Why Gleneagles Has Become the Destination of New Yorkers By Brian Coleman
or many New Yorkers, moving down to Florida is almost a rite of passage. It’s an appealing concept, especially in 2020 with some jobs no longer tying them down to one area, the notion of great weather year-round, no state income tax and the prospect of joining a country club community is hard to pass up. “Growing up in Manhattan, I spent my summers at camp and developed a love for sports and the outdoors. When my father bought at Gleneagles in 2006 I saw a tennis community that I wanted to be a part of, both for fun and competition, and in 2013 my dream became a reality. It's like camp, you live and play and socialize with your best buddies,” says Wendy Lasher, who along with her husband Marty, splits her time between Gleneagles and Canandaigua, NY. Finding the right community to join and the right place to settle into can be difficult, but for many native New Yorkers who are tennis lovers, Gleneagles Country Club in Delray Beach, Fla. is the perfect choice, whether it’s a permanent move down south or a spot to escape the brutal New York winters. “Gleneagles is now my second home after I purchased my condo over five years ago as a well deserved respite from
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New York winters,” said Arlene Griggs, who was a teacher on Long Island for nearly four decades. “Observing the many activities afforded to the members, it became clear this was where I wanted to be. I concentrated on tennis. I became enveloped in the program, meeting wonderful friends and eventually joining a team. While I thrive on the competition, it’s comforting to know I will always have a game, practice or a ball machine to hone my tennis skills.” Gleneagles offers home and condos, and an enviable lifestyle which has been of great appeal to Northeasterners over the years. Featuring 36 holes of championship golf, premier tennis and
New York Tennis Magazine • September/October 2020 • NYTennisMag.com
pickleball, plus restaurants and expansive social activity, it’s no wonder Gleneagles has become a coveted destination. “The tennis program offers many events, including mixers and roundrobins, league play, dinner events and more,” said Carole Rossant Goldberg, who worked in advertising and marketing in Manhattan, and began playing tennis in her mid-30s in Long Island City as well as out in the Hamptons. “Because of all the activities, it can be as social or not as social as you desire. The Tennis Director and staff know everyone, and often stop to say hello while on the courts. Friends at other clubs have commented that there is more of a community feeling at
