Charleston is known for its world class restaurants, shopping, history, architecture, golf, beaches and southern hospitality, but did you know it is also known for its tennis? That’s right. In 2010 Charleston was voted USTA’s “best tennis town in America” and for a good reason. Tennis Resorts Online recently updated its top 100 tennis resorts in the world with Kiawah Island Resort at #2 and Wild Dunes Resort at #4. That gives Charleston two of the top 10. Not too shabby. On top of that, Charleston hosts one of the top WTA tournaments, the Family Circle Cup, at the Family Circle Tennis Center each year. Then, there are tennis communities like I’On, Creekside, Snee Farm, Dunes West, and Charleston Country Club, just to name a few. But with so many great tennis communities, there are a few in my opinion, that stand out among the rest. So here are my top 5:
1) Wild Dunes Resort – Known as Charleston’s Island Resort, and once host to the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships, the Wild Dunes Tennis Center offers owners and guest 17 har-tru courts and one hard court. The tennis center is led by Charlie Rasheed and his group of instructors who put on some of the best clinics around.
2) Family Circle Tennis Center on Daniel Island – Home to the all women’s pro tournament, the Family Circle Cup, the Family Circle Tennis Center located on Daniel Island is a 32 acre facility offering a total of 20 courts, all of which are lighted. On site you will also find a 10,000 square foot tennis club house.
3) Kiawah Island Resort – There are two tennis facilities located on Kiawah’s 10,000 acre resort. The West Beach facility has a total of 10 har-tru (clay) courts and the Roy Barth Center, named after its long time Tennis Director, has a total of 9 har-tru courts and 3 hard courts.
4) I’On – In 2005 I’On was voted as the USTA’s facility of the year. Located in Mt. Pleasant and small in scale, I’On’s tennis facility offers 7 clay courts that includes the only red clay court in town and a beautiful Charleston-esque club house. The tennis facility is conveniently located in the neighborhood making it a easy bike ride for most residents.
5) Creekside – Coming up with number 5 was a little more difficult, but I decided to give the award to Creekside. Creekside is your traditional neighborhood tennis facility, it’s not flashy, you won’t find a world-class clubhouse, or clay courts, but what you will find is a great sense of community made up of locals. The Creekside tennis center offers 11 hard courts (all lighted).
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Donnie Whitaker Real Estate 