. Programming is designed for all levels and ages from true beginners to seasoned veterans.
Tennis is the heart of the program and members and their guests enjoy access to the courts from early mornings through late evenings. Programming for juniors, women, and men run from April into October.
Three Laykold Masters Gel lighted pickleball courts opened in 2018 and, as with national trends, participation is growing. The adjacent patio area with a great wood burning fire pit takes off the chill for both pickleball and platform tennis participants.
A fifth platform tennis court was purchased after the 2020-21 season to accommodate continued growth in the program. Since the 2017-18 season, platform tennis participation has increased 96%. The programs are a great complement to the club’s ice skating programs and give the membership a variety of winter activities not as commonly offered in private clubs.
Navesink launched its annual Paddle Masters Invitational in 2016. This invitation only event features the top men’s and women’s platform tennis teams in the country competing for one of the largest purses nationally. We look forward to the event’s return in 2022.
A recently renovated racquets center is the perfect spot to meet prior to play or relax over a snack and beverages following play. Members and their guests can stop by the pro shop or relax while watching TV or chatting around the fireplace. All four sides of the facility offer views of tennis, pickleball, and/or platform tennis courts.
The club’s investment in racquets has seen the Sports membership category grow by approximately 78% over the last 10 years, but none of this would have been possible without a top-quality staff. Three year-round professionals certified in tennis, pickleball, and paddle lead the Club’s racquets experience. These professionals are supplemented by an administrative support person to help with member services. The part-time staff members are NCAA Division I and II players pursuing careers in the racquets industry.
Adding a summer weekend pickleball clinic with Simone Jardim is another great program feature and covers the bases on a fantastic racquets experience.
11. Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborogh, N.Y.
Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborogh, N.Y. is a premier club with world-class racquets facilities.
Sleepy Hollow has as very active junior and adult program in all racquet sports, and continues to see growth in all sports.
Sleepy Hollow also offers state-of-the-art technology like video recording equipment on court for teaching and streaming purposes, and boasts great pro shops with all the latest equipment and apparel.
12. Philadelphia (Pa.) Country Club
Philadelphia (Pa.) Country Club is located in the heart of the Main Line and merges traditional and modern family values. Within PCC’s 300-acre property lies a rich and vibrant racquets community that rivals any club in the country.
With Philadelphia being the birthplace of doubles squash, the club has hosted four National Squash Racquets Doubles tournaments from 1936-1938 and again in 2015. PCC also hosted the 2013 US Open Squash Doubles tournament. PCC also hosted the 1930 and 1932 Davis Cup on the tennis courts.
PCC offers nine Har-Tru tennis courts, four paddle courts, three singles squash courts, two doubles squash court, and one pickleball court.
PCC has nine women’s inter-club tennis teams totaling 150 active players on the courts just on the women’s side. Including men and juniors there are close to 350 players getting out on the tennis courts. Including women, juniors and men PCC has roughly 500 racquets players that help create this premier program.
The PCC racquets program has a rich history and continues to incorporate its traditional values while pushing forward with industry trends. As more young families join the club,PCC stays mindful that everyone has busy schedules. The staff prides itself on offering a wide range of clinics and events that are available to all members regardless of their skill or busy schedules.
The staff is also mindful of the delicate balance between competition and the social aspect of racquet sports. The social aspect is the backbone of our program. However competitive events and clinics are competitive and produce highly skilled racquets enthusiasts.
PCC has a truly exceptional community of racquets enthusiasts. The backdrop of its tennis courts overlook the vast 300-acre property and golf course and could not be a more scenic setting for a tennis outing. The staff are industry leaders in their profession and provide an excellent service to our members through their knowledge, programming skills, and passion for racquet sports and hospitality.
13. The Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, Va.
The Country Club of (Richmond) Virginia is a private, single-privilege membership club. CCV, which was founded in 1908, has always been one of the largest clubs in the country. The 7,600+ members support 1,111 acres containing two clubhouses situated seven miles apart, 54 holes of golf, racquet sports facilities, a fitness facility, five pools, multiple dining outlets, special event venues, and more.
The racquet sports facilities at The Country Club of Virginia include a total of 24 tennis courts, five squash courts (including one doubles court), three paddle tennis courts, and one permanent pickleball court with blended lines for up to eight additional courts. Eighteen of the tennis courts are outdoor courts (six hard and 12 sub-irrigated clay).
The Club’s six indoor tennis courts and five squash courts are housed in a $19.6 million, 85,000 sq. ft. fitness and racquet sports facility. The indoor tennis courts boast new baseline viewing windows and LED lighting, while the squash courts feature enhanced lighting and a state-of-the-art scoreboard system.
The facility also includes a 1,053 sq. ft. Pro Shop, designated Racquet Sports locker rooms and youth changing areas, a fast casual café, tennis viewing areas for the indoor courts, Youth Lounge, and spa.
The CCV Racquet Sports department focuses on providing a fun, family-focused atmosphere built on a strong member-staff relationship and passion for all kinds of racquet sports. CCV has over 2,350 unique users annually that enjoy social play, instructional programming, competitive leagues, and a full calendar of events.
As members have demonstrated an appetite for additional, alternative racquet sports, CCV has balanced trends with tradition, offering two new sports, pickleball and POP tennis, that welcome more players of all ages and ability levels. These additions have skyrocketed member participation in both alternative racquet sport programs and social events.
The professional staff is at the center of the operation, striving to combine at outstanding member experience with a personal connection.
14. Sea Pines Country Club in Hilton Head, S.C.
With a widely established reputation in local tennis circles as the preeminent facility on the Island, Sea Pines Country Club’s seven lighted and meticulously groomed, Har-Tru clay courts provide members of all levels an unparalleled playing field for expert private instruction and clinics, fun-filled junior summer camps, and spirited competitive team programs.
Sea Pines has about 15 consistent juniors in its year-round program and also about 150 children and grandchildren in the summer program. Its pickleball program is a little over a year old and has approximately 50 active players.
15. Bradenton Country Club in Bradenton, Fla.
For a relatively small club (numbers wise) Bradenton Country Club has a full program that caters to all ages. This ranges from kids as young as 4 years old to players up to 80 years of age. And programs are inclusive of all levels.
The pickleball program has four days of inclusive open play days that allows for all levels to join in for social play. The club has racquet sport professionals that are available for lessons. Most importantly Bradenton is one of the few true country clubs that allows guest and lesson play to non-members.
Bradenton has robust evening play, which is not usually common in a true country club in Florida. It has two BCC Open events a year—one for pickleball and one for tennis (USTA sanctioned). Bradenton also hosted the Nick Bollettieri Family Foundation tournament this year and ran the “Cure for Kids” $3000 prize money tennis event for 12 years. Nick Bollettierri and Hana Mandlikova are our racquet sports honorary members.
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