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Red Ledges Partners with Cliff Drysdale for Drysdale's First Tennis Academy in Utah
Sep. 5, 2007
HEBER VALLEY, Utah (Sept. 5, 2007) - Red Ledges, a planned recreational community located in the Heber Valley, will be the site of the first Cliff Drysdale Tennis Academy in Utah, as announced today by M. Anthony Burns, managing owner of Red Ledges.
The Academy will be Drysdale's first tennis program in the western United States and the first in a high-altitude location, and will be Drysdale's seventh Academy. Existing Cliff Drysdale Tennis Academy's are located in Florida, Mexico and New York.
"Utah is best known as a winter destination, but the team at Red Ledges is designing a community that showcases year round mountain recreation, including tennis," said Burns. "By partnering with Cliff Drysdale, we are providing our members with one of the finest tennis programs available in the world. Our relationships with Cliff for tennis, and with Jack Nicklaus and Jim McLean for golf, will help solidify Red Ledges and Utah as a destination for all seasons."
Both the design and operation of the facility at Red Ledges will be under the direction of Cliff Drysdale Tennis. The Cliff Drysdale Tennis Academy will provide Red Ledges members with such services as private lessons, corporate events, round robin tournaments and international exhibitions.
"We are pleased to have partnered with Red Ledges to develop and run its Tennis Academy," said Cliff Drysdale, tennis legend and Cliff Drysdale Tennis founder. "Cliff Drysdale Tennis operates in many world-class venues in the eastern US, Caribbean and Mexico, with clientele that come to expect a special class of service, and we look forward to delivering our unique and special brand to the Red Ledges members and guests."
This is not Drysdale's first introduction to Utah tennis. Years ago, he said, he played a small part in the design of the Park City Racquet Club. Since then his efforts have been confined to designing tennis clubs in Florida, Mexico and New York. His teaching methods, and his clubs, are recognized worldwide. He said he's not a proponent of one particular teaching method.
"For us, it's more a matter of enthusiasm; hiring pros who know how to make the game fun. It's what keeps people in the sport. And it's not so much about teaching technique but more about attitude. Having enthusiasm in a teacher has a certain magnetism that makes it fun, and we're talking about this reaching all the way down to 4-year-olds. Make it fun for them and they'll want to come back. If it's too arduous you'll lose them."
One of his more successful programs, and one he sees expanding to the Utah market, involves the changing role of women. "We hold ladies' retreats, and they've been very popular. Women have more leisure time and are more inclined these days to take trips without Dad, which a couple of decades ago was unheard of," he explained.
As for the current trend in tennis, he said all indications are it's attracting more players. "Ticket sales at the U.S. Open were up dramatically. I sense a new enthusiasm for tennis. I wondered if it was just something at the clubs we are involved with. You need a Pied Piper to get people into the sport, and we're good at that," he said.
"Industry folks, though, tell me sales for rackets and tennis balls are up." Here in Utah, membership in the Utah Tennis Association is the highest in more than a decade. Drysdale sees it gaining even more players as long as it continues to be fun.
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